** Shares of Ramsay Health Care RHC.AX rise as much as 4.5% to A$39.19, their highest since August 18
** Co says it plans to distribute its 52.79% stake in Ramsay Sante GDSF.PA to its shareholders, effectively separating from its long-underperforming French-listed business
** Healthcare services co adds distribution is expected in Q4 of 2026, subject to approvals
** Hayden Beamish, chief investment officer at Endeavor Asset Management, said the development was long overdue since "Sante has been a persistent drag, loss-making in Europe, consuming capital"
** YTD shares up 12.8%
(Reporting by Shruti Agarwal in Bengaluru)
((Shruti.Agarwal@thomsonreuters.com))