Farmers Group’s second-quarter profit rose 9.7% to...

Farmers Group’s second-quarter profit rose 9.7% to $68.61 million from last year. Revenue at the Los Angeles-based insurance holding company gained 8.7% to $299.01 million. Growth weakened from the first quarter to the second because of costs to fight a hostile takeover attempt by Batus Inc., the U.S. arm of London-based BAT Industries.