RBC Capital Markets®
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-203433
 
 
 
 
 
Pricing Supplement
Dated November 24, 2015
To the Product Prospectus Supplement ERN-ES-1 Dated August 17, 2015,
Prospectus Supplement Dated April 30, 2015, and
Prospectus Dated April 30, 2015
$2,635,000
Direct Investment Notes
Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List
due December 7, 2016
Royal Bank of Canada
 
 
Royal Bank of Canada is offering the Notes linked to the November 2015 RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List (the “Notes”).  The Notes are linked to an equally weighted Basket consisting of 19 common equity securities set forth below.  The CUSIP number for the Notes is 78012KHV2.
The Notes may pay interest on February 29, 2016, May 31, 2016, August 31, 2016 and the maturity date.  The amount of any interest to be paid on the Notes will not be fixed, and will depend upon the total dividends paid on the Reference Stocks during the preceding quarter, as described in more detail below.
On the maturity date, the amount that we will pay to you (the “Redemption Amount”) will depend upon the performance of the Basket over the term of the Notes.  As described in more detail below, the Redemption Amount will be less than the price to the public set forth below if the Percentage Amount of the Basket is not at least approximately 102.30%.
We describe in more detail below how the payments on the Notes will be determined.
Issue Date: November 30, 2015
Maturity Date: December 7, 2016
The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Investing in the Notes involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-1 of the prospectus supplement dated April 30, 2015, “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-4 of the product prospectus supplement dated August 17, 2015, and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page P-7 of this pricing 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.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this pricing supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
Per Note
     
Total
Price to public
100.00%
 
$
2,635,000.00
Underwriting discounts and commissions
1.50%
 
$
      39,525.00
Proceeds to Royal Bank of Canada
98.50%
 
$
 2,595,475.00
The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the date of this pricing supplement is $977.50 per $1,000 in principal amount, which is less than the price to public. 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.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC, which we refer to as RBCCM, acting as agent for Royal Bank of Canada, received a commission of $15.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes and used a portion of that commission to allow selling concessions to other dealers of up to $15.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes. The other dealers may forgo, in their sole discretion, some or all of their selling concessions. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” on page P-31 below.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the Notes.  In addition, RBCCM or another of our affiliates may use this pricing 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 pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction.
 
 
 
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
 SUMMARY
The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more detailed information set forth in this pricing supplement, the product prospectus supplement, the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus.
Issuer:
Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”)
Issue:
Senior Global Medium-Term Notes, Series G
Underwriter:
RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBCCM”)
Reference Asset:
The Notes are linked to the value of an equally weighted basket (the “Basket”) consisting of the common equity securities of 19 publicly traded companies (each, a “Reference Stock,” and collectively, the “Reference Stocks”).  The Reference Stocks represent the RBC Capital Markets’ U.S. Equity Top Picks List as of November 3, 2015, as indicated on page P-3. A Top Pick-rated stock represents an RBC Capital Markets analyst’s best idea in a sector.  See the section below, “The Basket.”
Currency:
U.S. Dollars
Minimum Investment:
$1,000 and minimum denominations of $1,000 in excess thereof
Pricing Date:
November 24, 2015
Issue Date:
November 30, 2015
Valuation Date:
December 2, 2016
Payment at Maturity
(if held to maturity):
 
The amount that you will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes will depend upon the performance of the Basket.  The Redemption Amount will equal the product of (a) $977.50 and (b) the Percentage Amount.
As discussed in more detail below, the Percentage Amount must exceed approximately 102.30% in order for you to receive a Redemption Amount per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes that exceeds the principal amount.  In addition, the Redemption Amount could be substantially less than the principal amount of the Notes.
Percentage Amount:
 
The Percentage Amount will equal an amount, expressed as a percentage and rounded to two decimal places, equal to (a) 100% plus (b) the sum of the Weighted Component Changes for the Reference Stocks.  The Weighted Component Change for each Reference Stock will be determined as follows:
Component Weight x Final Price - Initial Price
Initial Price
Initial Price:
The closing price per share of a Reference Stock on the Pricing Date, as determined by the Calculation Agent, as set forth in the table on the next page.
Final Price:
The closing price per share of a Reference Stock on the Valuation Date.
 
 
P-2
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Basket:
Reference Stock Issuer
Ticker
Initial Price
Air Lease Corporation
AL
$33.55
Amphenol Corporation
APH
$54.69
Aramark
ARMK
$33.00
Boston Properties, Inc.
BXP
$124.67
Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
BKD
$22.91
CBS Corporation
CBS
$50.54
Discover Financial Services
DFS
$56.81
Endo International PLC
ENDP
$60.28
Jarden Corporation
JAH
$46.62
LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
LYB
$96.32
Marathon Petroleum Corporation
MPC
$57.19
The PNC Financial Services Group. Inc.
PNC
$95.15
Raytheon Company
RTN
$126.36
Ryder System, Inc.
R
$66.16
ServiceNow, Inc.
NOW
$86.70
Voya Financial, Inc.
VOYA
$40.89
WebMD Health Corp
WBMD
$44.23
Whirlpool Corporation
WHR
$164.69
Yum! Brands, Inc.
YUM
$72.38
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Component Weights:
Interest Payment Dates:
Interest Calculation Dates:
Calculation of Interest Payments:
1/19 for each Reference Stock
February 29, 2016, May 31, 2016, August 31, 2016 and December 7, 2016 (the maturity date).
February 24, 2016, May 25, 2016, August 26, 2016 and December 2, 2016 (the Valuation Date).
The amount of each interest payment, if any, will depend upon the amount of dividends paid on each Reference Stock during the Interest Calculation Period preceding each interest payment date, and will equal, for each $1,000 in principal amount, 97.75% of the sum of the Dividend Amounts for each of the Reference Stocks.
 
