UnitedHealth Group Board Increases Shareholder Dividend 32%; Renews Share Repurchase Program
UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) announced today that its Board of Directors authorized payment of a cash dividend of $0.28 per share, to be paid on June 21, 2013, to all shareholders of record of UnitedHealth Group common stock as of the close of business on June 14, 2013. This represents a 32 percent increase over the quarterly dividend of $0.2125 per share the Company has paid beginning with the second quarter 2012. Future dividend payments are subject to Board approval and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.
The Board also renewed the Company’s Share Repurchase Program, authorizing the purchase of 110 million shares over time. This Board action replaces the remainder of the June 2012 authorization. As of May 31, 2013, there were approximately 63 million shares remaining under the prior authorization, and the Company had approximately one billion common shares outstanding.
David S. Wichmann, executive vice president and chief financial officer, UnitedHealth Group, said, “The Board’s actions reflect the Company’s growth and consistent financial performance, driven by market demand for our expanding array of health benefits and services. The increased dividend improves the rate at which we return cash to shareholders, while the renewed share repurchase program strengthens and extends our ability to repurchase shares at favorable prices for the benefit of long term shareholders.”
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making health care work better. With headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. Through its businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 80 million people worldwide. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at .
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