ST. LOUIS, Nov. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) ("Centene") today announced that on November 2, 2012 it priced $175 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017 (the "Senior Notes"), an increase from the $150 million initially announced, in a public offering made pursuant to a registration statement and a related preliminary prospectus supplement filed by Centene with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The underwriters were led by Barclays and Wells Fargo Securities, with Allen & Company LLC, Fifth Third Securities, Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and US Bancorp as co-managers of the offering. The Senior Notes will be issued at 106.00% plus accrued interest from June 1, 2012 and bear interest at 5.75%, resulting in a yield of 4.288%. The Senior Notes are an additional issuance of, will be fully fungible with, rank equally with, and form a single series with Centene's $250 million 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017 issued on May 27, 2011, and will have the same CUSIP number. The offering is expected to close on or about November 7, 2012. The issuance of the Senior Notes will be subject to customary closing conditions.

Centene intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, primarily including the funding of statutory capital.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering is being made by means of a prospectus and the related preliminary prospectus supplement. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and the related preliminary prospectus supplement, the registration statement and other documents that Centene has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Centene and this offering. Copies of the prospectus, the related preliminary prospectus supplement and registration statement can be obtained at no charge from Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, New York, NY 11717 or by telephone at 888-603-5847 or e-mail at barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com. Investors may also obtain these and other documents Centene has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for free by visiting the EDGAR system on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and long-term care, in addition to other state-sponsored programs, and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). Centene's CeltiCare subsidiary offers states unique, "exchange based" and other cost-effective coverage solutions for low-income populations. The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, and pharmacy benefits management. More information regarding Centene is available at www.centene.com.

The information provided in this press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to the public offering of senior notes, including without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the offering and the use of proceeds. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.  The Company's reports to the SEC contain additional information relating to additional factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update this forward-looking financial information in the future.

SOURCE Centene Corporation