 
P-3
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Interest Calculation
Period:
The first Interest Calculation Period will commence on the trading day after the Pricing Date and end on the first Interest Calculation Date.
Each subsequent Interest Calculation Period will begin on the trading day following an Interest Calculation Date and end on the next Interest Calculation Date.  The final Interest Calculation Date will occur on the Valuation Date.
Dividend Amount:
 
For each Reference Stock, an amount in U.S. dollars equal to (a) $1,000 divided by the Initial Price of the applicable Reference Stock multiplied by (b) the applicable Component Weighting multiplied by (c) 100% of the gross cash distributions (including ordinary and extraordinary dividends) per share of Reference Stock declared by the applicable Reference Stock Issuer where the date that the applicable Reference Stock has commenced trading ex-dividend on its primary U.S. securities exchange as to each relevant distribution occurs during the relevant Interest Calculation Period, as described in more detail below.
Maturity Date:
December 7, 2016, subject to extension for market and other disruptions, as described in the product prospectus supplement dated August 17, 2015.
Term:
Approximately 53 weeks.
Principal at Risk:
The Notes are NOT principal protected.  You may lose all or a substantial portion of your principal amount at maturity if the value of the Basket decreases, or does not increase by at least 2.30%, from the Pricing Date to the Valuation Date.
Calculation Agent:
RBCCM
U.S. Tax Treatment:
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 Note as a pre-paid cash-settled contingent income-bearing derivative contract linked to the Basket 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 August 17, 2015 under “Tax Consequences,” which apply to the Notes.
Secondary Market:
RBCCM (or one of its affiliates), though not obligated to do so, plans to 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 of your Notes.
Listing:
The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Clearance and
Settlement:
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 April 30, 2015).
Events of Default:
In case an event of default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the amount declared due and payable on the Notes upon any acceleration will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will be an amount of cash equal to the amount payable as described above under the caption “—Payment at Maturity,” calculated as if the date of acceleration were the Valuation Date.  The Dividend Amount for each Reference Stock will only include dividends declared and paid through that date.

 
P-4
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF YOUR NOTES
You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus dated April 30, 2015, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated April 30, 2015 and the product prospectus supplement dated August 17, 2015, relating to our Senior Global Medium-Term Notes, Series G, of which these Notes are a part. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this pricing supplement will have the meanings given to them in the product prospectus supplement. In the event of any conflict, this pricing supplement will control.  The Notes vary from the terms described in the product prospectus supplement in several important ways.  You should read this pricing supplement carefully.
This pricing 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 April 30, 2015 and “Risk Factors” in the product prospectus supplement dated August 17, 2015, 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 (the “SEC”) 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 April 30, 2015:
Prospectus Supplement dated April 30, 2015:
Product Prospectus Supplement ERN-ES-1 dated August 17, 2015:
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1000275.  As used in this pricing supplement, “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Royal Bank of Canada.
 
 
P-5
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
HYPOTHETICAL RETURNS AT MATURITY
The following hypothetical examples are provided for illustration purposes only and are hypothetical; they do not purport to be representative of every possible scenario concerning increases or decreases in the value of the Basket and the related effect on the Redemption Amount.  The following hypothetical examples illustrate the payment you would receive on the maturity date if you purchased $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes.  Numbers appearing in the examples below have been rounded for ease of analysis.  This table does not reflect any interest that may be paid on the Notes.
Percentage Amount
Redemption Amount per $1,000 in
Principal Amount
Percentage Gain (or Loss) per
$1,000 in Principal Amount
140.00%
$1,368.50
36.85%
130.00%
$1,270.75
27.08%
120.00%
$1,173.00
17.30%
110.00%
$1,075.25
7.53%
102.30%(1)
$1,000.00
0.00%
100.00%(2)
$977.50
-2.25%
90.00%
$879.75
-12.03%
80.00%
$782.00
-21.80%
70.00%
$684.25
-31.58%
60.00%
$586.50
-41.35%
50.00%
$488.75
-51.13%
40.00%
$391.00
-60.90%
30.00%
$293.25
-70.68%
20.00%
$195.50
-80.45%
10.00%
$97.75
-90.23%
0.00%
$0.00
-100.00%
(1) Due to the payment formula set forth above, for you to receive a Redemption Amount greater than the principal amount the Notes, the Percentage Amount must be greater than approximately 102.30%.
(2) If the Percentage Amount is not at least approximately 102.30%, you will lose some or all of the principal amount of the Notes.
Please see the sections below, “Selected Risk Considerations—Principal at Risk” and “—The Notes Will Not Reflect the Full Performance of the Reference Stocks, Which Will Negatively Impact Your Return on the Notes.”
 
 
P-6
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
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” beginning on page PS-4 of the product prospectus supplement.  In addition to the risks described in the prospectus supplement and the product prospectus supplement, you should consider the following:
· 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 value of the Basket.  Investors will also lose a portion of their principal amount if the Percentage Amount is not at least approximately 102.30%.
· The Notes May Not Pay Interest and Your Return May Be Lower than the Return on a Conventional Debt Security of Comparable Maturity – There may be no periodic interest payments on the Notes, and any such payments may be less than there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same maturity.  The amount of each interest payment, if any, will depend upon the amount of dividends paid on each Reference Stock during the Interest Calculation Period preceding each interest payment date.  The yield that you will receive on your Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the yield you could earn if you purchased a standard senior debt security of ours with the same maturity date.  Your investment may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you take into account factors that affect the time value of money.
· The Notes Will Not Reflect the Full Performance of the Reference Stocks, Which Will Negatively Impact Your Return on the Notes – Because the calculation of the Redemption Amount for each $1,000 in principal amount reflects the product of the Percentage Amount and $977.50, the return, if any, on the Notes will not reflect the full performance of the Reference Stocks.  Therefore, the yield to maturity based on the methodology for calculating the Redemption Amount will be less than the yield that would be produced if the Reference Stocks were purchased and held for a similar period. Similarly, the interest payments you receive on the Notes will be less than the applicable Dividend Amounts.
· 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 Royal Bank’s senior unsecured debt securities.  As a result, your receipt of all required payments on the Notes will be dependent upon Royal Bank’s ability to repay its obligations as of the applicable payment date.  This will be the case even if the value of the Basket increases after the Pricing Date, or if substantial payments are made on the Basket Stocks.  No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be at any time during the term of the Notes.
· 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 other affiliates of Royal Bank may make a market for the Notes; however, they are not required to do so.  RBCCM or any other affiliate of Royal Bank 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.
· You Will Not Have Any Rights to the Reference Stocks – As a holder of the Notes, you will not have voting rights or other rights that holders of the Reference Stocks would have.  You will have no right to receive shares of the Reference Stocks.
· The Historical Performance of the Reference Stocks Should Not Be Taken as an Indication of Their Future Performance – The Final Prices of the Reference Stocks will determine the Redemption Amount.  The historical performance of the Reference Stocks does not necessarily give an indication of their future performance.  As a result, it is impossible to predict whether the prices of the Reference Stocks will rise or fall during the term of the Notes.  The prices of the Reference Stocks will be influenced by complex and interrelated political, economic, financial and other factors.
 
