BP: SEC,Justice Dept Probe Securities Matter Around Gulf Spill

LONDON (Dow Jones)--The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and Department of Justice have launched an informal probe into matters related to BP PLC (BP) securities and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, BP said in a statement Tuesday. This is just one of the many probes launched by U.S. authorities into the circumstances of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and subsequent oil spill, BP said. The Department of Justice is conducting a separate investigation into the cause of the incident and the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to seek penalties for violation of the Clean Water Act, BP said. -By James Herron, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9317; james.herron@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 27, 2010 11:15 ET (15:15 GMT)