The company's court protection will be in effect until Oct. 21.

United has spent nearly three years operating under court protection.

Thus, they explained, the Reichmanns clearly needed court protection in both countries.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the service has received additional money for court protection, it said.

G.M. would be able to cut its labor and other costs under court protection, giving it an advantage.

The crisis comes after the parent company in Holland called for court protection from its creditors.

Were it not under court protection, Macy's interest expenses would have been $123.2 million.

Columbia declared bankruptcy in 1998 and emerged from court protection a year later.

But the assets held separately by the three brothers are not under court protection.

Most of the company's subsidiaries were sold off before emerging from court protection in 1987.