 
P-7
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
· Holders of the Reference Stocks Are Only Entitled to Receive Those Dividends as Each Issuer’s Board of Directors May Declare out of Funds Legally Available – Although dividends and distributions on one or more of the Reference Stocks may have historically been declared by the applicable board of directors, they are not required to do so and may reduce or eliminate those dividends in the future.  The Dividend Amount of one or more of the Reference Stocks during the term of the Notes may be zero.  If the dividends paid on the Reference Stocks are not significant, any interest payments that you receive on the Notes may not be sufficient to provide you with your desired return on the Notes.
· The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Is Less than the Price to the Public – The initial estimated value set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement 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 value of the Basket, 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 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.
· The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes on the Cover Page Is an Estimate Only, Calculated as of the Time the Terms of the Notes Were 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 is based on a variety of assumptions, including our credit spreads, expectations as to dividends, 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 Pricing 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 the Notes.
· Our Business Activities May Create Conflicts of Interest – We and our affiliates expect to engage in trading activities related to 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 prices 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 issuers of 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. Any of these activities by us or one or more of our affiliates may affect the value of the Reference Stocks, and, therefore, the market value of the Notes.
 
 
P-8
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
· 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, RBCCM and our other affiliates have expressed views on the value of the Reference Stocks and/or expected movements in their prices, and may do so in the future.  These views or reports may be communicated to clients of our affiliates.  However, these views are subject to change from 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 us or our affiliates.
· Some Reference Stocks Have Limited Historical Information – Because four of the Reference Stocks have limited trading history, your investment in the Notes may involve a greater risk than investing in securities linked to one or more equity securities with more established records of performance.
· The Inclusion of the Reference Stocks in the Basket Does Not Guarantee a Positive Return on the Notes – There can be no assurance that any Reference Stock, or the Basket in its entirety, will increase in value.  The performance of the Reference Stocks may be less than the performance of the equities markets generally, and less than the performance of specific sectors of the equity markets, or other securities in which you may choose to invest.  As of the date of this document, the Equity Research Department of RBCCM believes that the prices of the Reference Stocks have the potential to increase during the term of the Notes. However, there can be no assurance that they will in fact do so.  Although RBCCM has expressed a positive view as to the Reference Stocks prior to the date of this pricing supplement, its views may change significantly during the term of the Notes.  In addition, any positive views of RBCCM’s research divisions are separate and apart from the offering of the Notes, and do not constitute investment advice.  Our offering of the Notes does not constitute our recommendation or the recommendation of RBCCM or our other affiliates to invest in the Notes or in the Reference Stocks.
· As Calculation Agent, RBCCM Will Have the Authority to Make Determinations that Could Affect the Value of Your Notes and Your Payment at Maturity – As calculation agent for your Notes, RBCCM will have discretion in making various determinations that affect your Notes, including determining the Final Prices, the Percentage Amount, the Redemption Amount, the amounts of any interest payments on the Notes, and whether any market disruption events have occurred.  The calculation agent also has discretion in making certain adjustments relating to mergers and certain other corporate transactions that an issuer of a Reference Stock may undertake.  The exercise of this discretion by RBCCM could adversely affect the value of your Notes and may present RBCCM, which is our wholly owned subsidiary, with a conflict of interest.
· Market Disruption Events and Adjustments – The payments on the Notes are subject to adjustment as described in this pricing supplement and 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.
 
 
P-9
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUERS OF THE REFERENCE STOCKS
The issuer of each Reference Stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”).  Companies with securities registered under the Exchange Act are required to periodically file financial and other information required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  This information is filed with the SEC and can be inspected and copied by you at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates.  The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  In addition, information filed by the issuers of the Reference Stocks with the SEC electronically is available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
The Selection of the Basket
The Equity Research Department at RBCCM regularly publishes research.  The Reference Stocks were selected from among the companies covered by the Equity Research Department and that are rated as “Top Picks.”  A “Top Pick” represents an RBCCM analyst's best idea in the sector, which is expected to provide significant absolute total return over 12 months with a favorable risk-reward ratio.  However, we note that the selection of the Top Picks are only research views based on information available up to November 3, 2015.  There is no assurance that any particular company will be successful, or that the investment thesis underlying these research views will come to pass.  Moreover, the business, results of operations, and prospects of these companies and the growth and health of each issuer of the Reference Stocks are subject to conditions outside of the control of the Equity Research Department, such as general economic conditions.
Additional information regarding RBCCM research analyst ratings is available at https://www.rbccm.com/equityresearch/cid-203939.html.  Information on that website is not included or incorporated by reference in this document.  A rating is subject to downward revision at any time, and a broker-dealer may cease to cover a particular security at any time, including during the term of the Notes.
Neither we nor our affiliates makes any representation as to the future performance of any Reference Stock or the Basket.
Description of the Reference Stock Issuers
The following information regarding each issuer of the Reference Stocks is derived from publicly available information and we have not independently verified it.
· Air Lease Corporation is an aircraft leasing company. The company is principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing to airlines in regions that include Asia, the Pacific Rim, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.  Its common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “AL.”
· Amphenol Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors, interconnect systems, and coaxial and flat-ribbon cable. The company's products are used in a variety of industries, including telephone, wireless, and data communications systems, cable television systems, and commercial and military aerospace electronics.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “APH.”
· Aramark provides food and facilities management services. The company offers uniform, refreshments, work apparel, and cleanroom services to healthcare institutions, universities, school districts, stadiums, and businesses.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “ARMK.”
· Boston Properties, Inc. is a real estate investment trust. The trust owns, manages, and develops office properties in the United States, with a significant presence in Boston, Washington, D.C., Midtown Manhattan and San Francisco.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “BXP.”
· Brookdale Senior Living Inc. operates senior living facilities in the United States. The company operates independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and a skilled nursing facility.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “BXD.”
· CBS Corporation is a multimedia company that operates broadcasting, television production, and publishing businesses. The company operates television and radio stations, produces and syndicates television programs, publishes books, provides online content as well as provides outdoor advertising.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “CBS.”
 
