Anthem, Inc. (NYSE: ANTM) today announced that its Board of Directors
authorized an increase of 4 percent in the Company’s shareholder
dividend and declared a $0.65 per share dividend for the first quarter
of 2016. This quarterly rate represents an annualized dividend of $2.60
per share, which equates to a yield of approximately 2.0 percent based
on the Company's stock price at yesterday's close of trading on the New
York Stock Exchange. The first quarter dividend is payable on March 25,
2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10,
2016.
About Anthem, Inc.
Anthem is working to transform health care with trusted and caring
solutions. Our health plan companies deliver quality products and
services that give their members access to the care they need. With over
72 million people served by its affiliated companies, including more
than 38 million enrolled in its family of health plans, Anthem is one of
the nation’s leading health benefits companies. For more information
about Anthem’s family of companies, please visit www.antheminc.com/companies.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains certain forward-looking information about us
that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking
statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements are generally not historical
facts. Words such as “expect,” “feel,” “believe,” “will,” “may,”
“should,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,”
“plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These statements include, but are not limited to: financial
projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions; statements
regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future
operations, products and services; and statements regarding future
performance. Such statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally
beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include: those discussed and
identified in our public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, or SEC; increased government participation in, or regulation
or taxation of health benefits and managed care operations, including,
but not limited to, the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,
or Health Care Reform; trends in health care costs and utilization
rates; our ability to secure sufficient premium rates including
regulatory approval for and implementation of such rates; our
participation in federal and state health insurance exchanges under
Health Care Reform, which have experienced and continue to experience
challenges due to implementation of initial and phased-in provisions of
Health Care Reform, and which entail uncertainties associated with the
mix and volume of business, particularly in our Individual and Small
Group markets, that could negatively impact the adequacy of our premium
rates and which may not be sufficiently offset by the risk apportionment
provisions of Health Care Reform; the ultimate outcome of our pending
acquisition of Cigna Corporation (“Cigna”) (the “Acquisition”),
including our ability to achieve the synergies and value creation
contemplated by the Acquisition within the expected time period, or at
all, and the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection
therewith; the ultimate outcome and results of integrating our and
Cigna’s operations and disruption from the Acquisition making it more
difficult to maintain businesses and operational relationships; the
possibility that the Acquisition does not close, including, but not
limited to, due to the failure to satisfy the closing conditions,
including the receipt of required regulatory approvals; the risks and
uncertainties detailed by Cigna with respect to its business as
described in its reports and documents filed with the SEC; our ability
to contract with providers on cost-effective and competitive terms;
competitor pricing below market trends of increasing costs; reduced
enrollment, as well as a negative change in our health care product mix;
risks and uncertainties regarding Medicare and Medicaid programs,
including those related to non-compliance with the complex regulations
imposed thereon and funding risks with respect to revenue received from
participation therein; a downgrade in our financial strength ratings;
increases in costs and other liabilities associated with increased
litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; medical
malpractice or professional liability claims or other risks related to
health care services provided by our subsidiaries; our ability to
repurchase shares of our common stock and pay dividends on our common
stock due to the adequacy of our cash flow and earnings and other
considerations; non-compliance by any party with the Express Scripts,
Inc. pharmacy benefit management services agreement, which could result
in financial penalties, our inability to meet customer demands, and
sanctions imposed by governmental entities, including the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services; events that result in negative publicity
for us or the health benefits industry; failure to effectively maintain
and modernize our information systems; events that may negatively affect
our licenses with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; state
guaranty fund assessments for insolvent insurers; possible impairment of
the value of our intangible assets if future results do not adequately
support goodwill and other intangible assets; intense competition to
attract and retain employees; unauthorized disclosure of member or
employee sensitive or confidential information, including the impact and
outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation related to
the cyber-attack we reported in February 2015; changes in economic and
market conditions, as well as regulations that may negatively affect our
investment portfolios and liquidity; possible restrictions in the
payment of dividends by our subsidiaries and increases in required
minimum levels of capital and the potential negative effect from our
substantial amount of outstanding indebtedness; general risks associated
with mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances; various laws and
provisions in our governing documents that may prevent or discourage
takeovers and business combinations; future public health epidemics and
catastrophes; and general economic downturns. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak
only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities
laws. Investors are also advised to carefully review and consider
the various risks and other disclosures discussed in our SEC reports.
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