Centene has completed the sale of Circle Health Group, one of the U.K.'s largest independent hospital operators, to Pure Health.
Centene invested in Circle Health in 2019 and acquired the remaining equity interests in the company in 2021, according to a Jan. 12 news release. Centene announced in August that it was selling the business to Pure Health, the largest integrated healthcare network in the Middle East, for $1.2 billion.
Centene CEO Sarah London said in the release the deal reflects the company's focus on its core business operations. She has overseen the divestiture of several non-core businesses since taking over the role in March 2022. She told Fortune in June that the businesses that have been sold were keeping Centene from being as efficient as it could be.