Stephen Lister

Stephen Lister is a private financier and Chairman of Private Debt Partners Inc., a company he co-founded in early 2020 as a provider of senior debt financing to Canadian mid-market companies from Funds managed on behalf of institutional and individual investors.

Mr. Lister is also Co-Founder of Imperial Capital, one of Canada’s most successful private equity buy-out firms. He was Managing Partner of the firm from inception in 1989 to 2019 when he stepped back from his daily activities. He is a member of Imperial’s Investment Advisory Committee for its Funds. Mr. Lister has been a director and/or trustee of many private and public companies including: Stantec, Inc., E.D. Smith & Sons Ltd., Associated Freezers Income Trust, Lise Watier Cosmetics, and YPTel Corp.

Since 1989, Mr. Lister co-led the establishment of Imperial Capital Acquisitions Funds I through VII, and led the acquisition and stewardship of many of ICG’s portfolio companies in a variety of industries in both Canada and the United States. He assisted the management teams with the strategic direction of these businesses, as well as the follow-on acquisitions and related financings. Mr. Lister played a key role in the growth of each of these companies, including their public listings on major Canadian and U.S. stock exchanges via initial public offerings or mergers.

From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Lister was President of Startups Inc., a venture capital firm he founded to provide equity financing and consulting assistance to high growth early stage companies. From 1985 to 1987, Mr. Lister was a Management Consultant with the Financial & General Management Services Groupe of Touche Ross & Partners where he provided strategic planning, financial and marketing consulting services to companies in North America and internationally. From 1982 to 1984 he was an Economist with the House of Commons, Government of Canada, where he wrote economic policy papers and research reports for Members of Parliament. 

Mr. Lister is a member of the following clubs and organizations: Young President’s Organization (YPO); Chief Executives Organization (CEO); The Toronto Club; The Ticker Club (Past President); Grey Oaks Club (Florida); Goodwood Golf Club (Toronto); Oviinbyrd Golf Club (Muskoka); Lake Joseph Club (Muskoka); and the Eden Club (Scotland).  He is a Director of: the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR); the Ivey Business School Advisory Board; the Royal Conservatory of Music; and is a member of the Investment Committee for the Pension & Endowment Funds of Victoria University at the University of Toronto. He was a past Director of the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation. 

Mr. Lister obtained an MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario in 1985 and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Toronto in 1982. He grew up in Ottawa where he attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute. 

Mr. Lister is married to Dr. Margaret (“Molly”) Rundle, a family physician, and they have two sons. He plays amateur golf and has competed in two Canadian Mid Amateur Championships. He is an avid reader and collects biographies, and Canadian art. He is a Level II ski instructor, ski races, plays the tenor saxophone, and is a fitness enthusiast.