曾一度引領美國智慧型手機市場的黑莓（BlackBerry）周一（8/12）宣布其董事會已設立一特別委員會（Special Committee）以探索策略上的各種替代方案，以加速BlackBerry 10的部署，這些方案包含合資、策略聯盟，及出售BlackBerry。
該特別委員會的主席Timothy Dattels表示，過去這一年來，BlackBerry的管理階段及董事會都專注在BlackBerry 10平台與BES 10的發表、建立強健的金融地位，以及評估各種可對客戶與股東帶來長遠價值的最佳作法。有鑑於BlackBerry技術的實力與重要性，再加上產業不斷演化與競爭態勢，相信現在已是尋求策略替代方案的時機。
市場研究機構IDC的全球智慧型手機市場調查顯示，微軟Windows Phone平台在今年第一季已超越BlackBerry OS，將黑莓擠至第四名的位置，今年第二季黑莓的市佔率為2.9%，低於Windows Phone的3.7%、iOS的13.2%與Android的79.3%，且黑莓今年Q2的出貨量還比去年同期減少了11.7%。
Heins表示，雖然特別委員會專注在尋求替代方案，但BlackBerry將會繼續執行既有的策略，包括降低成本、提高效益、加速BES 10的部署、推動BlackBerry 10手機的採用、發表支援各種平台的BBM程式，以及透過黑莓的全球資料網路追求各種行動運算機會。
BlackBerry Board of Directors Announces Exploration of Strategic Alternatives
WATERLOO, ONTARIO – BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSX:BB), a world leader in the mobile communications market, today announced that the Company's Board of Directors has formed a Special Committee to explore strategic alternatives to enhance value and increase scale in order to accelerate BlackBerry 10 deployment. These alternatives could include, among others, possible joint ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances, a sale of the Company or other possible transactions.
The Special Committee of the Board is comprised of Barbara Stymiest, Thorsten Heins, Richard Lynch and Bert Nordberg, and will be chaired by Timothy Dattels.
With the announcement of the Special Committee, Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial informed the Company that he felt it was appropriate to resign due to potential conflicts that may arise during the process. Fairfax Financial is the largest BlackBerry shareholder. Mr. Watsa said, "I continue to be a strong supporter of the Company, the Board and Management as they move forward during this process, and Fairfax Financial has no current intention of selling its shares."
“During the past year, management and the Board have been focused on launching the BlackBerry 10 platform and BES 10, establishing a strong financial position, and evaluating the best approach to delivering long-term value for customers and shareholders,” said Timothy Dattels, Chairman of BlackBerry’s Special Committee of the Board. “Given the importance and strength of our technology, and the evolving industry and competitive landscape, we believe that now is the right time to explore strategic alternatives.”
Thorsten Heins, President and Chief Executive Officer of BlackBerry, added, “We continue to see compelling long-term opportunities for BlackBerry 10, we have exceptional technology that customers are embracing, we have a strong balance sheet and we are pleased with the progress that has been made in our transition. As the Special Committee focuses on exploring alternatives, we will be continuing with our strategy of reducing cost, driving efficiency and accelerating the deployment of BES 10, as well as driving adoption of BlackBerry 10 smartphones, launching the multi-platform BBM social messaging service, and pursuing mobile computing opportunities by leveraging the secure and reliable BlackBerry Global Data Network.”
JP Morgan Securities LLC is serving as financial advisor to BlackBerry and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Torys LLP are serving as legal advisors.
There can be no assurance that this exploration process will result in any transaction. The Company does not currently intend to disclose further developments with respect to this process, unless and until its Board of Directors approves a specific transaction or otherwise concludes the review of strategic alternatives.
About BlackBerry
A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. For more information, visit www.blackberry.com.
董事會宣布黑莓探索戰略選擇
安大略省滑鐵盧-黑莓有限公司（NASDAQ：BBRY）（TSX：BB），一個在移動通信市場的全球領導者，今天宣布，本公司的董事會董事已經成立一個特別委員會探討提升價值和擴大規模的戰略備選方案為了加快部署黑莓10。 這些替代方案可能包括，除其他外，可能出現的合資企業，戰略合作或結盟，銷售本公司或其他可能的交易。
董事會的特別委員會是由芭芭拉Stymiest，和Thorsten海因斯，理查德·林奇和伯特·諾德伯格，主席將由蒂莫西·戴德。
費爾法克斯金融公司董事長兼首席執行官沃薩（Prem Watsa），特別委員會的公告，通知公司，他覺得這是適當的辭職，由於在這個過程中可能出現的潛在衝突。 費爾法克斯金融最大的黑莓股東。 瓦察先生說，“我將繼續是一個強有力的支持者，本公司董事會和管理層，因為他們在這個過程中向前發展，和費爾法克斯金融公司目前無意出售其股份。”
“在過去的一年中，管理層和董事會一直專注於推出黑莓10平台和BES 10，建立穩健的財務狀況，以及評估為客戶和股東創造長期價值的最好的辦法，說：”蒂莫西·戴德黑莓的董事會特別委員會主席。 “鑑於我們的技術，並不斷發展的行業和競爭格局的重要性和力量，我們認為現在是合適的時間去探索戰略選擇。”
，總裁兼行政總裁，黑莓和Thorsten海因斯說，“我們繼續看到令人信服的長期機會黑莓10，我們有特殊的技術，客戶擁抱，我們有一個強大的資產負債表，我們很高興與進展已經取得了在我們的過渡。 特別委員會重點探索的替代品，我們將繼續與我們的戰略，降低成本，驅動效率和加快部署BES 10，以及驅動採用黑莓10智能手機推出多平台BBM社交短信服務，和追求移動計算憑藉安全可靠的黑莓全球數據網絡的機會。“
JP摩根證券公司擔任財務顧問，黑莓和世達，世達，米格爾及弗洛姆律師事務所和德瑞思律師事務所擔任法律顧問。
不能保證，這個探索的過程中會導致任何交易。 本公司目前不打算透露進一步的發展，對於這一進程，除非及直至其董事會批准的特定交易或其他方式結束審查的戰略選擇。
關於黑莓
的BlackBerry®無線創新技術的全球領先者，徹底改變了手機行業，當它在1999年推出。 今天，黑莓的目標是通過不斷推進的邊界移動體驗，激發我們的數百萬世界各地的客戶成功。 成立於1984年，總部設在加拿大安大略省滑鐵盧，黑莓在北美，歐洲，亞太地區和拉丁美洲設有辦事處。 欲了解更多信息，請訪問www.blackberry.com。
啥？加速BlackBerry 10的部署？
有啥好部署的！根本就沒人要買啥黑到發霉的黑霉機！
