Byron Capital’s Astle and Berry: Our 2011 Cantech Letter Awards Picks

The first candidates for the 2011 Cantech Letter Awards are in. Out of the gate we have a team effort from Tom Astle, Byron Capital’s Managing Director, Research Technology, and Byron Capital Equity Research Strategist Byron Berry.

Astle and Berry will join Versant Partner’s Tom Liston, M Partners Ron Shuttleworth, and Paradigm Capital’s Barry Richards as 2011 Cantech Letter Awards judges.

All this week, we will be revealing the judge’s nominations before delivering the finalists in each category to Cantech Letter readers, who can then weigh in on what they think. Candidates will hope to join 2010 Canadian Tech Stock of the year Glentel (TSX:GLN) and 2010 Canadian Tech Executive Stock of the Year, Mark Thierer of SXC Health (TSX:SXC). So, drumroll please…here are Mr. Astle and Mr. Berry’s picks:

Byron Capital Nominees: 2011 Canadian Tech Stock of the Year

1. Mosaid (TSX:MSD) Up over 50% from the beginning of the year thanks to finding a buyer.
2. Poynt (TSXV:PYN) Up about 100% for having the guts to go into the same space as Google and Groupon.
3. Macdonald Dettwiler (TSX:MDA) For being a steady eddy during the storm (only down slightly on the year).
4. Wi-Lan (TSX:WIN) For putting up a quarter that had adjusted net margins of over 80% (down slightly on the year)
5. RuggedCom (TSX:RCM) – the best play on the smartgrid and a solid business model

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Byron Capital Nominees: 2011 Canadian Tech Stock Executive of the Year

1. John Lindgren, Mosaid. For fighting hard to get the best bid for his company.
2. Jim Skippen, Wi-Lan. For trying to buy his best nearby competitor, but not prepared to over-pay.
3. Marzio Pozzuoli, RuggedCom. For finally making the WiNetwork acquisition work and strong discipline.
4. Dan Friedmann, Macdonald Dettwiler. For delivering steady EBITDA growth.
5. Steve Jobs, Apple RIP. We really wish he was Canadian!

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