Trading Surrounding Heinz Deal Under FBI Investigation

Criminal Investigation Launched Into Heinz
Bottles of Heinz Ketchup are shown here in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. H.J. Heinz Co. this morning reported solid fiscal first-quarter growth, fueled by continued strength in the iconic food purveyor's emerging markets and strong North American consumer products revenue.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Bottles of Heinz Ketchup are shown here in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. H.J. Heinz Co. this morning reported solid fiscal first-quarter growth, fueled by continued strength in the iconic food purveyor's emerging markets and strong North American consumer products revenue.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

By Emily Flitter

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The FBI is looking into possible insider trading in the options of ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway

On Friday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a suit against unknown traders who it said used a Goldman Sachs

On Tuesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was joining in as well.

"The FBI is aware of the trading anomalies the day before Heinz' announcement," a spokesman said. "The FBI is consulting with the SEC to determine if a crime was committed."

A spokeswoman for the investor group declined to comment on the FBI's involvement. A spokesman for Goldman Sachs said the bank is cooperating with authorities' investigations.

Swiss authorities have already said they have not been asked to help with the U.S. investigation.

The SEC enforcement action marked the second time in six months regulators had taken aim at alleged insider trading in a deal involving 3G. The first instance, last September, involved a stockbroker trading on inside information related to 3G's 2010 purchase of Burger King

(Reporting By Emily Flitter; Additional reporting by Ben Berkowitz in Boston and Dan Wilchins in New York; Editing by Gary Hill, Jim Marshall and Steve Orlofsky)

CORRECTION: A previous title for this post incorrectly implied that the Heinz deal is under investigation. The FBI is looking into potential insider trading surrounding the deal.

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