HEALTH

Conseco to Buy Transport: Conseco Inc. will acquire Transport Holdings Inc., a provider of cancer and supplemental health insurance, for $311 million in stock, the companies said. The deal is the sixth announced or completed by Conseco so far this year and would boost the Carmel, Ind.-based insurance holding company’s investments under management to $31 billion and assets on its own balance sheet to $27 billion. News of the deal sent Transport’s stock surging $18.375 to $70.125 on Nasdaq. Conseco rose $2.625 to $49.125 on the New York Stock Exchange. The purchase price, equal to $70 a share, includes $228 million for Transport’s 3.2 million common shares and equivalents and $83 million to retire bank debt and preferred stock, the companies said. Fort Worth-based Transport would be merged into Conseco. The deal is subject to approval by Transport stockholders and regulators.