The US SEC...
... has charged five people with engaging in trading of shares using insider information prior to the April 2008 announcement that Seattle-based p/c group Safeco would be acquired by Boston-based Liberty Mutual. Three of the five have agreed to pay monetary settlements without admitting or denying the allegations. A fourth individual, former Hartford financial analyst Peter Talbot, has asserted through an attorney that he and a nephew bought Safeco call options based on public information.