A DECISION has still not been made on whether to sell a care home group which employs hundreds of North-East workers, it emerged last night.

Four Seasons Health Care Group, which employs 200 people in Darlington, yesterday appointed Deutsche Bank’s London branch to its advisory team.

It comes after months of negotiations between the company and its creditors over the restructuring of £1.5bn of debt.

Last night, a spokesman said that, although the prospects for a sale would be one option looked at by the bank, it did not automatically mean that a sale would follow.

In a statement, the company said: “All options will be considered alongside the continuing negotiations with the group’s lenders.

“A consensual restructuring of its debt that delivers a robust capital structure remains the group’s preferred solution.

“However, it is now appropriate to explore and develop alternative strategic options, including a sale of the group.”

It added that there was no prospect “that could reasonably be envisaged” that its homes would be closed.

Although the company’s operating profits for last year are expected to be about £100m, it has been hampered by its debts.

It is also complicated by the fact the company has a complex 11 tiers of debt and 35 creditors, including The Royal Bank of Scotland and Morgan Stanley.

Negotiations have been going on for more than six months, after it emerged it would not be able to meet a September debt repayment deadline.