Royal Bank of Canada today announced that members of its group executive team, which includes the president and CEO, may sell approximately 30,000 RBC common shares later this year or early next year. The sale of shares would fulfill certain tax obligations resulting from the vesting of a performance deferred share grant earlier in 2005.

The performance deferred shares were granted in 2002 under RBC’s Performance Deferred Share Program, as described in the bank’s Management Proxy Circular dated Jan. 26, 2005.

The performance deferred shares vest after three years, and become taxable as income in the vesting year regardless of whether they are held or sold. Similar awards were granted in subsequent years. However, beginning with the December 2004 grant, the program was restructured to enable taxes to be deducted at the source.

RBC says any trade by members of the group executive will only occur during open window periods and in compliance with RBC policies and regulatory and governance requirements.

It adds that members of the group executive currently maintain and will continue to maintain shareholdings in excess of the ownership requirements as described in the management proxy circular.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2005/06/c8813.html