Australian conglomerate CSR today (21 April) denied that it had been approached by firms in Japan over its sugar and renewable energy business, Sucrogen.

A report in the Australian Financial Review said a consortium involving Mitsubishi and Mitsiu had made a “soft approach” to CSR about Sucrogen.

However, CSR said it had “not received such an approach” and remained in talks with Bright Food, the Chinese group that has tabled a A$1.75bn (US$1.63bn) bid for Sucrogen.