UnitedHealth Group Inc will purchase a 90 percent stake in Amil Participacoes SA, Brazil's largest health insurer and hospital operator, for $4.9 billion, tapping into a fast-growing private healthcare market as challenges mount for its U.S. business.The Brazilian market has been bolstered by a growing middle class and is turning to managed care to meet demand. It is expected to grow twice as fast the U.S. market, UnitedHealth Chief Executive Stephen Hemsley said during a conference call on Monday."It looks to us like the potential the U.S. market had 20 or more years ago," Hemsley said.The deal price - 30.75 reais per Amil share - represents a premium of 22 percent. Amil shares were up 14 percent at 28.85 reais on the Sao Paulo stock exchange. UnitedHealth shares gained 0.7 percent to $57.52 on the New York Stock Exchange.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group) is a diversified health and well-being company. Shares of UNH traded higher by 0.67% or $0.3826/share to $57.51. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $42.86 and as high as $60.75. On average, 6410360 shares of UNH exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 2902355.
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