Equifax CEO Compensation Falls 12 Percent

The AP's total pay calculations include executives' salary, bonus, incentives, perks, above-market returns on deferred compensation and the estimated value of stock options and awards granted during the year. The calculations don't include changes in the present value of pension benefits, and they sometimes differ from the totals companies list in the summary compensation table of proxy statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company said due to economic conditions and financial market volatility, it has frozen base pay for executives and employees and deferred until April decisions about equity awards for executives.

In 2008, Equifax's earnings nearly matched those of the year before at $272.8 million, or $2.09 cents a share, from $272.7 million, or $2.02 per share the year before.

Revenue rose 5 percent to $1.94 billion.

The Atlanta, Ga.-based company's shares declined about 24 percent in 2008 to close the year at $26.52, after coming down from a 52-week high of $39.95 in early May.

Shareholders will vote at the annual meeting set for May 8 on whether to allow annual election of the board instead of the current three-year staggered terms. The change was proposed by a group of shareholders, who said annual board elections allow shareholders to hold board members more accountable.