The moves left the rival offers far closer than they had been.

Each of the rival offers will proceed in a prorated manner.

Blackstone also has the right to match any rival offer.

Speculation about a rival offer has been increasing in recent weeks.

Their plans were upset for a time by the rival offer to the buyout plan.

In addition, Blackstone has the right to match any rival offer.

Industry analysts said improving gas and oil prices made a rival offer likely.

When an important designer's house is near bankruptcy, a rival offers to help.

If the Televisa group does decide to make a rival offer, it will need to move quickly.

But the rival offer is expected to be "competitive," one person involved in the talks said.