The paper reported on Friday that SEC investigators are interested in the December, 2001 transaction that granted options for 7.5 million Apple shares. The price on those shares was set at an October, 2001 date. The difference in prices amounted to more than a profit of more than $20 million for Mr. Jobs.

In an annual 10-K filing to the SEC in late December, Apple acknowledged that an internal investigation uncovered that Jobs was aware or recommended the selection of some favorable grant dates but did not financially benefit from them or " " of the grants.

In that statement, Apple said that the grant was originally approved at a Board meeting on August 29, 2001, with an exercise price of $17.83, but that the terms of the grant were not finalized until December 18 of that year. However, the grant was dated October 19, 2001, with an exercise price of $18.30, far lower than the December 18 price of $21.01. Approval for the grant was improperly recorded as occurring at a special Board meeting on October 19, 2001.

"Such a special Board meeting did not occur," Apple said.

At the same time, Apple argued in its 10-K that there was "no evidence that any current member of management was aware of this irregularity."