SEC Form F-N

SEC Form F-N is a filing required of foreign banks, insurers, holding companies and subsidiaries that want to make public securities offerings in the U.S. The form, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is a notification of the appointment of an agent for service by certain foreign institutions. In short, SEC Form F-N it is a requirement of foreign financial services-related companies as part of a securities offering. It is part of the F series of SEC filings that apply to foreign companies making offerings in the United States. As of 2002, SEC Form F-N must be filed electronically. 

SEC Form F-N is more formally known as "appointment of agent for service of process by foreign banks and foreign insurance companies and certain of their holding companies and finance subsidiaries making public offerings of securities in the United States." Form F-N may also be known as the "Appointment of Agent for Service of Process by Foreign Banks and Foreign Insurance Companies under the Securities Act of 1933." This act, often referred to as the "truth in securities" law, requires that these registration forms, which provide essential facts, be filed in order to disclose important information upon registration of a company's securities. This helps the SEC achieve the act's objectives: that investors are able to receive significant information regarding securities offered, and to prevent fraud in the sale of the offered securities.

If the foreign issuer has already filed an SEC Form F-X, it is exempt from having to file this form under the Securities Act of 1933. Forms F-N and F-X are both used to designate a U.S. agent for service of process. Issuers are also exempt from having to file Form F-N if they are issuing debt securities or non-voting preferred shares.

According to the SEC, Form F-N applies to three types if filers:

1. A foreign issuer that is a foreign bank or foreign insurance company excepted from the definition of an investment company by rule 3a-6 [17 CFR 270.3a-6] under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”);
2. A foreign issuer that is a finance subsidiary of a foreign bank or foreign insurance company, as those terms are defined in rule 3a-6 under the 1940 Act, if such finance subsidiary is excepted from the definition of investment company by rule 3a-5 [17 CFR 270.3a-5] under the 1940 Act; or
3. A foreign issuer that is excepted from the definition of investment company by rule 3a-1 [17 CFR 270.3a-1] under the 1940 Act because some or all of its majority-owned subsidiaries are foreign banks or foreign insurance companies excepted from the definition of investment company by rule 3a-6 under the 1940 Act.

The SEC provides a Form F-N template, which is valid until May 31, 2021. Six copies of Form F-N must be filed with the SEC, one of which must be signed manually. The estimated time burden for filing a Form F-N is one hour. It contains the name of the filer, whether the filing is original or an amendment, the registrant's name, form type, file number (if known), who filed the form and the date filed, among other information.