Finance

Equifax board hired law firm WilmerHale to review breach and early August stock trades

Key Points
  • The breach compromised personal information for up to 143 million people.
  • Three Equifax executives sold stock in early August, just days after the breach was discovered internally.
Equifax board weighing clawbacks -DJ
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Equifax board weighing clawbacks -DJ

Equifax's board has hired the law firm WilmerHale to do an independent review of the data breach and the company's response to it and to review early August stock trades by some of its top executives, the company said Friday.

An Equifax spokeswoman said the board's special committee investigating the matter is "conducting a thorough and independent review" of the breach and retained WIlmerHale. The law firm is also reviewing "the circumstances surrounding the trading by certain of the Company's executives," she said in an email.

Three executives sold $1.8 million in shares just days after Equifax discovered the breach but more than one month before it disclosed it to the public. A spokeswoman has said previously that the executives, who include the company's chief financial officer, were not aware of the breach at the time of the sales.

The breach compromised personal identifying information for as many as 143 million people. Equifax's CEO, Richard Smith, abruptly left the company earlier this week after stinging criticism over the company's handling of the incident. He is scheduled to testify in Congress next week.

WATCH: House Financial Services to hold Equifax hearing

House Financial Services Committee to hold Equifax hearing
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House Financial Services Committee to hold Equifax hearing