Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-275898




The information in this preliminary terms supplement is not complete and may be changed.
 

Preliminary Terms Supplement
Subject to Completion:
Dated March 28, 2024
Pricing Supplement Dated April __, 2024 to the Product Prospectus Supplement ERN-ES-1, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus, Each Dated December 20, 2023

$
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes
Linked to the Common Stock of Microsoft Corporation,
Due October 16, 2025
Royal Bank of Canada





Royal Bank of Canada is offering Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes (the “Notes”) linked to the performance of the common stock of Microsoft Corporation (the “Reference Stock”).
Reference Stock
 
Initial Stock Price*
 
Barrier Price
Microsoft Corporation (“MSFT”)
     
75.00% of the Initial Stock Price
*The Initial Stock Price of the Reference Stock will be its closing price on the Trade Date.

If the Final Stock Price is greater than or equal to the Barrier Price, the Notes provide a positive return. In this case, we will pay you an amount at maturity based on the Percentage Change of the Reference Stock:

If the Percentage Change is greater than or equal to the Maximum Return, investors will receive a positive return on the Notes equal to the Maximum Return. The Maximum Return is 21% of the principal amount of the Notes.

If the Percentage Change is less than Maximum Return but greater than the Digital Return, investors will receive a one-for-one positive return equal to the Percentage Change. The Digital Return is 10% of the principal amount of the Notes.

If the Percentage Change is greater than ‑25% but less than the Digital Return, investors will receive a positive return equal to the Digital Return.

If the Final Stock Price is less than the Barrier Price, investors will not receive a cash payment at maturity (except in the limited circumstances described below); instead, investors will receive a number of shares of the Reference Stock, the value of which is expected to be significantly less than the principal amount of the Notes. In this case, the Notes provide a negative return and you will lose some, and possibly all, of your principal investment in the Notes.

Any payments on the Notes are subject to our credit risk.

The Notes do not pay interest.

The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Issue Date: April 15, 2024
Maturity Date: October 16, 2025
CUSIP: 78015QJH5
Investing in the Notes involves a number of risks. See “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page P-7 of this terms supplement, and “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-4 of the product prospectus supplement and on page S-3 of the prospectus supplement, each dated December 20, 2023.
The Notes will not constitute deposits insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other Canadian or U.S. government agency or instrumentality.
The Notes are not subject to conversion into our common shares under subsection 39.2(2.3) of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this terms supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
Per Note
 
Total
Price to public(1)
100.00%
 
$
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)
1.50%
 
$
Proceeds to Royal Bank of Canada
98.50%
 
$
(1) We or one of our affiliates may pay varying selling concessions of up to $15.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes in connection with the distribution of the Notes to other registered broker-dealers. Certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forego some or all of their underwriting discount or selling concessions. The public offering price for investors purchasing the Notes in these accounts may be between $985 and $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below.
The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the Trade Date is expected to be between $927.87 and $977.87 per $1,000 in principal amount, and will be less than the price to public. The final pricing supplement relating to the Notes will set forth our estimate of the initial value of the Notes as of the Trade Date. The actual value of the Notes at any time will reflect many factors, cannot be predicted with accuracy, and may be less than this amount. We describe our determination of the initial estimated value in more detail below.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC



 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
SUMMARY
The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more detailed information set forth in this terms supplement, the product prospectus supplement, the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus.
Issuer:
Royal Bank of Canada (the “Bank”)
Underwriter:
RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBCCM”)
Reference Stock:
The common stock of Microsoft Corporation (“MSFT”)
Minimum Investment:
$1,000 and minimum denominations of $1,000 in excess thereof
Trade Date (Pricing
Date):
April 10, 2024
Issue Date:
April 15, 2024
Valuation Date:
October 10, 2025
Maturity Date:
October 16, 2025, subject to extension for market and other disruptions, as described in the product prospectus supplement dated December 20, 2023.
Payment at Maturity (if
held to maturity):
 
