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RBC Capital Markets® |
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration Statement No. 333-227001
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The information in this preliminary terms supplement is not complete and may be changed.
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Preliminary Terms Supplement
Subject to Completion:
Dated April 17, 2019
Pricing Supplement Dated April __, 2019 to the Product Prospectus Supplement No. CCBN-1, Dated September 10, 2018 and the Prospectus Supplement and the
Prospectus, Each Dated September 7, 2018
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$
Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Equity
Exchange Traded Funds, Due April 22, 2021
Royal Bank of Canada
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Royal Bank of Canada is offering Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes (the “Notes”) linked to the lesser performing of the shares
of three exchange traded funds (each, a “Reference Stock,” and collectively, the “Reference Stocks”). The Notes offered are senior unsecured obligations of Royal Bank of Canada, will pay a quarterly Contingent Coupon at the rate and under the
circumstances specified below, and will have the terms described in the documents described above, as supplemented or modified by this terms supplement.
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Reference Stocks
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Initial Stock Prices*
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Coupon Barriers and Trigger Prices
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Invesco QQQTM Trust, Series 1 (“QQQ”)
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[●]
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65.00% of its Initial Stock Price
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Financial Select Sector SPDR® Fund (“XLF”)
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[●]
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65.00% of its Initial Stock Price
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Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund (“XLU”)
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[●]
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65.00% of its Initial Stock Price
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* For each Reference Stock, the
Initial Stock Price will be its closing price on the Trade Date.
The Notes do not guarantee any return of principal at
maturity. Any payments on the Notes are subject to our credit risk.
Investing in the Notes involves a number of
risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-5 of the product prospectus supplement dated September 10, 2018, on page S-1 of the prospectus supplement dated September 7, 2018, and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page P-8 of this
terms supplement.
The Notes will not constitute deposits insured
by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other Canadian or U.S. government agency or instrumentality. The Notes are not subject to conversion into our common shares under subsection
39.2(2.3) of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the
Notes or determined that this terms supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Issuer:
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Royal Bank of Canada
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Stock Exchange Listing:
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None
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Trade Date:
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April 18, 2019
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Principal Amount:
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$1,000 per Note
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Issue Date:
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April 24, 2019
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Maturity Date:
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April 22, 2021
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Observation Dates:
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Quarterly, as set forth below.
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Coupon Payment Dates:
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Quarterly, as set forth below
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Valuation Date:
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April 19, 2021
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Contingent Coupon Rate:
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6.75% per annum
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Contingent Coupon:
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If the closing price of each Reference Stock is greater
than or equal to its Coupon Barrier on the applicable Observation Date, we will pay the Contingent Coupon applicable to the corresponding Observation Date. You may not receive any Contingent Coupons during the term of the Notes.
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Payment at Maturity (if
held to maturity):
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If the Notes are not previously called, we will pay you at maturity an amount based on the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock:
For each $1,000 in principal amount, $1,000 plus the Contingent Coupon at maturity, unless the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock is
less than its Trigger Price.
If the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock is less than its Trigger Price, then the investor will receive at maturity, for each $1,000
in principal amount, a cash payment equal to:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Reference Stock Return of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock)
Investors in the Notes could lose some or all of their principal amount if the Final Stock Price of the Lesser
Performing Reference Stock is less than its Trigger Price.
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Lesser Performing
Reference Stock:
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The Reference Stock with the lowest Reference Stock Return.
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Call Feature:
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If the closing price of each Reference Stock is greater
than or equal to its Initial Stock Price on any Observation Date, the Notes will be automatically called for 100% of their principal amount, plus the Contingent Coupon applicable to the corresponding Observation Date.
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Call Settlement Dates:
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The Coupon Payment Date corresponding to that Observation Date.
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Final Stock Price:
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For each Reference Stock, its closing price on the Valuation Date.
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CUSIP:
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78013X5T1
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Per Note
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Total
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Price to public(1)
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100.00%
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$
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Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)
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[1.25 - 2.25]%
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$
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Proceeds to Royal Bank of Canada
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[97.75 - 98.75]%
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$
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Certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forego some or all of their underwriting discount or selling concessions. The public
offering price for investors purchasing the Notes in these accounts may be between $[977.50 to 987.50] and $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount.
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The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the Trade Date is expected to be between $955.06 and $975.06 per $1,000 in
principal amount, and will be less than the price to public. The final pricing supplement relating to the Notes will set forth our estimate of the initial value of the Notes as of the Trade Date. The actual value of the Notes at any time will
reflect many factors, cannot be predicted with accuracy, and may be less than this amount. We describe our determination of the initial estimated value in more detail below.
If the Notes priced on the date of this terms supplement, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, which we refer to as RBCCM, acting as agent for Royal Bank of
Canada, would receive a commission of approximately $[12.50 - 22.50] per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes and would use a portion of that commission to allow selling concessions to other dealers of up to approximately $[12.50 - 22.50] per
$1,000 in principal amount of the Notes. These amounts will be determined on the Trade Date. The other dealers may forgo, in their sole discretion, some or all of their selling concessions. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of
Interest)” below.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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SUMMARY
The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more detailed information set forth in this terms supplement, the product prospectus
supplement, the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus.
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General:
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This terms supplement relates to an offering of Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes (the “Notes”) linked to the lesser performing
of the shares of three exchange traded funds (the “Reference Stocks”).
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Issuer:
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Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”)
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Trade Date:
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April 18, 2019
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Issue Date:
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April 24, 2019
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Valuation Date:
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April 19, 2021
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Maturity Date:
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April 22, 2021
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Denominations:
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Minimum denomination of $1,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter.
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Designated Currency:
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U.S. Dollars
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Contingent Coupon:
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We will pay you a Contingent Coupon during the term of the Notes, periodically in arrears on each Coupon Payment Date, under the conditions
described below:
• If the closing price of each Reference Stock is greater than or equal to its Coupon Barrier on the applicable
Observation Date, we will pay the Contingent Coupon applicable to that Observation Date.
• If the closing price of any of the Reference Stocks is less than its Coupon Barrier on the applicable Observation
Date, we will not pay you the Contingent Coupon applicable to that Observation Date.
You may not receive a Contingent Coupon for one or more quarterly periods during the term of the Notes.
