Pricing Supplement
(To the Prospectus dated January 8, 2016, the Prospectus Supplement dated January 8, 2016, and the
Product Prospectus Supplement dated January 12, 2016)
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-208507
August 24, 2018
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Royal Bank of Canada
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$820,000
Contingent Barrier Enhanced Notes
due September 11, 2019
Linked to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index
Senior Global Medium Term Notes, Series G
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The Notes are designed for investors who seek a return based on the appreciation of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (the “Index”), subject to the Maximum
Return set forth below. Investors should be willing to forgo interest and dividend payments and, if the Index declines by more than 20%, be willing to lose some or all of their principal.
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Senior unsecured obligations of Royal Bank of Canada maturing September 11, 2019.(a)
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Minimum denominations of $10,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
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The Notes priced on August 24, 2018 (the “pricing date”) and will be issued on August 29, 2018 (the “issue date”).
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Key Terms
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Terms used in this pricing supplement, but not defined herein, will have the meanings ascribed to them in the product
prospectus supplement.
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Issuer:
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Royal Bank of Canada
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Reference Asset:
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Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (the “Index”, Bloomberg ticker symbol “HSCEI Index”)
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Payment at Maturity:
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If the Final Level is greater than the Initial Level, you will receive a cash payment that provides you with a return
equal to the Percentage Change. Accordingly, if the Percentage Change is positive, your payment per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes will be calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 x Percentage Change]
However, the payment on the Notes will not exceed $1,269.50 for each $1,000 in principal amount.
If the Final Level is equal to or less than the Initial Level but greater than or equal to the Barrier Level,
resulting in a Percentage Change that is equal to or less than 0% but greater than or equal 20%, you will receive the principal amount of your Notes at maturity.
If the Final Level is less than the Barrier Level, you will lose 1% of the principal amount of your Notes for every 1%
that the Final Level declines from the Initial Level. Accordingly, if the Percentage Change is less than 20%, your payment per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes will be calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Percentage Change)
If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by more than 20%, you will lose 1% of the
principal amount of your Notes for every 1% that the Percentage Change is less than 0%. Any payment on the Notes, including any repayment of principal, is subject to the creditworthiness of the Issuer and is not guaranteed by any third
party.
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Percentage Change:
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The performance of the Index from the Initial Level to the Final Level, calculated as follows:
Final Level – Initial Level
Initial Level
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Maximum Return:
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$1,269.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes.
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Barrier Level:
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8,623.77, which is 80% of the Initial Level (rounded to two decimal places)
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Initial Level:
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10,779.71, which was the closing level of the Index on the pricing date.
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Final Level:
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The arithmetic average of the closing levels of the Index on each of the valuation dates.
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Valuation Dates:
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September 2, 2019, September 3, 2019, September 4, 2019, September 5, 2019 and September 6, 2019
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Maturity Date:
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September 11, 2019(a)
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Calculation Agent:
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC
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CUSIP / ISIN:
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78013XB64 / US78013XB646
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Estimated Value:
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The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the date of this document was $982.30 per $1,000 in principal amount, which is less than the
price to public. The actual value of the Notes at any time will reflect many factors, cannot be predicted with accuracy, and may be less than this amount.
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Price to Public1
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Underwriting Commission2
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Proceeds to Royal Bank of Canada
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Per Note
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$1,000
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$10
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$990
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Total
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$820,000
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$8,200
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$811,800
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC
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JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
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J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
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Placement Agents
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Final Level
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Percentage Change
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Payment at
Maturity
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Total Return on the
Notes
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3,200.00
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60.00%
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$1,269.50
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26.95%
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2,900.00
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45.00%
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$1,269.50
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26.95%
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2,600.00
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30.00%
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$1,269.50
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26.95%
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2,539.00
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26.95%
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$1,269.50
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26.95%
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2,300.00
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15.00%
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$1,150.00
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15.00%
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2,200.00
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10.00%
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$1,100.00
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10.00%
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2,100.00
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5.00%
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$1,050.00
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5.00%
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2,000.00
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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1,800.00
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-10.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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1,600.00
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-20.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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1,500.00
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-25.00%
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$750.00
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-25.00%
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1,400.00
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-30.00%
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$700.00
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-30.00%
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1,200.00
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-40.00%
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$600.00
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-40.00%
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1,000.00
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-50.00%
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$500.00
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-50.00%
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800.00
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-60.00%
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$400.00
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-60.00%
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600.00
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-70.00%
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$300.00
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-70.00%
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400.00
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-80.00%
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$200.00
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-80.00%
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200.00
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-90.00%
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$100.00
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-90.00%
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0.00
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-100.00%
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$0.00
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-100.00%
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Appreciation Potential — The Notes provide the opportunity to
participate in the appreciation of the Index, up to the Maximum Return.
