WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) - Fidelity Investments, the world's largest mutual-fund company, will pay $8 million to settle US regulatory claims it let staff members accept Super Bowl tickets, private-jet travel and other gifts from brokers.

Fidelity failed to seek the best terms for mutual-fund trades because its employees were influenced by "family and romantic relationships," the SEC said in a statement yesterday. Peter Lynch, former portfolio manager for Fidelity's flagship Magellan fund, and 12 other current and former employees were accused by the SEC for their alleged roles.

"This misconduct created a serious risk of investor harm and violated Fidelity's duty of allegiance and loyalty to investors," Walter Ricciardi, the Washington-based regulator's deputy enforcement director, said in the statement.

Mr. Lynch, who got "numerous free tickets to concerts, theater and sporting events" via Fidelity's traders, agreed to forfeit more than $20,000, the SEC said. He and the firm did not admit or deny wrongdoing.

"We do recognise the seriousness of the misconduct," even though the SEC didn't find the company harmed shareholders or its funds, Fidelity said in a statement. "The behavior that led to these settlements is not at all indicative of the ethical standards of our company."

"In asking the Fidelity equity-trading desk for occasional help locating tickets, I never intended to do anything inappropriate, and I regret having made those requests," Mr. Lynch said in a separate statement.