Mars Inc. and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B) were close to a pact to acquire WM. Wrigley Jr.Co (NYSE: WWY) for more than $22 billion according to people familiar with the situation at The Wall Street Journal.

WWY over all option implied volatility of 24 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price risk.

Options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Last month, Canadian regulators began an investigation into allegations of price-fixing involving Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY), Cadbury Schweppes PLC (NYSE: CSG) Mars Inc. and Nestlé SA (VTX: NESN).

Now our own Justice Department is looking into the issue as well. Chocolatiers have been battling with surging dairy prices and there have been allegations that various firms colluded to fix prices. Ontario's Superior Court of Justice has granted search warrants for the above candy makers, but no charges have been filed.

According (subscription required) to the Wall Street Journal, "It isn't clear precisely what the Justice Department is looking into or whether the preliminary inquiry will become a formal criminal investigation. Price fixing can be a serious offense, leading to heavy fines and, in some cases, jail terms for executives."

The legal issues aside, does anyone really think that lack of access to affordable chocolate is a serious problem in the United States? Judging from The US of A's collective waistline, a little price fixing and consumer gouging could do our body mass indexes a bit of good.