Scrutiny of Heinz Trades Intensifies

The probe of potential insider trading ahead of this month's $23 billion buyout of H.J. Heinz Co. has widened, as regulators and criminal investigators scrutinize what they see as suspicious purchases of stock in the ketchup maker, according to people familiar with the inquiries.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a Wall Street self-regulator, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are reviewing numerous trades in Heinz stock shortly before the buyout announcement sent the share price soaring Feb. 14, the people said.

The inquiries add to an investigation the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed Feb. 15 into what it called a ...

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