Troubled Chinese shadow bank Zhongzhi warns it is ‘severely insolvent’ after asset shortfall, failed bailouts

Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, one of mainland China’s largest shadow banks, has warned investors that it is unable to repay its debts, setting off alarm bells in the trust sector which invests a large portion of investors’ money in real estate projects.

The Beijing-based wealth management company said late on Wednesday its total liabilities had mounted to between 420 billion yuan (US$59 billion) and 460 billion yuan, while its total tangible assets stood at just 200 billion yuan, implying a shortfall of as much as 260 billion yuan.