Form 8-K is a very broad form used to notify investors in United States public companies of specified events that may be important to shareholders or the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. This is one of the most common types of forms filed with the SEC. After a significant event like bankruptcy or departure of a CEO, a public company generally must file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days to provide an update to previously filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and/or Annual Reports on Form 10-K. Form 8-K is required to be filed by public companies with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For a list of events that would trigger a Form 8-K to be filed, see the Official SEC Form 8-K Summary, briefly below, and this fully annotated Form 8-K, which contains links to all rules and SEC guidance applicable to the form.
Form 8-K is used to notify investors of a current event. These types of events include:
Signing, amending or terminating material definitive agreements not made in the ordinary course of business
Bankruptcies or receiverships
Mine shutdowns or violations of mine health and safety laws
Consummation of a material asset acquisition or sale
Results of operations and financial condition
Creating certain financial obligations, such as incurrence of material debt
Triggering events that accelerate material obligations (such as defaults on a loan)
Costs associated with exit or disposal plans
Layoffs
shutting down a plant
material change in services or outlets
Material impairments
Delisting from a securities exchange or failing to satisfy listing requirements
Unregistered equity sales (private placements)
Modifications to shareholder rights
Change in accountants
Determinations that previously issued financial statements cannot be relied upon
Change in control
Senior officer appointments and departures
Director elections and departures
Amendments to certificate/articles of incorporation or bylaws
Changes in fiscal year
Trading suspension under employee benefit plans
Amendments or waivers of code of ethics
Changes in shell company status
Results of shareholder votes
Disclosures applicable to issuers of asset-backed securities
Disclosures necessary to comply with Regulation FD
Other material events
Certain financial statements and other exhibits
Investors should always read any 8-K filings that are made by companies in which they are invested. These reports are often material to the company, and frequently contain information that will affect the share price.
Typically an 8-K filing will only have two major parts. They are:
The name and description of the event – this contains all the information that the company considers relevant to shareholders and the SEC. It is important to read this information, as it has been deemed "material" by the company.
Any exhibits that are relevant – these exhibits may include financial statements, press releases, data tables, or other information that is referenced in the description of the event.
