BlackBerry Narrows Non-GAAP Loss per Share to ($0.02) on Broad-Based Operational Progress in Fiscal 2015 Second Quarter

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Sept. 26, 2014) - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a global leader in mobile communications, today reported financial results for the three months ended August 30, 2014 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP, except where otherwise indicated).

Q2 Highlights:

• Cash and investments balance of $3.1 billion at the end of the fiscal quarter, up $11 million from the prior quarter
• Normalized cash use of $36 million in the quarter, compared to $255 million in the prior quarter
• Non-GAAP gross margin of 47.5%, driven by positive non-GAAP hardware gross margin
• Breakeven non-GAAP operating margin
• The EZ Pass Program has resulted in a total of 3.4 million licenses issued for BES10, a nearly three-fold increase from last quarter, with 25% of total licenses traded in from competitors' Mobile Device Management platforms
• 91 million monthly active BBM users, up from 85 million in the prior quarter
• Created the BlackBerry Technology Solutions unit, encompassing QNX (embedded software), Certicom (cryptography), Paratek (antenna tuning), the patent portfolio and the Internet of Things strategy
• Announced an agreement to acquire Secusmart, a leader in high-security voice and text encryption, and recently announced the acquisition of Movirtu, a provider of virtual SIM solutions, after the end of the quarter

Q2 Results

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 was $916 million. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 46% for hardware, 46% for services and 8% for software and other revenue. During the second quarter, the Company recognized hardware revenue on approximately 2.1 million BlackBerry smartphones. During the second quarter, approximately 2.4 million BlackBerry smartphones were sold through to end customers, which included shipments made and recognized prior to the second quarter and which reduced the Company's inventory in channel.

Non-GAAP loss for the second quarter was $11 million, or $0.02 per share. GAAP net loss for the second quarter was $207 million, or a $0.39 loss per share. The GAAP net loss includes a non-cash charge associated with the change in the fair value of the Debentures of $167 million (the "Q2 Fiscal 2015 Debentures Fair Value Adjustment") and pre-tax restructuring charges of $33 million related to the restructuring program. The impact of these adjustments on GAAP net loss and loss per share is summarized in a table below.

Total cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments was $3.1 billion as of August 30, 2014. The Company used $36 million in the second quarter, excluding net receipts of $47 million related to non-strategic operations during the quarter. Purchase obligations and other commitments amounted to approximately $1.6 billion as of August 30, 2014, with purchase orders with contract manufacturers representing approximately $344 million of the total.

"We delivered a solid quarter against our key operational metrics, and we are confident that we will achieve breakeven cash flow by the end of FY15," said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO, BlackBerry. "Our workforce restructuring is now complete, and we are focusing on revenue growth with judicious investments to further our leadership position in enterprise mobility and security, driving us towards non-GAAP profitability during FY16."

Outlook

The Company continues to anticipate maintaining its strong cash position, while increasingly looking for opportunities to prudently invest in growth. The Company continues to target break-even cash flow results by the end of fiscal 2015.

Reconciliation of GAAP gross margin, gross margin percentage, loss before income taxes, and net loss to Non-GAAP gross margin, gross margin percentage, loss before income taxes, net loss and loss per share:
(United States dollars, in millions except per share data)
	Gross margin(1) (before taxes)			Gross margin %(1) (before taxes)			Loss before income taxes				Net loss				Loss per share
As reported	$	425		46.4	%		$	(218	)		$	(207	)		$	(0.39	)
Adjustments:
Restructuring charges (2)		10		1.1	%			33				29
Q2 Fiscal 2015 Debenture Fair Value Adjustment (3)		-		-	%			167				167
Adjusted	$	435		47.5	%		$	(18	)		$	(11	)		$	(0.02	)

Note: Non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP gross margin percentage, non-GAAP loss before income taxes, non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP loss per share do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and thus are not comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures enables the Company and its shareholders to better assess the Company's operating results relative to its operating results in prior periods and improves the comparability of the information presented. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in the context of the Company's GAAP results.
	(1)	During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company reported GAAP gross margin of $425 million or 46.4% of revenue. Excluding the impact of the restructuring charges included in cost of sales, the non-GAAP gross margin was $435 million, or 47.5%.
	(2)	During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company incurred charges related to the restructuring program of $33 million pre-tax, or $29 million after tax, of which $10 million were included in cost of sales, $19 million were included in research and development and $4 million were included in selling, marketing, and administration expenses.
	(3)	During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company recorded the Q2 Fiscal 2015 Debentures Fair Value Adjustment of $167 million. This adjustment was presented on a separate line in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Supplementary Geographic Revenue Breakdown
(United States dollars, in millions except per share data)
		For the quarter ended
		August 30, 2014							May 31, 2014							March 1, 2014							November 30, 2013							August 31, 2013
North America		$	297			32.4	%		$	276			28.6	%		$	297			30.4	%		$	340			28.5	%		$	414			26.3	%
Europe, Middle East and Africa			368			40.2	%			414			42.9	%			412			42.2	%			549			46.0	%			686			43.6	%
Latin America			111			12.1	%			125			12.9	%			127			13.0	%			135			11.3	%			196			12.5	%
Asia Pacific			140			15.3	%			151			15.6	%			140			14.4	%			169			14.2	%			277			17.6	%
Total		$	916			100.0	%		$	966			100.0	%		$	976			100.0	%		$	1,193			100.0	%		$	1,573			100.0	%

