Difference Capital dream-team adds decorated analyst Tom Liston

We knew Difference Capital (Difference Capital Stock Quote, Chart, News: TSXV:DCF) was putting together their own version of a dream team, we just didn’t know they were aiming to be Bay Street’s answer to the 1927 Yankees.

This morning, the publicly listed merchant bank announced it had coaxed decorated technology analyst Tom Liston away from Cantor Fitzgerald Canada, where he had been Head of Research after that firm assumed the operations of boutique Versant Partners last summer.

The move follows the April arrival of another top analyst, Tom Astle, who left his gig as Byron Capital’s Head of Research to become Head of Investment Strategy for Difference.

Liston joins Bay Street legend Mike Wekerle, ex-Cannacord veterans Neil Johnson and Jamie Brown, and former media exec Paul Sparkes at the firm, which has led the TSX tech revival by raising over $100-million since going public by merging with a public vehicle named TriNorth Capital.

Liston will become a managing partner of Difference Capital on August 15th, reviewing and evaluating companies for its growing roster of investments.

CEO Neil Johnson said Liston will be immediately valuable.

“We are pleased to have Tom join the team,” he said. “Tom’s proven ability to understand value in software and technology companies teamed with Tom Astle, another top ranked analyst, allows DCF to better evaluate opportunities. Additionally, his knowledge base of the sector will be beneficial to adding value to our investee companies.”

Liston, still shy of his fortieth birthday, has already received more StarMine stock picking awards than any other technology analyst. He hinted at the excitement Difference has brought to Bay Street in the short time since it launched.

“I am very excited to be a part of Difference Capital,” he said. “This is an exciting opportunity to help build one of Canada’s leading specialty finance companies focused on growth sectors including the technology industry.”

At press time, shares of Difference Capital were down 1.8% to $3.75.