IMPACTASSETS 50™
An Annual Showcase of Impact Investment Fund Managers
ImpactAssets 50
An Annual Showcase of Impact Investment Fund Managers
Deetken Asset Management Inc.
Clean Technology, Alternative Energy & Climate Change
Small/Medium Business Development
Diversity, Equity and InclusionFirm Overview
Deetken Impact is a Canadian registered investment fund manager with a 10-year track record of delivering risk-adjusted returns to investors by supporting businesses that make a meaningful contribution to the SDGs. We achieve measurable social and environmental impact in the communities where we invest, and are committed to supporting gender equity across all business activities and to implementing investment management practices that empower women. We currently manage five impact funds including the Ilu Women’s Empowerment Fund (gender lens investing fund for Latin America and the Caribbean), two climate action funds (one focused on Central America and the other on Caribbean basin countries) and two diversified impact funds (one focused on Mexico and the other on Latin America). These funds collectively manage almost US$150 million in assets drawn from over 100 investors, including development finance institutions, Canadian, U.S. and Latin American foundations, family offices, credit unions, and high net worth individuals.
Years of Operation: 5 – 9 years
% of Capital from Top 3 Investors: 25% – 49%
Deetken Impact is committed to generating positive social and environmental impacts through its investments. We invest in businesses that promote entrepreneurship, improve access to basic services, advance gender equality and/or take action to combat climate change. We seek-out untapped opportunities for growth that positively impact communities in Latin America.
Deetken Impact invests in emerging economies to generate long term returns while helping communities to grow and prosper. We focus on two primary impact investing verticals: - Sustainable energy - Alternative financing for impact businesses We seek to influence, through our deployment of capital, the growth of businesses that generate positive social and/or environmental impact across a broad set of sectors including renewable energy infrastructure, clean tech, financial inclusion, education, healthcare and circular economy among others. We incorporate Gender Lens Investing (GLI) practices throughout our investment portfolio so as to advance gender equality while strengthening business performance and returns. We specialize in providing customized and flexible financing instruments that are tailored to each company’s needs and growth profile, and we augment our financial support with strategic advice to improve the impact outcomes of our investees.
Deetken Impact manages a suite of funds that focus exclusively on impact investing in Latin America and the Caribbean, offering a comprehensive set of financing solutions for impact businesses in the region. Through joint ventures with two of the most recognized and established fund managers in Central America and Mexico, we have expanded our presence in the region while maintaining deep local market knowledge and networks. We believe that tailored and flexible financial instruments are essential to support impact businesses and to scale impact investing in the region. We have developed in-house cross-sector impact and gender expertise to develop assessment tools, measure and monitor the progress of our portfolio. Likewise, we design and implement gender engagement programs across our family of funds. Our diverse team of dedicated impact investment professionals share a passion for delivering exceptional long term financial returns while helping to build a more sustainable and just world.
Investment Example
In 2017 and 2021, the Ilu Women's Empowerment Fund, a gender lens investing fund managed by Deetken Impact, invested in a microfinance institution serving small producers in Ecuador. The company offers credit solutions using an individual lending methodology, and provides insurance, healthcare, veterinary and agronomy technical advice and legal services using local partnerships. During the investment period the company has added 3,000 clients and has increased their portfolio by almost US$20MM. In addition to capital, Deetken Impact has provided direct engagement services through our Ilu Women's Empowerment Program to advance the company's gender-smart practices, achieving the following: -Improvement of impact data collection and analysis, disaggregating by gender for decision making -Identification of gender gaps and intersectionality with other variables -Increasing awareness about non-financial service offerings and increased usage (15% of clients in the last year) Based on these strong results, Deetken Impact is planning a follow-on investment in the company.
Leadership and Team
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Fernando Alvarado – Managing Partner More Info
In his role at Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy, Fernando Alvarado leads as the General Partner and Investment Advisor of two clean energy and energy efficiency project finance and venture capital funds: Honduras Renewable Energy Financing Facility (H-REFF) and Caribbean Basin Sustainable Energy Fund (CABEF), which he structured and runs with a combined target capitalization of $100m. Development Investment Banker with 28 years of international credit and investment experience and 18 years of direct experience assessing diversified renewable energy portfolios in Latin America & the Caribbean. |
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Alexa Blain – Managing Partner More Info
Alexa is responsible for finance, operations and investor relations at Deetken Impact. She brings over 10 years of experience in financial consulting and asset management, with specific expertise in company and investment analysis, business valuation and securities/corporate finance. Prior to joining Deetken, she spent three years with African Alliance, a pan-African financial services group, where she focused on expanding the firm’s retail financial services operations as well as on the origination and negotiation of new capital. In addition, Alexa has six years of asset management experience with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the Macquarie Group and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. |
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Erik Wallsten – Managing Partner More Info
Erik was the Founder and Managing Partner of Adobe Capital, one of Latin America’s leading impact investment fund managers and now part of Vancouver-based Deetken Impact. Over the last decade, he has played a catalytic role in the growth of the impact investing sector in Latin America. Before launching Adobe Capital, he worked at various private equity and venture capital funds in Mexico. Erik received an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with Honors from Universidad Iberoamericana. |
Financial Performance
Impact Performance
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Percentage of Total Assets Under
Management that are Impact Investments: |
100%
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Given the different impact strategies that Deetken has developed, the considerations vary among funds as follows: Renewable Energy Funds - Through a structured interview process including 29 metrics, the funds collect quantitative and qualitative data on primary SDG-aligned impact goals such as Gender Equality, Affordable & Clean Energy, Good Jobs & Economic Growth and, Climate Action. Women Empowerment Fund - Companies are assessed through a comprehensive scorecard to analyze the companies' current gender equity practices and its commitment to improve. The analysis covers four gender lenses: inclusive governance, women in leadership, products and services for women, and value chain equity and advocacy. Impact SMEs - Companies are evaluated using a detailed scoring methodology based on the five dimensions of impact of the Impact Management Project: What, Who, How much, Contribution and Risk. Also, a comprehensive analysis is conducted on the potential S&E risks based on the IFCs Performance Standards.
Given Deetken Impact's commitment to gender lens investing, the gender business practices of both pipeline and portfolio companies is assessed across all fund investments. As such, metrics related to leadership, workforce participation, equal pay, ownership and control, among others are considered pre investment and tracked throughout the entire investment period.
Impact Tracking and Monitoring
Learn More
500 - 210 Broadway St. W, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 3W2, Canada
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