BlackBerry co-founders confirm interest in buying it back

Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin currently have an eight per cent stake in the company

BlackBerry’s co-founders have confirmed they are considering buying the manufacturer.

Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin, who currently have a combined 8 per cent stake in the company, said in a filing with the US market regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that they may make an offer to buy BlackBerry.

The pair set up the company in 1984, with Fregin leaving his post as vice-president of operations and retiring in 2007, and Lazardis leaving his role as vice-chair in May.

BlackBerry has already accepted a $4.7 billion (£3 billion) offer from financial holdings company Fairfax Financial, although the agreements said the manufacturer was free to shop around for a better offer until November 4.