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Contingent Coupon Rate:
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6.75% per annum (1.6875% per quarter)
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Observation Dates:
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Quarterly, on July 18, 2019, October 18, 2019, January 21, 2020, April 20, 2020, July 20, 2020, October 19, 2020, January 19, 2021 and the Valuation Date.
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Coupon Payment Dates:
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The Contingent Coupon, if payable, will be paid quarterly on July 23, 2019, October 23, 2019, January 24, 2020, April 23, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 22, 2020,
January 22, 2021 and the Maturity Date.
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Record Dates:
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The record date for each Coupon Payment Date will be one business day prior to that scheduled Coupon Payment Date; provided, however, that any Contingent Coupon
payable at maturity or upon a call will be payable to the person to whom the payment at maturity or upon the call, as the case may be, will be payable.
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Call Feature:
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If, on any Observation Date, the closing price of each Reference Stock is greater than or equal to its Initial Stock Price, then the Notes will be automatically
called.
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Payment if Called:
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If the Notes are automatically called, then, on the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, you will receive $1,000 plus the
Contingent Coupon otherwise due on that Call Settlement Date.
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Call Settlement Dates:
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If the Notes are called on any Observation Date, the Call Settlement Date will be the Coupon Payment Date corresponding to that Observation Date.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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Initial Stock Price:
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For each Reference Stock, its closing price on the Trade Date.
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Final Stock Price:
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For each Reference Stock, its closing price on the Valuation Date.
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Trigger Price and Coupon
Barrier:
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For each Reference Stock, 65.00% of its Initial Stock Price. The actual Trigger Prices and Coupon Barriers will be determined on the Trade
Date.
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Payment at Maturity (if
not previously called and
held to maturity):
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If the Notes are not previously called, we will pay you at maturity an amount based on the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing
Reference Stock:
• If the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock is greater than or equal to its Trigger Price, we will pay you a cash payment equal to the principal amount plus the Contingent Coupon otherwise due on
the Maturity Date.
• If the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock is less than its Trigger Price, you will receive at maturity, for each $1,000 in principal amount, a cash payment equal to:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Reference Stock Return of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock)
The amount of cash that you receive will be less than your principal amount, if anything, resulting in a loss that is proportionate to the decline of the Lesser
Performing Reference Stock from the Trade Date to the Valuation Date. Investors in the Notes will lose some or all of their principal amount if the Final Stock Price
of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock is less than its Trigger Price.
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Stock Settlement:
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Not applicable. Payments on the Notes will be made solely in cash.
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Reference Stock Return:
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With respect to each Reference Stock:
Final Stock Price – Initial Stock Price
Initial Stock Price
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Lesser Performing
Reference Stock:
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The Reference Stock with the lowest Reference Stock Return.
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Market Disruption Events:
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The occurrence of a market disruption event (or a non-trading day) as to any of the Reference Stocks will result in the postponement of an
Observation Date or the Valuation Date as to that Reference Stock, as described in the product prospectus supplement, but not to any non-affected Reference Stock.
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Calculation Agent:
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBCCM”)
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U.S. Tax Treatment:
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By purchasing a Note, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the
contrary) to treat the Notes as a callable pre-paid cash-settled contingent income-bearing derivative contract linked to the Reference Stocks for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your
investment in the Notes are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the Notes should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. Please see the section below, “Supplemental
Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” and the discussion (including the opinion of our counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP) in the product prospectus supplement dated September 10, 2018 under “Supplemental Discussion of
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” which apply to the Notes.
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Secondary Market:
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RBCCM (or one of its affiliates), though not obligated to do so, may maintain a secondary market in the Notes after the Issue Date. The
amount that you may receive upon sale of your Notes prior to maturity may be less than the principal amount.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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Listing:
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The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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Settlement:
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DTC global (including through its indirect participants Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg as described under “Description of Debt
Securities—Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in the prospectus dated September 7, 2018).
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Terms Incorporated in the
Master Note:
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All of the terms appearing above the item captioned “Secondary Market” on pages P-2 and P-3 of this terms supplement and the terms
appearing under the caption “General Terms of the Notes” in the product prospectus supplement dated September 10, 2018, as modified by this terms supplement.
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The Trade Date, issue date and other dates set forth above are subject to change, and will be set forth in the final pricing
supplement relating to the Notes.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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ADDITIONAL TERMS OF YOUR NOTES
You should read this terms supplement together with the prospectus dated September 7, 2018, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated
September 7, 2018 and the product prospectus supplement dated September 10, 2018, relating to our Senior Global Medium-Term Notes, Series H, of which these Notes are a part. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this terms supplement will
have the meanings given to them in the product prospectus supplement. In the event of any conflict, this terms supplement will control. The Notes vary from
the terms described in the product prospectus supplement in several important ways. You should read this terms supplement carefully.
This terms supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the Notes and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral
statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should
carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” in the prospectus supplement dated September 7, 2018 and in the product prospectus supplement dated September 10, 2018, as the Notes involve risks not associated with
conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Notes. You may access these documents on the Securities and Exchange Commission website at www.sec.gov as
follows (or if that address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
Prospectus dated September 7, 2018:
Prospectus Supplement dated September 7, 2018:
Product Prospectus Supplement dated September 10, 2018:
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1000275. As used in this terms supplement, “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Royal Bank of Canada.
Royal Bank of Canada has filed a registration statement (including a product prospectus supplement, a prospectus supplement, and a prospectus) with the SEC for the
offering to which this terms supplement relates. Before you invest, you should read those documents and the other documents relating to this offering that we have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering. You
may obtain these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Royal Bank of Canada, any agent or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the product prospectus supplement,
the prospectus supplement and the prospectus if you so request by calling toll-free at 1-877-688-2301.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES
The table set out below is included for illustration purposes only. The table illustrates the Payment at Maturity of the Notes
(including the final Contingent Coupon, if payable) for a hypothetical range of performance for the Lesser Performing Reference Stock, assuming the following terms and that the Notes are not automatically called prior to maturity:
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Hypothetical Initial Stock Price (for each Reference Stock):
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$100.00*
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Hypothetical Trigger Price and Coupon Barrier (for each Reference Stock):
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$65.00, which is 65.00% of its hypothetical Initial Stock Price (the actual Trigger Prices and Coupon Barriers will be determined on the Trade Date).
