Health insurer Centene to buy smaller rival WellCare for $305.39 per share

U.S. health insurer Centene will buy smaller rival WellCare Health Plans for $15.27 billion in a cash-and-stock deal. The companies said the deal, including debt, was valued at $17.3 billion. The offer of $305.39 per share represents a premium of about 32 percent to WellCare's closing price on Tuesday.