Terrorist attacks against corporations, whether through the destruction of property, by the kidnapping of executives, or the use of extortion, may be used to secure funds to finance continuing activities, thus creating a vicious circle.
Kidnapping and extortion demands for high-profile company executives are particularly common in South America and India, where myriad political factions and criminal gangs have found it a profitable extension of their enterprise. Kidnapping of executives has risen to the degree where even companies in the USA and Europe are hiring security reviews and armed escorts. Three out of four executive kidnappings take place during transit to and from work or on business trips.