BlackBerry Reports 89% Year Over Year Growth in GAAP Software and Services Revenue for Q2 Fiscal 2017; Company Announces New Strategic Direction for Mobility Solutions

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 28, 2016) - BlackBerry Limited (BBRY)(BB.TO), a global software leader in securing, connecting and mobilizing enterprises, today reported financial results for the three months ended August 31, 2016 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP, except where otherwise indicated).

Q2 Highlights

• Non-GAAP total revenue of $352 million; GAAP revenue of $334 million

• Non-GAAP software and services revenue of $156 million; GAAP software and services revenue of $138 million

• Eleventh consecutive quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA

• Breakeven non-GAAP earnings per share; GAAP EPS loss of $(0.71)

• Entered into a licensing agreement with telecom joint venture in Indonesia, BB Merah Putih, to manufacture, distribute and promote BlackBerry-branded devices running BlackBerry's secure Android software and applications

• Announced a strategic alliance with Emtek Group to accelerate and advance BBM's consumer business globally by developing new cross platform applications, content and services on the BBM platform

• Commenced shipment of BlackBerry Radar, an end-to-end asset tracking IOT system; lands top tier logistics company as a customer

• Launched BlackBerry Hub+ for Android, a software licensing program to effortlessly enable productivity and communication on Android 6.0 Marshmallow smartphones

• Launched the DTEK50 in July, the world's most secure Android smartphone, combining BlackBerry's unique security, privacy and productivity with the full Android experience in an all-touch design

• After the quarter close, completed the previously announced convertible debt restructuring reducing both interest costs and dilution to existing shareholders

Q2 Results

Non-GAAP revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $352 million with GAAP revenue of $334 million. The non-GAAP revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 44% for software and services, 26% for service access fees (SAF), and 30% for mobility solutions.

BlackBerry had around 3,000 enterprise customer wins in the quarter. Approximately 81% of the second quarter software and services revenue was recurring.

Non-GAAP operating income was $16 million, and non-GAAP earnings per share was break even for the second quarter. GAAP net loss for the quarter was $(372) million, or $(0.71) per basic share. Adjustments to GAAP net income and earnings per share are summarized in a table below.

Total cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments was approximately $2.5 billion as of August 31, 2016. This reflects a use of free cash of $37 million, which includes $34 million of cash used in operations. Excluding $1.25 billion in the face value of our debt, the net cash balance at the end of the quarter was $1.22 billion. Purchase orders with contract manufacturers totaled approximately $71 million at the end of the second quarter, compared to $150 million at the end of the first quarter and down from $248 million in the year ago quarter.

"We are reaching an inflection point with our strategy. Our financial foundation is strong, and our pivot to software is taking hold," said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO, BlackBerry. "In Q2, we more than doubled our software revenue year over year and delivered the highest gross margin in the company's history. We also completed initial shipments of BlackBerry Radar, an end-to end asset tracking system, and signed a strategic licensing agreement to drive global growth in our BBM consumer business."

"Our new Mobility Solutions strategy is showing signs of momentum, including our first major device software licensing agreement with a telecom joint venture in Indonesia. Under this strategy, we are focusing on software development, including security and applications. The company plans to end all internal hardware development and will outsource that function to partners. This allows us to reduce capital requirements and enhance return on invested capital," continued Chen.

"We remain on track to deliver 30 percent revenue growth in software and services for the full fiscal year. We are revising upward our non-GAAP EPS outlook to a range of breakeven to a five cent loss, compared to the current consensus of a 15 cent loss. This reflects increased confidence based on improving margins and reduced interest expense from the recent refinancing of our debt, as well as planned investments in growth areas."

(United States dollars, in millions except per share data)
Reconciliation of the Company's segment results to the consolidated results:
		For the Three Months Ended August 31, 2016 (in millions)
		Software & Services			Mobility Solutions				SAF			Segment totals			Corporate unallocated				Subtotal			Non-GAAP adjustments (1)				Consolidated U.S. GAAP
Revenue		$	156		$	105			$	91		$	352		$	-			$	352		$	(18	)		$	334
Cost of goods sold			31			78				24			133			-				133			103				236
Gross margin			125			27				67			219			-				219			(121	)			98
Operating expenses			96			35				1			132			71				203			250				453
Operating income (loss)		$	29		$	(8	)		$	66		$	87		$	(71	)		$	16		$	(371	)		$	(355	)

