Form F-6 Filings

What Is SEC Form F-6?

SEC Form F-6 is an important filing required under the Securities Act of 1933. It is used to register depositary shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issued against deposited securities of a foreign issuer.

This form is typically filed when a depositary establishes or updates an ADR facility for foreign securities offered in the United States. It is event-driven and filed as needed.

Form F-6 ensures transparency by registering the ADRs themselves, while the deposited securities may require separate registration or an exemption.

Key elements typically found in SEC Form F-6 include:

• Name of the depositary and the foreign issuer
• Description of the American Depositary Shares and underlying deposited securities
• Terms of the deposit agreement and ADR holder rights
• Eligibility details for use of Form F-6
• Exhibits such as the deposit agreement and opinion of counsel
• Confirmation that the filing is submitted electronically on EDGAR

SEC Form F-6 Filing Deadlines

SEC Form F-6 does not have a fixed periodic filing deadline. It is generally filed when depositary shares evidenced by ADRs are being registered, or when a new Form F-6 is required in connection with a change in the depositary or ADR program structure.

Key Things to Know About Form F-6 Filing Rules

• ADR Registration Only: Form F-6 is available for registration of the depositary shares only, not the deposited securities themselves.
• Foreign Issuer Conditions Apply: The form may be used only if the eligibility conditions in the SEC’s Form F-6 instructions are satisfied, including conditions relating to withdrawal rights, the status of the deposited securities, and Exchange Act reporting or exemption.
• EDGAR Filing Is Required: Form F-6 must be filed electronically through the SEC’s EDGAR system in accordance with Regulation S-T.
• Supporting Documents Matter: The filing generally includes the deposit agreement and an opinion of counsel regarding the legality of the ADSs.
• New Filing May Be Needed Later: If the depositary for an ADR program changes, a new registration statement on Form F-6 must be filed.

To monitor ADR registrations, foreign issuer activity, and related disclosure changes, our SEC filings Search tools help you track filings and create free SEC filing alerts for forms, including Form F‑6. Related offering activity can be monitored through the Initial Public Offerings of the SEC Filing Insights