By Matt Blumenfeld – SNL Insurance Daily – May 22, 2013

Symetra Financial Corp. purchased 6,089,999 of its common shares May 17 from certain affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners Inc., according to a Form 8-K filed May 21.

Symetra’s board also authorized May 21 the expansion of the current stock repurchase program up to a total of 16 million common shares from the previously authorized amount of 10 million shares.