Nhat Le

Dinh Le Nhat Hang is listed by PENM Partners as an Investment Director. PENM Partners is an independent Danish private-equity company that provides equity capital and strategic partnership to Vietnamese companies under the Private Equity New Markets name.

Before PENM, Hang worked for more than three years at Ernst & Young Vietnam and seven years at ExxonMobil Vietnam in senior accounting, finance, planning, internal-control, credit, and treasury roles. PENM states that she was head of ExxonMobil Vietnam’s credit and treasury department for three years.

Hang holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. PENM also notes that she received an award from Vietnam’s Ministry of Education for an equitization feasibility study and completed other professional training.

• PENM’s stated strategy is to make “highly profitable minority investments in private Vietnamese companies.”
• The firm targets middle-market Vietnamese businesses where value creation can come from strong management plus disciplined business planning.
• Screening criteria include attractive earnings, high ROE prospects, attractive growth prospects, predictable operating environments, and consistent operating history.
• PENM looks for management teams that act like owners, allocate capital rationally, and are straightforward with shareholders.
• Preferred sectors include branded FMCG and consumer staples, suppliers such as ingredients, packaging, and logistics businesses, construction materials, and selected service companies.
• PENM emphasizes hands-on value creation, including business strategy, marketing, branding, distribution, IT strategy, financial management, and governance.