Batus Inc. said it would be willing...

Batus Inc. said it would be willing to discuss its $60-a-share proposal to acquire Farmers Group, an offer that the Los Angeles insurer rejected last week. Henry F. Frigon, president and chief executive of Louisville, Ky.-based Batus, urged Farmers’ board to reconsider and said he believes Farmers’ interests “would be best served by Farmers becoming part of the Batus group.” Leo E. Dunlea Jr., Farmers chairman, said “a number of factors, in addition to price,” led to the rejection. He said the board expressed concern “about questions raised regarding accounting practices” of insurance subsidiaries of BAT Industries, Batus’ London-based parent.