DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue senior or subordinated debt securities. Neither the senior debt securities nor the subordinated debt securities will be secured by any of our property or assets or the property or assets of our subsidiaries. Thus, by owning a debt security, you are one of our unsecured creditors.

The senior debt securities will be issued under our senior debt indenture, dated as of October 23, 2003, between Royal Bank of Canada and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor to the corporate trust business of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of July 21, 2006, by a second supplemental indenture, dated as of February 28, 2007, and by a third supplemental indenture, dated as of September 7, 2018 and as further amended from time to time (collectively, the “senior debt indenture”), and will be unsubordinated obligations that rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt, including deposit liabilities, other than certain governmental claims in accordance with applicable law.

The subordinated debt securities will be issued under our subordinated debt indenture, dated as of January 27, 2016, between Royal Bank of Canada and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of January 27, 2016 and as further amended from time to time (collectively, the “subordinated debt indenture”), and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of our “senior indebtedness”, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture. Neither indenture limits our ability to incur additional indebtedness.

In the event we become insolvent, our governing legislation provides that priorities among payments of our deposit liabilities (including payments in respect of the senior debt securities) and payments of all of our other liabilities (including payments in respect of the subordinated debt securities) are to be determined in accordance with the laws governing priorities and, where applicable, by the terms of the indebtedness and liabilities. Because we have subsidiaries, our right to participate in any distribution of the assets of our banking or non-banking subsidiaries, upon a subsidiary’s dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, and thus your ability to benefit indirectly from such distribution, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that we may be a creditor of that subsidiary and our claims are recognized. There are legal limitations on the extent to which some of our subsidiaries may extend credit, pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to, or engage in transactions with, us or some of our other subsidiaries. Accordingly, the debt securities will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, and holders of debt securities should look only to our assets for payments on the debt securities.

Neither the senior debt securities nor the subordinated debt securities will constitute deposits insured under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act or by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other Canadian or United States governmental agency or instrumentality.

When we refer to “debt securities” in this prospectus, we mean both the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities.

The Senior and Subordinated Debt Indentures

The senior debt securities are governed by the senior debt indenture, and the subordinated debt securities are governed by the subordinated debt indenture. When we refer to the “indentures”, we mean both the senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt indenture, and when we refer to the “indenture”, we mean either the senior debt indenture or the subordinated debt indenture. The senior debt indenture is a contract between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor to the corporate trust business of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., which acts as trustee. The indentures are substantially identical, except for (i) the provisions relating to events of default, which are more limited in the subordinated debt indenture, (ii) the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated debt indenture, and (iii) the provisions relating to possible conversions or exchanges, which are only included in the senior debt indenture.

Reference to the indenture or the trustee, with respect to any debt securities, means the indenture under which those debt securities are issued and the trustee under that indenture.

The trustee has two main roles:

Governing Law. The indentures and their associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by New York law, except that the subordination provisions and provisions related to non-viability contingent capital automatic conversion in the subordinated debt indenture, certain provisions relating to the status of the senior debt securities under Canadian law and provisions relating to the bail-in acknowledgment of holders and beneficial owners of bail-inable debt securities in the senior debt indenture will be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. A copy of each of the senior debt indenture, the supplements to the senior debt indenture, the subordinated debt indenture and the supplement to the subordinated debt indenture is an exhibit to our Registration Statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” above for information on how to obtain a copy.

General

We may issue as many distinct series of debt securities under either indenture as we wish. The provisions of the senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt indenture allow us not only to issue debt securities with terms different from those previously issued under the applicable indenture, but also to “re-open” a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series. We do not intend to re-open a previous issue of a series of debt securities where such re-opening would have the effect of making the relevant debt securities of such series subject to bail-in conversion (as defined under “ — Special Provisions Related to Bail-inable Debt Securities”). We may issue debt securities in amounts that exceed the total amount specified on the cover of your prospectus supplement at any time without your consent and without notifying you.

This section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, although the prospectus supplement that describes the terms of each series of debt securities may also describe differences from the material terms summarized here.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indentures, including definitions of certain terms used in the indentures. In this summary, we describe the meaning of only some of the more important terms. For your convenience, we also include references in parentheses to certain sections of the indentures. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indentures in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference here or in the prospectus supplement. You must look to the indentures for the most complete description of what we describe in summary form in this prospectus.

This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your series described in the prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities will be attached to the front of this prospectus. There may also be a further prospectus supplement, known as a pricing supplement, which describes additional terms of debt securities you are offered.

We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which will be offered and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. (Indenture Section 101) The prospectus supplement relating to the original issue discount securities will describe U.S. federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to them. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and any material additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

In addition, the specific financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement relating to the series. The prospectus supplement and/or, if applicable, the pricing supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:

We will offer debt securities that are convertible or exchangeable into securities of another entity or other entities only under circumstances that do not require registration of the underlying securities under the Securities Act at the time we offer such debt securities.

Overview of Remainder of this Description

The remainder of this description summarizes:

Form, Exchange and Transfer

Unless we specify otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued:

If a debt security is issued as a registered global debt security, only the depositary—e.g., DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream and CDS, each as defined under “Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in this prospectus—will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection because the depositary will be the sole registered holder of the debt security and is referred to below as the “holder”. Those who own beneficial interests in a global security do so through participants in the depositary’s securities clearance system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We describe book-entry procedures under “Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in this prospectus.

Holders of securities issued in fully-registered form may have their debt securities broken into more debt securities of smaller denominations of not less than $1,000, or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. (Indenture Section 305) This is called an exchange.

Holders may exchange or register the transfer of debt securities at the office of the trustee. Debt securities may be transferred by endorsement. Holders may also replace lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities at that office. The trustee has been appointed as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and registering the transfer of debt securities. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform these tasks ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the security registrar. It also records transfers. (Indenture Section 305) The trustee may require an indemnity before replacing any debt securities.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, but holders may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The registration of a transfer or exchange will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

If we designate additional transfer agents, they will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. (Indenture Section 1002)

If the debt securities are redeemable and we redeem less than all of the debt securities of a particular series, we may block the registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders entitled to receive the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of debt securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit registration of transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed. (Indenture Section 305)

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay interest to the person listed in the trustee’s records at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. That particular day, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the regular record date and will be stated in the prospectus supplement. (Indenture Section 307) Holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between them how to compensate for the fact that we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the one who is the registered holder on the regular record date. The most common manner is to adjust the sale price of the securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller. This prorated interest amount is called accrued interest.

We will pay interest, principal and any other money due on the debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee in the City of New York. That office is currently located at 240 Greenwich Street - Floor 7E, New York, NY 10286. Holders must make arrangements to have their payments picked up at or wired from that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks, brokers or other financial institutions for information on how they will receive payments.

We may also arrange for additional payment offices and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. These offices are called paying agents. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent or choose one of our subsidiaries to do so. We must notify holders of changes in the paying agents for any particular series of debt securities. (Indenture Section 1002)

Conversion or Exchange of Senior Debt Securities

If and to the extent mentioned in the relevant prospectus supplement, any senior debt securities series may be optionally or mandatorily convertible or exchangeable for stock or other securities of the Bank or another entity or entities, into the cash value therefor or into any combination of the above, the specific terms on which any senior debt securities series may be so converted or exchanged will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. These terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either mandatorily, at the holder’s option or at our option, in which case the amount or number of securities the senior debt securities holders would receive would be calculated at the time and manner described in the relevant prospectus supplement. (Indenture Section 301)

Notices

We and the trustee will send notices regarding the debt securities only to registered holders, using their addresses as listed in the trustee’s records. (Indenture Sections 101 and 106) With respect to who is a registered “holder” for this purpose, see “Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance”.

