Blackberry 1999 Annual Report Download - page 22

Management’s Responsibility for Financial Reporting
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
The management of Research In Motion Limited is responsible for the preparation of the accompanying financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including estimates and judgments
required for such preparation. The financial information appearing throughout this annual report is consistent
with the financial statements.
In fulfilling its responsibility for the reliability and integrity of financial information, management has established
and maintains a system of internal controls and budgeting procedures. Management believes these systems and
controls provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded, transactions are executed in accordance with
management's authorization and financial records are reliable for preparing the financial statements.
The financial statements are reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee, which
oversee management's reporting responsibilities. Zeifman & Company and Ernst & Young, the independent
auditors appointed by the shareholders, have examined the financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and their report follows.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists of non-management directors, meets with
management and the independent auditors to ensure that each is discharging its respective responsibilities relating
to the financial statements. The external auditors have full and free access to the Audit Committee to discuss audit
findings, financial reporting and other related matters.
Mike Lazaridis Dennis Kavelman
President & Co-CEO Chief Financial Officer
Waterloo, Ontario
Auditors’ Report
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
We have audited the balance sheets of Research In Motion Limited as at February 28, 1999 and 1998 and the
statements of operations and retained earnings and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period
ended February 28, 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require
that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the
Company as at February 28, 1999 and 1998 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the
years in the three year period ended February 28, 1999 in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in Canada.
Zeifman and Company Ernst & Young LLP
Chartered Accountants Chartered Accountants
Toronto, Ontario
April 7, 1999
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