As gratifying to the co-op as the refinancing is, however, it came only after an arduous nine-month search and many rejections by lending institutions.

The current chief executive of the company, Donald J. Amoruso, was hired on Dec. 30, after a nine-month search to replace a predecessor who resigned after nine days.

In response, the Air Force launched a nine-month search for the Tybee bomb in 2004.

The nine-month search for a president has been bumpy.

Mr. Clark's appointment was made by Derek Bok, the president of Harvard, after a nine-month search, and is effective July 1.

Leonard A. Lauder, president of the Whitney's board, would not comment yesterday, beyond saying that the nine-month search for Mr. Armstrong's replacement was "winding down."

An extensive nine-month search was mounted for the unarmed bomb, but proved futile.

Mr. Schwartzman was selected after a nine-month search.

His selection as president ended a secretive nine-month search to succeed Neil L. Rudenstine, who announced last year that he would leave on June 30.

In picking Mr. Ruzicka after a nine-month search, the festival's board has refused to bow to pressure to appoint a traditionalist as the new director.