BlackBerry Charts New Course by Officially Adopting Its Iconic Brand Name

research-in-motion-ceo-thorsten-heins

“The name change to BlackBerry from Research In Motion comes at a pivotal moment in our company’s history,” said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO as reported yesterday. “BlackBerry changed the world when the first products were introduced in 1999. Today, we are charting a new course in mobile computing, creating new products and services under an integrated, branded organization. Our new name delivers on our iconic brand’s reputation for keeping people moving and productive in an ever connected world.”

See full press release:

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – July 10, 2013) – BlackBerry(R) (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB) announced today that the Company’s shareholders have approved a special resolution to change the Company’s name from Research In Motion Limited to BlackBerry Limited at the Company’s annual and special meeting of shareholders held on July 9, 2013 (the “Meeting”). Articles of Amendment have been filed to effect the change immediately.

The Company first announced that it would adopt the name of its revolutionary BlackBerry smartphone on January 30, 2013. The move consolidates the Company’s brand into a single cohesive global presence. The Company has been trading as “BBRY” on the NASDAQ Stock Market and “BB” on the Toronto Stock Exchange since February 4, 2013.

“The name change to BlackBerry from Research In Motion comes at a pivotal moment in our company’s history,” said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO. “BlackBerry changed the world when the first products were introduced in 1999. Today, we are charting a new course in mobile computing, creating new products and services under an integrated, branded organization. Our new name delivers on our iconic brand’s reputation for keeping people moving and productive in an ever connected world.”

BlackBerry also announced that the nine nominees listed in the Company’s management information circular, dated May 21, 2013 for the Meeting, were elected as directors to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company or until their successors are elected or appointed. The detailed results of the vote are set out below.

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Nominee             Votes For  % Votes For  Votes Withheld  % Votes Withheld
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Timothy Dattels   241,472,242        99.38       1,508,615              0.62
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Thorsten Heins    241,441,376        99.37       1,540,481              0.63
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David Kerr        239,902,407        98.73       3,079,350              1.27
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Claudia Kotchka   240,091,033        98.81       2,890,024              1.19
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Richard Lynch     239,216,635        98.45       3,762,225              1.55
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Roger Martin      239,941,977        98.75       3,039,880              1.25
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Bert Nordberg     239,188,658        98.44       3,793,199              1.56
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Barbara Stymiest  197,965,264        81.47      45,016,593             18.53
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Prem Watsa        235,820,585        97.05       7,161,272              2.95
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