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to holders will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, holders may look to us for payment and not to the trustee or any other paying agent. (Indenture Section 1003)

Mergers and Similar Events

Under the indentures, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We are also permitted to sell or lease substantially all of our assets to another entity, or to buy or lease substantially all of the assets of another entity. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to any series of debt securities, we will not need to obtain the approval of the holders of those debt securities in order to merge or consolidate or to sell our assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell substantially all of our assets to another entity. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control but in which we do not merge or consolidate and any transaction in which we sell less than substantially all of our assets. It is possible that this type of transaction may result in a reduction in our credit rating, may reduce our operating results or may impair our financial condition. Holders of our debt securities, however, will have no approval right with respect to any transaction of this type.

Modification and Waiver of the Debt Securities

There are four types of changes we can make to either indenture and the debt securities issued under that indenture.

1. Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders. First, there are changes that cannot be made to the indenture or the debt securities without specific approval of each holder of a debt security affected in any material respect by the change under a particular debt indenture. The following is a list of those types of changes:

2. Changes Requiring a Majority Vote. The second type of change to the indenture and the debt securities is the kind that requires a vote in favor of the change by holders of debt securities owning not less than a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected. Most changes, including any change or elimination of any provision of the indenture and any modification of any right of the noteholders, require a majority vote. A smaller class of changes does not require a majority vote including clarifying changes and other changes that would not adversely affect in any material respect holders of the debt securities. (Indenture Section 901) We may also obtain a waiver of a past default from the holders of debt securities owning a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of the indenture or the debt securities listed in the first category described above under “— Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders” unless we obtain the individual consent of each holder to the waiver. (Indenture Section 513)

3. Changes Not Requiring Approval. The third type of change to the indenture and the debt securities does not require any vote by holders of debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect in any material respect holders of the debt securities. (Indenture Section 901)

4. We may also make changes or obtain waivers that do not adversely affect in any material respect a particular debt security, even if they affect other debt securities. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of that debt security; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected debt securities.

Modification of Bail-inable Debt Securities. Where an amendment, modification or other variance that can be made to the indenture or the bail-inable debt securities would affect the recognition of those bail-inable debt securities by the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Canada) (the “Superintendent”) as TLAC (as defined below under “— Canadian Bank Resolution Powers”), that amendment, modification or variance will require the prior approval of the Superintendent. (Indenture Section 907)

Modification of Subordination Provisions. We may not modify the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt indenture in a manner that would adversely affect in any material respect the outstanding subordinated debt securities of any one or more series without the consent of the holders of a majority of the principal amount of all affected series, voting together as one class. We may not modify the subordinated debt indenture or any terms of any outstanding subordinated debt securities in a manner that would affect the regulatory capital classification of the subordinated debt securities under the guidelines for capital adequacy requirements for banks in Canada without the consent of the Superintendent.

Further Details Concerning Voting. When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal amount to attribute to a debt security:

Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have given a notice of redemption and deposited or set aside in trust for the holders money for the payment or redemption of the debt securities. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described below under “— Defeasance — Full Defeasance”. (Indenture Section 1402)

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If the trustee or we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of a particular series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding securities of that series on the record date. We or the trustee, as applicable, may shorten or lengthen this period from time to time. This period, however, may not extend beyond the 180th day after the record date for the action. (Indenture Sections 104 and 512)

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks, brokers or other financial institutions for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

Special Provisions Related to Bail-inable Debt Securities

The senior debt indenture provides for certain provisions applicable to bail-inable debt securities. The prospectus supplement and, if applicable, the relevant pricing supplement will describe the specific terms of bail-inable debt securities we may issue and specify whether or not your debt security is a bail-inable debt security.

Subject to certain exceptions discussed under “― Canadian Bank Resolution Powers,” including for certain structured notes, senior debt of the Bank issued on or after September 23, 2018, with an initial or amended term to maturity (including explicit or embedded options) greater than 400 days, that is unsecured or partially secured and that has been assigned a CUSIP or ISIN or similar identification number, is subject to conversion in whole or in part – by means of a transaction or series of transactions and in one or more steps – into common shares of the Bank or any of its affiliates under the bail-in regime (as defined below under “— Canadian Bank Resolution Powers”), which we refer to as a “bail-in conversion”. We refer to debt securities that are subject to bail-in conversion as “bail-inable debt securities.”

By its acquisition of an interest in any bail-inable debt security, each holder or beneficial owner of that debt security is deemed to (i) agree to be bound, in respect of the bail-inable debt securities, by the CDIC Act, including the conversion of the bail-inable debt securities, in whole or in part – by means of a transaction or series of transactions and in one or more steps – into common shares of the Bank or any of its affiliates under subsection 39.2(2.3) of the CDIC Act and the variation or extinguishment of the bail-inable debt securities in consequence, and by the application of the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein in respect of the operation of the CDIC Act with respect to the bail-inable debt securities; (ii) attorn and submit to the jurisdiction of the courts in the Province of Ontario with respect to the CDIC Act and those laws; and (iii) acknowledge and agree that the terms referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, are binding on that holder or beneficial owner despite any provisions in the indenture or the bail-inable debt securities, any other law that governs the bail-inable debt securities and any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between that holder or beneficial owner and the Bank with respect to the bail-inable debt securities. (Indenture Section 1601(a))

Holders and beneficial owners of bail-inable debt securities will have no further rights in respect of bail-inable debt securities that are converted upon a bail-in conversion other than those provided under the bail-in regime, and by its acquisition of an interest in any bail-inable debt security, each holder or beneficial owner of that debt security is deemed to irrevocably consent to the principal amount of that debt security and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon being deemed paid in full by the Bank by the issuance of common shares of the Bank (or, if applicable, any of its affiliates) upon the occurrence of a bail-in conversion, which bail-in conversion will occur without any further action on the part of that holder or beneficial owner or the trustee; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this consent will not limit or otherwise affect any rights that holders or beneficial owners may have under the bail-in regime. (Indenture Section 1601(b))

Each holder or beneficial owner of a bail-inable debt security that acquires an interest in the bail-inable debt security in the secondary market and any successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of any holder or beneficial owner is deemed to acknowledge, accept, agree to be bound by and consent to the same provisions specified herein to the same extent as the holders or beneficial owners that acquired an interest in the bail-inable debt securities upon their initial issuance, including, without limitation, with respect to the acknowledgement and agreement to be bound by and consent to the terms of the bail-inable debt securities related to the bail-in regime. (Indenture Article Seventeen)

Trustee and Trustee’s Duties

The trustee will undertake certain procedures and seek certain remedies in the event of an event of default or a default. See “— Events of Default”. However, by its acquisition of an interest in any bail-inable debt security, each holder or beneficial owner of that debt security is deemed to acknowledge and agree that the bail-in conversion will not give rise to a default or event of default for purposes of Section 315(b) (Notice of Default) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

By its acquisition of an interest in any bail-inable debt security, each holder or beneficial owner of that debt security, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, is deemed to waive any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the trustee, for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the trustee in respect of, and agrees that the trustee will not be liable for, any action that the trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the bail-in regime.

