Four Seasons Healthcare, the heavily indebted carehomes operator, reaffirmed its commitment to the “consensual restructuring” of its £1.5bn debt and denied it had ever supported a merger proposal from Priory Group, the operator of rehab clinics favoured by celebrities.

“There have been no substantive talks with Priory and contrary to speculation the board of Four Seasons has made it clear that it does not support such a merger at this time,” Four Seasons said.