Conference Call and Webcast

A conference call and live webcast will be held beginning at 8 am ET, which can be accessed by dialing 1-888-503-8168 or by logging on at http://ca.blackberry.com/company/investors/events.html. A replay of the conference call will also be available at approximately 10 am by dialing 1-647-436-0148 and entering pass code 8015758# or by clicking the link above. This replay will be available until midnight ET October 10th, 2014.

About BlackBerry

A global leader in mobile communications, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The Company trades under the ticker symbols "BB" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and "BBRY" on the NASDAQ. For more information, visit www.BlackBerry.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding: BlackBerry's expectations regarding maintaining its strong cash position while investing in growth opportunities, and the anticipated opportunities and challenges in fiscal 2015; BlackBerry's ability to achieve break-even cash flow results by the end of fiscal 2015 and reach profitability in fiscal 2016; BlackBerry's plans, strategies and objectives, including the anticipated benefits of recently announced strategic initiatives; anticipated demand for and the timing of, new product and service introductions, and BlackBerry's plans and expectations relating to its existing and new product and service offerings, including BES 10, BES 12, BlackBerry 10 smartphones, services related to BBM and QNX software products; the ability to achieve further reductions in operating expenditures and maintain the cost savings realized through the restructuring program; BlackBerry's anticipated levels of decline in service revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2015; BlackBerry's expectations for software revenue in fiscal 2015 and 2016; BlackBerry's expectations regarding adjusted gross margin percentage for the next several quarters; BlackBerry's anticipated income tax recovery rate for the remainder of fiscal 2015; BlackBerry's expectations with respect to the sufficiency of its financial resources; BlackBerry's estimates of purchase obligations and other contractual commitments; and assumptions and expectations described in BlackBerry's critical accounting estimates and significant accounting policies. The terms and phrases "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "believe", "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions
made by BlackBerry in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that BlackBerry believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause BlackBerry's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of BlackBerry's Annual Information Form, including: risks related to BlackBerry's ability to implement and realize the benefits of its strategic initiatives, including a return to its core strengths of enterprise and security, changes to its Devices business, including the partnership with Foxconn, and the planned transition to an operating unit organizational structure consisting of the Devices business, Enterprise Services, BlackBerry Technology Solutions, including the QNX embedded business, and Messaging; BlackBerry's ability to maintain existing enterprise customer relationships and to transition such customers to the BES 10 and
BES 12 platforms and deploy BlackBerry 10 smartphones, and the risk that current BES 10 and BES 12 test installations may not convert to commercial installations; BlackBerry's ability to enhance its current products and services, or develop new products and services in a timely manner or at competitive prices, including risks related to new product introductions; risks related to acquisitions, divestitures and investments which may negatively affect the Company's results of operations; risks related to intense competition, rapid change and significant strategic alliances within BlackBerry's industry, including recent and potential future strategic transactions by its competitors or carrier partners, which could continue to weaken its competitive position; risks related to BlackBerry's ability to adapt to, and realize the anticipated benefit of, recent management changes; and the risk that uncertainty relating to BlackBerry's previously disclosed announcements concerning its operational restructuring, recent management changes and workforce reductions, may adversely impact BlackBerry's business, existing and future relationships with business partners and end customers of its products and services, and its ability to attract and retain key employees. These risk factors and others relating to BlackBerry are discussed in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of BlackBerry's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F and the "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" section of BlackBerry's MD&A (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BlackBerry's forward-looking statements. BlackBerry has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The BlackBerry family of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of BlackBerry Limited. BlackBerry, BBM, QNX and related trademarks are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, Company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

BlackBerry Limited

Incorporated under the Laws of Ontario

(United States dollars, in millions except share and per share amounts) (unaudited)

