AETNA SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE SALE OF NON-HEALTH OPERATIONS

Shareholders in Connecticut-based health insurer Aetna have approved the company plan to sell its financial services and international business to Netherlands-based financial services group ING in a $7.7bn deal. A two-thirds majority was required for the sale, which was announced in July, to go through. The purchase, combined with ING’s recent acquisition of ReliaStar Financial, will make the Dutch group the largest life assurance and annuity broker in the US. Meanwhile, Aetna has completed the $700m sale of its 49% stake in Mexican bancassurance, pension and annuity joint ventures to local partner Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer.