They are entities whose failure or disruption could threaten the stability of the financial system.

"Because most incarcerated offenders eventually return to local communities, their failure to remain crime free often threatens public safety."

That failure threatens the first effort since Nuremberg to call the authors of a genocide to account.

In other words, failure on one new project could threaten the very existence of the company.

The failure also threatens to upset pivotal decisions in coming months, including those concerning the 2004 European budget.

But failure to deliver results soon may well threaten Serbia's political stability.

In 2057, the failure of the sun starts a solar winter and threatens Earth.

As a result, the failure of one firm threatened the viability of many others.

We are delighted about any type of agreement, because otherwise failure threatens.

The failure to fill the top post had been threatening the smooth functioning of the Geneva-based group.