Additionally, by its acquisition of an interest in any bail-inable debt security, each holder or beneficial owner of that debt security is deemed to acknowledge and agree that, upon a bail-in conversion, or other action pursuant to the bail-in regime with respect to bail-inable debt securities,

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, following the completion of a bail-in conversion, the relevant bail-inable debt securities remain outstanding (for example, if not all bail-inable debt securities are converted), then the trustee’s duties under the indenture will remain applicable with respect to those bail-inable debt securities following such completion to the extent that the Bank and the trustee will agree pursuant to a supplemental indenture or an amendment to the indenture; provided, however, that notwithstanding the bail-in conversion, there will at all times be a trustee for the bail-inable debt securities in accordance with the indenture, and the resignation and/or removal of the trustee, the appointment of a successor trustee and the rights of the trustee or any successor trustee will continue to be governed by the indenture, including to the extent no additional supplemental indenture or amendment to the indenture is agreed upon in the event the relevant bail-inable debt securities remain outstanding following the completion of the bail-in conversion. (Indenture Section 1601(d))

DTC —Bail-in Conversion

Upon a bail-in conversion, we will provide a written notice to The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and the holders of bail-inable debt securities through DTC as soon as practicable regarding such bail-in conversion. The Bank will also deliver a copy of such notice to the trustee for information purposes. (Indenture Section 1601(e))

By its acquisition of an interest in any bail-inable debt security, each holder or beneficial owner of that debt security is deemed to have authorized, directed and requested DTC and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds such bail-inable debt security to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the bail-in conversion or other action pursuant to the bail-in regime with respect to the bail-inable debt security as it may be imposed on it, without any further action or direction on the part of that holder or beneficial owner, the trustee or the paying agent. (Indenture Section 1601(d))

Special Provisions Related to the Subordinated Debt Securities

The subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated debt indenture will be our direct unsecured obligations constituting subordinated indebtedness for the purpose of the Bank Act and will therefore rank subordinate to our deposits. Holders of subordinated debt securities should recognize that contractual provisions in the subordinated debt indenture may prohibit us from making payments on these securities.

If we become insolvent or are wound-up, the subordinated debt securities will rank equally and ratably with, or junior to, but not prior to, all other subordinated debt and subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of (i) our indebtedness then outstanding, other than subordinated indebtedness, and (ii) all indebtedness to which our other subordinated indebtedness is subordinate in right of payment to the same extent as such other subordinated indebtedness. As of July 31, 2021, we had approximately $1,588 billion of senior indebtedness, including deposits, outstanding, which would rank ahead of the subordinated debt securities. The only outstanding subordinated indebtedness issued to date has been issued pursuant to:

For these purposes, “indebtedness” at any time means:

(i)        the deposit liabilities of the Bank at such time; and

(ii)        all other liabilities and obligations of the Bank to third parties (other than fines or penalties which pursuant to the Bank Act are a last charge on the assets of the Bank in the case of insolvency of such bank and obligations to shareholders of such bank) which would entitle such third parties to participate in a distribution of the Bank’s assets in the event of the insolvency or winding-up of the Bank.

For these purposes, “subordinated indebtedness” at any time means:

(i)        the liability of the Bank in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on its outstanding subordinated indebtedness outlined above;

(ii)        any indebtedness which ranks equally with and not prior to the outstanding subordinated indebtedness, in right of payment in the event of the insolvency or winding-up of the Bank and which, pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing or creating the same, is expressed to be subordinate in right of payment to all indebtedness to which the outstanding subordinated indebtedness is subordinate in right of payment to at least the same extent as the outstanding subordinated indebtedness is subordinated thereto pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing or creating the same;

(iii)        any indebtedness which ranks subordinate to and not equally with or prior to the outstanding subordinated indebtedness, in right of payment in the event of the insolvency or winding-up of the Bank and which, pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing or creating the same, is expressed to be subordinate in right of payment to all indebtedness to which the outstanding subordinated indebtedness is subordinate in right of payment to at least the same extent as the outstanding subordinated indebtedness is subordinate pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing or creating the same; and

(iv)        the subordinated debt securities, which will rank equally or junior to the Bank’s outstanding subordinated indebtedness.

The subordination provisions of the subordinated debt indenture will be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.

Defeasance

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following discussion of full defeasance and covenant defeasance will be applicable to each series of debt securities that is denominated in U.S. dollars and has a fixed rate of interest and will apply to other series of debt securities if we so specify in the prospectus supplement. Any defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to bail-inable debt securities that would result in the Bank not meeting the TLAC requirements applicable to it pursuant to the TLAC Guideline (as defined under “—Canadian Bank Resolution Powers”) will be subject to the prior approval of the Superintendent. (Indenture Sections 1401, 1404)

Full Defeasance. If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from any payment or other obligations on the debt securities, called full defeasance, if we put in place the following other arrangements for holders to be repaid:

If we ever did accomplish full defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment on the debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the event of any shortfall. Subject to the foregoing conditions, and notwithstanding that a full defeasance may be authorized pursuant to the subordinated debt indenture in respect of a series of subordinated debt securities, the Bank will not take such action in respect of a series of subordinated debt securities until at least the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such series.

Covenant Defeasance. Even without a change in current U.S. federal tax law, we can make the same type of deposit as described above, and we will be released from the restrictive covenants under the debt securities that may be described in the prospectus supplement. This is called covenant defeasance. In that event, you would lose the protection of these covenants but would gain the protection of having money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds set aside in trust to repay the debt securities. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, certain provisions of the indenture and the debt securities would no longer apply:

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit. In fact, if one of the remaining events of default occurs (such as a bankruptcy) and the debt securities become immediately due and payable, there may be such a shortfall. (Indenture Sections 1403 and 1404)

Events of Default

You will have special rights if an event of default occurs and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.

What is an Event of Default?

Under the senior debt indenture, for debt securities of a series issued on or after September 23, 2018, “event of default” means any of the following:

An event of default regarding one series of debt securities will not cause an event of default regarding any other series of debt securities. For purposes of this section “— Events of Default”, with respect to debt securities issued on or after September 23, 2018, “series” refers to debt securities having identical terms, except as to issue date, principal amount and, if applicable, the date from which interest begins to accrue.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you purchase debt securities issued before September 23, 2018, or debt securities that are part of a series created before the date of this prospectus, “event of default” means any of the following:

A bail-in conversion will not constitute a default or an event of default under the senior debt indenture.

Under the subordinated debt indenture, the term “Event of Default” means any of the following:

A non-viability contingent capital conversion or a bail-in conversion will not constitute a default or an event of default under any subordinated debt indenture.

Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs. Unless otherwise described in a prospectus supplement, if an Event of Default occurs, the trustee will have special duties. In that situation, the trustee will be obligated to use its rights and powers under the indentures, and to use the same degree of care and skill in doing so that a prudent person would use in that situation in conducting his or her own affairs. If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series (or, in the case of original issue discount securities, the portion of the principal amount that is specified in the terms of the affected debt security) to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. However, a declaration of acceleration of maturity may be cancelled, but only before a judgment or decree based on the acceleration has been obtained, by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series. If you are the holder of a subordinated debt security, the principal amount of the subordinated debt security will not be paid and may not be required to be paid at any time prior to the relevant maturity date, except in the event of our insolvency or winding-up. (Indenture Section 502)

Holders or beneficial owners of bail-inable debt securities may only exercise, or direct the exercise of, the rights described in this section if the Governor in Council (Canada) has not made an order under Canadian bank resolution powers pursuant to subsection 39.13(1) of the CDIC Act in respect of the Bank. Notwithstanding the exercise of those rights, bail-inable debt securities will continue to be subject to bail-in conversion until repaid in full. (Indenture Section 502)

You should read carefully the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities which are original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity of a portion of the principal amount of original issue discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and its continuation.

Except in cases of default in which the trustee has the special duties described above, the trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability called an indemnity. (Indenture Section 603) If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series. (Indenture Section 512)

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security on or after its due date. (Indenture Section 508)

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks, brokers or other financial institutions for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and to make or cancel a declaration of acceleration.

