Thailand's PTT says its retail unit not interested in bidding for Tesco's Asian business

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's state-owned energy firm PTT Pcl <PTT.BK> said on Thursday that neither it, nor its retail unit were interested in bidding for Tesco Plc's <TSCO.L> assets in Asia.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that, according to sources, PTT's retail unit was planning to participate in first-round bids due by Jan. 15 for the assets worth up to $9 billion (£6.9 billion).

Thailand's largest retailer, Central Group, and agribusiness conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group are also set to take part, the sources said.

A spokesman for PTT declined to comment further.

Tesco, which has 1,967 stores in Thailand and 74 in Malaysia, said last month that it had begun a review of its Asian operations after receiving approaches for the businesses.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)