29 September 2025 , 08:51
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Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has announced plans to revamp its US listing, while emphasizing that it will keep its headquarters in the UK and remain listed on the London market.
Based in Cambridge, AstraZeneca is set to directly list its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange in an effort to “reach a broader mix of global investors.”
Until now, the Anglo-Swedish group has been trading in the US through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on Nasdaq, but ordinary shares are generally easier to trade than ADRs.
The FTSE 100 company stated that the plans would not impact its primary listing on the London market and its UK corporate headquarters, allowing investors to trade ordinary shares in the company across the London Stock Exchange, as well as in Stockholm and New York.
This development comes amid the company’s increased focus on the US to mitigate the effects of US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, with AstraZeneca recently announcing plans to invest 50 billion dollars (£37.2 billion) in the US over the next five years.
This will include a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Virginia—set to be its largest single manufacturing investment worldwide—and the expansion of its research and development (R&D) and cell therapy manufacturing operations in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Texas.
Despite being headquartered in the UK, the US is AstraZeneca’s largest market, where it employs more than 18,000 staff and accounts for 42% of the group’s total sales.
It already operates 19 R&D, manufacturing, and commercial sites across the US.
Michel Demare, chair of AstraZeneca, said: “Today, we set out our proposed harmonized listing structure, which will support our long-term strategy for sustainable growth, while remaining headquartered in the UK and listed in London, Stockholm, and New York.
“Enabling a global listing structure will allow us to reach a broader mix of global investors and make it even more attractive for all our shareholders to have the opportunity to participate in AstraZeneca’s exciting future.”
Shareholders will vote on the proposed US listing changes at a general meeting on November 3.
World Affairs Correspondent