Catamaran: UnitedHealth's Optum closes $12.8B deal for Catamaran

UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s OptumRx business completed its $12.8 billion acquisition of pharmacy-benefits manager Catamaran Corp., the companies announced after market close Thursday. Both companies are already big players in the pharmacy-benefits market. However, the deal gives the combined business even more leverage in negotiating drug prices with pharma companies. Mark Thierer, CEO of Schaumburg, Ill.-based Catamaran will lead the combined operation. Timothy Wicks, the current OptumRx CEO, will...