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 attractive risk-adjusted returns to investors by supporting businesses that make a meaningful contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. We achieve measurable social and environmental impact in the communities where we invest, we supporting gender equity across all business activities and we implement 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$145 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: 10 years or more
% 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 climate change mitigation and adaption. We seek out untapped opportunities that positively impact communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Deetken Impact uncovers opportunities to earn attractive financial returns while helping to build a more sustainable and just world. To achieve this, we build strong, lasting relationships with investors and the companies and communities in which we invest. Deetken Impact invests in Latin America to generate long-term returns while helping communities to grow and prosper. We focus on two primary impact investing verticals: Deetken Impact Alternative Finance and Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy. Through our deployment of capital, we seek to influence the growth of businesses that generate positive social and/or environmental impact and gender equity across various sectors including renewable energy infrastructure, clean tech, financial inclusion, education, circular economy, and healthcare, among others. We provide customized and flexible financing instruments tailored to each company's needs and growth profile. Additionally, we augment our financial support with tailored technical assistance to improve the impact outcomes of our investees.
We offer a comprehensive array of financing solutions for Latin American and Caribbean impact businesses. We strive to be pioneers in the region, leading the charge for gender equality by implementing strong gender-lens investing practices across our portfolio. Our on-the-ground presence and strategic partnerships in the region have allowed us to expand our regional presence while maintaining strong local networks. We believe in the importance of tailored and flexible financial instruments to support impact businesses and scale impact investing in the region. Our diverse team of dedicated impact investment professionals shares a deep commitment to delivering exceptional long-term financial returns while contributing to a more sustainable and just world. Additionally, we customize our instruments to meet our clients' needs and payment capabilities, and provide hands-on support to enhance business and gender-smart practices through our in-house-managed technical assistance programs.
Investment Example
In 2020, we invested in a microfinance institution in southeastern Mexico, prioritizing female (60%) and rural (87%) borrowers. Since 2011, they’ve offered financial products to 239,000 entrepreneurs, including group, individual, home improvement, and SME loans, along with health services and programs for financial literacy, women's empowerment, and marketing. After participating in the Ilu Women’s Empowerment Technical Assistance Program fostering women’s leadership through inclusive leadership training, mentorship, and equitable talent management, they doubled women in middle management and added two women to the Board of Directors. Driven by leadership commitment, they recognized that gender parity at all levels aligns with understanding their clients' needs and goals. In 2022, amidst post-pandemic recovery and with the company poised for growth, we expanded a senior loan from the Ilu Fund from $500,000 to $2.5M and provided a new $3M sub-loan from DIAFII, reaching 194 quality jobs (51% women) and promoting gender-smart credit access.
Leadership and Team
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
Magali Lamyin – Managing Partner More Info
Magali is Managing Partner of Deetken Impact and oversees the impact management and communications strategy at Deetken Impact. She also leads business development efforts for current funds under management and co-leads the strategic development of new funds. She has actively participated in the company’s investment decisions for the past ten years and currently leads the pipeline development for various segments and countries. She is a member of the investment committees of three of Deetken Impact’s five investment funds where among business and financial considerations, she ensures the integration of social, environmental and gender considerations in the investment decision process. |
Financial Performance
Impact Performance
|
Percentage of Total Assets Under
Management that are Impact Investments: |
100%
|
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. Ilu Women's 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.
Social and Environmental impact is core to Deetken's investment decision-making process. This includes both the external impact generated and the internal adoption of social and environmental sustainability practices. Within Deetken we've established robust frameworks to ensure the incorporation of ESG practices at every step of the investment lifecycle. During the due diligence process, we apply our ESG Management System, which is based on the IFC performance standards, to evaluate the potential investment's good practices and ensure that any potential risks are mitigated. Our approach is tailored to each sector, with specific checklists addressing relevant ESG factors, such as labour practices, potential environmental negative impact, risk management practices among others. Moreover, when areas of opportunity are detected, we create corresponding action plans to be monitored throughout the investment holding period to support the companies in the process of improving their internal practices.
Impact Tracking and Monitoring
Learn More
500 - 210 Broadway St. W, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 3W2, Canada
Apply for the IA 50 2022
The application period to become an ImpactAssets 50 2022 Fund Manager will open in September 2021!
To stay informed on the application process, sign up here.