Blackberry 2015 Annual Report Download - page 50

Table of Contents
41
DIVIDEND POLICY AND RECORD
The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its common shares during the last three fiscal years. The Company will
consider paying dividends on its common shares in the future when circumstances permit, having regard to, among other
things, the Company’s earnings, cash flows and financial requirements, as well as relevant legal and business considerations.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE
The Company’s authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of voting common shares without par value, an
unlimited number of non-voting, redeemable, retractable class A common shares without par value, and an unlimited number of
non-voting, cumulative, redeemable, retractable preferred shares without par value, issuable in series. Only common shares are
issued and outstanding.
Common Shares
Each common share is entitled to one vote at meetings of the shareholders and to receive dividends if, as and when declared by
the Board. Dividends which the Board determines to declare and pay shall be declared and paid in equal amounts per share on
the common shares and class A common shares at the time outstanding without preference or distinction. Subject to the rights
of holders of shares of any class of share ranking prior to the common shares and class A common shares, holders of common
shares and class A common shares are entitled to receive the Company’s remaining assets ratably on a per share basis without
preference or distinction in the event that it is liquidated, dissolved or wound-up.
Class A Common Shares
The holders of class A common shares are not entitled to receive notice of, or attend or vote at, any meeting of the Company’s
shareholders, except as provided by applicable law. Each such holder is entitled to receive notice of, and to attend, any
meetings of shareholders called for the purpose of authorizing the dissolution or the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the Company’s property other than in the ordinary course of business and, at any such meeting, shall be
entitled to one vote in respect of each class A common share on any resolution to approve such dissolution, sale, lease or
exchange. Dividends are to be declared and paid in equal amounts per share on all the common shares and the class A common
shares without preference or distinction. Subject to the rights of holders of any class of share ranking prior to the common
shares and class A common shares, in the event that the Company is liquidated, dissolved or wound-up, holders of common
shares and class A common shares are entitled to receive the remaining assets ratably on a per share basis without preference or
distinction.
The Company authorized for issuance the class A common shares when the Company was a private company to permit
employees to participate in equity ownership. Class A common shares previously issued by the Company to such employees
were converted on a one-for-one basis into common shares in December 1996. At this time, the Company has no plans to issue
further class A common shares.
Preferred Shares
The holders of preferred shares are not entitled to receive notice of, or to attend or vote at, any meeting of the Company’s
shareholders, except as provided by applicable law. Preferred shares may be issued in one or more series and, with respect to
the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event that the Company is liquidated, dissolved or wound-up,
rank prior to the common shares and the class A common shares. The Board has the authority to issue series of preferred shares
and determine the price, number, designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions, including dividend rights, of each
series without any further vote or action by shareholders. The holders of preferred shares do not have pre-emptive rights to
subscribe to any issue of the Company’s securities. At this time there are no preferred shares outstanding and the Company has
no plans to issue any preferred shares.
Convertible Debentures
The following is a summary of the material attributes and characteristics of the Debentures. This summary does not purport to
be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the terms of the Indenture (as defined below). Reference is made
to the Indenture, which has been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the SEC at www.sec.gov, for complete
descriptions of the Debentures.
General
The Debentures are direct, unsecured debt obligations of the Company and are issued under an indenture (the “Trust
Indenture”) dated as of November 13, 2013 between the Company, as issuer, BlackBerry Corporation, BlackBerry UK Limited,
BlackBerry Finance, LLC and BlackBerry Singapore Pte. Limited, as guarantors (collectively, the “Guarantors”) and
Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture dated as of