We will give to the trustee every year a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the applicable indenture and the debt securities issued under it, or else specifying any default. (Indenture Section 1004)

The Trustee

Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor to the corporate trust business of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., serves as the trustee for our senior debt securities and our subordinated debt securities and will serve as the trustee for the warrants issued under our warrant indenture. Consequently, if an actual or potential event of default occurs with respect to any of these securities, the trustee may be considered to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act. In that case, the trustee may be required to resign under one or both of the indentures, and we would be required to appoint a successor trustee. For this purpose, a “potential” event of default means an event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or for the default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded. From time to time, we and our affiliates have conducted commercial banking, financial and other transactions with The Bank of New York Mellon and its respective affiliates for which fees have been paid in the ordinary course of business. We may conduct these types of transactions with each other in the future and receive fees for services performed.

Canadian Bank Resolution Powers

General

Under Canadian bank resolution powers, the CDIC may, in circumstances where the Bank has ceased, or is about to cease, to be viable or in certain other circumstances, assume temporary control or ownership of the Bank and may be granted broad powers by one or more Orders, including the power to sell or dispose of all or a part of the assets of the Bank, and the power to carry out or cause the Bank to carry out a transaction or a series of transactions the purpose of which is to restructure the business of the Bank. As part of the Canadian bank resolution powers, certain provisions of and regulations under the Bank Act, the CDIC Act and certain other Canadian federal statutes pertaining to banks, which we refer to collectively as the “bail-in regime,” provide for a bank recapitalization regime for banks designated by the Superintendent as “domestic systemically important banks”, or “D-SIBs”, which include the Bank.

The expressed objectives of the bail-in regime include reducing government and taxpayer exposure in the unlikely event of a failure of a D-SIB, reducing the likelihood of such a failure by increasing market discipline and reinforcing that bank shareholders and creditors are responsible for the D-SIBs’ risks and not taxpayers, and preserving financial stability by empowering the CDIC to quickly restore a failed D-SIB to viability and allow it to remain open and operating, even where the D-SIB has experienced severe losses.

Under the CDIC Act, in circumstances where the Superintendent is of the opinion that (a) the Bank has ceased, or is about to cease, to be viable and viability cannot be restored or preserved by exercise of the Superintendent’s powers under the Bank Act, or (b)  circumstances exist in respect of the Bank that would allow the Superintendent to take control of the Bank and, if such control were taken, grounds would exist for the making of a winding-up order in respect of the Bank, the Superintendent, after providing the Bank with a reasonable opportunity to make representations, is required to provide a report to CDIC. Following receipt of the Superintendent’s report, CDIC may request the Minister of Finance for Canada (the “Minister of Finance”) to recommend that the Governor in Council (Canada) make an Order and, if the Minister of Finance is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so, the Minister of Finance may recommend that the Governor in Council (Canada) make, and on that recommendation, the Governor in Council (Canada) may make, one or more of the following Orders:

Following a vesting order or receivership order, CDIC will assume temporary control or ownership of the Bank and will be granted broad powers under that Order, including the power to sell or dispose of all or a part of the assets of the Bank, and the power to carry out or cause the Bank to carry out a transaction or a series of transactions the purpose of which is to restructure the business of the Bank.

Under a bridge bank order, CDIC has the power to transfer the Bank’s insured deposit liabilities and certain assets and other liabilities of the Bank to a bridge institution. Upon the exercise of that power, any assets and liabilities of the Bank that are not transferred to the bridge institution would remain with the Bank, which would then be wound up. In such a scenario, any liabilities of the Bank, including any outstanding debt securities (whether or not such debt securities are bail-inable debt securities), that are not assumed by the bridge institution could receive only partial or no repayment in the ensuing wind-up of the Bank.

Upon the making of a conversion order, prescribed shares and liabilities under the bail-in regime that are subject to that conversion order will, to the extent converted, be converted into common shares of the Bank or any of its affiliates, as determined by CDIC. Subject to certain exceptions discussed below, senior debt issued on or after September 23, 2018, with an initial or amended term to maturity (including explicit or embedded options) greater than 400 days, that is unsecured or partially secured and that has been assigned a CUSIP or ISIN or similar identification number are subject to a bail-in conversion. Shares, other than common shares, and subordinated debt of the Bank are also subject to a bail-in conversion, unless they are non-viability contingent capital.

Shares and liabilities issued before September 23, 2018 are not subject to a bail-in conversion unless, in the case of any such liability, including any debt securities, the terms of that liability are amended to increase the principal amount or to extend the term to maturity on or after September 23, 2018, and that liability, as amended, meets the requirements to be subject to a bail-in conversion. Covered bonds, certain derivatives and certain structured notes (as such term is used under the bail-in regime) are expressly excluded from a bail-in conversion. To the extent that any debt securities constitute structured notes (as such term is used under the bail-in regime) they will not be bail-inable debt securities. As a result, claims of some creditors whose claims would otherwise rank equally with those of the holders holding bail-inable debt securities would be excluded from a bail-in conversion. The terms and conditions of the bail-in conversion will be determined by CDIC in accordance with and subject to certain requirements discussed below.

Bail-in Conversion

Under the bail-in regime there is no fixed and pre-determined contractual conversion ratio for the conversion of the bail-inable debt securities, or other shares or liabilities of the Bank that are subject to a bail-in conversion, into common shares of the Bank or any of its affiliates nor are there specific requirements regarding whether liabilities subject to a bail-in conversion are converted into common shares of the Bank or any of its affiliates. CDIC determines the timing of the bail-in conversion, the portion of bail-inable shares and liabilities to be converted and the terms and conditions of the conversion, subject to parameters set out in the bail-in regime. Those parameters include that:

Compensation Regime

The CDIC Act provides for a compensation process for holders of bail-inable debt securities who immediately prior to the making of an Order, directly or through an intermediary, own bail-inable debt securities that are converted in a bail-in conversion. While this process applies to successors of those holders it does not apply to assignees or transferees of the holder following the making of the Order and does not apply if the amounts owing under the relevant bail-inable debt securities are paid in full.

Under the compensation process, the compensation to which such holders are entitled is the difference, to the extent it is positive, between the estimated liquidation value and the estimated resolution value of the relevant bail-inable debt securities. The liquidation value is the estimated value the bail-inable holders would have received if an order under the Winding-up and Restructuring Act (Canada) had been made in respect of the Bank, as if no Order had been made and without taking into consideration any assistance, financial or otherwise, that is or may be provided to the Bank, directly or indirectly, by CDIC, the Bank of Canada, the Government of Canada or a province of Canada, after any order to wind up the Bank has been made.

The resolution value in respect of relevant bail-inable debt securities is the aggregate estimated value of the following: (a) the relevant bail-inable debt securities, if they are not held by CDIC and they are not converted, after the making of an Order, into common shares under a bail-in conversion; (b) common shares that are the result of a bail-in conversion after the making of an Order; (c) any dividend or interest payments made, after the making of the Order, with respect to the relevant bail-inable debt securities to any person other than CDIC; and (d) any other cash, securities or other rights or interests that are received or to be received with respect to the relevant bail-inable debt securities as a direct or indirect result of the making of the Order and any actions taken in furtherance of the Order, including from CDIC, the Bank, the liquidator of the Bank, if the Bank is wound up, the liquidator of a CDIC subsidiary incorporated or acquired by order of the Governor in Council (Canada) for the purposes of facilitating the acquisition, management or disposal of real property or other assets of the Bank that CDIC may acquire as the result of its operations that is liquidated or the liquidator of a bridge institution if the bridge institution is wound up.

In connection with the compensation process, CDIC is required to estimate the liquidation value and the resolution value in respect of the portion of converted bail-inable debt securities and is required to consider the difference between the estimated day on which the liquidation value would be received and the estimated day on which the resolution value is, or would be, received.

