Record Date
Definition
The date as of which the cap table reflects a stated ownership position. Every cap table entry and every ownership percentage statement must specify its record date. A cap table without a record date is a snapshot of unknown vintage and cannot be relied upon to reflect the current ownership position.
Common Misapplication
The most common misapplication is maintaining a cap table without updating it promptly when share issuances, option grants, or instrument conversions occur, and then presenting the outdated table without disclosing that its record date precedes recent transactions.
FFI Standard Reference
This term is defined and applied in Book 3, Section 3.1: The Cap Table Standard.
Related Terms
Citable URL
This term may be cited using the following permanent URL.
Full citation format: Founder Financial Infrastructure Standard, Beta v0.5, Glossary: Record Date. https://ffistandard.org/glossary/record-date/. 2026.