Merger talks between Farmers Group and Batus...

Merger talks between Farmers Group and Batus Inc. are scheduled to continue today, with both sides holding to a “no-comment” agreement against Batus’ 6 p.m. deadline for consummating a $72-a-share buyout worth about $5 billion--a deadline that analysts observed could easily be postponed. Meanwhile, from Batus’ base in Louisville, Ky., the company said it had extended until next Wednesday its earlier and hostile $63-a-share tender offer originally made March 3. So far, Batus said, 16.3 million of Farmers’ 68.4 million shares outstanding have been tendered for sale.