Oct 5 (Reuters) – UnitedHealth Group Inc is in talks
to buy a stake or all of Brazilian insurer and hospital operator
Amil Participacoes SA, Bloomberg reported, citing
people familiar with the matter.
The deal would provide UnitedHealth, the largest U.S. health
insurance company, an entry into a growing private-insurance
market in the world’s second-biggest emerging economy.
Amil is the biggest health insurer in Brazil with a market
capitalization of $4.47 billion.
An announcement regarding this is expected as early as next
week, Bloomberg said, quoting sources who requested anonymity.
Both companies were not available for comment after regular
business hours.
UnitedHealth last month replaced Kraft Foods Inc in
the Dow Jones industrial average, becoming the only
insurance stock in the index with a healthcare focus.
Shares of UnitedHealth closed at $57.13 on Friday on the New
York Stock Exchange.
