Nate Anderson: The self-proclaimed messiah

The decision to disband now is curious. Anderson's reply, "There is not one specific thing - no particular threat, no health issue, and no big personal issue."

- JOYDEEP GHOSH

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF Hindenburg Research's closure on Thursday evoked extreme emotions in India - grief, and for many, a great relief.

The Wall Street Journal called Nathan Anderson, or Nate, as he is popularly known, 'Wall Street's preeminent short seller' - a significant title at a time when short sellers are getting the short shrift from both companies and governments.

That, the 40-year-old was still able to make a name for himself with just an 11-member team and in just seven years by itself a strong statement. Anderson's claim that nearly 100 individuals have been charged civilly or criminally by regulators at least in part through Hindenburg's work, including billionaires and oligarchs is quite impressive. "We shook some empires that we felt needed shaking," he wrote in his farewell letter.

Little is known about Anderson before he set up Hindenburg in 2017. He was born in Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in international business. According to reports, he worked as an ambulance driver in Israel in 2004-2005 before the financial sector bug bit him.