Consolidated Statements of Operations

			For the three months ended									For the six months ended
			August 30, 2014			May 31, 2014			August 31, 2013			August 30, 2014			August 31, 2013
Revenue			$	916		$	966		$	1,573		$	1,882		$	4,644
Cost of sales
	Cost of sales			484			494			1,013			978			3,042
	Inventory write-down			7			21			627			28			627
	Supply commitment charges			-			-			307			-			307
				491			515			1,947			1,006			3,976
Gross margin				425			451			(374	)		876			668
		Gross margin %		46.4	%		46.7	%		(23.8	)%		46.5	%		14.4	%
Operating expenses
	Research and development			186			237			360			423			718
	Selling, marketing and administration			195			400			527			595			1,200
	Amortization			75			81			171			156			351
	Debentures fair value adjustment			167			(287	)		-			(120	)		-
				623			431			1,058			1,054			2,269
Operating income (loss)				(198	)		20			(1,432	)		(178	)		(1,601	)
	Investment loss, net			(20	)		(26	)		(6	)		(46	)		(1	)
Loss before income taxes				(218	)		(6	)		(1,438	)		(224	)		(1,602	)
Recovery of income taxes				(11	)		(29	)		(473	)		(40	)		(553	)
Net income (loss)			$	(207	)	$	23		$	(965	)	$	(184	)	$	(1,049	)
Earnings (loss) per share
	Basic		$	(0.39	)	$	0.04		$	(1.84	)	$	(0.35	)	$	(2.00	)
	Diluted		$	(0.39	)	$	(0.37	)	$	(1.84	)	$	(0.41	)	$	(2.00	)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (000's)
		Basic		527,218			526,742			524,481			526,980			524,320
		Diluted		527,218			658,228			524,481			651,980			524,320
Total common shares outstanding (000's)				527,430			526,908			524,639			527,430			524,639

BlackBerry Limited

Incorporated under the Laws of Ontario

(United States dollars, in millions except per share data) (unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As at		August 30, 2014			March 1, 2014
Assets
Current
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,523		$	1,579
	Short-term investments		1,178			950
	Accounts receivable, net		658			972
	Other receivables		162			152
	Inventories		113			244
	Income taxes receivable		124			373
	Other current assets		297			505
	Deferred income tax asset		38			73
	Assets held for sale		31			35
			4,124			4,883
Long-term investments			329			129
Restricted cash			68			-
Property, plant and equipment, net			582			1,101
Intangible assets, net			1,433			1,439
		$	6,536		$	7,552
Liabilities
Current
	Accounts payable	$	217		$	474
	Accrued liabilities		870			1,214
	Deferred revenue		435			580
			1,522			2,268
Long term debt			1,507			1,627
Deferred income tax liability			32			32
			3,061			3,927
Shareholders' Equity
Capital stock and additional paid-in capital			2,438			2,418
Treasury stock			(173	)		(179	)
Retained earnings			1,210			1,394
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			-			(8	)
			3,475			3,625
		$	6,536		$	7,552

BlackBerry Limited

Incorporated under the Laws of Ontario

(United States dollars, in millions except per share data) (unaudited)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

		Six Months Ended
		August 30, 2014			August 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$	(184	)	$	(1,049	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
	Amortization		362			756
	Deferred income taxes		35			(32	)
	Income taxes payable		-			(3	)
	Stock-based compensation		22			38
	Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment		119			29
	Debentures fair value adjustment		(120	)		-
	Other		13			10
Net changes in working capital items:
	Accounts receivable, net		314			610
	Other receivables		(10	)		49
	Inventories		131			(338	)
	Income taxes receivable		249			135
	Other current assets		199			(231	)
	Accounts payable		(257	)		66
	Accrued liabilities		(311	)		154
	Deferred revenue		(145	)		292
Net cash provided by operating activities			417			486
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of long-term investments			(214	)		(220	)
Proceeds on sale or maturity of long-term investments			14			180
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment			(48	)		(200	)
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment			348			5
Acquisition of intangible assets			(266	)		(603	)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(9	)		(7	)
Acquisition of short-term investments			(1,252	)		(917	)
Proceeds on sale or maturity of short-term investments			1,024			930
Net cash used in investing activities			(403	)		(832	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of common shares			4			-
Tax deficiencies related to stock-based compensation			-			(2	)
Purchase of treasury stock			-			(16	)
Transfer to restricted cash			(68	)		-
Net cash used in financing activities			(64	)		(18	)
Effect of foreign exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents			(6	)		(4	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents during the period			(56	)		(368	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			1,579			1,549
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	1,523		$	1,181
As at			August 30, 2014			May 31, 2014
Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,523		$	1,710
Short-term investments			1,178			975
Long-term investments			329			333
Restricted cash			68			69
		$	3,098		$	3,087