The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing UnitedHealth Group's planned purchase of home health firm LHC Group under a "potential vertical harm theory," Seeking Alpha reported Jan. 26, citing traders and a Capitol Forum report.
The federal agency is expected to conclude gathering information around the proposal soon, and UnitedHealth has hired an attorney that represented it during the antitrust trial over its Change Healthcare purchase last year, according to the report.
CTFN said in a Jan. 18 report that the deal may receive unconditional approval from the FTC.
UnitedHealth's Optum agreed to buy Lafayette, La.-based LHC in late March in a $5.4 billion deal. In June, the FTC requested additional information regarding the proposed acquisition. In December, the companies said they had complied and expected the deal to close in the first quarter of 2023. The termination date for the agreement was also extended until March 28.
Becker's has reached out to UnitedHealth Group for comment.