Express Scripts to buy WellPoint units for $4.68B

NEW YORK -- The buyout of WellPoint's NextRx subsidiaries includes a consideration for the value of a future tax benefit for Express Scripts, based in St. Louis.

The transaction includes a 10-year contract for Express Scripts to provide services to WellPoint following closing of the transaction.

"Our aligned business model, combined with the complementary expertise and capabilities of WellPoint, creates significant opportunities for accelerated growth for both organizations," said Express Scripts Chairman and Chief Executive George Paz.

The NextRx subsidiaries provide pharmaceutical benefit management services to about 25 million Americans and manage more than 265 million prescriptions annually.

The companies expect the deal to close in the second half of 2009.

WellPoint is the nations largest insurer by enrollment and is coming off of a rough 2008. The company and its peers have been hurt by investment losses and rising unemployment due to the recession. Higher medical costs have also been eating away at profit.

In 2008, WellPoint's enrollment rose less than 1% while profit fell more than 25%. The company has warned that rising unemployment and falling enrollment will hurt revenue in 2009.

In February, the company said medical enrollment could fall 3%, or by about 1 million members, to 34 million people, while fully insured enrollment drops an estimated 6% to 15.5 million.

Express Scripts has been benefiting from the use of generic drugs, which are more profitable for the company than brand-name drugs. During the fourth quarter of 2008, generic drug use rose to 67.3% from 63.7% for the company. In 2008, profit rose nearly 37%.