A PRACTICAL REFERENCE
How to read a company record
A short company filing can contain several dates and several corporate names. This guide turns those details into a reading checklist, with two worked examples.
Five details to identify first
- The issuer. Copy the full legal company name from the filing. Keep it separate from a similarly named parent, affiliate or fund.
- The form and item. A Form 8-K reports specified current events. The item heading helps identify what the company is disclosing.
- The person and capacity. Preserve qualifiers such as “acting” and distinguish an executive office from a board position.
- The event date. Look for language describing when an appointment, resignation or other change takes effect.
- The context. Check related exhibits, amendments and subsequent disclosures before drawing a broader conclusion.
Example 1: an acting appointment
FIRST CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION
Separate the role from the date
The September 2017 company disclosure identifies Suneet Singal’s appointment as acting chief executive officer, effective 12 September 2017. A careful summary keeps the company name, the word “acting” and the date together.
A precise note: “First Capital Investment Corporation reported an acting chief executive officer appointment effective 12 September 2017.” That record does not establish a current role years later.
Example 2: a reported transition
FC GLOBAL REALTY INCORPORATED
Three dates in one record
The report dated 28 December 2017 describes the resignation and separation agreement on 22 December 2017, with the chief executive officer departure effective 2 January 2018. The event, report and effective dates have different meanings.
When building a timeline, record these dates in separate fields. If you need only the date on which the transition took effect, use 2 January 2018 and retain the filing link.
A reusable source note
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Company | The exact issuer name |
| Document | Form, filing URL and relevant item |
| Person / role | The name and exact capacity described |
| Report date | The date attached to the company report |
| Event date | The date of the event described |
| Effective date | The date the event takes effect |
| Limits | What this document does not establish |
Avoid turning a record into a wider claim
A historical role is not current employment. An issuer filing is not an endorsement by the SEC. One event disclosure is not a complete professional or regulatory history. Keep a source note narrow enough that another reader can follow its link and find the same information.
See this method applied in the selected Suneet Singal professional timeline.