Reconciliation of GAAP gross margin, gross margin percentage, loss before income taxes, net loss and loss per share 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)
Q2 Fiscal 2017 Non-GAAP Adjustments				For the Three Months Ended August 31, 2016 (in millions)
		Income statement location		Revenue			Gross margin (before taxes)(1)			Gross margin % (before taxes)(1)			Income (loss) before income taxes				Net loss				Basic earnings (loss) per share
As reported				$	334		$	98		29.3	%		$	(371	)		$	(372	)		$	(0.71	)
Inventory write-down (2)		Cost of sales			-			96		28.8	%			96				96
Debentures fair value adjustment (3)		Debentures fair value adjustment			-			-		-	%			62				62
RAP charges (4)		Cost of sales			-			7		2.1	%			7				7
RAP charges (4)		Selling, marketing and administration			-			-		-	%			140				140
CORE program recovery (5)		Selling, marketing and administration			-			-		-	%			(2	)			(2	)
Software deferred revenue acquired (6)		Revenue			18			18		2.0	%			18				18
Stock compensation expense (7)		Research and development			-			-		-	%			4				4
Stock compensation expense (7)		Selling, marketing and administration			-			-		-	%			14				14
Acquired intangibles amortization (8)		Amortization			-			-		-	%			28				28
Business acquisition and integration costs (9)		Selling, marketing and administration			-			-		-	%			4				4
Adjusted				$	352		$	219		62.2	%		$	-			$	(1	)		$	0.00

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 2017, the Company reported GAAP gross margin of $98 million or 29.3% of revenue. Excluding the impact of the inventory write-down and resource alignment program ("RAP") charges included in cost of sales and software deferred revenue acquired included in revenue, the non-GAAP gross margin was $219 million, or 62.2% of revenue.

2. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recorded inventory write-down charges of $96 million, which were included in cost of sales.

3. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recorded the Q2 Fiscal 2017 Debentures Fair Value Adjustment of $62 million. This adjustment was presented on a separate line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

4. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company incurred charges related to the RAP of approximately $147 million, of which $7 million were included in cost of sale and $140 million were included in selling, marketing and administration expense.

5. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company incurred recoveries related to the CORE program of $2 million, which were included in selling, marketing, and administration expenses.

6. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recorded software deferred revenue acquired but not recognized due to business combination accounting rules of $18 million, which were included in revenue.

7. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recorded stock compensation expense of $18 million, of which $4 million were included in research and development, and $14 million were included in selling, marketing and administration expenses.

8. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recorded amortization of intangible assets acquired through business combinations of $28 million, which were included in amortization expense.

9. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recorded business acquisition and integration costs incurred through business combinations of $4 million, which were included in selling, marketing and administration expenses.

Supplementary Geographic Revenue Breakdown

BlackBerry Limited
(United States dollars, in millions)
Revenue by Region
		For the quarters ended
		August 31, 2016						May 31, 2016						February 29, 2016						November 28, 2015						August 29, 2015
North America		$	190		56.9	%		$	195		48.8	%		$	216		46.5	%		$	275		50.2	%		$	176		36.0	%
Europe, Middle East and Africa			100		29.9	%			155		38.7	%			175		37.7	%			194		35.4	%			202		41.2	%
Latin America			13		3.9	%			10		2.5	%			18		3.9	%			24		4.4	%			33		6.7	%
Asia Pacific			31		9.3	%			40		10.0	%			55		11.9	%			55		10.0	%			79		16.1	%
Total		$	334		100.0	%		$	400		100.0	%		$	464		100.0	%		$	548		100.0	%		$	490		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 1-844-309-0607 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 11 am ET by dialing 1-855-859-2056 or 1-404-537-3406 and entering Conference ID # 68672235 or by clicking the link above.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry secures, connects and mobilizes the enterprise. For today's enterprise of things, BlackBerry provides devices and a software platform that enables and manages security, mobility and communications between and among hardware, programs, mobile apps and the internet of things. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates 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 certain securities laws, including under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding: BlackBerry's plans, strategies and objectives, including the new strategic direction for its Mobility Solutions business; the anticipated impact of BlackBerry's recently completed convertible debt restructuring; BlackBerry's expectations regarding anticipated demand for, and the timing of, product and service offerings, including its device software; BlackBerry's expectations regarding the growth of its BBM consumer business; BlackBerry's expectations regarding its capital requirements and return on invested capital in connection with the implementation of its new Mobility Solutions strategy; BlackBerry's expectations with respect to the strength of its financial resources; BlackBerry's expectations regarding revenue growth in its Software & Services business; and BlackBerry's expectations regarding its non-GAAP earnings per share.