At maturity, your return on the Notes will be based on the Final Stock Price and the Percentage Change.
If the Final Stock Price is greater than or equal to the Barrier Price, for each $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes, you will receive a cash payment based on the Percentage Change:
        If the Percentage Change is greater than the Digital Return (that is, the Final Stock Price is greater than 110.00% of the Initial Stock Price), an amount in cash equal to the greater of:
(i) the Maximum Redemption Amount and
(ii) $1,000 + ($1,000 x Percentage Change)
         If the Percentage Change is less than or equal to the Digital Return but the Final Stock Price is equal to or exceeds the Barrier Price (that is, the Percentage Change is between ‑25.00% and 10.00%), an amount in cash equal to:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Digital Return)
If the Final Stock Price is less than the Barrier Price (that is, the Percentage Change is less than -25.00%), you will not receive a cash payment at maturity (except if we pay you the Cash Delivery Amount under the circumstances described below). Instead, the investor will receive, for each $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes, a number of shares of the Reference Stock equal to the Physical Delivery Amount (or, under the circumstances described below, the cash value of those shares).
In this case, your return on the Notes will be negative and the value of the shares of the Reference Stock (or the cash value of those shares, as the case may be) that you receive will represent a loss of a substantial portion, and possibly all, of your principal amount of the Notes.
Digital Payment:
10% of the principal amount ($100 for each $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes).
Percentage Change:
The Percentage Change, expressed as a percentage, is calculated using the following formula:
   
Final Stock Price - Initial Stock Price
 
Initial Stock Price
Initial Stock Price:
The closing price of the Reference Stock on the Trade Date.
Final Stock Price:
 
The closing price of the Reference Stock on the Valuation Date.
Digital Return:
10.00%

P-2
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
Maximum Return:
21.00%. An investor's return on the Notes will not exceed the Maximum Return.
Maximum Redemption
Amount:
121.00% of the principal amount of the Notes.
Barrier Percentage:
25%
Barrier Price:
75% of the Initial Stock Price
Physical Delivery
Amount:
 
For each $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes, a number of shares of the Reference Stock equal to $1,000 divided by the Initial Stock Price, subject to adjustment as described in the product prospectus supplement. Fractional shares will be paid in cash.
If, due to an event beyond our control, we determine it is impossible, impracticable (including unduly burdensome) or illegal for us to deliver shares of the Reference Stock to you at maturity, we will pay the Cash Delivery Amount in lieu of delivering shares.
 
Cash Delivery Amount:
The product of the Physical Delivery Amount multiplied by the Final Stock Price.
Principal at Risk:
The Notes are NOT principal protected. You may lose all or a substantial portion of your principal amount at maturity if the Final Stock Price is less than the Barrier Price.
Calculation Agent:
RBCCM
U.S. Tax Treatment:
By purchasing a Note, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat the Notes as a pre-paid derivative contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Notes are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the Notes should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. Please see the section below, “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” and the discussion (including the opinion of Ashurst LLP, our special U.S. tax counsel) in the product prospectus supplement dated December 20, 2023 under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” which apply to the Notes.
Secondary Market:
RBCCM (or one of its affiliates), though not obligated to do so, may maintain a secondary market in the Notes after the issue date.
The amount that you may receive upon sale of your Notes prior to maturity may be less than the principal amount of your Notes.
Listing:
The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Clearance and
Settlement:
 
DTC global (including through its indirect participants Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg as described under “Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in the prospectus dated December 20, 2023).
 
Terms Incorporated in
the Master Note:
All of the terms appearing on the cover page and above the item captioned “Secondary Market” in this section and the terms appearing under the caption “General Terms of the Notes” in the product prospectus supplement, as modified by this terms supplement.
The Trade Date, issue date and other dates set forth above are subject to change, and will be set forth in the final pricing supplement relating to the Notes.

P-3
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF YOUR NOTES
You should read this terms supplement together with the prospectus dated December 20, 2023, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated December 20, 2023 and the product prospectus supplement dated December 20, 2023, relating to our Senior Global Medium-Term Notes, Series J, of which these Notes are a part. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this terms supplement will have the meanings given to them in the product prospectus supplement. In the event of any conflict, this terms supplement will control. The Notes vary from the terms described in the product prospectus supplement in several important ways. In particular, please note that you may receive shares of the Reference Stock at maturity. You should read this terms supplement carefully.
This terms supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the Notes and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” in the prospectus supplement and in the product prospectus supplement, each dated December 20, 2023, as the Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Notes. You may access these documents on the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if that address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
Prospectus dated December 20, 2023:
Prospectus Supplement dated December 20, 2023:
Product Prospectus Supplement ERN-ES-1 dated December 20, 2023:
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1000275.  As used in this terms supplement, “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Royal Bank of Canada.
Royal Bank of Canada has filed a registration statement (including a product prospectus supplement, a prospectus supplement, and a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this terms supplement relates.  Before you invest, you should read those documents and the other documents relating to this offering that we have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering.  You may obtain these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.  Alternatively, Royal Bank of Canada, any agent or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the product prospectus supplement, the prospectus supplement and the prospectus if you so request by calling toll-free at 1-877-688-2301.