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Limited Protection Against Loss — Payment at maturity of the
principal amount of the Notes is protected against a decline in the Final Level, as compared to the Initial Level, of up to 20%. If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by more than 20%, you will lose an amount equal to 1%
of the principal amount of your Notes for every 1% that the Percentage Change is less than 0%. Because the Notes are our senior unsecured obligations, payment of any amount at maturity is subject to our ability to pay our obligations
as they become due and is not guaranteed by any third party. For a description of the risks with respect to our credit, see “Selected Risk Considerations—Credit of Issuer” in this pricing supplement.
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Principal at Risk — Investors in the Notes could lose all or
a substantial portion of their principal amount if there is a decline in the level of the Index. If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by more than 20%, you will lose 1% of the principal amount of your Notes for each 1%
that the Final Level is less than the Initial Level.
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The Notes Do Not Pay Interest and Your Return May Be Lower than the
Return on a Conventional Debt Security of Comparable Maturity — There will be no periodic interest payments on the Notes as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same maturity.
The return that you will receive on the Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. Even if your return is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you
bought one of our conventional senior interest bearing debt securities.
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Your Potential Payment at Maturity Is Limited - The Notes
will provide less opportunity to participate in the appreciation of the Index than an investment in a security linked to the Index providing full participation in the appreciation, because the return on the Notes will not exceed the
Maximum Return. Accordingly, your return on the Notes may be less than your return would be if you made an investment in a security directly linked to the positive performance of the Index.
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Credit of Issuer — The Notes are our senior unsecured debt
securities. As a result, your receipt of the amount due on the maturity date is dependent upon our ability to repay our obligations at that time. This will be the case even if the level of the Index increases after the pricing
date. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be at the maturity of the Notes.
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There May Not Be an Active Trading Market for the Notes—Sales in the
Secondary Market May Result in Significant Losses — There may be little or no secondary market for the Notes. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. RBCCM and our other affiliates may make a market for the
Notes; however, they are not required to do so. RBCCM or any other affiliate of ours may stop any market-making activities at any time. Even if a secondary market for the Notes develops, it may not provide significant liquidity or
trade at prices advantageous to you. We expect that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and asked prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial.
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You Will Not Have Any Rights to the Securities Included in the Index
— As a holder of the Notes, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of securities included in the Index would have. Any positive return on the Notes
could be less than the return on an investment in the components of the Index.
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Many Economic and Market Factors Will Impact the Value of the Notes
— In addition to the level of the Index on any day, the value of the Notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:
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the expected volatility of the Index;
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the time to maturity of the Notes;
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the dividend rate on the securities included in the Index;
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interest and yield rates in the market generally;
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the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the currency in which the securities included in the Index are principally traded;
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a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events; and
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our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.
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The Estimated Initial Value of the Notes Is Less than the Price to
the Public — The estimated initial value that is set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement does not represent a minimum price at which we, RBCCM or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase the Notes in
any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. If you attempt to sell the Notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and the estimated initial value. This is due to, among other
things, changes in the level of the Index, the borrowing rate we pay to issue securities of this kind, and the inclusion in the price to the public of the underwriting discount and the costs relating to our hedging of the Notes.
These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the Notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the
Notes in complex and unpredictable ways. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which you may be able to sell your Notes prior to maturity may be less than your original purchase
price. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.
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The Estimated Initial Value of the Notes Is an Estimate Only,
Calculated as of the Pricing Date — The value of the Notes at any time after the pricing date will vary based on many factors, including changes in market conditions, and cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the
actual value you would receive if you sold the Notes in any secondary market, if any, should be expected to differ materially from the estimated initial value of your Notes.
