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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2004

Registration No. 333-119099



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
FORM F-6
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 FOR AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES EVIDENCED BY
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

Signet Group plc
(Exact name of issuer of deposited securities as specified in its charter)

n/a
(Translation of issuer's name into English)

England and Wales
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of issuer)

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
(Exact name of depositary as specified in its charter)

60 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
(212) 250-9100
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of depositary's principal executive offices)

CT Corporation
111 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10011
(212) -894-8940
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Attention: ADR Department
60 Wall Street,
New York, New York 10005
(212) 250-9100

        It is proposed that this filing become effective under Rule 466

            ý immediately upon filing    o on [date] at [time]

        If a separate registration statement has been filed to register the deposited shares, check the following box. o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered

  Amount to be
Registered

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Price Per Unit

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price

  Amount of
Registration Fee


American Depositary Shares, each representing thirty ordinary shares of Signet Group plc   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

        This Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement may on Form F-6 be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.





PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

        The Prospectus consists of the proposed form of American Depositary Receipt ("ADR" or "American Depositary Receipt") included as Exhibit A to the Amendment No. 1 to Deposit Agreement filed as Exhibit (a)(2) to the Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement on Form F-6 which is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 1. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

Cross Reference

Item Number and Caption

  Location in Form of Receipt Filed Herewith as Prospectus
1.       Name and address of depositary   Introductory Article

2.

 

 

 

Title of American Depositary Receipts and identity of deposited

 

Face of Receipt, top center securities

 

 

Terms of Deposit:

 

 

 

 

(i)

 

The amount of deposited securities represented by one unit of American Depositary Receipts

 

Face of Receipt, upper right corner

 

 

(ii)

 

The procedure for voting, if any, the deposited securities

 

Articles number 13, 14 and 18

 

 

(iii)

 

The collection and distribution of dividends

 

Articles number 4, 11, 13 and 18

 

 

(iv)

 

The transmission of notices, reports and proxy soliciting material

 

Articles number 9, 10, 13, 14, 16 and 18

 

 

(v)

 

The sale or exercise of rights

 

Articles number 12, 13 and 18

 

 

(vi)

 

The deposit or sale of securities resulting from dividends, splits or plans of reorganization

 

Articles number 11, 13, 15 and 18

 

 

(vii)

 

Amendment, extension or termination of the deposit

 

Articles number 20 and 21

 

 

(viii)

 

Rights of holders of Receipts to inspect the transfer books of the depositary and the list of holders of Receipts

 

Article number 16

 

 

(ix)

 

Restrictions upon the right to deposit or withdraw the underlying securities

 

Articles number 2, 3, 4, 5 and 22

 

 

(x)

 

Limitation upon the liability of the depositary

 

Articles number 12,18 and 21

3.

 

Fees and Charges

 

Article number 15

2



Item—2. AVAILABLE INFORMATION

(b)   Statement that Signet Group plc is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, accordingly, files certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission and that such reports can be inspected by holders of American Depositary Receipts and copied at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission in Washington, D.C.   Article number 10

3



PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 3. EXHIBITS

  (a)(1) Form of Deposit Agreement. Form of Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement among Signet Group plc, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as successor depositary (the "Depositary"), and all owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder (the "Deposit Agreement"). Previously filed and incorporate by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (Reg. No. 333-119099) filed with the Commission on September 23, 2004.

 

(a)(2)

Form of Amendment to Deposit Agreement. Form of Amendment No. 1 to Deposit Agreement among Signet Group plc, the Deposit and all owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder. Filed herewith as Exhibit (a)(2).

 

(b)

Any other agreement to which the Depositary is a party relating to the issuance of the American Depositary Shares registered hereunder or the custody of the deposited securities represented thereby. Not Applicable.

 

(c)

Every material contract relating to the deposited securities between the Depositary and the issuer of the deposited securities in effect at any time within the last three years. Not Applicable.

 

(d)

Opinion of counsel to the Depositary as to the legality of the securities being registered. Previously filed and incorporate by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (Reg. No. 333-119099) filed with the Commission on September 23, 2004.

 

(e)

Certificate under Rule 466. Filed herewith as Exhibit (e).

 

(f)

Power of Attorney. Included as part of the signature pages hereto.


Item 4. UNDERTAKINGS

  (a) The Depositary hereby undertakes to make available at the principal office of the Depositary in the United States, for inspection by holders of the American Depositary Receipts, any reports and communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities which are both (1) received by the Depositary as the holder of the deposited securities, and (2) made generally available to the holders of the underlying securities by the issuer.

 

(b)

If the amounts of fees charged are disclosed in the prospectus, the Depositary undertakes to prepare a separate document stating the amount of any fee charged and describing the service for which it is charged and to deliver promptly a copy of such fee schedule without charge to anyone upon request. The Depositary undertakes to notify each registered holder of an American Depositary Receipt thirty days before any change in the fee schedule.

4



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that all the requirements for filing on Form F-6 are met and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement on Form F-6 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of London, on October 14, 2004.

    Legal entity created by the agreement for the issuance of American Depositary Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing ordinary shares of Signet Group plc.

 

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, As Depositary

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
JEFF MARGOLICK      
Name: Jeff Margolick
Title: Vice President

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
CLARE BENSON      
Name: Clare Benson
Title: Vice President

5



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities of 1933, Signet Group plc certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that all the requirements for filing on Form F-6 are met and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement on Form F-6 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in London on October 14, 2004.

    SIGNET GROUP PLC

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
WALKER BOYD      
Name: Walker Boyd
Title: Group Finance Director

        Registration Statement on Form F-6 has been signed by the following persons in the following capacities on October 14, 2004.

Signature
  Title

 

 

 
*
James McAdam
  Chairman of the Board of Directors

*

Terry Burman

 

Group Chief Executive Officer and Director

*

Robert Blanchard

 

Director

*

Brooke Land

 

Director

*

Dale Hilpert

 

Director

*

Walker Boyd

 

Group Finance Director (Chief Financial Officer)

*

Russell Walls

 

Director

6



SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Signet Group plc has signed this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement on Form F-6 on October 14, 2004.

    Signet Group plc

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
TERRY BURMAN      
Name: Terry Burman
Title: Group Chief Executive and Director

By:



 

 
Name: Walker Boyd    
Title: Attorney-in-Fact    

7



INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number

   
  Sequentially Numbered Page
(a)(2)   Form of Amendment to Deposit Agreement    

(e)

 

Certification under Rule 466

 

 

8




QuickLinks

PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT
INDEX TO EXHIBITS