UnitedHealth Group (UNH) increased its 2024 profit by $3.3 billion by selling stakes in certain business units to firms such as Warburg Pincus and KKR (KKR) shortly before year-end, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The sales, which were mostly completed by Dec. 31, were included in key profit metrics, while a $7.1 billion loss from its Brazil exit was excluded, the report said.

UnitedHealth insisted on keeping the transactions private, giving some observers the impression that they were structured to help meet earnings targets, the report said. Without the gain, the company would have missed estimates for the first time in more than 15 years, the report added.

UnitedHealth referenced the sales in its January earnings call, saying they lowered operating costs, and later disclosed the $3.3 billion gain in its annual report, without naming the assets sold, the report said.

UnitedHealth Group did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

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