Fairfax’s Prem Watsa has emerged as a frontrunner to buy ailing smartphone maker

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Fairfax Financial chief executive Prem Watsa has emerged as a frontrunner to buy troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry, the Guardian reports.

Canada-based Fairfax is the parent of a number of well-known international (re)insurance companies, including Odyssey Re and Lloyd’s insurer Advent.

Fairfax’s run-off entity, Riverstone, is managing the run-off of Brit’s UK legal entity, Brit Insurance Limited.

Watsa, described as Canada’s Warren Buffett, resigned from BlackBerry’s board on Monday, seven months after joining.