CDIC must, within a reasonable period following a bail-in conversion, make an offer of compensation by notice to the relevant holders that held bail-inable debt securities equal to, or in value estimated to be equal to, the amount of compensation to which such holders are entitled or provide a notice stating that such holders are not entitled to any compensation. In either case, such offer or notice is required to include certain prescribed information, including important information regarding the rights of such holders to seek to object and have the compensation to which they are entitled determined by an assessor (a Canadian Federal Court judge) where holders of liabilities representing at least 10% of the principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest of the liabilities of the same class object to the offer or absence of compensation. The period for objecting is limited (45 days following the day on which a summary of the notice is published in the Canada Gazette) and failure by holders holding a sufficient principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest of affected bail-inable debt securities to object within the prescribed period will result in the loss of any ability to object to the offered compensation or absence of compensation, as applicable. CDIC will pay the relevant holders the offered compensation within 135 days after the date on which a summary of the notice is published in the Canada Gazette if the offer of compensation is accepted, the holder does not notify CDIC of acceptance or objection to the offer or if the holder objects to the offer but the 10% threshold described above is not met within the aforementioned 45-day period.

Where an assessor is appointed, the assessor could determine a different amount of compensation payable, which could either be higher or lower than the original amount. The assessor is required to provide holders, whose compensation it determines, notice of its determination. The assessor’s determination is final and there are no further opportunities for review or appeal. CDIC will pay the relevant holders the compensation amount determined by the assessor within 90 days of the assessor’s notice.

By its acquisition of an interest in any bail-inable debt securities, each holder or beneficial owner of that debt security is deemed to be bound by a bail-in conversion and so will have no further rights in respect of bail-inable debt securities that are converted in a bail-in conversion than those provided under the bail-in regime.

A similar compensation process to the one set out above applies, in certain circumstances, where as a result of CDIC’s exercise of bank resolution powers, notes are assigned to an entity which is then wound-up.

TLAC Guidelines

In connection with the bail-in regime, the OSFI guideline (the “TLAC Guideline”) on Total Loss Absorbing Capacity (“TLAC”) applies to and establishes standards for D-SIBs, including the Bank, effective September 23, 2018. Under the TLAC Guideline, beginning November 1, 2021, the Bank is required to maintain an amount of unsecured external long-term debt that meets the prescribed criteria or regulatory capital instruments to support recapitalization in the event of a failure. Bail-inable debt securities and regulatory capital instruments that meet the prescribed criteria will constitute TLAC of the Bank.

In order to comply with the TLAC Guideline, our indenture provides for terms and conditions for the bail-inable debt securities necessary to meet the prescribed criteria and qualify at their issuance as TLAC instruments of the Bank under the TLAC Guideline. Those criteria include the following:

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES

Set forth below is a summary of the material terms of the Bank’s common shares and certain provisions of the Bank Act and the Bank’s by-laws as they relate to the Bank’s common shares. The following summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Bank Act, the Bank’s by-laws and the actual terms and conditions of such shares.

Authorized Share Capital

The Bank’s authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value and an unlimited number of first preferred shares, as described in Description of First Preferred Shares, and second preferred shares without nominal or par value, issuable in series, which classes may be issued for a maximum consideration of C$20 billion and C$5 billion, respectively. As of July 31, 2021, the Bank had issued and outstanding 1,424,992,376 common shares and issued and outstanding 138,015,385 first preferred shares. There are no second preferred shares currently outstanding.

Voting, Dividend and Winding Up Rights of Holders of Common Shares

The holders of the Bank’s common shares are entitled to vote at all meetings of shareholders, except meetings at which only holders of a specified class, other than common shares, or series of shares are entitled to vote. The holders of common shares are entitled to receive dividends as and when declared by the board of directors, subject to the preference of the preferred shares. After payment to the holders of the preferred shares of the amount or amounts to which they may be entitled, and after payment of all outstanding debts, the holders of the common shares will be entitled to receive any remaining property upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Bank.

Limitations Affecting Holders of Common Shares

The Bank Act contains restrictions (which are subject to any orders that may be issued by the Governor in Council (Canada)) on the issue, transfer, acquisition, beneficial ownership and voting of all shares of a chartered bank. The following is a summary of such restrictions.

Subject to certain exceptions contained in the Bank Act, no person may be a major shareholder of a bank having equity of $12 billion or more (which includes the Bank). A person is a major shareholder if:

(a) the aggregate of the shares of any class of voting shares of the bank beneficially owned by that person, by entities controlled by that person and by any person associated or acting jointly or in concert with that person is more than 20% of that class of voting shares, or

(b) the aggregate of shares of any class of non-voting shares of the bank beneficially owned by that person, by entities controlled by that person and by any person associated or acting jointly or in concert with that person is more than 30% of that class of non-voting shares.

Additionally, no person may have a significant interest in any class of shares of a bank (including the Bank) unless the person first receives the approval of the Minister of Finance of Canada. For purposes of the Bank Act, a person has a significant interest in a class of shares of a bank where the aggregate of any shares of the class beneficially owned by that person, by entities controlled by that person and by any person associated or acting jointly or in concert with that person exceeds 10% of all of the outstanding shares of that class of shares of such bank.

In addition, the Bank Act prohibits a bank from purchasing or redeeming any of its shares or paying any dividends if there are reasonable grounds for believing the bank is, or the payment would cause the bank to be, in contravention of the Bank Act requirement to maintain, in relation to its operations, adequate capital and appropriate forms of liquidity and to comply with any regulations or directions of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Canada) in relation thereto.

Subject to any orders that may be issued by the Governor in Council (Canada), the Bank Act also prohibits the registration of a transfer or issue of any shares of a Canadian bank to any government or governmental agency of Canada or any province of Canada, or to any government of any foreign country, or any political subdivision, or agency of any foreign country. Under the Bank Act, the Bank cannot redeem or purchase any shares for cancellation unless the prior consent of the Superintendent has been obtained.

Amendments to the Rights, Privileges, Restrictions and Conditions of Common Shares

Under the Bank Act, the rights of holders of the Bank’s shares can be changed by the board of directors of the Bank by making, amending or repealing the by-laws of the Bank. The board of directors of the Bank must submit such a by-law, or amendment to or repeal of a by-law, to the shareholders of the Bank in accordance with the procedures of the Bank Act and the by-laws of the Bank, and the shareholders must approve the by-law, amendment to or repeal of the by-law, by special resolution to be effective. Under the Bank Act, a special resolution is a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast by or on behalf of the shareholders who voted in respect of that resolution or signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote on that resolution. In some circumstances, the Bank Act mandates that holders of shares of a class or a series are entitled to vote separately as a class or series on a proposal to amend the by-laws of the Bank.

DESCRIPTION OF FIRST PREFERRED SHARES

Set forth below is a summary of the material terms of the Bank’s first preferred shares and certain provisions of the Bank Act and the Bank’s by-laws as they relate to the Bank’s first preferred shares. The following summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Bank Act, the Bank’s by-laws and the actual terms and conditions of such shares.

The following is a general description of the first preferred shares. The particulars of any series of first preferred shares offered and the extent to which the general terms described below may apply to such first preferred shares will be described in a prospectus supplement or, if applicable, a pricing supplement. Since the terms of a series of first preferred shares may differ from the general information provided in this prospectus, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement where it differs from information in this prospectus.

The Bank’s authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value and an unlimited number of first preferred shares and second preferred shares without nominal or par value, issuable in series, which classes may be issued for a maximum consideration of C$20 billion and C$5 billion, respectively. As of July 31, 2021, the Bank had issued and outstanding 1,424,992,376 common shares and issued and outstanding 138,015,385 first preferred shares and other equity instruments. There are no second preferred shares currently outstanding.

