Bad-debt pioneer Arcil has sobering advice for India's toxic asset buyers

Be prepared to stay for the long haul and deal with multiple setbacks, he said

As local and foreign investors line up to pick bargains out of India’s $207-billion bad loan debacle, one of the country’s most seasoned managers of distressed assets has some sobering advice: Be prepared to stay for the long haul and deal with multiple setbacks.
 
“Managing many of these complex assets on a day-to-day basis is going to be very tough, as this is not a market where you can just jump in and out and make money,” said Vinayak Bahuguna, chief executive officer of Asset Reconstruction Company (India) Ltd, which has been buying bad loans for about 15 years.