, Columnist
Toshiba's Radioactive Liabilities
A Westinghouse bankruptcy or sale wouldn't provide much of a shield.
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Radioactive material can generate plenty of energy, used properly. The problem comes when you need to dispose of it.
That parallel must be occurring to Toshiba Corp. as it works out how to deal with its nuclear energy unit, which has already caused a 712.5 billion yen ($6.2 billion) goodwill writedown. The Westinghouse Electric Co. nuclear business may now be headed toward either Chapter 11 bankruptcy or a removal from the parent company's books via a majority stake sale, the Nikkei Asian Review reported Friday. Neither option is likely to provide a worthwhile shield from Westinghouse's radioactive liabilities.