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Contingent Coupon Rate:
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6.75% per annum (or 1.6875% per quarter)
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Contingent Coupon Amount:
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$16.875 per quarter
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Observation Dates:
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Quarterly
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Principal Amount:
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$1,000 per Note
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* The hypothetical Initial Stock Price of $100 used in the examples below has been chosen for illustrative purposes only and does
not represent the expected actual Initial Stock Price of any Reference Stock. The actual Initial Stock Price for each Reference Stock will be set forth on the cover page of the final pricing supplement relating to the Notes. We make no representation or warranty as to which of the Reference Stocks will be the Lesser Performing Reference Stock. It is possible that the Final Stock
Price of each Reference Stock will be less than its Initial Stock Price.
Hypothetical Final Stock Prices are shown in the first column on the left. The second column shows the Payment at Maturity for a
range of Final Stock Prices on the Valuation Date. The third column shows the amount of cash to be paid on the Notes per $1,000 in principal amount. If the Notes are called prior to maturity, the hypothetical examples below will not be relevant,
and you will receive on the applicable Coupon Payment Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, $1,000 plus the Contingent Coupon otherwise due on the Notes.
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Hypothetical Final Stock
Price of the Lesser
Performing Reference
Stock
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Payment at Maturity as
Percentage of Principal
Amount
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Payment at Maturity
(assuming that the Notes
were not previously called)
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$150.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$140.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$125.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$120.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$110.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$100.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$90.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$80.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$70.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$65.00
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101.6875%
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$1,016.875*
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$64.99
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64.9900%
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$649.900
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$60.00
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60.0000%
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$600.000
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$50.00
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50.0000%
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$500.000
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$40.00
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40.0000%
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$400.000
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$30.00
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30.0000%
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$300.000
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$20.00
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20.0000%
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$200.000
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$10.00
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10.0000%
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$100.000
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$0.00
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0.0000%
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$0.000
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*Including the final Contingent Coupon, if payable.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity
The following hypothetical examples illustrate how the payments at maturity set forth in the table above are calculated, assuming
the Notes have not been called.
Example 1: The price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock
increases by 40% from the Initial Stock Price of $100.00 to its Final Stock Price of $140.00. Because the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock is greater than its Trigger Price and Coupon Barrier, the investor
receives at maturity, in addition to the final Contingent Coupon otherwise due on the Notes, a cash payment of $1,000 per Note, despite the 40% appreciation in the price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock.
Example 2: The price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock
decreases by 10% from the Initial Stock Price of $100.00 to its Final Stock Price of $90.00. Because the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock is greater than its Trigger Price and Coupon Barrier, the investor
receives at maturity, in addition to the final Contingent Coupon otherwise due on the Notes, a cash payment of $1,000 per Note, despite the 10% decline in the price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock.
Example 3: The price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock
is $50.00 on the Valuation Date, which is less than its Trigger Price and Coupon Barrier. Because the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock is less than its Trigger Price and Coupon Barrier, the final Contingent
Coupon will not be payable on the Maturity Date, and we will pay only $500.00 for each $1,000 in the principal amount of the Notes, calculated as follows:
Principal Amount + (Principal Amount x Reference Stock Return of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock)
= $1,000 + ($1,000 x -50.00%) = $1,000 - $500.00 = $500.00
* * *
The Payments at Maturity shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on prices of the Reference Stocks that may not be achieved on the
Valuation Date and on assumptions that may prove to be erroneous. The actual market value of your Notes on the Maturity Date or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell your Notes, may bear little relation to the hypothetical
Payments at Maturity shown above, and those amounts should not be viewed as an indication of the financial return on an investment in the Notes or on an investment in any Reference Stock or the securities represented by any Reference Stock.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
|
SELECTED RISK CONSIDERATIONS
An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. Investing in the Notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Reference Stocks. These
risks are explained in more detail in the section “Risk Factors” in the product prospectus supplement. In addition to the risks described in the prospectus supplement and the product prospectus supplement, you should consider the following:
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Principal at Risk — Investors in the Notes could lose all or a substantial portion of their principal
amount if there is a decline in the trading price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock between the Trade Date and the Valuation Date. If the Notes are not automatically called and the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing
Reference Stock on the Valuation Date is less than its Trigger Price, the amount of cash that you receive at maturity will represent a loss of your principal that is proportionate to the decline in the closing price of the Lesser
Performing Reference Stock from the Trade Date to the Valuation Date. Any Contingent Coupons received on the Notes prior to the Maturity Date may not be sufficient to compensate for any such loss.
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| • |
The Notes Are Subject to an Automatic Call — If on any Observation Date, the closing price of each
Reference Stock is greater than or equal to its Initial Stock Price, then the Notes will be automatically called. If the Notes are automatically called, then, on the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 in principal
amount, you will receive $1,000 plus the Contingent Coupon otherwise due on the applicable Call Settlement Date. You will not receive any Contingent Coupons after the Call Settlement Date. You may be unable to reinvest your proceeds
from the automatic call in an investment with a return that is as high as the return on the Notes would have been if they had not been called.
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| • |
You May Not Receive Any Contingent Coupons — We will not necessarily make any coupon payments on the
Notes. If the closing price of any of the Reference Stocks on an Observation Date is less than its Coupon Barrier, we will not pay you the Contingent Coupon applicable to that Observation Date. If the closing price of any of the
Reference Stocks is less than its Coupon Barrier on each of the Observation Dates and on the Valuation Date, we will not pay you any Contingent Coupons during the term of, and you will not receive a positive return on your Notes.
Generally, this non-payment of the Contingent Coupon coincides with a period of greater risk of principal loss on your Notes. Accordingly, if we do not pay the Contingent Coupon on the Maturity Date, you will also incur a loss of
principal, because the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock will be less than its Trigger Price.
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| • |
The Notes Are Linked to the Lesser Performing Reference Stock, Even if the Other Reference Stocks Perform Better
— If any the Reference Stocks has a Final Stock Price that is less than its Trigger Price, your return will be linked to the lesser performing of the Reference Stocks. Even if the Final Stock Price of the other Reference
Stocks have increased compared to their respective Initial Stock Prices, or have experienced a decrease that is less than that of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock, your return will only be determined by reference to the
performance of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock, regardless of the performance of the other Reference Stocks.
