A U. S. bankruptcy judge on Thursday cleared Westinghouse Electric Co, a unit of Japan’s Toshiba Corp (6502. T), to borrow an initial $350 million to support the company’s global operations while it restructures operations.
Westinghouse filed for Chapter 11 on Wednesday in the wake of billions of dollars in cost overruns at two U. S. nuclear power plants it is building in the U. S. Southeast.
The Pittsburgh-based company said the loan will support its profitable operations, such as nuclear maintenance and fuels businesses, some of which are in Europe and not part of the bankruptcy.
U. S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Wiles in Manhattan approved the loan but demanded changes to protect Westinghouse from being on the hook for repaying money that was supporting non-bankrupt businesses, which are beyond the reach of the company’s creditors.
A Westinghouse adviser testified the loan was needed to reassure European customers that the company could carry out its work, which would boost the overall value of Westinghouse and contribute to an eventual reorganization or sale of the company.
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