MONTREAL - A Quebec Superior Court judge has declared insolvent the North American branch of battery maker Northvolt as the provincial government looks to recover $260 million owed to it by the company.

Justice Janet Michelin on Friday placed Northvolt Batteries North America under creditor protection at the request of the Quebec government.

Northvolt laid off its entire workforce on Thursday following Economy Minister Christine Fréchette's announcement earlier in the week that the government would provide no more funding for the company's planned electric-vehicle battery plant near Montreal. On Friday, Fréchette's office confirmed that the province has already recuperated nearly $200 million from frozen bank accounts belonging to Northvolt.

"We are deeply saddened by this outcome," Nor

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