CORRECTED - (OFFICIAL) UPDATE 5-Circuit City files for bankruptcy

(Circuit City corrects figure in paragraph 14 to 700 instead of the 1,300 stated in its filing. Error also appeared in Update 4) (Adds court approval of financing)

By Karen Jacobs

ATLANTA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Circuit City Stores Inc CC.N, the No. 2 U.S. consumer electronics retailer, filed for bankruptcy on Monday just weeks before the start of the holiday shopping season, becoming the largest retailer to file for Chapter 11 since Kmart in 2002.

Circuit City fell victim to tighter credit terms from vendors, a dwindling cash position and decreased consumer spending amid a deepening economic crisis.

The filing comes one week after the 59-year-old retailer said it would close 155 U.S. stores, or more than one-fifth of its retail base, and cut 17 percent of its U.S. work force.

The retailer and 17 affiliates filed for protection from creditors in U.S. bankruptcy court in Richmond, Virginia, where it is based. Its Canadian operations also filed for creditor protection in an Ontario court.

Analysts said there was now a possibility the company would close more U.S. stores as it negotiates to exit costly leases in Chapter 11.

"Don't rule anything out yet," said Jefferies & Co analyst Dan Binder. "You could go away, you could restructure to something smaller, maybe somebody buys the brand and a couple hundred stores and maybe it ends up a regional player."

The company could face an uphill struggle to reorganize and emerge from bankruptcy since credit is tight and consumer spending has plummeted.

"It has a lot to do with the macroeconomic crisis in the world right now," said Aravindh Vanchesan, program manager for the retail systems group at consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. "Right now, customers are cutting back on spending."

U.S. home-goods retailer Linens 'n Things tried to maintain operations by closing a portion of its stores after its May Chapter 11 filing, but finally liquidated altogether. Last week, smaller electronics chain Tweeter filed Chapter 11 and said it was holding store-closing sales.

RECENT LAYOFFS

Circuit City received court approval for a $1.1 billion debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility that would provide critical liquidity while it reorganizes.

The financing is provided by the lenders of Circuit City's current asset-based credit facility and enables it to pay vendors and other business partners in the ordinary course for goods and services received after the filing.

"These approvals will help position us for a more successful holiday selling season and allow us to operate our business and serve our valued guests without interruption,"said James Marcum, vice chairman, acting president and chief executive officer of Circuit City, in a statement.

Circuit City expressed hope it would be able to emerge from Chapter 11 in the first half of 2009.