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| • |
Your Payment on the Notes Will Be Determined by Reference to Each Reference Stock Individually, Not to a Basket,
and the Payment at Maturity Will Be Based on the Performance of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock — The Payment at Maturity will be determined only by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Reference
Stock, regardless of the performance of the other Reference Stocks. The Notes are not linked to a weighted basket, in which the risk may be mitigated and diversified among each of the basket components. For example, in the case of
notes linked to a weighted basket, the return would depend on the weighted aggregate performance of the basket components reflected as the basket return. As a result, the depreciation of one basket component could be mitigated by the
appreciation of the other basket components, as scaled by the weighting of those basket components. However, in the case of the Notes, the individual performance of each of the Reference Stocks would not be combined, and the
depreciation of one Reference Stock would not be mitigated by any appreciation of the other Reference Stocks. Instead, your return will depend solely on the Final Stock Price of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
|
| • |
The Call Feature and the Contingent Coupon Feature Limit Your Potential Return — The return potential of
the Notes is limited to the pre-specified Contingent Coupon Rate, regardless of the appreciation of the Reference Stocks. In addition, the total return on the Notes will vary based on the number of Observation Dates on which the
Contingent Coupon becomes payable prior to maturity or an automatic call. Further, if the Notes are called due to the Call Feature, you will not receive any Contingent Coupons or any other payment in respect of any Observation Dates
after the applicable Call Settlement Date. Since the Notes could be called as early as the first Observation Date, the total return on the Notes could be minimal. If the Notes are not called, you may be subject to the full downside
performance of the Lesser Performing Reference Stock even though your potential return is limited to the Contingent Coupon Rate. As a result, the return on an investment in the Notes could be less than the return on a direct
investment in the Reference Stocks.
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| • |
Your Return May Be Lower than the Return on a Conventional Debt Security of Comparable Maturity — The
return that you will receive on the Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. Even if your return is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought
a conventional senior interest bearing debt security of Royal Bank.
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Payments on the Notes Are Subject to Our Credit Risk, and Changes in Our Credit Ratings Are Expected to Affect
the Market Value of the Notes — The Notes are our senior unsecured debt securities. As a result, your receipt of any Contingent Coupons, if payable, and the amount due on any relevant payment date is dependent upon our
ability to repay its obligations on the applicable payment dates. This will be the case even if the prices of the Reference Stocks increase after the Trade Date. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be
during the term of the Notes.
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There May Not Be an Active Trading Market for the Notes-Sales in the Secondary Market May Result in Significant
Losses — There may be little or no secondary market for the Notes. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. RBCCM and our other affiliates may make a market for the Notes; however, they are not required to do
so. RBCCM or any other affiliate of ours may stop any market-making activities at any time. Even if a secondary market for the Notes develops, it may not provide significant liquidity or trade at prices advantageous to you. We expect
that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and asked prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial.
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The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Will Be Less than the Price to the Public — The initial estimated value that will be set forth in the final pricing supplement for the Notes does not represent a minimum price at which we, RBCCM or any of
our affiliates would be willing to purchase the Notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. If you attempt to sell the Notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and the
initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the prices of the Reference Stocks, the borrowing rate we pay to issue securities of this kind, and the inclusion in the price to the public of the underwriting
discount and the estimated costs relating to our hedging of the Notes. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to
sell the Notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the Notes in complex and unpredictable ways. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which you may be able to
sell your Notes prior to maturity may be less than your original purchase price, as any such sale price would not be expected to include the underwriting discount and the hedging costs relating to the Notes. In addition to bid-ask
spreads, the value of the Notes determined by RBCCM for any secondary market price is expected to be based on the secondary rate rather than the internal funding rate used to price the Notes and determine the initial estimated value.
As a result, the secondary price will be less than if the internal funding rate was used. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.
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The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes that We Will Provide in the Final Pricing Supplement Will Be an
Estimate Only, Calculated as of the Time the Terms of the Notes Are Set — The initial estimated value of the Notes will be based on the value of our obligation to make the payments on the Notes, together with the mid-market
value of the derivative embedded in the terms of the Notes. See “Structuring the Notes” below. Our estimate will be based on a variety of assumptions, including our credit spreads, expectations as to dividends,
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interest rates and volatility, and the expected term of the Notes. These assumptions are based on certain forecasts about future
events, which may prove to be incorrect. Other entities may value the Notes or similar securities at a price that is significantly different than we do.
The value of the Notes at any time after the Trade Date will vary based on many factors, including changes in
market conditions, and cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold the Notes in any secondary market, if any, should be expected to differ materially from the initial estimated value of your
Notes.
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An Investment in Notes Linked to the QQQ Is Subject to Risks Associated with Foreign Securities Markets — The
QQQ tracks the value of certain foreign equity securities. You should be aware that investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks. The foreign securities markets comprising the
Underlying Index may have less liquidity and may be more volatile than U.S. or other securities markets and market developments may affect foreign markets differently from U.S. or other securities markets. Direct or indirect
government intervention to stabilize these foreign securities markets, as well as cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in these markets. Also, there is generally less publicly available
information about foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.
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Prices of securities in foreign countries are subject to political, economic, financial and social factors
that apply in those geographical regions. These factors, which could negatively affect those securities markets, include the possibility of recent or future changes in a foreign government’s economic and fiscal policies, the possible imposition
of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies, the possibility of
outbreaks of hostility and political instability and the possibility of natural disaster or adverse public health developments in the region. Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in important
respects such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency.
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An Investment in the Notes Is Subject to Risks Associated with Specific Economic Sectors — The stocks
held by the XLF and XLU are issued by companies engaged in a specific sector of the economy. Accordingly, an investment in the Notes is subject to the specific risks of companies that operate in each of those sectors. An investment
in the Notes may accordingly be more risky than a security linked to a more diversified set of securities.