P-4
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
HYPOTHETICAL RETURNS
The examples set out below are included for illustration purposes only. The hypothetical Percentage Changes of the Reference Stock used to illustrate the calculation of the Payment at Maturity (rounded to two decimal places) are not estimates or forecasts of the Initial Stock Price, the Final Stock Price or the price of the Reference Stock on any trading day prior to the Maturity Date. All examples are based on the Barrier Percentage of 25% (the Barrier Price is 75% of the Initial Stock Price), the Digital Return of 10.00% of the principal amount, the Maximum Return of 21.00% of the principal amount, the Maximum Redemption Amount of 121.00% of the principal amount of the Notes, and assume that a holder purchased Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $1,000 and that no market disruption event occurs on the Valuation Date.
The examples assume that the Initial Stock Price is $100, resulting in a Physical Delivery Amount of 10 shares ($1,000 divided by $100.)
Example 1 —
Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is positive and greater than the Digital Return.

Percentage Change: 30%
 
Payment at Maturity: $1,000 + ($1,000 x Percentage Change)
 
= $1,000 + ($1,000 x 30%) = $1,000 + $300 = $1,300
 
However, the Payment at Maturity is limited to the Maximum Redemption Amount.
 
In this case, on a $1,000 investment, a Percentage Change of 30% results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,210, a return of 21.00% on the Notes (which is the Maximum Return).
Example 2 —
Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is positive, but is less than the Digital Return.
 
Percentage Change: 5%
 
Payment at Maturity: $1,000 + ($1,000 x 10%) = $1,000 + $100 = $1,100
 
In this case, on a $1,000 investment, a Percentage Change of 5% results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,100, a return of 10% on the Notes. In this case, the return on the Notes is equal to the Digital Return.
Example 3 —
Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is negative, but the Final Stock Price is not less than the Barrier Price.
 
Percentage Change: ‑20%
 
Payment at Maturity: $1,000 + ($1,000 x ‑20%) = $800
 
However, since the Percentage Change is greater than the Barrier Percentage, the return on the Notes will be equal to the Digital Return.
 
In this case, on a $1,000 investment, a Percentage Change of ‑20% results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,100, a return of 10% on the Notes (which is the Digital Return). In this case, the return on the Notes will be positive, even though the Percentage Change is negative.
Example 4 —
Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is negative and the Final Stock Price is less than the Barrier Price.
 
Percentage Change: ‑50%
 
Payment at Maturity: At maturity, if the Percentage Change is negative and the Final Stock Price is less than the Barrier Price, the investor will receive the Physical Delivery Amount, or under the circumstances described above, the Cash Delivery Amount, calculated as follows:
 
Cash Delivery Amount = Physical Delivery Amount x Final Stock Price = 10 x $50 = $500
 
In this case, on a $1,000 investment, a Percentage Change of ‑50% results in the investor receiving 10 shares of the Reference Stock (or, if the Cash Delivery Amount is payable instead, $500, a return of ‑50% on the Notes). In this case, an investor will lose all or a substantial portion of the principal amount of the Notes if the Final Stock Price is less than the Barrier Price.