 
P-10
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
· Discover Financial Services is a credit card issuer and electronic payment services company. The company issues credit cards and offers student and personal loans, as well as savings products such as certificates of deposit and money market accounts and operates an automated teller machine/debit network.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “DFS.”
· Endo International PLC provides specialty healthcare solutions. The company develops, manufactures, markets and distributes pharmaceutical products and generic drugs. Endo International offers its products to the medical and healthcare industries around the globe.  The company is organized in Ireland and its ordinary shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “ENDP.”
· Jarden Corporation provides a range of consumer products. The company sells branded products through a variety of distribution channels, including club, department store, drug, grocery, mass merchant, sporting goods and specialty retailers, as well as directly to consumers. Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “JAH.”
· LyondellBasell Industries N.V. manufactures plastic, chemical, and fuel products. The company offers products for the manufacturing of personal care products, fresh food packaging, lightweight plastics, construction materials, automotive components, durable textiles, medical applications, and biofuels. LyondellBasell Industries conducts its business worldwide.  The company is organized in the Netherlands, and its ordinary shares trade on the NYSE under the symbol “LYB.”
· Marathon Petroleum Corporation refines, transports, and markets petroleum products. The company sells its products to resellers and consumers in the mid-west, gulf coast, and southeast United States.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “MPC.”
· PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is a diversified financial services organization. The company provides regional banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services nationally and in the company's primary regional markets.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “PNC.”
· Raytheon Company is a technology company specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. The company provides electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing, effects, and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as mission support services.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “RTN.”
· Ryder System, Inc. provides a continuum of logistics, supply chain, and transportation management solutions. The company's offerings range from full-service leasing, commercial rental and maintenance of vehicles to integrated services. The company also offers supply chain solutions, logistics management services, and e-Commerce solutions.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “R.”
· ServiceNow, Inc. provides enterprise information technology (IT) management software. The company designs, develops, and produces prepackaged computer software, cloud services, and IT service management platform. Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “NOW.”
· Voya Financial, Inc. is a retirement, investment and insurance company. The company offers asset accumulation, asset protection and asset distribution products and services to individual and institutional customers in the United States.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “VOYA.”
· WebMD Health Corp. provides health information services to consumers, physicians, healthcare professionals, employers, and health plans. The company provides its services through its public and private online portals and health-focused publications. Its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “WBMD.”
· Whirlpool Corporation manufactures and markets major home appliances. The company's principal products include laundry appliances, refrigeration and room air conditioning equipment, cooking appliances, dishwashers, and mixers and other small household appliances. Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “WHR.”
· Yum! Brands, Inc. owns and franchises quick-service restaurants worldwide. The company develops, operates, franchises and licenses a system of restaurants which prepare, package and sell a menu of food items.  Its common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “YUM.”
 
 
P-11
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Hypothetical Historical Performance of the Basket
While actual historical information on the Basket did not exist before the Pricing Date, the following graph sets forth the hypothetical historical daily performance of the Basket from December 11, 2013 (the date on which the Reference Stock with the most limited trading history began trading) through November 24, 2015.  The graph is based upon actual daily historical closing prices of the Reference Stocks and a hypothetical basket level of 100.00 as of December 11, 2013. This hypothetical historical data on the Basket is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Basket or what the value of the Notes may be. Any hypothetical historical upward or downward trend in the level of the Basket shown below is not an indication that the level of the Basket is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the Notes.
Historical Information
The graphs below set forth the recent historical performance of each of the Reference Stocks.  In addition, below each graph is a table setting forth the intra-day high, intra-day low and period-end Closing Prices of each Reference Stock.  The information provided in each table is for the four calendar quarters of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, the first, second and third calendar quarters of 2015, and for the period from October 1, 2015 to November 24, 2015.
We obtained the information regarding the historical performance of the Reference Stocks in the graphs and tables 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 the Reference Stocks should not be taken as an indication of their future performance or what the value of the Notes may be, and no assurance can be given as to the price of any Reference Stock on the Valuation Date.  We cannot give you assurance that the performance of any Reference Stock will not result in the loss of a portion of your investment.
 
 
P-12
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
4/19/2011
6/30/2011
29.94
23.02
24.29
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
25.36
18.32
19.20
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
23.95
17.24
23.71
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
26.47
23.10
24.07
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
25.00
18.66
19.39
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
22.79
18.45
20.40
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
23.17
20.13
21.50
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
29.87
21.73
29.32
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
31.00
25.13
27.59
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
28.88
25.74
27.66
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
33.57
27.38
31.08
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
38.15
30.01
37.29
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
42.89
34.10
38.58
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
39.00
32.22
32.50
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
38.96
30.55
34.31
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
40.40
32.22
37.74
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
40.50
33.87
33.90
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
37.14
28.12
30.92
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
35.22
29.96
33.55
*Air Lease Corporation commenced trading on April 19, 2011 and therefore has a limited historical performance.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-13
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
 Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
23.51
18.89
21.10
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
23.92
19.20
19.64
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
24.99
19.18
24.49
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
27.04
23.69
26.45
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
29.56
25.27
27.20
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
28.67
24.71
27.00
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
27.88
20.01
20.39
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
25.26
19.49
22.70
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
30.06
22.50
29.89
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
30.92
25.53
27.46
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
31.85
25.45
29.44
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
32.63
28.71
32.35
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
37.36
32.89
37.33
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
41.69
35.05
38.97
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
42.83
37.03
38.69
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
44.73
37.09
44.59
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
46.81
42.06
45.83
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
49.38
45.15
48.17
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
52.97
47.24
49.93
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
55.66
45.27
53.81
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
60.54
51.19
58.93
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
59.61
54.95
57.97
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
58.51
47.44
50.96
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
55.45
49.01
54.69
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-14
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 

Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
12/12/2013
12/31/2013
26.72
20.10
26.22
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
29.98
23.04
28.92
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
29.04
25.04
25.88
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
27.96
25.62
26.30
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
31.43
25.03
31.15
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
32.70
29.63
31.63
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
32.35
30.26
30.97
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
33.78
28.09
29.64
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
33.37
29.24
33.00
 
