Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chipmaker, is exploring a potential US listing through American depositary receipts. The move, first reported by Bloomberg, comes as institutional investors push the Korean giant to make its shares more accessible to American capital.
Samsung already trades in the US over-the-counter under the ticker SSNLF. A formal ADR program on a major US exchange would be a different beast entirely.
The push from Artisan Partners
The driving force behind this initiative is Artisan Partners, a US-based asset manager that held a 0.7% stake in Samsung Electronics as of the end of 2025.
Artisan’s argument is straightforward. Samsung trades at a persistent discount to its American semiconductor peers, and the lack of a proper US listing is part of the problem. US institutional investors, particularly index funds and large mutual funds, face structural barriers when trying to buy shares that only trade on the Korea Exchange or through illiquid OTC channels.
