TORONTO: Royal Bank of Canada may invest as much as $1bn in a hedge fund spun off from its proprietary trading business.
RBC, Canada’s largest bank by market capitalisation, has been considering options for the proprietary trading unit — in which the bank invests with its own funds — as it works to comply with the Volcker rule, a new U.S. regulation meant to prevent banks from taking on too much risk. The fund will open by year-end and will be called Taursa Capital Partners, citing two people with knowledge of the matter. It said RBC would invest in the fund without retaining an ownership stake.
RBC spokesman Kevin Foster would not comment on whether the bank planned to spin out the unit. “We are actively working to restructure our proprietary trading business to comply with the Volcker rule,” he said.
The bank reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results last week, driving its shares to an all-time high.
Reuters
