Aetna Being Courted By Boston, Other States

April 09--HARTFORD -- Aetna officials did not respond Friday to media reports that the city of Boston is trying to convince the insurance giant to move.

State officials said they were working to keep the Hartford institution in Connecticut.

"Companies are constantly being approached by many, many other states. It's no surprise to me that this popped up in the Boston area," said state Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Catherine Smith.

"We're going to work very hard [to ensure] that Aetna remains a large presence here in the state," Smith said. "We definitely want them to remain headquartered here."

Aetna's proposed merger with Louisville-based Humana is currently under review by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Smith said she couldn't disclose what Aetna executives have said to her about their plans for the company's headquarters. Aetna has declined to say where its headquarters would be located if the merger with Humana is approved.

"I am committed to being a strong partner to a company that is a huge part of Hartford's history -- and, I hope, an important part of Hartford's future," Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said in a statement released Friday evening. "Aetna is a world-class company that is a vital part of the Hartford community and the greater Hartford region. I've been in regular contact with Aetna's leadership, including meeting with CEO Mark Bertolini this week."

Since General Electric announced its departure in January, the state's elected leaders have vowed to work harder to improve the state's business climate. Last June, Aetna joined other companies to criticize a General Assembly plan to raise taxes.

"We strongly believe [a tax increase] will undermine the competitiveness of Connecticut-based businesses and will lead to an exodus of jobs and business from the state," Aetna said in a statement last June. "Connecticut is in danger of damaging its economic future by failing to address its budget obligation in a responsible way. Such an action will result in Aetna looking to reconsider the viability of continuing major operations in the state."

The legislature later retreated on a tax increase for Aetna, but the move attracted attention in Boston City Hall.

Boston mayoral staff started emailing last June about the city "targeting the big companies ... most impacted by a Connecticut tax law change..." according to emails that Boston TV station WCVB obtained through a public records request.

According to the Boston Business Journal, one of the emails from Krista Zalatores, chief of staff in the Office of Economic Development, said: "Based on our interaction with Aetna, it does sound like they are beginning to get several inquiries." She was writing Daniel Koh, chief of staff to Mayor Martin Walsh.

Walsh's office did not immediately comment on Friday.

In January, Aetna's Bertolini said Louisville is "actually the only community where we've made a real estate commitment," while speaking to Louisville area business leaders. He told the crowd that Aetna will be looking at "all of its real estate."

"But we've made a commitment to only one community as a location for the most important part of our business, and that's Louisville," he said.

Aetna spokeswoman Kristine Grow told the Courant in February: "We don't comment on speculation. We have said that we are located in Hartford. That is not an indication one way or the other of what might happen in the future."

Grow did not return calls for comment Friday afternoon.

Courant Staff Writer Stephen Singer contributed to this story.

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