liability

So far, of the 289 properties that have been sold, 168 were bought by limited liability investors and private equity firms, as opposed to 93 purchased by individuals, she said.

Belgian officials fear that if the plan hits political or legal trouble, it could leave the country exposed to liabilities that potentially amount to the equivalent of one-third of its national economic output.

The government pointed the BBC to its previous settlement, in 1992, which it said was done for "humanitarian" reasons and did not accept legal liability.

Nearly two dozen chains and large restaurant-operating groups have filed for bankruptcy this year, according to BankruptcyData.com, which analyzed delinquencies from public companies and those with large liabilities.

BHP always denied liability and said the London lawsuit duplicated legal proceedings and reparation and repair programmes in Brazil.