Press Release

May 13, 1998

Research In Motion Reports Fiscal 1998 Results and Record Fourth Quarter Performance

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (TSE: RIM) today reported net income of $540,000 for the year ended February 28, 1998 on an almost threefold increase in revenue to $33.2 million. Results reflected strong growth over net income of $40,000 on revenues of $12.1 million last year, as RIM continued to boost capacity and fill its order backlog to meet growing demand for its state-of-the-art wireless products. RIM's order backlog stood at $100 million at fiscal year end.

"We're pleased with our progress toward realizing our potential as the leading provider of access devices for the wireless messaging industry," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO. "In fiscal 1998 we both exceeded our financial targets and laid a solid foundation to prepare RIM for the future."

The year's successes included the launch of RIM's Wireless PC card, the Inter@ctive™ Pager, and a number of OEM radio products; the development of several strategic relationships with key industry players; RIM's initial public offering and TSE listing; a $4 million equity investment from Intel; numerous new customer orders; and the expansion and upgrading of production facilities in response to growing demand.

Gross profit in fiscal 1998 was $11.7 million, up from $6.4 million last year. Gross margin of 35% of revenue was down from 53% last year because government grants and engineering development fees declined as a percentage of revenue. Gross margin was consistent with management's expectations.

Research and development spending rose 45% to $6.5 million from $4.5 million in fiscal 1998, but declined on a percentage of revenue basis to 20% from 37% as a function of very strong sales growth.

"As a leading technology company, RIM is committed to investing in high quality people to develop high quality products," said Chief Financial Officer Dennis Kavelman. "Increased total spending was a result of the expansion of product development teams in preparation for the launch of next generation products. We intend to invest 10% to 15% of sales in R&D going forward."

Selling, marketing and administrative expenses increased 57% to $4 million year-over-year. However, these expenses declined to 12% of revenue from 21% a year earlier - a trend which is expected to continue as revenue ramps up over the next 12 months.

Amortization expense for fiscal 1998 was $2.2 million, roughly quadruple the $0.6 million expensed in fiscal 1998. The increase was due to significant capital spending for RIM's production facilities, as well as for research and development.

Earnings per share were one cent on both a basic and fully diluted basis, compared to EPS marginally above the break-even level last year.

RIM ended 1998 with an exceptionally strong balance sheet. Cash and short term investments of $109 million - largely IPO proceeds - represented more than two-thirds of total assets, and RIM was virtually debt-free.

"We expect to use roughly half of this cash in 1999 for new equipment, sales and marketing initiatives, R&D, and general working capital purposes," said Kavelman.

Fourth Quarter Results

RIM delivered record financial performance in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998.

Revenue reached $13.5 million from $7.7 million at the same time last year. Growth continued to be driven by the fulfillment of backlogged orders for two-way pagers, OEM radio modems and Type II Wireless PC Cards. New orders were also a factor, especially for OEM radio modems in North America. Results also included investment income of $1.2 million earned on the proceeds of RIM's IPO.

Fourth quarter gross profit and gross margin were $4.9 million and 36% of revenue, respectively, versus $3.8 million and 49% in the corresponding period last year.

Due to the expansion of product development teams in preparation for the launch of next generation products, R&D investments of $2.3 million were up 76% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997.

Selling, Marketing & Administrative expenses of $0.9 million were 34% higher than $0.7 million at the same time last year, but declined to 7% of revenue from 9% a year ago.

Amortization expense doubled year-over-year to $0.7 million, mainly reflecting higher capital expenditures.

Net income was $2.0 million versus $1.4 million a year ago. Basic earnings per share rose to four cents from three cents year-over-year, and remained stable at three cents on a fully diluted basis.

"Strong demand in the PCS market has led to considerable sales and earnings growth for RIM," said Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO. "We expect our recent receipt of many new orders and the on-going success of both our independent and collaborative R&D initiatives will allow us to further build on this momentum in fiscal 1999."

