Prem Watsa (left) Chairmen and CEO of Fairfax Financial said that the $4.7 billion U.S. deal to take BlackBerry private deal will open a new and exciting chapter for the firm and its customers. “We can deliver immediate value to shareholders, while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company with a focus on delivering superior and secure enterprise solutions to BlackBerry customers around the world,” Watsa said in a press release. Watsa is one of Canada’s best-known value investors and the billionaire founder of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. He has been compared to Warren Buffett because of his investing approach. BlackBerry founder Mike Lazaridis (right) recruited Watsa to join the company’s board when Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie stepped aside as its co-CEOs in January, 2012.Watsa said in April that he’s a “big supporter” of current CEO Thorsten Heins (centre) and called his promotion the right decision in early 2012. He also said he’s excited about the company’s new BlackBerry 10 operating system. CTV ABC