We may issue first preferred shares from time to time, in one or more series with such series rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions as our board of directors may determine by resolution, subject to the Bank Act and to the Bank’s by-laws. The specific terms and conditions of any series of first preferred shares that we issue under this prospectus will be described in one or more prospectus supplements or pricing supplements, as applicable, and may include the designation of the particular series, the aggregate amount, the number of shares offered, the issue price, the dividend rate, the dividend payment dates, any terms for redemption at our option or the holder’s option, any exchange or conversion terms and any other specific terms.

The first preferred shares of each series rank pari passu with the first preferred shares of every other series and outstanding first preferred shares (including any first preferred shares issued hereunder if a trigger event has not occurred as contemplated under the specific Non-Viability Contingent Capital Provisions (as defined below under “Non-Viability Contingent Capital Provisions”) applicable to such first preferred shares) are entitled to preference over the second preferred shares and common shares of the Bank and over any other shares ranking junior to the first preferred shares with respect to the payment of dividends and in the distribution of property in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

The holders of the first preferred shares are not entitled to any voting rights except as provided below or by law. The Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares, Series C-2 have certain limited voting rights as described in the Annual Information Form, filed as Exhibit 1 to the 2020 Annual Report.

Pursuant to our by-laws, we may not, without the prior approval of the holders of the first preferred shares as a class (in addition to such approvals as may be required by the Bank Act or any other legal requirement), (i) create or issue any shares ranking in priority to the first preferred shares, or (ii) create or issue any additional series of first preferred shares or any shares ranking pari passu with the first preferred shares unless at the date of such creation or issuance all cumulative dividends up to and including the dividend payment for the last completed period for which such cumulative dividends are payable have been declared and paid or set apart for payment in respect of each series of cumulative first preferred shares then issued and outstanding, and any declared and unpaid non-cumulative dividends have been paid or set apart for payment in respect of each series of non- cumulative first preferred shares then issued and outstanding. Currently, there are no outstanding first preferred shares which carry the right to cumulative dividends.

No amendment may be made to the rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions of the first preferred shares as a class without the approval of the holders of first preferred shares voting separately as a class.

The approval of all amendments to the provisions attaching to the first preferred shares as a class and any other approval to be given by the holders of the first preferred shares may be given in writing by the holders of not less than all of the outstanding first preferred shares or by a resolution carried by the affirmative vote of not less than 66⅔% of the votes cast at a meeting of holders of first preferred shares at which a quorum of the outstanding first preferred shares is represented. A quorum at any meeting of holders of first preferred shares is 51% of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting, except that at a reconvened meeting following a meeting that was adjourned due to lack of quorum there is no quorum requirement.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

Our obligations under the warrants will not be secured by any of our property or assets or the property or assets of our subsidiaries. Thus, by owning a warrant, you are one of our unsecured creditors.

The warrants will be issued under a warrant indenture, dated as of October 19, 2018, between Royal Bank of Canada and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, as it may be amended from time to time (collectively, the “warrant indenture”), described below. The warrants will be unsubordinated obligations that rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt, including deposit liabilities, other than certain governmental claims in accordance with applicable law.

In the event we become insolvent, our governing legislation provides that priorities among payments of our deposit liabilities (including payments in respect of the warrants) and payments of all of our other liabilities are to be determined in accordance with the laws governing priorities and, where applicable, by the terms of the indebtedness and liabilities. Because we have subsidiaries, our right to participate in any distribution of the assets of our banking or non-banking subsidiaries, upon a subsidiary’s dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, and thus your ability to benefit indirectly from such distribution, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that we may be a creditor of that subsidiary and our claims are recognized. There are legal limitations on the extent to which some of our subsidiaries may extend credit, pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to, or engage in transactions with, us or some of our other subsidiaries. Accordingly, the warrants will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, and holders of the warrants should look only to our assets for payments on those securities.

The warrants will not constitute deposits insured under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act or by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other Canadian or United States governmental agency or instrumentality.

The Warrant Indenture

The warrants will be governed by the warrant indenture.

The trustee has two main roles:

Governing Law

The warrant indenture and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The warrant indenture and the warrants will be governed by New York law, except that certain provisions relating to the status of the warrants under Canadian law in the warrant indenture will be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. A copy of the form of the warrant indenture is an exhibit to our Registration Statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” above for information on how to obtain a copy.

The Underlying Assets

We may issue warrants, on terms to be determined at the time of sale, for the purchase or sale of, or whose cash value is determined by reference to the performance, level or value of, one or more of the following:

We refer to each property described above as an “underlying asset.”

We may satisfy our obligations, if any, and the holder of a warrant may satisfy its obligations, if any, with respect to any warrants by delivering:

The applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement will describe what we may deliver to satisfy our obligations, if any, and what the holder of a warrant may deliver to satisfy its obligations, if any, with respect to any warrants.

General

We may issue as many distinct series of warrants under the warrant indenture as we wish. The provisions of the warrant indenture allow us not only to issue warrants with terms different from those previously issued under that indenture, but also to “re-open” a previous issue of a series of warrants and issue additional warrants of that series. We may issue warrants in amounts that exceed the total amount specified on the cover of the prospectus supplement relating to warrants you have acquired at any time without your consent and without notifying you.

This section summarizes the material terms of the warrants that are common to all series, although the prospectus supplement that describes the terms of each series of warrants may also describe differences from the material terms summarized here.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the warrants. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the warrant indenture, including definitions of certain terms used in the warrant indenture. In this summary, we describe the meaning of only some of the more important terms. For your convenience, we also include references in parentheses to certain sections of the warrant indenture. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the warrant indenture in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference here or in the prospectus supplement. You must look to the warrant indenture for the most complete description of what we describe in summary form in this prospectus.

This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your series of warrants described in the prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of warrants will be attached to the front of this prospectus. There may also be a further prospectus supplement, known as a pricing supplement, which describes additional terms of warrants you are offered.

In addition, the specific financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement relating to the series. The prospectus supplement and, if applicable, the pricing supplement relating to a series of warrants will describe the following terms of the series:

Unless we specify otherwise in any warrant, prospectus supplement or, if applicable, pricing supplement relating to the series, the payments on the warrants will be made in U.S. dollars. If any amounts on the warrant are to be paid in one or more currencies (or currency units) other than U.S. dollars, additional information (including related exchange rate information) will be provided in the relevant prospectus supplement or pricing supplement.

We will offer warrants that are convertible or exchangeable into securities of another entity or other entities only under circumstances that do not require registration of the underlying securities under the Securities Act at the time we offer such warrants.

Expiration Date and Payment or Settlement Date

The term “expiration date” with respect to any warrant means the date on which the right to exercise the warrant expires. (Indenture Section 101)

The term “payment or settlement date” with respect to any warrant means the date when any money with respect to that warrant becomes payable upon exercise or redemption of that warrant in accordance with its terms. (Indenture Section 101)

Overview of Remainder of this Description

The remainder of this description summarizes:

Form, Exchange and Transfer

Unless we specify otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the warrants will be issued:

If a warrant is issued as a registered global warrant, only the depositary that we select—e.g., DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream and CDS, each as defined under “Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in this prospectus—will be entitled to transfer and exchange the warrant as described in this subsection, because the depositary will be the sole registered holder of the warrant and is referred to below as the “holder”. Unless we specify otherwise in the prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, if applicable, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, will be the depositary for all warrants in global form. Those who own beneficial interests in a global security do so through participants in the depositary’s securities clearance system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We describe book-entry procedures under “Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in this prospectus.

