Certicom Announces Shareholder Approval of Acquisition by Research In Motion Limited

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 18 /CNW/ - Certicom Corp. (TSX:CIC.TO) ("Certicom"
or the "Company") announced that, at its special meeting of shareholders held
today (the "Meeting"), shareholders approved the previously announced plan of
arrangement under which Research In Motion Limited will acquire all of the
Company's common shares for $3.00 per share in cash (the "Arrangement").
    The Arrangement was approved by approximately 95% of the votes cast at
the Meeting at which 23,548,883 Certicom common shares (approximately 54% of
the outstanding common shares) were represented, in person or by proxy.
    Certicom expects that the remaining conditions to the closing of the
Arrangement, including final Court approval of the Arrangement, will be
satisfied by March 23, 2009 and that closing of the Arrangement will occur on
that date.

    About Certicom

    Certicom manages and protects the value of content, applications and
devices with government approved security. Adopted by the National Security
Agency (NSA) for government communications, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
provides the most security per bit of any known public-key scheme. As the
global leader in ECC, Certicom's security offerings are currently licensed to
hundreds of multinational technology companies, including IBM, General
Dynamics, Motorola, Oracle and Research In Motion. Founded in 1985, Certicom's
corporate offices are in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada with worldwide sales and
marketing headquarters in Reston, Virginia and offices in Europe and Asia.
Visit www.certicom.com.

    Certicom Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws
("forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of Certicom, or developments in
Certicom's business or in its industry, to differ materially from the
anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement include
all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations
that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of
action. Forward-looking statements may also include, without limitation, any
statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Certicom
cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking
statements relate to, among other things, Certicom's ability to close the
Arrangement in the time period anticipated, if at all, which is dependent upon
the parties' ability to comply with the closing conditions to the Arrangement,
some of which are beyond the control of Certicom. The forward-looking
information is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could
cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations
include, but are not limited to: the interest of third parties in Certicom and
its business; general economic conditions; the state of the capital markets;
foreign currency and exchange risk; performance of the market sectors that
Certicom and parties with potential interest in acquiring or entering into a
strategic transaction with Certicom serve; and other risks detailed from time
to time in Certicom's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates,
projections, beliefs and opinions, and Certicom does not undertake any
obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to
these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.

For further information: Media contact: John Lute, (416) 929-5883;
Investor contact: Hervé Séguin, CFO, (905) 501-3827