“Which is a better custodian of Farmers?...

“Which is a better custodian of Farmers? A sprawling tobacco based conglomerate--with its inherent conflicts of interest--or a successful and growing insurance group.”

--Sir James Goldsmith, who is leading an investment group that bid $21.7 billion for BAT Industries, referring to agreement he made to sell Farmers Group to French insurer Axa Midi if he succeeds in buying BAT.