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Economic Conditions Have Adversely Impacted the Stock Prices of Many Companies in the Financial Services Sector,
and May Do So During the Term of the Notes — In recent years, economic conditions in the U.S. have resulted, and may continue to result, in significant losses among many companies that operate in the financial services
sector. These conditions have also resulted, and may continue to result, in a high degree of volatility in the stock prices of financial institutions, and substantial fluctuations in the profitability of these companies. Numerous
financial services companies have experienced substantial decreases in the value of their assets, taken action to raise capital (including the issuance of debt or equity securities), or even ceased operations. Further, companies in
the financial services sector have been subject to unprecedented government actions and regulation, which may limit the scope of their operations and, in turn, result in a decrease in value of these companies. Any of these factors may
have an adverse impact on the price of the XLF. As a result, the price of the XLF may be adversely affected by economic, political, or regulatory events affecting the financial services sector or one of the sub-sectors of the
financial services sector. This in turn could adversely impact the market value of the Notes and decrease the payments on the Notes.
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A Limited Number of Index Components May Affect the Level of the XLF, and the XLF Is Not Necessarily
Representative of the Sector — As of March 31, 2019, the top three index components constituted approximately 32.33% of the total weight of the Financial Select Sector Index. Any reduction in the market price of those
securities is likely to have a substantial adverse impact on the level of the relevant underlying index and consequently, the price of the XLF and the value of the Notes.
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While the securities included in an underlying index are common stocks of companies generally considered to be
involved in various segments of the financial sector, the securities included in its underlying index may not follow the price movements of the entire financial sector generally. If the securities included in the underlying index decline in
value, the underlying index will decline in value even if security prices in the financial sector generally increase in value.
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The Notes are Subject to Risks Relating to the Utility Industry — Utility companies are affected by
supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, rate caps or rate changes, and potential competition. In addition, natural
disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company’s equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.
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Among the risks that may affect utility companies are the following:
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risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods;
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restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and
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the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at reasonable prices.
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Any of these factors may reduce the price of the XLU, and adversely affect the payments on the Notes.
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Our Business Activities May Create Conflicts of Interest — We and our affiliates expect to engage in
trading activities related to the securities represented by the Reference Stocks that are not for the account of holders of the Notes or on their behalf. These trading activities may present a conflict between the holders’ interests
in the Notes and the interests we and our affiliates will have in their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including options and other derivatives transactions, for their customers and in accounts under their
management. These trading activities, if they influence the share price or prices, as applicable, of the Reference Stocks, could be adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes. We and one or more of our affiliates may, at
present or in the future, engage in business with the securities represented by the Reference Stocks, including making loans to or providing advisory services. These services could include investment banking and merger and acquisition
advisory services. These activities may present a conflict between our or one or more of our affiliates’ obligations and your interests as a holder of the Notes. Moreover, we, and our affiliates may have published, and in the future
expect to publish, research reports with respect to the Reference Stocks or securities represented by the Reference Stocks. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations
that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Notes. Any of these activities by us or one or more of our affiliates may affect the share price or prices, as applicable, of the Reference Stocks, and, therefore, the market value
of the Notes.
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Owning the Notes Is Not the Same as Owning the Securities Represented by the Reference Stocks — The
return on your Notes is unlikely to reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned shares of the Reference Stocks or the securities represented by the Reference Stocks. For instance, you will not receive or be entitled to
receive any dividend payments or other distributions on these securities during the term of your Notes. As an owner of the Notes, you will not have voting rights or any other rights that holders of these securities may have.
Furthermore, the Reference Stocks may appreciate substantially during the term of the Notes, while your potential return will be limited to the applicable Contingent Coupon payments.
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You Must Rely on Your Own Evaluation of the Merits of an Investment Linked to the Reference Stocks — In
the ordinary course of their business, our affiliates may have expressed views on expected movements in the Reference Stocks or the equity securities that they represent, and may do so in the future. These views or reports may be
communicated to our clients and clients of our affiliates. However, these views are subject to change from
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time to time. Moreover, other professionals who transact business in markets relating to any Reference Stock
may at any time have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. For these reasons, you are encouraged to derive information concerning the Reference Stocks from multiple sources, and you should not rely solely on views expressed
by our affiliates.
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Management Risk — The Reference Stocks are not managed according to traditional methods of ‘‘active’’
investment management, which involve the buying and selling of securities based on economic, financial and market analysis and investment judgment. Instead, each Reference Stock, utilizing a ‘‘passive’’ or indexing investment
approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of its underlying index by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicate its underlying index. Therefore, unless a specific security is removed from its
underlying index, the Reference Stock generally would not sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble. In addition, each Reference Stock is subject to the risk that the investment strategy of its investment
advisor may not produce the intended results.
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The Reference Stocks and their Underlying Indices Are Different — The performance of each Reference
Stock may not exactly replicate the performance of its respective underlying index, because these Reference Stocks will reflect transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of its underlying index. It is also
possible that the performance of these Reference Stocks may not fully replicate or may in certain circumstances diverge significantly from the performance of their underlying indices due to the temporary unavailability of certain
securities in the secondary market, the performance of any derivative instruments contained in the Reference Stocks, or due to other circumstances. These Reference Stocks may use futures contracts, options, swap agreements, currency
forwards and repurchase agreements in seeking performance that corresponds to their underlying indices and in managing cash flows.
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During periods of market volatility, securities held by these Reference Stocks may be unavailable in the
secondary market, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately their net asset value per share and their liquidity may be adversely affected. This kind of market volatility may also disrupt the ability of market participants to
create and redeem shares of the applicable Reference Stock. Further, market volatility may adversely affect, sometimes materially, the prices at which market participants are willing to buy and sell shares of the applicable Reference Stock. As a
result, under these circumstances, the market value of shares of these Reference Stocks may vary substantially from the applicable net asset value per share. For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of these Reference Stocks may not
correlate with the performance of their underlying indices as well as their net asset value per share, which could materially and adversely affect the value of the Notes in the secondary market and/or reduce the payments on the Notes.
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We and Our Affiliates Do Not Have Any Affiliation with the Advisor or the Sponsors of the Reference Stocks or
the Underlying Indices and Are Not Responsible for Their Public Disclosure of Information — We and our affiliates are not affiliated with the investment advisor or the sponsors of any Reference Stock or their underlying
indices in any way and have no ability to control or predict their actions, including any errors in or discontinuance of disclosure regarding its methods or policies relating to the Reference Stocks or the underlying indices. The
investment advisor or the sponsors of the Reference Stocks and the underlying indices are not involved in the offering of the Notes in any way and have no obligation to consider your interests as an owner of the Notes in taking any
actions relating to the Reference Stocks that might affect the value of the Notes. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has independently verified the adequacy or accuracy of the information about the investment advisor, the sponsors,
or the Reference Stocks contained in any public disclosure of information. You, as an investor in the Notes, should make your own investigation into the Reference Stocks.
