RIM, RBC and Thomson Reuters Joining Forces to Create a Leading Fund for Investment in Mobile Applications and Services
Canadian Organizations to Unite through the BlackBerry Partners Fund to Advance the International Mobile Industry
Toronto, ON - BlackBerry® Partners Fund LP today announced that Research In Motion (RIM) (TSX: RIM; NASDAQ: RIMM), RBC (RY: TSX; RY: NYSE) and Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI; TSX: TRI; LSE: TRIL; NASDAQ: TRIN), along with several private Canadian investors, are joining together through the BlackBerry Partners Fund LP to form a $150 million venture capital fund that will invest in the best emerging mobile applications and services.
Canadian innovation has led to international success and acclaim for many organizations and individuals. Through investments in the BlackBerry Partners Fund, a fund co-managed by RBC Venture Partners and JLA Ventures, several of these successful organizations and entrepreneurs are now planning to jointly help develop world-class businesses within the international mobile industry.
“I want to congratulate the members of the BlackBerry Partners Fund LP for coming together to support innovation in an industry that supports thousands of jobs and helps so many people around the world connect to one another and do business,” said Premier Dalton McGuinty. “Here in Ontario we believe that world-beating talent and technology and a firmly embedded culture of innovation are a durable and sustainable route to prosperity.”
“It is gratifying to see world class Canadian companies and investors joining together to help fuel further innovation globally in the thriving mobile ecosystem,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “The BlackBerry Partners Fund recognizes that mobile applications and services represent some of the hottest opportunities in the technology sector today and will seek to fund the best and brightest innovators from around the world.”
“The Thomson Reuters investment in the BlackBerry Partners Fund underscores our commitment to next generation mobile technologies that will provide our customers with the ability to readily access intelligence information and make business-critical decisions anywhere, anytime,” said Devin Wenig, Chief Executive Officer, Markets Division of Thomson Reuters. “As a leading Canadian business, we are particularly pleased to join Research in Motion and RBC as one of the founding partners in the fund.”
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring together many of Canada’s foremost companies and people to create the preeminent mobile and wireless venture fund in the world,” said John Albright, Managing Partner of JLA Ventures, who will also assume the role of Co-Managing Partner of the BlackBerry Partners Fund. “The investments this fund will make both domestically and internationally will further establish the illustrious reputation for technology innovation Canada has earned.”
“The BlackBerry Partners Fund will be a catalyst for the development of next generation mobile applications and services,” said Kevin Talbot, RBC Vice President and Managing Director of RBC Venture Partners, who will also assume the role of Co-Managing Partner of the BlackBerry Partners Fund. “The BlackBerry Partners Fund will focus exclusively on mobile applications and services and our close alliance with RIM will bring unparalleled access and value to our portfolio companies.”
About BlackBerry Partners Fund
The BlackBerry Partners Fund is a $150 million venture capital fund being formed to focus on applications and services for the BlackBerry platform and other mobile platforms, including mobile commerce (payments, advertising, retailing and banking), vertical and horizontal enterprise applications, communications, social networking, location-based services (navigation and mapping), media and entertainment, and lifestyle and personal productivity applications. The Fund will consider all stages of development and is being co-managed by JLA Ventures and RBC Ventures Partners. To sign up to receive further information visit: www.blackberrypartnersfund.com.
About Research In Motion
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visitwww.rim.comor www.blackberry.com.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name of RBC. We are Canada’s largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization and one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies. We provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment banking, and transaction processing services on a global basis. We employ approximately 70,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 36 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.
About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets, powered by the world’s most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people in 93 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TRI); Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TRI); London Stock Exchange (LSE: TRIL); and Nasdaq (NASDAQ: TRIN). For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.