Holders of securities issued in fully-registered form may have their warrants broken into more warrants of smaller denominations of not less than 100 warrants, or combined into fewer warrants of larger denominations, as long as the total amount of warrants is not changed. (Indenture Section 305) This is called an exchange.

Holders may exchange or register the transfer of warrants at the office of the trustee. Warrants may be transferred by endorsement. Holders may also replace lost, stolen or mutilated warrants at that office. The trustee has been appointed as our agent for registering warrants in the names of holders and registering the transfer of warrants. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform these tasks ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the security registrar. It also records transfers. (Indenture Section 305) The trustee may require an indemnity before replacing any warrants.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to register the transfer or exchange of warrants, but holders may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The registration of a transfer or exchange will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

If we designate additional transfer agents, they will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. (Indenture Section 1002)

If the warrants are redeemable and we redeem less than all of the warrants of a particular series, we may block the registration of transfer or exchange of warrants during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders entitled to receive the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of warrants selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit registration of transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any warrant being partially redeemed. (Indenture Section 305)

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay amounts due on the warrants at the corporate trust office of the trustee in the City of New York. That office is currently located at 240 Greenwich Street - Floor 7E, New York, NY 10286. Holders must make arrangements to have their payments picked up at or wired from that office.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks, brokers or other financial institutions for information on how they will receive payments.

We may also arrange for additional payment offices and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. These offices are called paying agents. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent or choose one of our subsidiaries to do so. We must notify holders of changes in the paying agents for any particular series of warrants. (Indenture Section 1002)

Notices

We and the trustee will send notices regarding the warrants only to registered holders, using their addresses as listed in the trustee’s records. (Indenture Sections 101 and 106) With respect to who is a registered “holder” for this purpose, see “Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance”.

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to holders will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, holders may look to us for payment and not to the trustee or any other paying agent. (Indenture Section 1003)

Mergers and Similar Events

Under the warrant indenture, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We are also permitted to sell or lease substantially all of our assets to another entity, or to buy or lease substantially all of the assets of another entity. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to any series of warrants, we will not need to obtain the approval of the holders of those warrants in order to merge or consolidate or to sell our assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell substantially all of our assets to another entity. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control but in which we do not merge or consolidate and any transaction in which we sell less than substantially all of our assets. It is possible that this type of transaction may result in a reduction in our credit rating, may reduce our operating results or may impair our financial condition. Holders of our warrants, however, will have no approval right with respect to any transaction of this type.

Modification and Waiver of the Warrants

There are four types of changes we can make to the warrant indenture and the warrants issued thereunder.

1.       Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders. First, there are changes that cannot be made to the warrant indenture or the warrants without specific approval of each holder of a warrant affected in any material respect by the change. The following is a list of those types of changes:

2.       Changes Requiring a Majority Vote. The second type of change to the warrant indenture and the warrants is the kind that requires a vote in favor of the change by holders of warrants owning not less than a majority of the warrants of the particular series affected. Most changes, including any change or elimination of any provision of the warrant indenture and any modification of any right of the holders of warrants, require a majority vote. A smaller class of changes does not require a majority vote including clarifying changes and other changes that would not adversely affect in any material respect holders of the warrants. (Indenture Section 901) We may also obtain a waiver of a past default from the holders of warrants owning a majority of the warrants of the particular series affected. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of the warrant indenture or the warrants listed in the first category described above under “—Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders” unless we obtain the individual consent of each holder to the waiver. (Indenture Section 513)

3.       Changes Not Requiring Approval. The third type of change to the warrant indenture and the warrants does not require any vote by holders of warrants. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect in any material respect holders of the warrants, including changes made to conform the warrant indenture or the warrants of any series to any provision described under “Description of Warrants” in this prospectus, as may be supplemented by the prospectus supplement, and/or, if applicable, the pricing supplement relating to an offering of such series of warrants. (Indenture Section 901)

4.       We may also make changes or obtain waivers that do not adversely affect in any material respect a particular warrant, even if they affect other warrants. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of that warrant; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected warrants.

5.       Further Details Concerning Voting.

Warrants will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have given a notice of redemption and deposited or set aside in trust for the holders money for the payment, or redemption or settlement of the warrants.

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding warrants that are entitled to vote or take other action under the warrant indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If the trustee or we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of a particular series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding warrants of that series on the record date. We or the trustee, as applicable, may shorten or lengthen this period from time to time. This period, however, may not extend beyond the 180th day after the record date for the action. (Indenture Sections 104 and 512)

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks, brokers or other financial institutions for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the warrant indenture or the warrants or request a waiver.

Events of Default

You will have special rights if an event of default occurs and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.

What is an Event of Default?

Under the warrant indenture, the term “Event of Default” means any of the following:

Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs

The trustee is not required to take any action under the warrant indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability called an indemnity. (Indenture Section 603) If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority of the outstanding warrants of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the warrant indenture with respect to the warrants of that series. (Indenture Section 512)

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the warrants, the following must occur:

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your warrant on or after its due date. (Indenture Section 508)

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks, brokers or other financial institutions for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and to make or cancel a declaration of acceleration.

We will give to the trustee every year a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the warrant indenture and the warrants issued under it, or else specifying any default. (Indenture Section 1004)

Legal Ownership

Street Name and Other Indirect Holders

Investors who hold their warrants in accounts at brokers, banks or other financial institutions will generally not be recognized by us as legal holders of warrants.  This is called holding in street name.  Instead, we would recognize only the bank or broker, or the financial institution the bank or broker uses to hold its warrants.  These intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along payments on the warrants, either because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so.  If you hold your warrants in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

Direct Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee, under the warrants run only to persons who are registered as holders of warrants. As noted above, we do not have obligations to you if you hold in street name or other indirect means, either because you choose to hold your warrants in that manner or because the warrants are issued in the form of global warrants as described below. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder we have no further responsibility for the payment even if that holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a street name customer but does not do so.

Market-Making Transactions

If you purchase your warrant in a market-making transaction, you will receive information about the price you pay and your trade and settlement dates in a separate confirmation of sale. A market-making transaction is one in which an agent or other person resells a warrant that it has previously acquired from another holder. A market-making transaction in a particular warrant occurs after the original sale of the warrant.

NON-VIABILITY CONTINGENT CAPITAL PROVISIONS

In accordance with capital adequacy requirements adopted by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (“OSFI”), in order to qualify as regulatory capital, non-common capital instruments issued after January 1, 2013, including certain subordinated debt securities and first preferred shares, must include terms providing for the full and permanent conversion of such securities into common shares of the Bank upon the occurrence of a “Non-Viability Trigger Event” (“Non-Viability Contingent Capital Provisions”).

“Non-Viability Trigger Event” has the meaning set out in the OSFI Guideline for Capital Adequacy Requirements (CAR), Chapter 2 ‒ Definition of Capital, effective November 2018, as such term may be amended or superseded by OSFI from time to time, which term currently provides that each of the following constitutes a Non-Viability Trigger Event:

The specific terms of any Non-Viability Contingent Capital Provisions for any subordinated debt securities or first preferred shares that we issue under this prospectus will be described in one or more prospectus supplements relating to such securities. If subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated debt indenture or first preferred shares are converted into common shares in accordance with Non-Viability Contingent Capital Provisions, the rights, terms and conditions of such securities, including with respect to priority and rights on liquidation, will no longer be relevant as all such securities will have been converted on a full and permanent basis into common shares ranking on parity with all other outstanding common shares of the Bank. The Non-Viability Contingent Capital Provisions do not apply to senior debt securities, common shares or warrants offered under this prospectus.

The Non-Viability Contingent Capital Provisions included in any instrument governing subordinated debt securities or first preferred shares, if any, will be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.

