Sydney, Feb 20, 2026, 18:25 AEDT — Market closed
- Ramsay Health Care shares finished up on Friday, following its announcement to spin off most of its holding in the French-listed Ramsay Santé.
- Focus swings to approvals, timing specifics, and those Feb. 26 interim results.
Shares in Ramsay Health Care Ltd jumped 3.0% to finish at A$38.62 on Friday. The hospital operator detailed a plan to distribute its Ramsay Santé stake directly to shareholders, paving the way for a break from the persistently struggling French-listed business. (Market Index)
The company said splitting off the business would streamline operations, sharpening management’s focus on its core Australian hospitals. Ramsay Santé would stand on its own in Europe. Ramsay is looking to hand out its 52.79% stake via an in-specie distribution—shareholders would then have exposure through CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs), tradable on the ASX. The company is aiming for the fourth quarter of 2026, pending a green light from the board, shareholders, court, and regulators.
An in-specie distribution hands out assets instead of cash; here, it’s shares of Ramsay Santé that get delivered. CDIs function as tradeable receipts and provide holders with the same economic exposure tied to the underlying shares listed overseas.
Ramsay kicked off a strategic review last year and, for now, says it’s leaving its options open in case a more attractive offer appears. Hayden Beamish, Endeavor Asset Management’s chief investment officer, described Santé as a “persistent drag” and said the current plan looks “clean,” with room for a full sale down the line given the company’s debt load. (Reuters)
According to Sharecafe, Citi’s Laura Sutcliffe says Ramsay has set out a “baseline plan” for the split, though the board might still consider “superior alternatives” like selling the stake. The tax picture? Still murky. (Sharecafe)
Heading into Monday, traders are eyeing whether the stock can keep Friday’s gains after the dust settles. Ramsay hit A$39.19 in the session—there was some resistance on the tape right around that price.
Investors have some math to do. Full deconsolidation shifts Ramsay’s reported balance sheet and earnings, but shareholders still ride Santé’s ups and downs — and if a chunk of investors dumps the French-listed stock, brace for volatility.
This won’t wrap up anytime soon. The scheme of arrangement has to pass through court oversight, and the company’s talking about layers of approvals, drawn-out consultations in Europe, and a timeline pushing well into 2026. If there’s a holdup, a regulatory hitch, or if they swap the deal structure late in the game, the outlook gets messy fast.
Thursday brings interim results—investors are set to scrutinize management’s comments on the separation workstream and judge if the core Australian business is performing as expected. (ramsayhealth.com)