About JLA Ventures
JLA Ventures, a private venture capital firm with offices in Toronto and Montreal, is a leading investor in technology companies at all stages of growth. Investors in JLA Venture funds, include; The Bank of Nova Scotia , BDC Capital, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, CIBC, Export Development Canada, FTQ (Federation des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Quebec), National Bank Financial, Oak Hill Investment Management L.P., OMERS, RBC Capital Partners, TD Capital Private Equity Investors, and Teachers’ Private Capital, the private equity arm of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Toronto, ON - BlackBerry® Partners Fund LP today announced that Research In Motion (RIM) (TSX: RIM; NASDAQ: RIMM), RBC (RY: TSX; RY: NYSE) and Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI; TSX: TRI; LSE: TRIL; NASDAQ: TRIN), along with several private Canadian investors, are joining together through the BlackBerry Partners Fund LP to form a $150 million venture capital fund that will invest in the best emerging mobile applications and services.
Canadian innovation has led to international success and acclaim for many organizations and individuals. Through investments in the BlackBerry Partners Fund, a fund co-managed by RBC Venture Partners and JLA Ventures, several of these successful organizations and entrepreneurs are now planning to jointly help develop world-class businesses within the international mobile industry.
“I want to congratulate the members of the BlackBerry Partners Fund LP for coming together to support innovation in an industry that supports thousands of jobs and helps so many people around the world connect to one another and do business,” said Premier Dalton McGuinty. “Here in Ontario we believe that world-beating talent and technology and a firmly embedded culture of innovation are a durable and sustainable route to prosperity.”
“It is gratifying to see world class Canadian companies and investors joining together to help fuel further innovation globally in the thriving mobile ecosystem,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “The BlackBerry Partners Fund recognizes that mobile applications and services represent some of the hottest opportunities in the technology sector today and will seek to fund the best and brightest innovators from around the world.”
“The Thomson Reuters investment in the BlackBerry Partners Fund underscores our commitment to next generation mobile technologies that will provide our customers with the ability to readily access intelligence information and make business-critical decisions anywhere, anytime,” said Devin Wenig, Chief Executive Officer, Markets Division of Thomson Reuters. “As a leading Canadian business, we are particularly pleased to join Research in Motion and RBC as one of the founding partners in the fund.”
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring together many of Canada’s foremost companies and people to create the preeminent mobile and wireless venture fund in the world,” said John Albright, Managing Partner of JLA Ventures, who will also assume the role of Co-Managing Partner of the BlackBerry Partners Fund. “The investments this fund will make both domestically and internationally will further establish the illustrious reputation for technology innovation Canada has earned.”
“The BlackBerry Partners Fund will be a catalyst for the development of next generation mobile applications and services,” said Kevin Talbot, RBC Vice President and Managing Director of RBC Venture Partners, who will also assume the role of Co-Managing Partner of the BlackBerry Partners Fund. “The BlackBerry Partners Fund will focus exclusively on mobile applications and services and our close alliance with RIM will bring unparalleled access and value to our portfolio companies.”
About BlackBerry Partners Fund
The BlackBerry Partners Fund is a $150 million venture capital fund being formed to focus on applications and services for the BlackBerry platform and other mobile platforms, including mobile commerce (payments, advertising, retailing and banking), vertical and horizontal enterprise applications, communications, social networking, location-based services (navigation and mapping), media and entertainment, and lifestyle and personal productivity applications. The Fund will consider all stages of development and is being co-managed by JLA Ventures and RBC Ventures Partners. To sign up to receive further information visit: www.blackberrypartnersfund.com.
About Research In Motion
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visitwww.rim.comor www.blackberry.com.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name of RBC. We are Canada’s largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization and one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies. We provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment banking, and transaction processing services on a global basis. We employ approximately 70,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 36 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.
About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets, powered by the world’s most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people in 93 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TRI); Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TRI); London Stock Exchange (LSE: TRIL); and Nasdaq (NASDAQ: TRIN). For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.
About JLA Ventures
JLA Ventures, a private venture capital firm with offices in Toronto and Montreal, is a leading investor in technology companies at all stages of growth. Investors in JLA Venture funds, include; The Bank of Nova Scotia , BDC Capital, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, CIBC, Export Development Canada, FTQ (Federation des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Quebec), National Bank Financial, Oak Hill Investment Management L.P., OMERS, RBC Capital Partners, TD Capital Private Equity Investors, and Teachers’ Private Capital, the private equity arm of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
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