Data broker says 32,000 personal records of U.S. citizens vulnerable\nNEW YORK -- Using stolen passwords from legitimate customers, intruders accessed personal information on as many as 32,000 U.S. citizens in a database owned by the information broker LexisNexis, the company said.\nThe announcement Wednesday comes on the heels of a series of similar high-profile breaches, the most serious affecting another large data broker, ChoicePoint Inc. in which scores of identities were stolen.\nThe ChoicePoint case, as well as other data losses including one affecting some 1.2 million federal employees with Bank of America charge cards, have prompted an outcry for federal oversight of a loosely regulated commercial sector.\nThe first in a series of Capitol Hill hearings are scheduled for Thursday.\nAt LexisNexis, criminals found a way to compromise the logins and passwords of a handful of legitimate customers to get access to the database, said Kurt Sanford, the company's chief executive, told The Associated Press.\nThe database that was breached, called Accurint, sells reports for $4.50 each that include an individual's Social Security number, past addresses, date of birth and voter registration information, including party affiliation.\nNo credit history, medical records or financial information were accessed in the breach, LexisNexis parent company Reed Elsevier Group PLC said in a statement.\n"What we're doing now is trying to act as quickly and responsibly as possible to lend a helping hand to consumers who might have been adversely impacted by these incidents," Sanford said.\nSanford refused to name the law enforcement agencies involved.
Chemical maker Crompton buying Great Lakes for $1.55 billion\nINDIANAPOLIS -- Chemicals maker Crompton Corp. is buying rival Great Lakes Chemical Corp. for about $1.55 billion in stock in a deal that would create a leader in plastics and petroleum additives, flame retardants and pool chemicals. Great Lakes shares climbed more than 20 percent.\nLeaders of the two companies said the deal announced Wednesday would create a stronger company with more options and flexibility to compete. In addition to the stock, Crompton will assume about $250 million in Great Lakes debt in the deal.\nRobert L. Wood, Crompton's chairman, president and CEO, said the deal "represents an excellent strategic fit between two companies with complementary business portfolios and will create a company with a strong financial profile."\nUnder the deal, Great Lakes stockholders will receive about 2.2 shares of Crompton stock for each of their Great Lakes shares. The companies said that exchange was valued at $29.92 per share of Indianapolis-based Great Lakes, a 10.1 percent premium at Tuesday's closing prices.\nThe combined business will be owned 51 percent by Crompton shareholders and be based in Connecticut, where Crompton is based.\nThe companies said the directors of both had approved the transaction, which they expect to close by midyear, pending the approval of regulatory agencies and a shareholders vote.\nThe companies said they expected one-time closing costs of $35 million to $40 million and one-time integration costs of up to $100 million.\n"This transaction will result in a company that is stronger and better positioned," said John J. Gallagher III, the acting CEO of Great Lakes. "The combination creates options and flexibility that operating as two separate companies would not provide"
