Reports: Palace coup at Burger King?

New York (AP) - Shares of Burger King Holdings Inc. soared 15 percent Wednesday after published reports said the fast food chain was in talks to be acquired by a private equity firm.

Both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that 3G Capital was among parties interested in pursuing a deal with Burger King. Neither publication named its sources.

Earlier in the day, The Wall Street Journal reported that the interested party was a different firm, 3i Group PLC.

When 3i denied its involvement, Burger King momentarily lost much of its hefty stock gains it made during the morning.

But the company's shares ended up gaining $2.41, or 15 percent, to $18.86 Wednesday.

A spokesman from Burger King declined to comment on the report, and a message left with 3G wasn't immediately returned.