P-5
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
The table set forth below is included for illustration purposes only. The table illustrates the hypothetical payments at maturity for a hypothetical range of performance for the Reference Stock, based on the Barrier Percentage of 25%, the Digital Return of 10.00% of the principal amount of the Notes, the Maximum Return of 21.00% of the principal amount of the Notes, the Maximum Redemption Amount of 121.00% of the principal amount of the Notes, and a hypothetical Initial Stock Price of $100.
Hypothetical Percentage Changes are shown in the first column on the left. The second column shows the corresponding Payment at Maturity for these Percentage Changes, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Notes. The third column shows the Payment at Maturity to be paid on the Notes per $1,000 in principal amount. The fourth and fifth column show whether the Physical Delivery Amount is paid, and the related Cash Delivery Amount.
Final Stock
Price
Percentage
Change
Payment at Maturity
Physical Delivery
Amount as Number
of Shares of the
Reference Stock
Cash Delivery
Amount
$150.00
50.00%
$1,210.00
n/a
n/a
$140.00
40.00%
$1,210.00
n/a
n/a
$130.00
30.00%
$1,210.00
n/a
n/a
$121.00
21.00%
$1,210.00
n/a
n/a
$120.00
20.00%
$1,200.00
n/a
n/a
$115.00
15.00%
$1,150.00
n/a
n/a
$110.00
10.00%
$1,100.00
n/a
n/a
$100.00
0.00%
$1,100.00
n/a
n/a
$90.00
-10.00%
$1,100.00
n/a
n/a
$80.00
-20.00%
$1,100.00
n/a
n/a
$75.00
-25.00%
$1,100.00
n/a
n/a
$70.00
-30.00%
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
10
$700.00
$60.00
-40.00%
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
10
$600.00
$50.00
-50.00%
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
10
$500.00
$40.00
-60.00%
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
10
$400.00
$30.00
-70.00%
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
10
$300.00
$20.00
-80.00%
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
10
$200.00
$10.00
-90.00%
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
10
$100.00
$0.00
-100.00%
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
10
$0.00

P-6
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
SELECTED RISK CONSIDERATIONS
An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. Investing in the Notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Reference Stock. These risks are explained in more detail in the section “Risk Factors” in the product prospectus supplement. In addition to the risks described in the prospectus supplement and the product prospectus supplement, you should consider the following:
Risks Relating to the Terms and Structure of the Notes
You May Not Receive the Full Principal Amount at Maturity — Investors in the Notes could lose all or a substantial portion of their principal amount if there is a decline in the price of the Reference Stock. If the Final Stock Price is less than the Barrier Price, the value of the shares or cash that you receive at maturity will represent a loss of your principal that is proportionate to the decline in the closing price of the Reference Stock from the Trade Date to the Valuation Date. If you receive shares of the Reference Stock, they may decrease in value between the Valuation Date and the maturity date, further reducing your return on the Notes.
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. Your return may be less than the return you would earn if you purchased one of our conventional senior interest bearing debt securities.
Your Potential Payment at Maturity Is Limited — The Notes will provide less opportunity to participate in the appreciation of the Reference Stock than an investment in a security linked to the Reference Stock providing full participation in the appreciation, because the payment at maturity will not exceed the Maximum Redemption Amount. 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 Reference Stock.
Payments on the Notes Are Subject to Our Credit Risk, and Changes in Our Credit Ratings Are Expected to Affect the Market Value of the Notes — The Notes are our senior unsecured debt securities. As a result, your receipt of 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 price of the Reference Stock increases after the Trade Date. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be at the maturity of the Notes.
Risks Relating to the Secondary Market for the Notes
There May Not Be an Active Trading Market for the Notes — Sales in the Secondary Market May Result in Significant Losses — There may be little or no secondary market for the Notes. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. RBCCM and our other affiliates may make a market for the Notes; however, they are not required to do so. RBCCM or any of our other affiliates 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 ask prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial.
Risks Relating to the Initial Estimated Value of the Notes
The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Will Be Less than the Price to the Public — The initial estimated value of the Notes that will be set forth on the cover page of the final pricing supplement for the Notes will not represent a minimum price at which we, RBCCM or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase the Notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. If you attempt to sell the Notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the price of the Reference Stock, the borrowing rate we pay to issue securities of this kind, and the inclusion in the price to the public of the underwriting discount and the estimated costs relating to our hedging of the Notes. These factors, together