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The Policies of the Reference Stocks’ Investment Advisers or Underlying Indices Could Affect the Amount Payable
on the Notes and Their Market Value — The policies of the Reference Stocks’ investment advisers concerning the management of the Reference Stocks, or the index sponsor for each underlying index, concerning the calculation of
each underlying index, additions, deletions or substitutions of the securities held by the Reference Stocks could affect the market price of shares of the Reference Stocks and, therefore, the amount payable on the Notes on the
maturity date and the market value of the Notes before that date. The amount payable on the Notes and their market value could also be affected if the Reference Stocks’ investment advisers or relevant sponsors change these policies,
for example, by changing the manner in which an investment adviser
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manages the Reference Stocks, or if the sponsor changes the manner in which it calculates the applicable
index, or if a Reference Stock’s investment adviser discontinues or suspends maintenance of a Reference Stock, in which case it may become difficult to determine the market value of the Notes. The Reference Stocks’ investment advisers have no
connection to the offering of the Notes and have no obligations to you as an investor in the Notes in making its decisions regarding the Reference Stocks.
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Market Disruption Events and Adjustments — The payment at maturity, each Observation Date and the
Valuation Date are subject to adjustment as described in the product prospectus supplement. For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “General
Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption Events” in the product prospectus supplement.
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INFORMATION REGARDING THE REFERENCE STOCKS
Information provided to or filed with the SEC by the Reference Stocks under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, can be located through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, information may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, press releases, newspaper articles and other publicly
disseminated documents. We have not participated in the preparation of, or verified, such publicly available information. None of the forgoing documents or filings are incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered part of, this
document.
The following information regarding the Reference Stocks is derived from
publicly available information.
We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of reports filed by the Reference Stocks with the SEC, information published by them
on their websites or in any other format, information about them obtained from any other source or the information provided below.
Each Reference Stock is an investment portfolio maintained and managed by the applicable investment adviser. The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed,
sold or promoted by these investment advisers. These investment advisers make no representations or warranties to the owners of the Notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the Notes. These investment advisers
have no obligation or liability in connection with the operation, marketing, trading or sale of the Notes.
We obtained the information regarding the historical performance of each Reference Stock set forth below from Bloomberg Financial Markets.
The Invesco QQQTM Trust, Series 1 (“QQQ”)
The QQQ is a unit investment trust designed to generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index®
(the “NDX”). The QQQ will, under most circumstances, consist of all of stocks in the NDX. The NDX includes 100 of the largest domestic and international nonfinancial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. The
QQQ and the NDX are rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually. The QQQ’s sponsor is Invesco Capital Management LLC.
Shares of the QQQ are listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc., under the symbol “QQQ.”
Description of the NASDAQ-100 Index®
The Nasdaq-100 Index (the “NDX”) includes 100 of the largest U.S. and non-U.S. non-financial companies listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market based on
market capitalization. The NDX reflects companies across major industry groups, including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, retail/wholesale trade and biotechnology. It does not contain securities of financial companies such
as investment companies.
The NDX is calculated under a modified capitalization-weighted methodology. The methodology is expected to retain in general the economic
attributes of capitalization-weighting while providing enhanced diversification. To accomplish this, Nasdaq will review the composition of the index on a quarterly basis and adjust the weightings of NDX components using a proprietary algorithm,
if certain pre-established weight distribution requirements are not met. Additional information relating to the NDX and its method of calculation may be found on Nasdaq’s website. However, information on that website is not deemed to be
included or incorporated by reference in this document.
We encourage you to review recent levels of the NDX prior to making an investment decision.
Initial Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for initial inclusion in the NDX, a security must meet the following criteria:
• the issuer of the security's primary U.S. listing must be exclusively listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market (unless the security was dually listed
on another U.S. market prior to January 1, 2004 and has continuously maintained such listing);
• the security must be issued by a non-financial company, as defined in the Nasdaq rules;
• the security may not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy proceedings;
• a security must have average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares (measured annually during the ranking review process);
• if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the U.S., then such security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the
U.S. or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized options market in the U.S. (measured annually during the ranking review process);
• the issuer of the security may not have entered into a definitive agreement or other arrangement which would likely result in the security no longer being eligible for inclusion
in the NDX;
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• the issuer of the security may not have annual financial statements with an audit opinion that is currently withdrawn;
• the security must have "seasoned" on Nasdaq, NYSE or NYSE American. Generally, a company is considered to be seasoned if it has been listed on a market for at least three full
months (excluding the first month of initial listing).
Detailed Initial Eligibility Criteria
Listings
For inclusion in the NDX, a security must be listed exclusively on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or Nasdaq Global Market (unless the security
was dually listed on another U.S. market prior to January 1, 2004 and has continuously maintained such listing).
Security Types
Security types generally eligible for the NDX include common stocks, ordinary shares, ADRs, and tracking stocks. Security or company types not
included in the NDX are closed-end funds, convertible debentures, exchange traded funds, limited liability companies, limited partnership interests, preferred stocks, rights, shares or units of beneficial interest, warrants, units and other
derivative securities. The NDX does not contain securities of investment companies.
Market Capitalization
There is no minimum market capitalization requirement. Inclusion will be determined based on the top 100 largest issuers based on market
capitalization meeting all other eligibility requirements. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying a security's “last sale price” by its total shares outstanding.
Liquidity
Each security must have a minimum three-month average daily trading volume (ADTV) of 200 thousand shares. The ADTV is determined by the average of
the sum product of the security's daily trading volume for each day during the previous three month period.
Security Seasoning Criteria
The security must have been traded for at least full three months, not including month of initial listing, on Nasdaq, NYSE or NYSE American.