The terms and phrases "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "could", "intend", "believe", "target", "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, including but not limited to, BlackBerry's expectations regarding its business, strategy, opportunities and prospects, including its ability to implement meaningful changes to address its business challenges, the launch of new products and services, general economic conditions, product pricing levels and competitive intensity, supply constraints, and BlackBerry's expectations regarding the cash flow generation of its business and the sufficiency of its financial resources.
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 the following risks: BlackBerry's ability to attract new enterprise customers and maintain its existing relationships with its enterprise customers, or transition them to the Company's latest enterprise software platforms and deploy smartphones; BlackBerry's ability to develop, market and distribute an integrated software and services offering, or otherwise monetize its technologies, to grow revenue, achieve sustained profitability, or to offset the decline in BlackBerry's service access fees; BlackBerry's ability to enhance its current products and services, or develop new products and services, in a timely manner, at competitive prices, or to meet customer requirements, or accurately predict emerging technological trends; BlackBerry's ability to successfully market and distribute new devices, including the PRIV and DTEK50; intense competition faced by BlackBerry; the occurrence or perception of a breach of BlackBerry's security measures or an inappropriate disclosure of confidential or personal information; risks related to BlackBerry's products and services being dependent upon the interoperability with rapidly changing systems provided by third parties; risks related to BlackBerry's ability to attract new personnel and retain existing key personnel; BlackBerry's dependence on its relationships with network carriers and distributors;
risks related to acquisitions and other business initiatives; the risk that network disruptions or other business interruptions could have a material adverse effect on BlackBerry's business and harm its reputation; the risk that failure to protect BlackBerry's intellectual property could harm its ability to compete effectively or impact its ability to earn revenues it expects from intellectual property rights; BlackBerry's reliance on its suppliers for functional components and risks relating to its supply chain; risks related to sales to customers in highly regulated industries and governmental entities; BlackBerry's reliance on third parties to manufacture and repair its products; BlackBerry's ability to obtain rights to use software or components supplied by third parties; BlackBerry's ability to address inventory and asset risk and the potential for charges related to its inventory and long-lived assets; BlackBerry's ability to maintain or increase its liquidity; risks related to BlackBerry's significant indebtedness; risks related to intellectual property rights; risks related to litigation, including litigation claims arising from BlackBerry's disclosure practices; risks related to government regulations applicable to BlackBerry's products and services, including products containing encryption technology; risks related to the use and disclosure of user and personal information; risks related to foreign operations, including fluctuations in foreign currencies; risks related to potential defects and vulnerabilities in BlackBerry's products; risks as a result of actions of activist shareholders; BlackBerry's ability to supplement and manage its catalogue of third-party applications; risks related to the failure of BlackBerry's suppliers and other parties it does business with to use acceptable ethical business practices or to comply with applicable laws; risks related to health and safety and hazardous materials usage regulations and network certification risks; costs and other burdens associated with regulations regarding conflict minerals; risks related to BlackBerry possibly losing its foreign private issuer status under U.S. federal securities laws; the potential impact of copyright levies in numerous countries; risks related to tax liabilities; risks related to the volatility of the market price of BlackBerry's common shares; risks related to economic and geopolitical conditions; market and credit risk related to BlackBerry's cash and investments; and risks relating to the fluctuation of BlackBerry's quarterly revenue and operating results.
These risk factors and others relating to BlackBerry are discussed in greater detail in 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). All of 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 applicable law.