P-7
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the Notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the Notes in complex and unpredictable ways. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which you may be able to sell your Notes prior to maturity may be less than your original purchase price, as any such sale price would not be expected to include the underwriting discount or the hedging costs relating to the Notes. In addition to bid-ask spreads, the value of the Notes determined for any secondary market price is expected to be based on the secondary rate rather than the internal funding rate used to price the Notes and determine the initial estimated value. As a result, the secondary price will be less than if the internal funding rate was used. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.
The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes that We Will Provide in the Final Pricing Supplement Will Be an Estimate Only, Calculated as of the Time the Terms of the Notes Are Set — The initial estimated value of the Notes will be based on the value of our obligation to make the payments on the Notes, together with the mid-market value of the derivative embedded in the terms of the Notes. See “Structuring the Notes” below. Our estimate will be based on a variety of assumptions, including our credit spreads, expectations as to dividends, interest rates and volatility, and the expected term of the Notes. These assumptions are based on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. Other entities may value the Notes or similar securities at a price that is significantly different than we do.
The value of the Notes at any time after the Trade Date will vary based on many factors, including changes in market conditions, and cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold the Notes in any secondary market, if any, should be expected to differ materially from the initial estimated value of your Notes.
Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest and Our Trading Activities
Our Business Activities May Create Conflicts of Interest — We and our affiliates expect to engage in trading activities related to the issuer of the Reference Stock (the "Reference Stock Issuer") that are not for the account of holders of the Notes or on their behalf. These trading activities may present a conflict between the holders’ interests in the Notes and the interests we and our affiliates will have in their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including options and other derivatives transactions, for their customers and in accounts under their management. These trading activities, if they influence the price of the Reference Stock, could be adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes. We and one or more of our affiliates may, at present or in the future, engage in business with the Reference Stock Issuer, including making loans to or providing advisory services. These services could include investment banking and merger and acquisition advisory services. These activities may present a conflict between our or one or more of our affiliates’ obligations and your interests as a holder of the Notes. Moreover, we and our affiliates may have published, and in the future expect to publish, research reports with respect to the Reference Stock. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Notes. Any of these activities by us or one or more of our affiliates may affect the price of the Reference Stock, and, therefore, the market value of the Notes.
Risks Relating to the Reference Stock
Owning the Notes Is Not the Same as Owning the Reference Stock – The return on your Notes is unlikely to reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the Reference Stock. For example, you will not receive or be entitled to receive any dividend payments or other distributions on the Reference Stock during the term of your Notes; accordingly, an investment in the Notes may return less than an actual investment in the Reference Stock. As an owner of the Notes, you will not have voting rights or any other rights that holders of the Reference Stock may have. Furthermore, the Reference Stock may appreciate substantially during the term of the Notes, and you will not fully participate in such appreciation.
There Is No Affiliation Between the Reference Stock Issuer and RBCCM, and RBCCM Is Not Responsible for any Disclosure by the Reference Stock Issuer — We are not affiliated with the Reference Stock Issuer. However, we and our affiliates may currently, or from time to time in the future engage, in business with the Reference Stock Issuer. Nevertheless, neither we nor our affiliates assume any responsibilities for the accuracy or the completeness of any

P-8
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
information that any other company prepares. You, as an investor in the Notes, should make your own investigation into the Reference Stock. The Reference Stock Issuer is not involved in this offering and has no obligation of any sort with respect to your Notes. The Reference Stock Issuer has no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including when taking any corporate actions that might affect the value of your Notes.
The Payments on the Notes Are Subject to Postponement Due to Market Disruption Events and Adjustments — The payment at maturity and the Valuation Date are subject to adjustment as described in the product prospectus supplement. For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “General Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption Events” in the product prospectus supplement.

P-9
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REFERENCE STOCK ISSUER
The Reference Stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Companies with securities registered under that Act are required to file periodically certain financial and other information specified by the SEC. Information filed with the SEC can be obtained through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, information regarding the Reference Stock Issuer may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, press releases, newspaper articles and other publicly disseminated documents.
None of those documents are included or incorporated by reference in this document. The following information regarding the Reference Stock Issuer is derived from publicly available information.
We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of reports filed by the Reference Stock Issuer with the SEC, information published by it on its website or in any other format, information about it obtained from any other source or the information provided below.
Microsoft Corporation (“MSFT”)
Microsoft Corporation operates as a software company. The company offers applications, extra cloud storage, and security solutions.
The company’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “MSFT”.

