AstraZeneca to Shift US Listing to New York Stock Exchange

London-listed drugmaker AstraZeneca has announced plans to delist its American Depositary Shares and debt securities from Nasdaq and move to a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange, marking a significant change in its global trading structure. The company said the move will take effect after market close on January 30, with trading on the New York Stock Exchange expected to begin on February 2. AstraZeneca will retain its AZN ticker symbol in New York, aligning its US presence more closely with its ordinary shares rather than depositary instruments. The decision reflects a broader effort to simplify the company’s market structure while maintaining strong access to international investors across major financial centres.

The shift follows shareholder approval of a plan designed to harmonise AstraZeneca’s listings across multiple exchanges. Under the revised structure, investors will be able to trade the company’s ordinary shares directly on the London Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Stockholm and the New York Stock Exchange. By moving away from American Depositary Shares, which previously represented ordinary shares on a two for one basis, the company aims to streamline trading and improve clarity for investors. AstraZeneca said the change will simplify its multi market setup and create a more consistent experience for shareholders, particularly those operating across different regions and time zones.

Market participants said the move underscores the importance of New York as a global hub for healthcare and pharmaceutical investment, while allowing AstraZeneca to maintain its long standing presence in London. The company is one of the FTSE 100’s largest constituents and remains closely watched by UK investors, with its shares often influencing broader market performance. Analysts noted that while the change is largely technical, it reflects a trend among large multinational firms to reduce complexity in their listing arrangements as trading becomes increasingly global and electronic. The transition is not expected to affect the company’s operations, research activity or regulatory status in the United States or Europe.

AstraZeneca said the new structure would not alter its underlying business strategy or commitment to its core markets. The company continues to operate across a wide range of therapeutic areas and maintains major research and development hubs in the UK, Europe and the United States. Investors will be watching closely to see whether the simplified listing leads to changes in trading volumes or investor engagement over time. The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of global equity markets and as companies reassess how best to position themselves to attract long-term capital in an increasingly competitive environment.