Australia's HealthCo REIT surges as Healthscope finds new operator for hospital

Healthco Healthcare and Wellness Reit

28/05/2026 05:45

** Shares of HealthCo Healthcare and Wellness REIT HCW.AX rise as much as 16.8% to A$0.765, the biggest intra-day pct jump in a year, to their highest since January 28
** REIT says Healthscope agreed to appoint Bethesda Health Care as the new operator of its Mount Private Hospital
** Unlisted Healthcare Fund (UHF) and HealthCo REIT own 11 Healthscope hospitals, including Mount Private Hospital    
** Healthscope, one of Australia's largest private hospital operators, has a network of 38 hospitals and was placed under receivership a year ago
** Not-for-profit private hospital operator Bethesda will start operating Mount Private Hospital in 1Q27 under new long-term lease
** More than 2.3 million shares change hands, 4.2 times the 30-day average
** Stock down 2.1% YTD, including the day's moves

 (Reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru)
 ((Nikita.Jino@thomsonreuters.com;))