corporate actions · beginner
Record date
The record date is the cut-off date used to identify shareholders eligible for a corporate benefit.
Companies and registrars use holdings as of the record date to prepare entitlement lists.
Under the prevailing cash T+1 cycle, the ex-date and record date are closely linked on the exchange corporate-action calendar.
Missing the required holding timeline can mean losing a dividend or rights eligibility.
Record dates also matter for AGM voting lists and some buyback or rights processes.
Part of the Market Pulse Term of the Day series — factual market vocabulary, not investment advice.