<p>McCarthy &amp; Stone remained at the centre of a tense bidding war as Housebuilder went to press. The McStone board continued to recommend a bid by Mother Bidco, a consortium including the Reuben brothers and the Royal Bank of Scotland, for £10.75 a share. An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called to discuss the £10.30 Mars Bidco, a Barclays and Permira consortium, bid was adjourned indefinitely to allow Mars Bidco to make a higher offer.</p>