* Aramark commenced trading on December 12, 2013 and therefore has a limited historical performance.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-15
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
78.22
61.50
75.44
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
83.42
70.91
71.34
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
89.26
68.47
83.12
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
91.45
81.02
86.53
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
96.59
83.90
94.85
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
108.35
93.29
106.16
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
112.84
89.02
89.10
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
102.32
81.52
99.60
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
107.87
96.73
104.99
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
110.17
98.92
108.37
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
117.00
107.52
110.61
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
111.56
99.23
105.81
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
109.65
99.85
101.06
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
115.85
99.59
105.47
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
112.93
98.21
106.90
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
109.83
98.04
100.37
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
115.20
99.55
114.53
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
122.40
113.62
118.18
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
124.04
112.75
115.76
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
137.15
115.06
128.69
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
146.07
129.29
140.48
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
143.09
120.44
121.04
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
127.15
94.91
118.40
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
129.90
116.64
124.67
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-16
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
22.21
16.21
20.83
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
22.19
14.84
15.00
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
16.44
12.66
16.31
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
21.70
15.93
21.61
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
28.23
20.90
28.00
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
28.30
21.97
24.25
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
25.51
12.27
12.54
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
17.54
10.98
17.39
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
19.96
15.43
18.72
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
19.78
14.99
17.74
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
23.97
15.62
23.22
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
26.11
21.28
25.32
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
29.92
25.04
27.88
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
30.31
25.31
26.44
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
30.65
24.42
26.30
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
30.00
25.46
27.18
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
34.37
26.11
33.51
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
34.80
29.50
33.34
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
36.18
32.02
32.22
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
37.03
30.12
36.67
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
38.96
31.33
37.76
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
39.89
34.60
34.70
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
35.35
22.00
22.96
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
25.48
20.27
22.91
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-17
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
14.95
12.33
13.94
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
16.98
12.86
12.93
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
16.23
12.26
15.86
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
19.65
15.89
19.05
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
26.17
18.98
25.04
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
29.13
23.35
28.49
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
29.68
20.07
20.38
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
27.72
17.99
27.14
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
33.94
27.18
33.91
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
35.00
29.81
32.78
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
38.32
29.85
36.33
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
38.10
31.84
38.05
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
47.42
37.43
46.69
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
52.46
43.77
48.87
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
57.47
48.45
55.16
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
64.06
53.01
63.74
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
68.10
55.71
61.80
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
63.96
55.01
62.14
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
65.24
53.49
53.50
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
56.67
48.83
55.34
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
63.71
52.94
60.63
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
63.95
55.21
55.50
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
56.39
38.51
39.90
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
52.18
38.76
50.54
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-18
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
 Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
15.78
12.58
14.90
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
16.59
12.11
13.98
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
16.98
13.33
16.68
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
19.45
16.12
18.17
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
24.99
18.31
24.12
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
26.95
22.33
26.75
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
27.92
20.51
22.94
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
25.95
21.44
24.00
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
34.43
23.75
33.34
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
34.75
30.48
34.58
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
40.28
33.79
39.73
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
42.08
37.36
38.55
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
45.38
37.24
44.84
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
49.71
42.12
47.64
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
53.36
46.93
50.54
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
56.20
48.40
55.95
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
60.00
51.63
58.19
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
62.62
54.35
61.98
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
65.98
59.00
64.39
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
66.75
60.15
65.49
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
66.02
54.02
56.35
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
60.57
56.17
57.62
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
59.88
50.36
51.99
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
58.08
50.20
56.81
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-19
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
 Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
24.85
19.19
23.69
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
24.29
19.58
21.82
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
34.26
21.30
33.24
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
38.20
32.80
35.79
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
38.51
32.14
38.16
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
44.53
36.65
40.17
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
42.09
26.76
27.99
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
36.41
26.02
34.53
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
39.29
32.82
38.73
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
38.96
28.83
30.98
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
33.86
28.89
31.72
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
33.03
25.49
26.23
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
33.32
25.01
30.76
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
39.82
30.39
36.79
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
46.09
36.18
45.44
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
67.63
43.12
67.46
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
82.16
63.65
68.65
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
75.69
53.62
70.02
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
71.49
61.13
68.34
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
75.20
57.14
72.12
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
93.03
70.62
89.70
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
96.58
78.19
79.65
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
88.54
59.81
69.28
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
72.85
46.66
60.28
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-20
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
11.84
8.58
9.66
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
10.72
7.77
8.11
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
12.41
7.50
10.42
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
10.61
3.20
4.93
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
6.52
3.90
5.63
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
9.31
5.45
8.33
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
12.81
7.76
12.48
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
14.20
10.91
13.86
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
15.60
13.04
14.80
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
15.39
11.33
11.94
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
14.00
11.36
13.84
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
15.34
13.48
13.75
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
16.67
13.73
15.81
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
16.67
13.85
15.34
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
15.63
11.38
12.56
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
15.53
11.79
13.28
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
18.09
13.12
17.88
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
19.21
16.62
18.68
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
24.12
18.44
23.48
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
24.79
21.62
22.98
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
29.50
23.39
28.57
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
32.85
27.84
29.17
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
33.40
28.59
32.27
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
52.47
43.19
46.62
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-21
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
10/22/2010
12/30/2010
33.82
23.71
33.76
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
41.12
33.57
39.55
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
48.12
35.84
38.52
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
41.93
24.41
24.43
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
36.96
22.90
32.49
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
46.39
33.11
43.65
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
46.13
35.97
40.27
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
53.77
38.44
51.66
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
57.16
44.87
57.09
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
65.69
55.94
63.29
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
69.45
55.02
66.26
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
75.67
64.74
73.23
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
80.33
72.27
80.28
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
91.94
74.37
88.94
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
102.63
85.40
97.65
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
115.40
97.09
108.66
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
107.79
70.06
79.39
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
91.99
71.74
87.80
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
107.32
87.03
103.52
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
104.66
72.76
83.36
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
98.25
83.84
96.32
* LyndellBasell Industries N.V.  commenced trading on October 22, 2010 and therefore has a limited historical performance.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-22
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
23.72
13.18
13.53
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
19.78
13.31
16.65
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
22.71
15.12
21.68
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
22.68
16.83
22.46
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
28.11
21.30
27.30
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
31.72
26.18
31.50
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
46.37
30.02
44.80
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
45.27
34.66
35.53
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
38.29
31.26
32.16
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
45.98
30.66
45.87
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
47.44
40.34
43.52
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
48.85
38.97
39.04
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
46.45
37.84
42.34
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
48.97
37.32
45.13
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
54.16
37.62
51.20
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
53.07
48.41
52.31
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
60.38
43.42
46.33
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
57.66
46.03
57.19
 
* Marathon Petroleum Corporation commenced trading on July 1, 2011 and therefore has a limited historical performance.

 PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-23
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
61.80
50.46
59.70
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
70.45
56.30
56.50
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
62.99
49.43
51.91
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
61.79
50.69
60.88
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
65.19
59.67
62.99
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
64.37
55.56
59.61
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
61.21
42.70
48.19
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
58.70
44.74
57.67
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
64.79
56.88
64.49
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
67.89
55.60
61.11
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
67.04
56.76
63.10
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
65.73
53.36
58.31
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
66.94
58.96
66.50
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
74.19
63.69
72.92
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
77.93
71.48
72.45
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
78.36
70.63
77.58
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
87.80
76.06
87.00
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
89.85
79.80
89.05
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
90.00
80.43
85.58
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
93.45
76.69
91.23
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
96.71
81.84
93.24
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
99.61
90.42
95.65
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
100.52
82.77
89.20
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
96.08
84.93
95.15
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-24
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
58.30
50.53
57.12
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
60.10
48.31
48.39
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
50.00
42.65
45.71
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
48.67
44.37
45.95
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
53.12
45.81
50.87
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
51.75
47.65
49.85
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
50.25
38.35
40.87
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
49.11
38.68
48.38
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
53.00
47.50
52.78
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
56.70
49.03
56.59
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
58.68
53.97
57.16
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
59.34
53.60
57.56
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
59.08
52.24
58.79
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
68.62
55.85
66.12
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
81.26
64.48
77.07
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
91.39
73.81
90.70
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
102.15
87.64
98.79
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
102.33
92.10
92.25
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
103.51
89.17
101.62
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
111.47
92.96
108.17
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
113.36
98.21
109.25
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
110.48
95.46
95.68
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
110.76
95.32
109.26
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
128.20
106.18
126.36
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-25
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
42.08
31.86
38.76
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
48.49
38.57
40.23
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
44.78
37.00
42.77
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
52.01
41.43
51.75
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
53.63
45.93
50.60
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
57.04
49.32
56.85
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
60.38
37.51
37.51
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
54.35
34.28
53.14
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
57.63
51.41
52.80
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
54.28
33.95
36.01
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
43.36
32.76
39.06
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
51.01
38.69
49.93
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
61.68
50.41
59.75
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
64.68
52.58
60.79
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
64.99
55.17
59.70
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
73.97
56.93
73.78
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
80.62
64.37
79.92
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
89.25
77.93
88.09
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
93.87
84.20
89.97
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
95.82
77.14
92.85
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
99.32
82.29
94.89
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
100.64
86.75
87.37
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
93.86
72.66
74.04
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
76.33
64.71
66.16
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-26
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 

Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
6/29/2012
6/29/2012
24.75
22.83
24.60
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
41.77
22.62
38.68
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
38.14
28.15
30.03
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
38.22
25.54
36.20
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
43.99
33.95
40.39
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
53.11
39.83
51.95
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
58.41
47.37
56.01
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
71.80
54.36
59.92
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
63.96
44.17
61.96
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
64.98
54.11
58.78
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
70.90
54.05
67.85
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
81.24
62.55
78.78
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
83.52
70.32
74.31
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
81.21
64.29
69.45
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
87.70
67.65
86.70

* ServiceNow, Inc. commenced trading on June 29, 2012 and therefore has a limited historical performance.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-27
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
5/1/2013
6/28/2013
29.06
19.20
27.06
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
32.70
26.97
29.21
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
36.08
28.64
35.15
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
37.75
32.70
36.27
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
37.59
32.60
36.34
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
40.08
35.73
39.10
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
43.35
33.94
42.38
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
44.97
38.28
43.11
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
48.30
41.92
46.47
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
48.08
36.96
38.77
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
42.45
37.72
40.89

*Voya Financial Inc. commenced trading on May 1, 2013 and therefore has a limited historical performance.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
P-28
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
 Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
46.58
37.64
46.38
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
51.19
42.70
46.43
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
52.81
45.37
49.87
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
52.65
48.58
50.68
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
58.53
50.97
53.42
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
58.55
42.62
45.58
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
49.24
29.22
30.15
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
38.51
25.56
37.55
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
40.24
24.51
25.58
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
25.71
20.18
20.51
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
20.99
13.52
14.03
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
16.82
13.13
14.34
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
24.85
14.74
24.32
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
31.63
22.23
29.37
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
35.28
26.07
28.55
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
40.86
28.14
39.50
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
51.41
38.54
41.40
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
49.99
37.43
48.30
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
53.30
41.27
41.81
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
43.59
34.48
39.55
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
44.94
37.62
43.84
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
48.91
41.53
44.28
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
46.28
37.57
39.84
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
45.91
39.67
44.23
 
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-29
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
91.11
73.30
87.25
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
118.44
86.86
87.82
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
96.90
71.00
80.96
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
91.28
72.95
89.82
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
92.28
79.15
85.36
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
92.00
72.48
81.32
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
82.99
47.35
49.91
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
62.00
45.22
47.45
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
79.39
47.72
76.86
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
77.04
54.08
61.16
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
86.47
59.85
82.91
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
104.21
82.35
101.75
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
120.00
101.74
118.46
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
134.09
107.88
114.36
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
151.84
111.70
146.44
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
159.22
129.22
156.86
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
160.01
124.39
149.46
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
156.71
136.64
139.22
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
156.13
135.37
145.65
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
196.71
139.85
193.74
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
217.11
186.14
202.06
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
202.50
172.85
173.05
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
186.82
143.75
147.26
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
167.66
140.50
164.69
 
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-30
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
Period-Start
 Date
Period-End
Date
High Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Low Intra-Day
Price of the
Reference Stock in ($)
Period-End Closing Price of the Reference
Stock in ($)
1/1/2010
3/31/2010
38.86
32.49
38.33
4/1/2010
6/30/2010
44.00
37.54
39.04
7/1/2010
9/30/2010
46.91
38.25
46.06
10/1/2010
12/30/2010
52.47
46.09
49.31
         
1/1/2011
3/31/2011
53.19
46.27
51.38
4/1/2011
6/30/2011
56.98
49.24
55.24
7/1/2011
9/30/2011
57.75
47.54
49.39
10/1/2011
12/30/2011
59.79
47.15
59.01
         
1/1/2012
3/30/2012
71.79
58.40
71.18
4/1/2012
6/29/2012
74.44
61.55
64.42
7/1/2012
9/28/2012
69.21
61.05
66.34
10/1/2012
12/31/2012
74.75
63.07
66.40
         
1/1/2013
3/28/2013
72.21
59.68
71.94
4/1/2013
6/28/2013
73.89
63.16
69.34
7/1/2013
9/30/2013
75.13
68.78
71.39
10/1/2013
12/31/2013
78.68
64.08
75.61
         
