Speaking following the appointment of joint administrators David Rubin and Henry Lan of David Rubin & Partners on 28 June, Ansel told PrintWeek that such claims were "absurd".
According to M&S, it was approached a fortnight ago "with an invitation to extend the contract; not with BemroseBooth, but with its existing management team trading as a new company".
The retail group's claims came after Unite revealed that Ansel had blamed the pre-administration closures of the firm’s two Derby sites, with the loss of 160 jobs, on a number of factors including M&S’s decision to cease trading with the company.
Records filed at Companies House show that a new company, Bemrosebooth Systems, was created on 8 June with Ansel and (BemroseBooth US-owner) AIAC’s Leonard Levie listed as directors.
However, Ansel denied that the company had approached M&S with a proposal to switch the contract to a new company.
Ansel told PrintWeek that he explained to directors of M&S that a business plan was in place to bid for the company if it went into administration.
He said: "Bemrosebooth Systems was set up in case we would make a bid for BemroseBooth later on. We may bid for the company like everyone else. Whatever happens, it is not going to be a pre-pack sale.
"At no time did we ask M&S to extend its contract with a new company. To do so would have been illegal, impossible and absurd."
Joint administrator David Rubin has already confirmed that there will not be a pre-pack sale to the company's former management, although he did not rule them out as a potential buyer.Rubin said: "The management are certainly interested in making an offer, but our duty is to ensure that we get the best deal we can."
Ansel said the decision to put the company into administration had been taken with regret.
"It is business as usual until a sale is agreed. A number of potential bidders have already come forward and visited the plants," he added.
