Saturday, June 11, 2011

Japan's Biggest Utility Faces Insolvency Risk

TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company, is the on the verge of going under after failing so catastrophically to control their nuclear facilities that were swamped by the March tsunami on Japan.  I mention this because an industry that managed to co opt its government, justice system and regulators as thoroughly as TEPCO did, finally destroyed it's shareholders.  I believe it was management complacency that pushed short term decisions that ultimately bet the company's existence. Similarly BP's offshore drilling disaster came from complacent management which now risks the independence of the company and a good portion of its shareholders capital.  Last year BP made a desperate high stakes deal with Russia which is now falling apart because of Putin's cavalier attitude over private property and the rule of law. I don't think it will be long before BP is bought by another major.
In both cases short cutting prudent precautions in spite of government regulatory and judicial approval did the company and its shareholders no good.

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