Continued Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for continued inclusion in NDX, a security must meet the following criteria:
• the issuer of the security's primary U.S. listing must be exclusively listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market
• the security must be issued by a non-financial company;
• the security may not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy proceedings;
• the security must have average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares in the previous three month trading period (measured annually during the ranking review process);
• if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the U.S., then such security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the
U.S. or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized options market in the U.S.;
• the issuer must have an adjusted market capitalization equal to or exceeding 0.10% of the aggregate adjusted market capitalization of the NDX at each month-end. In the event a
company does not meet this criterion for two consecutive month-ends, it is removed from the NDX, effective after the close of trading on the third Friday of the following month;
• and the issuer of the security may not have annual financial statements with an audit opinion that is currently withdrawn.
For the purposes of the eligibility criteria, if the security is a depositary receipt representing a security of a non-U.S. issuer, then
references to the "issuer" are references to the issuer of the underlying security.
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Index Evaluation
Except under extraordinary circumstances that may result in an interim evaluation, NDX composition is reviewed on an annual basis as follows.
Issuer securities which meet the applicable eligibility criteria are ranked by market value. NDX-eligible securities which are already in the index and whose issuer is ranked in the top 100 eligible companies (based on market capitalization)
are retained in the index. An issuer that is ranked 101 to 125 is also retained, provided that such issuer was ranked in the top 100 eligible issuers as of the previous ranking review or was added to the NDX subsequent to the previous ranking
review. Issuers not meeting such criteria are replaced. The replacement securities chosen are those NDX-eligible securities not currently in the index whose issuers have the largest market capitalization. The data used in the ranking includes
end of October market data and is updated for total shares outstanding submitted in a publicly filed SEC document through the end of November.
Replacements are made effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in December. Moreover, if at any time during the year other than the
ranking review, an issuer no longer meets the continued eligibility criteria, or is otherwise determined to have become ineligible for continued inclusion in the Index, it is replaced with the largest market capitalization issuer not currently in
the Index and meeting the initial eligibility criteria listed above. Ordinarily, a security will be removed from the Index at its last sale price. If, however, at the time of its removal, the security is halted from trading on its primary listing
market and an official closing price cannot readily be determined, the security may, in Nasdaq's discretion, be removed at a zero price. The zero price will be applied to the security after the close of the market but prior to the time the
official closing value of the NDX is disseminated.
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The Financial Select Sector SPDR® Fund (“XLF”) and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund (“XLU”)
The XLF seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Financials
Select Sector Index. The Financials Select Sector Index measures the performance of the financial sector of the U.S. equity market. The XLF is composed of companies whose primary line of business is directly associated with the financial sector.
The XLF trades on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “XLF.”
The XLU seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of
the Utilities Select Sector Index. The Utilities Select Sector Index seeks to represent the utilities sector of the U.S. equity market. The XLF includes companies from the following industries: electric utilities; water utilities;
multi-utilities; independent power producers and energy traders; and gas utilities. The XLU trades on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “XLU.”
The Financial Select Sector Index and the Utilities Select Sector Index
The Financial Select Sector Index and the Utilities Select Sector Index are each a modified market capitalization-based index, intended to provide an
indication of the pattern of common stock price movements of companies that are components of the S&P 500® Index and are involved in the applicable industry.
Each of these indices is one of the Select Sector Indices. The stocks included in each Select Sector Index are selected from the universe of
companies represented by the S&P 500® Index. Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) acts as index calculation agent in connection with the calculation and dissemination of each Select Sector Index. Each stock in
the S&P 500® Index is allocated to only one Select Sector Index, and the Select Sector Indices together comprise all of the companies in the S&P 500® Index.
Index Maintenance
Each Select Sector Index was developed and is maintained in accordance with the following criteria:
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Each of the component stocks in a Select Sector Index (the “SPDR Component Stocks”) is a constituent company of the S&P 500® Index.
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The nine Select Sector Indices together will include all of the companies represented in the S&P 500® Index and each of the stocks in the S&P 500® Index
will be allocated to one and only one of the Select Sector Indices.
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Each constituent stock of the S&P 500® Index is assigned to a Select Sector Index on the basis of that company’s sales and earnings composition and the sensitivity of
the company’s stock price and business results to the common factors that affect other companies in each Select Sector Index.
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S&P has sole control over the removal of stocks from the S&P 500® Index and the selection of replacement stocks to be added to the S&P 500® Index.
However, S&P plays only a consulting role in the Select Sector Indices.
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Each Select Sector Index is calculated by S&P using a modified “market capitalization” methodology. This design ensures that each of the component stocks within a Select Sector
Index is represented in a proportion consistent with its percentage with respect to the total market capitalization of that Select Sector Index. However, under certain conditions, the number of shares of a component stock within the
Select Sector Index may be adjusted to conform to certain Internal Revenue Code requirements.
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Calculation of the Underlying Index
Each Select Sector Index is calculated using the same methodology utilized by S&P in calculating the S&P 500® Index, using a
base−weighted aggregate methodology. The daily calculation of each Select Sector Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the companies in the Select Sector Index by a number called the index divisor.
A SPDR® Component Stock which has been assigned to one Select Sector Index may be determined to have undergone a transformation in the
composition of its business, and that it should be removed from that Select Sector Index and assigned to a different Select Sector Index. In the event that a SPDR® Component Stock’s Select Sector Index assignment should be changed,
S&P will disseminate notice of the change following its standard procedure for announcing index changes, and will implement the change in the affected Select Sector Indexes on a date no less than one week after the initial dissemination of
information on the sector change to the maximum extent practicable.
SPDR® Component Stocks removed from and added to the S&P 500® Index will be deleted from and added to the appropriate Select Sector Index on
the same schedule used by S&P for additions and deletions from the S&P 500® Index insofar as practicable.
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HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The graphs below set forth the information relating to the historical performance of the Reference Stocks. We obtained the
information regarding the historical performance of the Reference Stocks in the graphs below from Bloomberg Financial Markets.
We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg Financial Markets. The historical performance of any Reference
Stock should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the prices of the Reference Stocks at any time. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Reference Stocks will not result in
the loss of all or part of your investment.
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Historical Information for the Invesco QQQTM Trust, Series 1 (“QQQ”)
The graph below illustrates the performance of this Reference Stock from January 1, 2009 to April 15, 2019, assuming an Initial Stock Price of $185.86, which was its
closing price on April 15, 2019. The red line represents a hypothetical Coupon Barrier and Trigger Price of $120.81, which is equal to 65.00% of its closing price on April 15, 2019, rounded to two decimal places. The actual Coupon Barrier and
Trigger Price will be based on the closing price of this Reference Stock on the Trade Date.
