'Heroes' who expose irregularities in companies and generate massive profits

New York

A YEAR before unleashing a damning report that detailed accounting irregularities at Steinhoff International Holdings NV, one of its authors faced a reckoning of his own. Minutes after Fraser Perring dropped off his four-year-old daughter at school in December 2016, two men with Eastern European accents trapped him in his Audi. They threatened to harm his family unless he admitted writing extensive reports alleging wrongdoing at Wirecard AG. Frightened, Mr Perring lied. He said he had nothing to do with the reports.

Pivotal moment