July 2 (Reuters) - U.S health insurer Aetna Inc is nearing an agreement to buy rival Humana Inc in a cash and stock deal, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
One source said Aetna's offer would value Humana at about $230 per share and could be announced as early as Friday. Earlier, Bloomberg reported the expected deal was valued at about $34 billion, citing unnamed sources. (http://bloom.bg/1GShqBy)
The $230 per share offer is at a premium of nearly 23 percent to Humana's close on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
(Reporting by Rosmi Shaji in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Wills)