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Historical Information for the Financial Select Sector SPDR® Fund (“XLF”)
The graph below illustrates the performance of this Reference Stock from January 1, 2009 to April 15, 2019, assuming an Initial Stock Price of $26.97, which was its
closing price on April 15, 2019. The red line represents a hypothetical Coupon Barrier and Trigger Price of $17.53, which is equal to 65.00% of its closing price on April 15, 2019, rounded to two decimal places. The actual Coupon Barrier and
Trigger Price will be based on the closing price of this Reference Stock on the Trade Date.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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Historical Information for the Utilities Select Sector the SPDR® Fund (“XLU”)
The graph below illustrates the performance of this Reference Stock from January 1, 2009 to April 15, 2019, assuming an Initial Stock Price of
$58.20, which was its closing price on April 15, 2019. The red line represents a hypothetical Coupon Barrier and Trigger Price of $37.83, which is equal to 65.00% of its closing price on April 15, 2019, rounded to two decimal places. The actual
Coupon Barrier and Trigger Price will be based on the closing price of this Reference Stock on the Trade Date.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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SUPPLEMENTAL DISCUSSION OF
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following disclosure supplements, and to the extent inconsistent supersedes, the discussion in the product prospectus supplement
dated September 10, 2018 under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
Under Section 871(m) of the Code, a “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from sources within the United States.
Such payments generally would be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax if paid to a non-U.S. holder. Under U.S. Treasury Department regulations, payments (including deemed payments) with respect to equity-linked instruments (“ELIs”) that are
“specified ELIs” may be treated as dividend equivalents if such specified ELIs reference an interest in an “underlying security,” which is generally any interest in an entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if a
payment with respect to such interest could give rise to a U.S. source dividend. However, the IRS has issued guidance that states that the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS intend to amend the effective dates of the U.S. Treasury Department
regulations to provide that withholding on dividend equivalent payments will not apply to specified ELIs that are not delta-one instruments and that are issued before January 1, 2021. Based on our determination that the Notes are not delta-one
instruments, non-U.S. holders should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the Notes. However, it is possible that the Notes could be treated as deemed reissued for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the
occurrence of certain events affecting the Reference Stocks or the Notes, and following such occurrence the Notes could be treated as subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments. Non-U.S. holders that enter, or have entered, into other
transactions in respect of the Reference Stocks or the Notes should consult their tax advisors as to the application of the dividend equivalent withholding tax in the context of the Notes and their other transactions. If any payments are treated
as dividend equivalents subject to withholding, we (or the applicable withholding agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld.
The accompanying product prospectus supplement notes that FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds from a sale or redemption
of Notes will only apply to payments made after December 31, 2018. That discussion is modified to reflect regulations proposed by the U.S. Treasury Department in December 2018 indicating an intent to eliminate the requirement under FATCA of
withholding on gross proceeds of the disposition of financial instruments. The U.S. Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations pending their finalization. Prospective investors are urged to consult
with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in the Notes.
SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)
We expect that delivery of the Notes will be made against payment for the Notes on or about April 24, 2019, which is the third (3rd)
business day following the Trade Date (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). See “Plan of Distribution” in the prospectus dated September 7, 2018. For additional information as to the relationship between us and RBCCM, please see the
section “Plan of Distribution—Conflicts of Interest” in the prospectus dated September 7, 2018.
We expect to deliver the Notes on a date that is greater than two business days following the Trade Date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act,
trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes more than two business days prior to the
original Issue Date will be required to specify alternative arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
In the initial offering of the Notes, they will be offered to investors at a purchase price equal to par, except with respect to certain accounts as
indicated on the cover page of this document.
The value of the Notes shown on your account statement may be based on RBCCM’s estimate of the value of the Notes if RBCCM or another of our
affiliates were to make a market in the Notes (which it is not obligated to do). That estimate will be based upon the price that RBCCM may pay for the Notes in light of then prevailing market conditions, our creditworthiness and transaction
costs. For a period of approximately 3 months after the issue date of the Notes, the value of the Notes that may be shown on your account statement may be higher than RBCCM’s estimated value of the Notes at that time. This is because the
estimated value of the Notes will not include the underwriting discount and our hedging costs and profits; however, the value of the Notes shown on your account statement during that period may initially be a higher amount, reflecting the
addition of RBCCM’s underwriting discount and our estimated costs and profits from hedging the Notes. This excess is expected to decrease over time until the end of this period. After this period, if RBCCM repurchases your Notes, it expects to
do so at prices that reflect their estimated value.
We may use this terms supplement in the initial sale of the Notes. In addition, RBCCM or another of our affiliates may use this terms supplement in a market-making
transaction in the Notes after their initial sale. Unless we or our agent informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this terms supplement
is being used in a market-making transaction.
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Auto-Callable Contingent Coupon Barrier Notes
Linked to the Lesser Performing of Three Exchange Traded Funds Royal Bank of Canada
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STRUCTURING THE NOTES
The Notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Reference Stocks. As is the case for all of our debt
securities, including our structured notes, the economic terms of the Notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition, because structured notes result in increased operational, funding and liability
management costs to us, we typically borrow the funds under these Notes at a rate that is more favorable to us than the rate that we might pay for a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity. Using this relatively
lower implied borrowing rate rather than the secondary market rate, is a factor that is likely to reduce the initial estimated value of the Notes at the time their terms are set. Unlike the estimated value that will be included in the final
pricing supplement, any value of the Notes determined for purposes of a secondary market transaction may be based on a different funding rate, which may result in a lower value for the Notes than if our initial internal funding rate were used.
In order to satisfy our payment obligations under the Notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call
options, put options or other derivatives) on the issue date with RBCCM or one of our other subsidiaries. The terms of these hedging arrangements take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the
volatility of the Reference Stocks, and the tenor of the Notes. The economic terms of the Notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.
The lower implied borrowing rate is a factor that reduces the economic terms of the Notes to you. The initial offering price of the Notes also reflects the underwriting
commission and our estimated hedging costs. These factors result in the initial estimated value for the Notes on the Trade Date being less than their public offering price. See “Selected Risk Considerations—The Initial Estimated Value of the
Notes Will Be Less than the Price to the Public” above.