1/1/2014
3/31/2014
77.95
65.83
75.39
4/1/2014
6/30/2014
82.13
74.07
81.20
7/1/2014
9/30/2014
83.58
68.09
71.98
10/1/2014
12/31/2014
78.57
65.81
72.85
         
1/1/2015
3/31/2015
82.83
69.38
78.72
4/1/2015
6/30/2015
95.90
77.92
90.08
7/1/2015
9/30/2015
92.42
71.39
79.95
10/1/2015
11/24/2015
83.54
66.35
72.38
 
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
 
 
P-31
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)
Delivery of the Notes will be made against payment for the Notes on November 30, 2015, which is the third (3rd) business day following the Pricing Date (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). See “Plan of Distribution” in the prospectus dated April 30, 2015. 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 April 30, 2015.
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 three months after the issue date of the Notes, the value of the Notes that may be shown on your account statement is expected to 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 is initially expected to 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.
 
 
P-32
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
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 reduced the initial estimated value of the Notes at the time their terms were set. Unlike the estimated value included in this 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, other derivatives or trading in shares of any Reference Stock) 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 resulted in the initial estimated value for the Notes on the Pricing Date being less than their public offering price. See “Selected Risk Considerations—The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Is Less than the Price to the Public” above.
VALIDITY OF THE NOTES
In the opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, the issue and sale of the Notes has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Bank in conformity with the Indenture, and when the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor, the Notes will be validly issued and, to the extent validity of the Notes is a matter governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario or Québec, or the laws of Canada applicable therein, and will be valid obligations of the Bank, subject to equitable remedies which may only be granted at the discretion of a court of competent authority, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights, and subject to limitations as to the currency in which judgments in Canada may be rendered, as prescribed by the Currency Act (Canada).  This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec and the federal laws of Canada applicable thereto.  In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the Trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture and the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated April 30, 2015, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.1 to Royal Bank’s Form 6-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2015.
In the opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP, when the Notes have been duly completed in accordance with the Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated by the prospectus supplement and the prospectus, the Notes will be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of Royal Bank, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith).  This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York.  This opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the Trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture and the genuineness of signatures and to such counsel’s reliance on the Bank and other sources as to certain factual matters, all as stated in the legal opinion dated April 30, 2015, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the Bank’s Form 6-K dated April 30, 2015.
 
 
P-33
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCUSSION OF
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a general description of the material U.S. tax considerations relating to the Notes. It does not purport to be a complete analysis of all tax considerations relating to the Notes. Prospective purchasers of the Notes should consult their tax advisors as to the consequences under the tax laws of the country of which they are resident for tax purposes and the tax laws of the U.S. of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Notes and receiving payments under the Notes. This summary is based upon the law as in effect on the date of this document and is subject to any change in law that may take effect after such date.
The following section supplements the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement and it supersedes the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompany product prospectus supplement. It applies only to those holders who are not excluded from the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus. This discussion applies only to U.S. holders and non-U.S. holders that will purchase the Notes upon original issuance and will hold the Notes as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  In addition, the discussion below assumes that an investor in the Notes will be subject to a significant risk that it will lose a significant amount of its investment in the Notes.
You should consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and other tax consequences of your investment in the Notes in your particular circumstances, including the application of state, local or other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
NO STATUTORY, JUDICIAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY DIRECTLY DISCUSSES HOW THE NOTES SHOULD BE TREATED FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. AS A RESULT, THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES ARE UNCERTAIN. BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY, YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR IN DETERMINING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
We will not attempt to ascertain whether any of the entities whose stock is included in the Basket would be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, or a “U.S. real property holding corporation,” within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code. If any of the entities whose stock is included in the Basket were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could possibly apply to a holder. You should refer to any available information filed with the SEC and other authorities by the entities whose stock is included in the Basket and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you in this regard, if any.
In the opinion of our counsel, Morrison & Foerster LLP, it would generally be reasonable to treat a note with terms described in this document as a pre-paid cash-settled contingent income-bearing derivative contract linked to the Basket for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the terms of the Notes require a holder and us (in the absence of a change in law or an administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat the Notes for all tax purposes in accordance with such characterization. Although the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the contingent quarterly coupon is uncertain, we intend to take the position, and the following discussion assumes, that such contingent quarterly coupon (including any contingent quarterly coupon paid on or with respect to the maturity date) constitutes taxable ordinary income to a U.S. holder at the time received or accrued in accordance with the holder’s regular method of tax accounting. If the Notes are so treated, a U.S. holder should generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale or maturity of the Notes in an amount equal to the difference between the cash amount a holder receives at such time (other than amounts properly attributable to any contingent quarterly coupon, which would be taxed, as described above, as ordinary income) and the holder’s tax basis in the Notes.  In general, a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Notes will be equal to the price the holder paid for the Notes.  Capital gain recognized by an individual U.S. holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the property is held for more than one year and is generally taxed at ordinary income rates where the property is held for one year or less.  The ordinary income treatment of the contingent quarterly coupons, in conjunction with the capital loss treatment of any loss recognized upon the sale, exchange or maturity of the Notes, could result in adverse tax consequences to a holder because the deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
While the matter is not entirely clear, because one of the Reference Stocks is a real estate investment trust, an investment in the notes will likely, in whole or in part, be treated as a “constructive ownership transaction” to which Section 1260 of the Code applies. If Section 1260 of the Code applies, all or a portion of any long-term capital gain recognized by a U.S. holder in respect of the Notes will be recharacterized as ordinary income (the “Excess Gain”). In addition, an interest charge will also apply to any deemed underpayment of tax in respect of any Excess Gain to the extent such gain would have resulted in gross income
 
