Ares SSG, one of the largest alternative investment managers (AIMs) in the Asia-Pacific region, expects deep-pocketed AIMs to be well-placed to capture opportunities in cleaning up COVID-hit assets in Southeast Asia.
“There has been a very accommodative regulatory framework, [with assets that are essentially in default] moratoriums. But no one wants to call an NPL (non-performing loan) an NPL because of COVID,” according to ARES SSG managing director Jacob Samuel, who specialises in distressed, NPLs and special situation investments across Asia.