[Grammar] keep sth as adj+a/an+n as

[michael147]

Yet banks’ reluctance to close down businesses that are not profitable “keeps decent industry-level returns as remote a prospect as ever”

What is the grammar in "keep .. as ... as ever"? I only know it means "keeps ... very far away/out of reach. etc"

 

[emsr2d2]

Decent industry level returns are remote and they are as remote as they have ever been.

 

[jutfrank]

as...as... is a comparative structure.