HMA acquisition clears another hurdle

NAPLES — The Securities and Exchange Commission gave the green light for shareholders to vote on the $7.6 billion acquisition of Health Management Associates by Community Health Systems.

“We are pleased that the SEC has completed its review, and we can continue to move toward the successful completion of our acquisition of HMA,” says Wayne Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Tennessee-based Community Health, in a statement.

Community Health owns 135 hospitals and HMA has 71 hospitals. “We continue to believe this transaction represents full and fair value for HMA stockholders, while positioning CHS for long-term growth that will generate incremental stockholder value and benefit local communities and patients around the country,” Smith says in the statement.