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We and Our Affiliates May Have Adverse Economic Interests to the
Holders of the Notes — We, RBCCM and our other respective affiliates trade the securities represented by the Index, and other financial instruments related to the Index, on a regular basis, for their accounts and for other
accounts under our or their management. We, RBCCM and our other affiliates may also issue or underwrite or assist unaffiliated entities in the issuance or underwriting of other securities or financial instruments that relate to the
Index. To the extent that we or any of our affiliates serves as issuer, agent or underwriter for such securities or financial instruments, our or their interests with respect to such products may be adverse to those of the holders of
the Notes. Any of these trading activities could potentially affect the performance of the Index and, accordingly, could affect the value of the Notes, and the amounts, if any, payable on the Notes.
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An Investment in the Notes Is Subject to Risks Associated with
Non-U.S. Securities Markets — The securities included in the Index have been issued by non-U.S. companies. An investment in securities linked to the value of non-U.S. equity securities involves particular risks. Non-U.S.
securities markets may be more volatile than U.S. securities markets, and market developments may affect non-U.S. securities markets differently from the U.S. securities markets. Direct or indirect government intervention to stabilize
these non-U.S. securities markets, as well as cross shareholdings among non-U.S. companies, may affect trading prices
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The Notes Are Subject to Emerging Markets Risk — Investments
in securities linked directly or indirectly to emerging market equity securities, such as the Index, involve many risks, including, but not limited to: economic, social, political, financial and military conditions in the emerging
market; regulation by national, provincial, and local governments; less liquidity and smaller market capitalizations than exist in the case of many large U.S. companies; different accounting and disclosure standards; and political
uncertainties. Stock prices of emerging market companies may be more volatile and may be affected by market developments differently than U.S. companies. Government intervention to stabilize securities markets and cross-shareholdings
may affect prices and volume of trading of the securities of emerging market companies. Economic, social, political, financial and military factors could, in turn, negatively affect such companies’ value. These factors could include
changes in the emerging market government’s economic and fiscal policies, possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to the emerging market companies or investments in their
securities, and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies. Moreover, emerging market economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in a variety of ways, including growth of gross
national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency. You should carefully consider the risks related to emerging markets, to which the Notes are highly susceptible, before making a decision to
invest in the Notes.
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Inconsistent Research — Royal Bank or its affiliates may issue research reports on securities that are, or may
become, components of the Index. We may also publish research from time to time on financial markets and other matters that may influence the levels of the Index or the value of the Notes, or express opinions or provide
recommendations that may be inconsistent with the purchasing or holding the Notes or with the investment view implicit in the Notes or the Index. You should make your own independent investigation of the merits of investing in the
Notes and the Index.
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Market Disruption Events or Unavailability of the Level of the Index
and Adjustments – The payment at maturity, the valuation dates and the Index are subject to adjustment as described in the product prospectus supplement. For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as
well as the consequences of that market disruption event and the unavailability of the level of the Index on the valuation dates, see “General Terms of the Notes—Unavailability of the Level of the Reference Asset” and “—Market
Disruption Events” in the product prospectus supplement.
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(1) |
All eligible stocks are ranked by (i) full market capitalization, in terms of average month-end market capitalization in the past 12 months and (ii) free
float-adjusted market capitalization, in terms of 12-month average market capitalization after free float adjustment. For stocks with a listing history of less than 12 months, the average of the past month-end market capitalization
will be used.
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(2) |
The combined market capitalization ranking for each eligible stock is determined as the weighted average of (i) the full market capitalization and (ii) the free
float-adjusted market capitalization, where each of (i) and (ii) has a 50% weighting.
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(3) |
The 40 stocks that have the highest combined market capitalization ranking are selected as the constituents of HSCEI, subject to the buffer zone rule as
described below.
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Current Index =
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Current Aggregate Free Float-adjusted Market
Capitalization of Constituents
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X
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Yesterday’s
Closing Index
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Yesterday’s Aggregate Free Float-adjusted Market
Capitalization of Constituents
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=
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∑ (Pt x IS x FAF x CF)
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X
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Yesterday’s
Closing Index
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∑ (Pt-1 x IS x FAF x CF)
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