RBCCM Business Continuity Plan for US Operations

RBC Capital Markets Corporation and the NY Branch of RBC at One Liberty Plaza ("The Firm" or "RBCCM") is committed to protecting our employees, clients and their assets at all times, including in times of emergency.  As part of this commitment, and in compliance with internal policies and industry regulations (SEC, NYSE, NASD, OCC, FFIEC, et al), the Firm maintains and regularly tests a very extensive and detailed Business Continuity Plan ("BCP" or "The Plan").

 

Overview

Events such as acts of terrorism, alerts, threats, fires, storms, power outages, telecommunications outages, transportation outages or other similar occurrences ("contingency events") can neither be averted nor predicted.  Such circumstances could prevent RBCCM from engaging in normal business operations.  As a result, contingency planning is an essential component of the Firm's business.  As part of our planning and to prepare for possible contingency events, we have analyzed our business units' requirements, determined financial and operational risks associated with various types of outages, identified critical businesses/constituents/counter-parties (and the impact on these of events and implementation of the Plan) and outlined the steps required to resume full functional business activities.

 

The Plan is a documented description of the actions, resources, and procedures to be followed before, during, and after a contingency event that renders all or part of any RBCCM's business units inoperable.  The Plan is designed to, among other purposes, identify and address mission critical functions that must be recovered, and acceptable recovery timeframes.

 

The plan is intended to guide RBCCM personnel through the initial stages of a contingency event as well as the recovery of critical business areas, and provide timely and accurate information to the Firm's clients and others.  Thus, it outlines the teams that are to be assembled and key personnel to be contacted in response to a potential event. Key elements of the plan include:

· A method of notifying employees of a contingency event;

· A method of notifying clients, regulators, vendors and key contacts;
· Employee roles and responsibilities during a disaster;
· Alternate processing locations;

· Continuation of applicable Regulatory Reporting;
· Duplication of essential records, stored off site and are retrievable; and
· Access to client's funds and securities.

If a contingency event occurs, a designated Recovery Management Team will determine the extent to which the Plan is to be implemented.  As well, the Recovery Management Team will ensure that an Emergency Command Center has been established in an appropriate location either on or off-site as conditions stipulate.  

 

The Plan is tested annually, including at the actual recovery sites.  Other tests occur throughout the year as needed.

 

In case of a contingency event, the primary objective of RBCCM's management is to ensure precautionary measures are in place to protect its employees, customers, assets, records and equipment. Bear in mind that the safety of all persons is the paramount consideration, followed by the securing of client assets and the Firm's assets, records and equipment. 

 

The Firm takes Business Continuity very seriously and attempts to recover business operations for business disruptions of varying scope and severity within an acceptable timeframe. However, no plan can guarantee that a disruption will not have a negative impact or disrupt business operations in any way. To that end, the Firm continuously tests and seeks to improve the Plan to provide the best possible recovery solutions to the Firm and its clients.

 

If a contingency event causes RBCCM Corp. to relocate, our phone and e-mail systems will be forwarded to our alternate locations.  Shortly after a contingency event, customers and others should be able to reach their RBCCM contacts using the normally used phone and e-mail information, or by calling the RBCCM New York main number, 212-858-7000. An additional main switchboard number, 718-707-3900, will be made available if, and only if, operations are relocated.

 

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This statement is designed to comply with NYSE Rule 446 and NASD Rule 3500 requiring disclosure of the firm's Business Continuity Plan.