Southcoast Health, Care New England halt merger plans

Wareham’s Tobey Hospital, a part of Southcoast Health, would have been included in the merged hospital group.File

Southcoast Health System of New Bedford and Care New England Health System of Providence have abandoned their merger plans.

If the deal had been completed, they would have created a system of eight hospitals, more than 15,000 employees, and more than $2 billion in annual revenues across two states.

In a statement Monday, the organizations did not explain their decision to end talks. They have been formally negotiating a deal for almost a year, and in May, both health systems said they were committed to continuing negotiations and were prepared to name Southcoast’s chief executive, Keith A. Hovan, as the head of the new combined organization.

“Since that time, while conducting due diligence reviews and preparing regulatory filings, the parties have come to recognize that their visions for the combined system could no longer be achieved,” the health systems said in a statement.

“Southcoast Health and Care New England are parting on amicable terms and will continue their longstanding collegial relationship in the southeastern New England community,” it added.