 
P-34
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
inclusion for the U.S. holder in taxable years prior to the taxable year of the sale, exchange or maturity (assuming such income accrued at a constant rate equal to the applicable federal rate as of the date of sale, exchange or maturity). If an investment in the Notes is treated as a constructive ownership transaction, it is not clear how the net underlying long-term capital gain would be computed and to what extent any long-term capital gain of a United States holder in respect of the Notes will be recharacterized as ordinary income. Unless otherwise established by clear and convincing evidence, the net underlying long-term capital gain is treated as zero. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of Section 1260 of the Code to an investment in the Notes.
Alternative Treatments.  Alternative tax treatments of the Notes are also possible and the Internal Revenue Service might assert that a treatment other than that described above is more appropriate. For example, it is possible to treat the Notes, and the Internal Revenue Service might assert that the Notes should be treated, as a single debt instrument.  Because the Notes have a term that exceeds one year, such debt instrument would be subject to the special tax rules governing contingent payment debt instruments. If the Notes are so treated, a holder would generally be required to accrue interest income over the term of the securities based upon the yield at which we would issue a non-contingent fixed-rate debt instrument with other terms and conditions similar to the Notes. In addition, any gain a holder might recognize upon the sale or maturity of the Notes would be ordinary income and any loss recognized by a holder at such time would generally be ordinary loss to the extent of interest that same holder included in income in the current or previous taxable years in respect of the Notes, and thereafter, would be capital loss.
Because of the absence of authority regarding the appropriate tax characterization of the Notes, it is also possible that the Internal Revenue Service could seek to characterize the Notes in a manner that results in other tax consequences that are different from those described above.  For example, the Internal Revenue Service could possibly assert that any gain or loss that a holder may recognize upon the sale or maturity of the Notes should be treated as ordinary gain or loss.
The Internal Revenue Service has released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of the Notes.  According to the notice, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department are actively considering whether the holder of an instrument such as the Notes should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis irrespective of any contingent quarterly coupons. It is not possible to determine what guidance they will ultimately issue, if any.  It is possible, however, that under such guidance, holders of the Notes will ultimately be required to accrue income currently irrespective of any contingent quarterly coupons and this could be applied on a retroactive basis.  The Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department are also considering other relevant issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital and whether the special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Code, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gains as ordinary income and impose an interest charge, might be applied to such instruments.  Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the significance, and the potential impact, of the above considerations.  We intend to treat the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described in this document unless and until such time as the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting.  Payments made with respect to the Notes and proceeds from the sale or exchange of the Notes may be subject to a backup withholding tax unless, in general, the holder complies with certain procedures or is an exempt recipient. Any amounts so withheld generally will be refunded by the Internal Revenue Service or allowed as a credit against the holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the holder makes a timely filing of an appropriate tax return or refund claim to the Internal Revenue Service.
Reports will be made to the Internal Revenue Service and to holders that are not excepted from the reporting requirements.
Non-U.S. holders.  The following discussion applies to non-U.S. holders of the Notes. A non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of a Note that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a non-resident alien individual, a foreign corporation, or a foreign estate or trust.
While the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes (including proper characterization of the contingent quarterly coupons for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is uncertain, U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) will be withheld in respect of the contingent quarterly coupons paid to a non-U.S. holder unless such payments are effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business in the U.S. (in which case, to avoid withholding, the non-U.S. holder will be required to provide a Form W-8ECI). We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. To claim benefits under an income tax treaty, a non-U.S. holder must obtain a taxpayer identification number and certify as to its eligibility under the appropriate treaty’s limitations on benefits article, if applicable (which certification may generally be made on a Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or a substitute or successor form).  In addition,
 
 
P-35
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
special rules may apply to claims for treaty benefits made by corporate non-U.S. holders.  A non-U.S. holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service.  The availability of a lower rate of withholding or an exemption from withholding under an applicable income tax treaty will depend on the proper characterization of the contingent monthly coupons under U.S. federal income tax laws and whether such treaty rate or exemption applies to such contingent monthly coupon payments.  No assurance can be provided on the proper characterization of the contingent quarterly coupons for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, accordingly, no assurance can be provided on the availability of benefits under any income tax treaty.  Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors in this regard.
Except as discussed below, a  non-U.S. holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain (not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any amounts properly attributable to any contingent quarterly coupon which would be subject to the rules discussed in the previous paragraph) upon the sale or maturity of the Notes, provided that (i) the holder complies with any applicable certification requirements (which certification may generally be made on a Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or a substitute or successor form), (ii) the payment is not effectively connected with the conduct by the holder of a U.S. trade or business, and (iii) if the holder is a non-resident alien individual, such holder is not present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale or maturity of the Notes.  In the case of (ii) above, the holder generally would be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to any income or gain in the same manner as if the holder were a U.S. holder and, in the case of a holder that is a corporation, the holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable U.S. income tax treaty) of a portion of its earnings and profits for the taxable year that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the U.S., subject to certain adjustments. Payments made to a non-U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and to backup withholding unless the holder complies with applicable certification and identification requirements as to its foreign status.
A “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from sources within the U.S. and 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, certain payments (including deemed payments) that are contingent upon or determined by reference to actual or estimated U.S. source dividends, with respect to certain equity-linked instruments, whether explicitly stated or implicitly taken into account in computing one or more of the terms of such instruments, including the Notes, may be treated as dividend equivalents.  However, withholding on “dividend equivalent” payments, if any, will not apply to securities issued before January 1, 2016. If any payments are treated as dividend equivalents subject to withholding, we (or the applicable paying agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld.
As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible.  Should an alternative characterization, by reason of change or clarification of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments as to the Notes to become subject to withholding tax in addition to the withholding tax described above, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate. The Internal Revenue Service has also indicated that it is considering whether income in respect of instruments such as the Notes should be subject to withholding tax. We will not be required to pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors in this regard.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source payments of interest (and OID), dividends, or other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition of property (including payments at maturity, or upon a redemption or sale) of a type which can produce U.S. source interest or dividends (“withholdable payments”), if paid to a foreign financial institution (including amounts paid to a foreign financial institution on your behalf) unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department to collect and provide to the U.S. Treasury Department certain information regarding U.S. account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution or otherwise complies with FATCA.  In addition, the Notes may constitute a “financial account” for these purposes and thus, be subject to information reporting requirements pursuant to FATCA.  The legislation also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on withholdable payments made to a non-financial foreign entity, unless that entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity.
The U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS have announced that withholding on payments of gross proceeds from a sale or redemption of the Notes will only apply to payments made after December 31, 2018.  We will not pay additional amounts with respect to any FATCA withholding.  Therefore, if such withholding applies, any payments on the Notes will be significantly less than what you would have otherwise received.  Depending on your circumstances, these amounts withheld may be creditable or
 
 
P-36
RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 
 
 
Direct Investment Notes Linked to the November 2015
RBC Capital Markets U.S. Equity Top Picks List due
December 7, 2016
 
 
refundable to you.  Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.  You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor regarding the possible implications of FATCA on your investment in the Notes.
 
 
 
P-37
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
 
 

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