Bridgestone Corp. President Yoichiro Kaizaki on Tuesday dismissed a news report that its U.S. subsidiary, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., may go bankrupt under massive damage claims sought against the U.S. unit over a tire recall scandal.

Bridgestone, however, will be forced to report a consolidated extraordinary loss of $900 million in the business year that ends in December due to tire recall-related losses, Kaizaki said at a news conference.

Major daily USA Today reported Monday that with a potential $50 billion in damage claims piling up, lawyers suing Bridgestone/Firestone fear the company may go under.