OWNERSHIP AND BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

In this section, we describe special considerations that will apply to registered securities issued in global i.e., book-entry, form. First we describe the difference between registered ownership and indirect ownership of registered securities. Then we describe special provisions that apply to global securities.

Who is the Registered Owner of a Security?

Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, each debt security, warrant, common share and preferred share will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing securities. We refer to those who have securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose, as the “registered holders” of those securities. Subject to limited exceptions, we and the trustee are entitled to treat the registered holder of a security as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notices, to receive any interest or other payment in respect of the security and to exercise all the rights and powers as an owner of the security. We refer to those who own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names as indirect owners of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect owners are not registered holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect owners.

Book-Entry Owners

Unless otherwise noted in your prospectus supplement, we will issue each security in book-entry form only. This means securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

Under each indenture (and the Bank Act in the case of subordinated indebtedness), subject to limited exceptions, only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities and we will make all payments on the securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

As a result, investors will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect owners, and not registered holders, of the securities.

Street Name Owners

We may terminate an existing global security or issue securities initially in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in street name. Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

For securities held in street name, we will, subject to limited exceptions, recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we will make all payments on those securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect owners, not registered holders, of those securities.

Registered Holders

Subject to limited exceptions, our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee under any indenture and the obligations, if any, of any other third parties employed by us, run only to the registered holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect owner of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect owners but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose — for example, to amend the indenture for a series of debt securities or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture — we would seek the approval only from the registered holders, and not the indirect owners, of the relevant securities. Whether and how the registered holders contact the indirect owners is up to the registered holders.

When we refer to “you” in this prospectus, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the registered holders or only indirect owners of those securities. When we refer to “your securities” in this prospectus, we mean the securities in which you will hold a direct or indirect interest.

Special Considerations for Indirect Owners

If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

What is a Global Security?

Unless otherwise noted in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue each security in book-entry form only. Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of one or more financial institutions or clearing systems, or their nominees, which we select. A financial institution or clearing system that we select for any security for this purpose is called the “depositary” for that security. A security will usually have only one depositary but it may have more. Each series of securities will have one or more of the following as the depositaries:

The depositaries named above may also be participants in one another’s systems. Thus, for example, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, investors may hold beneficial interests in that security through Euroclear, Clearstream or CDS, as DTC participants. The depositary or depositaries for your securities will be named in your prospectus supplement; if none is named, the depositary will be DTC.

A global security may represent one or any other number of individual securities. Generally, all securities represented by the same global security will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global security that represents multiple securities of the same kind, such as debt securities, that have different terms and are issued at different times. We call this kind of global security a master global security. Your prospectus supplement will not indicate whether your securities are represented by a master global security.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “— Holder’s Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only indirect interests in a global security. Indirect interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect owner of an interest in the global security.

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. We describe the situations in which this can occur below under “— Holder’s Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect owner, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the depositary and those of the investor’s bank, broker, financial institution or other intermediary through which it holds its interest (e.g., Euroclear, Clearstream or CDS, if DTC is the depositary), as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor or any intermediary as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

Holder’s Option to obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

If we issue any series of securities in book-entry form but we choose to give the beneficial owners of that series the right to obtain non-global securities, any beneficial owner entitled to obtain non-global securities may do so by following the applicable procedures of the depositary, any transfer agent or registrar for that series and that owner’s bank, broker or other financial institution through which that owner holds its beneficial interest in the securities. If you are entitled to request a non-global certificate and wish to do so, you will need to allow sufficient lead time to enable us or our agent to prepare the requested certificate.

In addition, in a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form representing the securities it represented. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks, brokers or other financial institutions to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above under “— Who Is the Registered Owner of a Security?”.

The special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:

DTC’s current rules provide that it would notify its participants of a request by us to terminate a global security, but will withdraw beneficial interests from the global security only at the request of each DTC participant.

If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and neither we nor the trustee for any debt securities is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the registered holders of those securities.

Considerations Relating to DTC

DTC has informed us as follows:

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that DTC participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among DTC participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic, computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between DTC participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, such as both U.S. and non-U.S. brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of securities within the DTC system must be made by or through DTC participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual acquirer of new securities is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participant through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, the securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its direct participants, by its direct participants to indirect participants, and by its direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners of the securities will be governed by arrangements among them, respectively, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities are being redeemed, DTC will determine the amount of the interest of each direct participant to be redeemed in accordance with its then current procedures.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to securities unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to the issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts such securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

Distribution payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s usual practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from the issuer or agent on the relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by DTC participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such participants and not of DTC, the agent or the issuer, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions to Cede & Co. (or other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of the issuer or agent, disbursements of such payments to direct participants are the responsibility of DTC, and disbursements of such payments to the beneficial owners are the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to the issuer or agent. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depository is not obtained, security certificates are required to be printed and delivered.

The Bank may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, security certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

Considerations Relating to Euroclear and Clearstream

Euroclear and Clearstream are securities clearing systems in Europe. Both systems clear and settle securities transactions between their participants through electronic, book-entry delivery of securities against payment.

Euroclear and Clearstream may be depositaries for a global security. In addition, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the global security as participants in DTC.

As long as any global security is held by Euroclear or Clearstream, as depositary, you may hold an interest in the global security only through an organization that participates, directly or indirectly, in Euroclear or Clearstream. If Euroclear or Clearstream is the depositary for a global security and there is no depositary in the United States, you will not be able to hold interests in that global security through any securities clearance system in the United States.

Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities made through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Those clearing systems could change their rules and procedures at any time. We have no control over those systems or their participants, and we take no responsibility for their activities. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the one hand, and participants in DTC, on the other hand, when DTC is the depositary, would also be subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.

Special Timing Considerations Relating to Transactions in Euroclear and Clearstream. Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other transactions involving any securities held through those clearing systems only on days when those systems are open for business. These clearing systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these clearing systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date. In addition, investors who hold their interests through both DTC and Euroclear or Clearstream may need to make special arrangements to finance any purchases or sales of their interests between the U.S. and European clearing systems, and those transactions may settle later than would be the case for transactions within one clearing system.

Considerations Relating to CDS

The information concerning CDS has been taken from, or is based upon, publicly available documents. CDS is Canada’s national securities clearing and depository services organization. Functioning as a service utility for the Canadian financial community, CDS provides a variety of computer automated services for financial institutions and investment dealers active in Canadian and international capital markets. CDS participants (“CDS Participants”) include banks, investment dealers and trust companies, and may include underwriters which participate in the distribution of the securities. Indirect access to CDS is available to other organizations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a CDS Participant. Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other actions relating to the securities made through CDS may only be processed through CDS Participants and must be completed in accordance with existing CDS rules and procedures. CDS operates in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver to centralize securities clearing functions through a central securities depository.

CDS is wholly owned by The Canadian Depositary for Securities Limited, a private corporation owned by TMX Group Limited, a reporting issuer in Canada. CDS is the clearing house for equity trading on both the Toronto and Montreal stock exchanges and also clears a substantial volume of “over-the-counter” trading in equities and bonds.

CDS may be a depositary for a global security. In addition, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, CDS may, on behalf of CDS Participants, hold an interest in the global security.

As long as any global security is held by CDS, as depositary, you may hold an interest in the global security only through an organization that participates, directly or indirectly, in CDS. If CDS is the depositary for a global security and there is no depositary in the United States, you will not be able to hold interests in that global security through any securities clearance system in the United States.

CDS could change its rules and procedures at any time. We have no control over CDS or its participants, and we take no responsibility for its activities. Transactions between participants in CDS, on the one hand, and participants in DTC, on the other hand, when DTC is the depositary, would also be subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.

TAX CONSEQUENCES