P-10
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The graph below sets forth the information relating to the historical performance of the Reference Stock for the period from January 1, 2014 through March 27, 2024. We obtained the information in the graph from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent investigation.
Common Stock of Microsoft Corporation (“MSFT”)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

P-11
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCUSSION OF
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following disclosure supplements, and to the extent inconsistent supersedes, the discussion in the product prospectus supplement dated December 20, 2023 under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”.
Under Section 871(m) of the Code, a “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from sources within the United States. Such payments generally would be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax if paid to a non-U.S. holder. Under U.S. Treasury Department regulations, payments (including deemed payments) with respect to equity-linked instruments (“ELIs”) that are “specified ELIs” may be treated as dividend equivalents if such specified ELIs reference, directly or indirectly, an interest in an “underlying security,” which is generally any interest in an entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if a payment with respect to such interest could give rise to a U.S. source dividend. However, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has issued guidance that states that the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS intend to amend the effective dates of the U.S. Treasury Department regulations to provide that withholding on dividend equivalent payments will not apply to specified ELIs that are not delta-one instruments and that are issued before January 1, 2025. Based on our determination that the Notes are not delta-one instruments, non-U.S. holders should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the Notes. However, it is possible that the Notes could be treated as deemed reissued for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain events, and following such occurrence the Notes could be treated as subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments. Non-U.S. holders that enter, or have entered, into other transactions in respect of the Reference Stock or the Notes should consult their tax advisors as to the application of the dividend equivalent withholding tax in the context of the Notes and their other transactions. If any payments are treated as dividend equivalents subject to withholding, we (or the applicable withholding agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld.

P-12
RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)
We expect that delivery of the Notes will be made against payment for the Notes on or about April 15, 2024, which is the third (3rd) business day following the Trade Date (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). See “Plan of Distribution” in the prospectus dated December 20, 2023. For additional information as to the relationship between us and RBCCM, please see the section “Plan of Distribution—Conflicts of Interest” in the prospectus dated December 20, 2023.
We expect to deliver the Notes on a date that is greater than two business days following the Trade Date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes more than two business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
In the initial offering of the Notes, they will be offered to investors at a purchase price equal to par, except with respect to certain accounts as indicated on the cover page of this document. In addition to the underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this document, we or one of our affiliates may also pay an expected fee to a broker-dealer that is unaffiliated with us for providing certain electronic platform services with respect to this offering.
The value of the Notes shown on your account statement may be based on RBCCM’s estimate of the value of the Notes if RBCCM or another of our affiliates were to make a market in the Notes (which it is not obligated to do). That estimate will be based upon the price that RBCCM may pay for the Notes in light of then prevailing market conditions, our creditworthiness and transaction costs. For a period of approximately three months after the issue date of the Notes, the value of the Notes that may be shown on your account statement may be higher than RBCCM’s estimated value of the Notes at that time. This is because the estimated value of the Notes will not include the underwriting discount or our hedging costs and profits; however, the value of the Notes shown on your account statement during that period may initially be a higher amount, reflecting the addition of RBCCM's underwriting discount and our estimated costs and profits from hedging the Notes. This excess is expected to decrease over time until the end of this period. After this period, if RBCCM repurchases your Notes, it expects to do so at prices that reflect their estimated value.
We may use this terms supplement in the initial sale of the Notes. In addition, RBCCM or another of our affiliates may use this terms supplement in a market-making transaction in the Notes after their initial sale. Unless we or our agent informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this terms supplement is being used in a market-making transaction.

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RBC Capital Markets, LLC


 

 
Digital Plus Barrier Return Notes

Royal Bank of Canada
 
STRUCTURING THE NOTES
The Notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Reference Stock. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our structured notes, the economic terms of the Notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition, because structured notes result in increased operational, funding and liability management costs to us, we typically borrow the funds under these Notes at a rate that is more favorable to us than the rate that we might pay for a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity. Using this relatively lower implied borrowing rate rather than the secondary market rate, is a factor that is likely to reduce the initial estimated value of the Notes at the time their terms are set. Unlike the estimated value that will be set forth on the cover page of the final pricing supplement, any value of the Notes determined for purposes of a secondary market transaction may be based on a different funding rate, which may result in a lower value for the Notes than if our initial internal funding rate were used.
In order to satisfy our payment obligations under the Notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) on the issue date with RBCCM or one of our other subsidiaries. The terms of these hedging arrangements take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the Reference Stock, and the tenor of the Notes. The economic terms of the Notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.
The lower implied borrowing rate is a factor that reduces the economic terms of the Notes to you. The initial offering price of the Notes also reflects the underwriting discount and our estimated hedging costs. These factors result in the initial estimated value for the Notes on the Trade Date being less than their public offering price. See “Selected Risk Considerations—The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Will Be Less than the Price to the Public” above.


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RBC Capital Markets, LLC