Report: Aetna Close to Buying Humana

Health insurer Aetna Inc <AET.N> is close to buying rival Humana Inc <HUM.N>, and a deal could be signed as early as this weekend, Bloomberg reported.

Aetna (NYSE:AET) made a formal bid this week to buy Humana (NYSE:HUM) in the form of cash and stock, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Humana has also received an offer from Cigna Corp (NYSE:CI), but the Humana board prefers the offer from Aetna, Bloomberg said.

Humana and Aetna were not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Rosmi Shaji in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)