21.  The bad-loan problem has curtailed economic growth by making banks reluctant to make new loans to even healthy companies.

22.  Those that are hopelessly in debt are being shut down or merged with healthy companies.

23.  Wild lending sprees by banks and finance companies left many on shaky ground and with little cash to lend to even healthy companies.

24.  Yen said Wednesday the government will provide loan assistance only to bail out healthy companies that face short-term cash-flow problems.