UnitedHealth Group has agreed to sell its Optum UK business to private‑equity firm TPG for a price between £1.2 billion and £1.4 billion, roughly $1.62 billion to $1.90 billion. The transaction is expected to close in 2026 after regulatory approval and will transfer ownership of Optum UK’s electronic patient‑record (EPR) platform, which powers the majority of general‑practice practices across the United Kingdom.
The sale aligns with UnitedHealth’s long‑term strategy to streamline its international footprint and concentrate on its core U.S. operations. In recent quarterly reports, UnitedHealth has highlighted margin pressure from rising medical costs and a need for capital to support domestic growth initiatives. Divesting Optum UK frees up cash and management bandwidth, allowing the company to focus on its U.S. health‑services portfolio and pursue margin‑recovery projects.
For TPG, acquiring Optum UK represents a strategic expansion into the UK’s primary‑care technology market. The firm plans to merge Optum UK with its existing U.S. electronic‑health‑record provider Nextech, creating a global leader in EPR solutions. TPG’s track record of investing in health‑tech companies and its substantial capital base position it to scale the combined platform and capture new market share in both the U.K. and U.S. markets.
Regulatory scrutiny will be a key hurdle. UnitedHealth’s earlier acquisition of EMIS, which formed part of Optum UK, was cleared by UK regulators in 2023 after a Phase 2 probe. The current deal will undergo competition and data‑privacy reviews, with an expected approval window of several months. Both parties have indicated that they are prepared to meet the regulatory requirements and that the transaction is likely to close in the second half of 2026.
Financially, Optum UK is a significant revenue generator for UnitedHealth, supplying EPR systems to the majority of British general‑practice practices. While specific financials for the unit are not publicly disclosed, the valuation range reflects a premium on a high‑growth, high‑margin technology business. UnitedHealth’s Q4 2025 results showed margin compression, underscoring the need for capital and strategic focus. The sale is expected to improve UnitedHealth’s balance sheet and free up resources for domestic initiatives.
The transaction will also reshape the UK primary‑care technology landscape. By consolidating the market under a single, globally integrated platform, TPG could accelerate digital transformation across NHS practices and potentially open new revenue streams through cross‑border data analytics and cloud services. The deal signals a broader trend of consolidation in health‑IT, as firms seek scale to compete with emerging digital health startups and to meet increasing regulatory demands for data security and interoperability.
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