Concord, a Nashville-based independent music company, late on Wednesday sweetened its bid for Hipgnosis to $1.25 per share, or about $1.51 billion, slightly higher than Blackstone's proposal of $1.24 apiece. Shares of Hipgnosis were up 1.1% at 1.028 pounds ($1.28), as the fresh offer fuels the prospect of a higher counter-bid from the world's largest private equity firm.
The UK's second largest supermarket has spent heavily to keep prices low but clothing sales fell.
A spokesperson for the venue says no-one was hurt in the incident