UnitedHealth Exits South America With Banmedica Sale

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group has sold its last remaining business in South America, Banmedica, to Patria Investments for $1 billion [2] - The company has been exiting Latin America since 2022, with Banmedica being the final asset after previous sales in Brazil and Peru [3] - The exit from South America is part of CEO Stephen Hemsley's strategy to refocus the business [4] Financial Performance - UnitedHealth raised its annual profit forecast in October and anticipates growth to return in 2026, with momentum expected to build in 2027 [5] - The company incurred an $8.3 billion loss related to its South American exits, with $7.1 billion attributed to Brazil and $1.2 billion linked to Banmedica [5] Business Operations - Banmedica served approximately 1.7 million health insurance members and operated seven hospitals and 47 medical centers prior to the sale [4] - UnitedHealth operates primarily through two units: UnitedHealthcare and Optum, which encompass insurance, care delivery, data, and health services [6]