Experts: BP May End Up in Bankruptcy

Analysts and investment bankers are beginning to contemplate the idea that BP may go bankrupt.

This is how the math goes:

BP may ultimately pay as much $23 billion to clean up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, according to Credit Suisse.

The company also may have to pay $14 billion in compensation to gulf fishermen and the tourism industry, the New York Times reports.

The company has about $12 billion in cash and short-term investments to help pay for the tab, but already there are calls for BP to cut its dividend to preserve cash. (more)