BlackBerry®, BBM™, QNX®, Good® and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of BlackBerry Limited and are registered and/or used in the United States and countries around the world. All other trademarks are the property 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 31, 2016				February 29, 2016				August 29, 2015				August 31, 2016				August 29, 2015
Revenue			$	334			$	464			$	490			$	734			$	1,148
Cost of sales				236				254				305				482				653
Gross margin				98				210				185				252				495
	Gross margin %			29.3	%			45.3	%			37.8	%			34.3	%			43.1	%
Operating expenses
	Research and development			85				108				122				174				261
	Selling, marketing and administration			139				179				186				268				359
	Amortization			44				77				67				98				132
	Impairment of goodwill			-				-				-				57				-
	Impairment of long-lived assets			-				-				-				501				-
	Abandonment of long-lived assets			-				127				5				3				6
	Write-down of assets held for sale			123				-				-				123				-
	Debentures fair value adjustment			62				(40	)			(228	)			38				(385	)
				453				451				152				1,262				373
Operating income (loss)				(355	)			(241	)			33				(1,010	)			122
	Investment loss, net			(16	)			(15	)			(12	)			(31	)			(28	)
Income (loss) before income taxes				(371	)			(256	)			21				(1,041	)			94
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes				1				(18	)			(30	)			1				(25	)
Net income (loss)			$	(372	)		$	(238	)		$	51			$	(1,042	)		$	119
Earnings (loss) per share
	Basic		$	(0.71	)		$	(0.45	)		$	0.10			$	(1.99	)		$	0.23
	Diluted		$	(0.71	)		$	(0.45	)		$	(0.24	)		$	(1.99	)		$	(0.34	)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (000's)
	Basic			522,826				524,627				526,314				522,362				527,775
	Diluted			522,826				524,627				667,321				522,362				667,459
Total common shares outstanding (000's)				523,488				521,172				524,211				523,488				524,211

BlackBerry Limited
Incorporated under the Laws of Ontario
(United States dollars, in millions except per share data) (unaudited)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As at			August 31, 2016				February 29, 2016
Assets
Current
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,687			$	957
	Short-term investments			413				1,420
	Accounts receivable, net			222				338
	Other receivables			47				51
	Inventories			41				143
	Income taxes receivable			27				-
	Other current assets			73				102
	Assets held for sale			129				257
				2,639				3,268
Long-term investments				321				197
Restricted cash				53				50
Property, plant and equipment, net				121				155
Goodwill				562				618
Intangible assets, net				652				1,213
Deferred income tax asset				-				33
			$	4,348			$	5,534
Liabilities
Current
	Accounts payable		$	228			$	270
	Accrued liabilities			274				368
	Income taxes payable			-				9
	Deferred revenue			310				392
	Long-term debt			1,329				-
				2,141				1,039
Long-term debt				-				1,277
Deferred income tax liability				9				10
				2,150				2,326
Shareholders' Equity
Capital stock and additional paid-in capital				2,480				2,448
Retained earnings (deficit)				(274	)			768
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(8	)			(8	)
				2,198				3,208
			$	4,348			$	5,534

BlackBerry Limited
Incorporated under the Laws of Ontario
(United States dollars, in millions except per share data) (unaudited)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
			Six Months Ended
			August 31, 2016				August 29, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)			$	(1,042	)		$	119
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
	Amortization			129				327
	Deferred income taxes			32				(29	)
	Stock-based compensation			30				28
	Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment			1				41
	Impairment of goodwill			57				-
	Impairment of long-lived assets			501				-
	Write-down of assets held for sale			123				-
	Other-than-temporary impairment on cost-based investments			7				-
	Debentures fair value adjustment			38				(385	)
	Other			4				17
Net changes in working capital items:
	Accounts receivable, net			116				175
	Other receivables			4				31
	Inventories			102				(20	)
	Income tax receivable, net			(27	)			153
	Other current assets			28				203
	Accounts payable			(42	)			(40	)
	Income taxes payable			(9	)			-
	Accrued liabilities			(63	)			(265	)
	Deferred revenue			(82	)			(111	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities				(93	)			244
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of long-term investments				(328	)			(127	)
Proceeds on sale or maturity of long-term investments				112				66
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment				(7	)			(21	)
Acquisition of intangible assets				(19	)			(31	)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(5	)			(53	)
Acquisition of short-term investments				(665	)			(1,413	)
Proceeds on sale or maturity of short-term investments				1,746				1,598
Conversion of cost-based investment to equity securities				10				-
Unrealized loss in equity securities				(1	)			-
Effect of foreign exchange on investing activities				-				4
Net cash provided by investing activities				843				23
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of common shares				2				1
Payment of contingent consideration from business acquisitions				(15	)			-
Common shares repurchased				-				(47	)
Effect of foreign exchange gain on restricted cash				(3	)			-
Transfer from restricted cash				-				3
Repurchase of debentures				(5	)			-
Net cash used in financing activities				(21	)			(43	)
Effect of foreign exchange gain (loss) on cash and cash equivalents				1				(10	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents during the period				730				214
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				957				1,233
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			$	1,687			$	1,447
As at				August 31, 2016				May 31, 2016
Cash and cash equivalents			$	1,687			$	1,225
Short-term investments				413				1,008
Long-term investments				321				246
Restricted cash				53				53
			$	2,474			$	2,532