A Hong Kong court has ordered Evergrande, the beleaguered Chinese real estate giant, into liquidation after it failed to present a convincing restructuring plan by a deadline.

Given “the apparent lack of progress on the part of the company in presenting a viable restructuring plan (…) I consider it appropriate for the court to proceed with the issuance of a decision for the liquidation of the company, and so I order,” said judge Linda Chan.

Evergrande’s stock plummeted — losing more than 20% of its value immediately after the court decision was announced — prompting the Hong Kong stock exchange to announce that it was suspending its trading.

“Trading in the securities of (…) Evergrande Property Services Group Limited was suspended at 10:19” (local time; 04:19 Greek time), the Hong Kong stock exchange said, clarifying that trading was also suspended. of the share of the group’s subsidiary active in the field of electric cars, Evergrande NEV.