Amedisys stock climbed Friday after the provider of home health care agreed to waive its right to terminate a merger agreement with UnitedHealth Group, bolstering expectations that the deal will succeed despite a government attempt to block it.

Amedisys Inc (NASDAQ:AMED) shares are trading higher on Friday after the company announced it extended its merger deadline with UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH). In an exchange filing, the companies entered into a waiver agreement,

UnitedHealth Group's Inc.'s (NYSE: UNH) $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys Inc. (Nasdaq: AMED), announced in mid-2023, might not be completed until 2025 after the two companies agreed to waive a deadline for the deal.

UnitedHealth and Amedisys have agreed to extend the deadline to close their $3.3 billion merger agreement to next year, a filing showed on Friday, as the deal faces close scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Amedisys Inc. gave themselves more time to complete a $3.3 billion deal for the insurer to purchase the home-health provider that’s been challenged by the government. Most Read from BloombergHo Chi Minh City Opens First Metro Line After Years of DelayThe companies each waived their right to terminate the deal if it hadn’t been completed within an agreed-upon time,

UnitedHealth Group has filed for more time to complete a $3.3 billion deal to buy Amedisys, a home health care and hospice company, after the companies agreed to waive deadlines in the face of antitrust scrutiny.