NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Nov. 8, 2006--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today it affirmed its 'A' counterparty credit rating on UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) and affirmed its various ratings on UNH's operating companies as the company prepares to restate financials for the period 1994-2006. The outlook on all these companies remains negative. "These noncash, nonoperational restatements for compensation expenses, using the variable accounting method of valuing stock options, could be material to certain prior period earnings but would have limited impact to the company's capital," explained Standard&Poor's credit analyst Shellie Stoddard. "The restatements would result in treating stock options in a manner consistent with Standard&Poor's historical view that the fair value of stock options