RIM's more recent achievements include:

  • a $10 million contract to supply Inter@ctive Pagers to IBM for the use of its field service representatives across North America
  • a $2 million contract to supply Panasonic Corporation with OEM radio modems to be embedded in Panasonic's ruggedized laptop terminals
  • a $3.8 million contract to supply Mobile Integrated Technologies with OEM radio modems for integration into its vehicle-based communications products
  • Technology Partnerships Canada, a federal agency, invested $5.7 million in RIM's $19.1 million R&D project for next-generation two-way messaging products
  • a $1 million contract to supply Telxon Corporation OEM radio modems to be embedded in Telxon's ruggedized, hand-held terminals
  • RIM's wireless connectivity technology for in-vehicle computing applications, developed in collaboration with Intel and Visteon Automotive Systems, was demonstrated at the Intel booth at the world's largest Intelligent Transportation System tradeshow - ITS'98

Research In Motion is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing wireless consumer and business-to-business electronic access technology for the rapidly emerging mobile personal communications market. The company's current product portfolio includes revolutionary two-way pagers, wireless personal computer card adapters and embedded OEM wireless radios. Based in Waterloo, Ontario and listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange, Research In Motion is a knowledge-based company with proven, leading technologies. Its customers include a diverse range of major multinational companies including wireless network suppliers, original equipment manufacturers and value-added resellers. Email: investor_relations@rim.net. Web site address: www.rim.net.



 

YEAR TO DATE STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the year ended February 28 1998 1997
    (note 1)
Revenue $33,158,630 $12,070,696

Cost of sales

     21,443,295        5,680,605
       11,715,335        6,390,091
     

Research and development

6,485,366 4,480,045

Selling, marketing and administration

3,993,388 2,548,531

Amortization

2,191,956 566,650

Interest expense

            82,249           253,024
       12,752,959        7,848,250
     

Loss from operations

(1,037,624) (1,458,159)
     

Investment income

       1,962,852        1,439,049

Income (loss) before provision for taxes

925,228 (19,110)
     

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes

          385,263           (62,847)
     

Net income

          539,965             43,737
     

Earnings per share, basic

$.01 $.00

Earnings per share, fully diluted

$.01 $.00

Note 1: Comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.



 

QUARTERLY STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the three months ended February 28

1998 1997

(unaudited)

  (note 1)

Revenue

$13,507,950 $7,708,069

Cost of sales

       8,597,895        3,940,409
         4,910,055        3,767,660
     

Research and development

2,279,351 1,296,748

Selling, marketing and administration

882,723 656,927

Amortization

691,282 344,044

Interest expense

              3,000             43,613
         3,856,356        2,341,331
     

Income from operations

1,053,699 1,426,329
     

Investment Income

       1,173,813           121,471

Income before provision for taxes

2,227,512

1,547,800

     

Provision for income taxes

          264,263

          167,000

     

Net income

       1,963,249

       1,380,800

     

Earnings per share, basic

$.04

$.03

Earnings per share, fully diluted

$.03

$.03

Note 1: Comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.



 

BALANCE SHEET

As at February 28

1998 1997
     

CURRENT ASSETS

   

Cash and short-term investments

$109,019,254 $9,475,677

Accounts receivable

14,954,426 11,045,079

Inventory

15,398,030 15,842,953

Prepaid expenses

          241,919           159,397
  139,613,629 36,523,106
     

CAPITAL ASSETS

     13,732,930        7,892,084
     

TOTAL ASSETS

 $153,346,559    $44,415,190
     

CURRENT LIABILITIES

   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$2,532,666 $2,026,713

Current portion of loans payable

- 1,480,364

Deferred Revenue

          759,744           141,628
         3,292,410        3,648,705
     

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

Common shares

148,232,648 39,095,217

Retained earnings

       1,821,501        1,671,268
     150,054,149      40,766,485
     
     

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 $153,346,559    $44,415,190



STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN FINANCIAL POSITION

For the year ended February 28

1998

1997

     
     

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATIONS

   

Net Income for the period

539,965

43,737

Items not requiring an outlay of cash:

   

Amortization

2,191,956

566,650

Deferred income taxes

                    -         (117,847)
  2,731,921 492,540
     

Net changes in non-cash working capital items

     (2,422,877)    (18,215,923)
     

Total cash provided by (used in) operations

          309,044    (17,723,383)
     

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

   

Repayment of loans payable

(1,480,364)

(1,799,317)

Issuance of share capital, net of share issue costs

109,137,431

36,860,979

Repayment of advances to shareholders

-

(750,000)

Capital dividend paid

(389,732)

-

Government funding received for capital expenditures

          295,000           631,886
     

Total cash provided by financing activities

   107,562,335      34,943,548
     

CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

   

Acquisition of capital assets

     (8,327,802)      (8,276,662)
     

Total cash used in investing activities

(8,327,802) (8,276,662)
     

Increase in cash and short term investments for the period

99,543,577 8,943,503
     

Cash and short-term investments, beginning of the period

       9,475,677           532,174
     

Cash and short-term investments, end of the period

   109,019,254        9,475,677