Noranda is for sale because Brascan, which owns 42 percent of it, decided to shed businesses based on natural resources.

More than half of the charge, $1.2 billion, will cover severance pay and the cost of shedding certain businesses.

Kraft, which trails Nestlé in sales, has been shedding some plants, businesses and administrative staff to reduce costs.

Now, however, Kemper believes it has shed businesses that had little potential and put many of its problems behind it.

The company, which employs 153,000 people, also said the restructuring program would include shedding uncompetitive businesses.

At the same time it has shed slower-growing businesses and underperforming units, like insurance.

Kingfisher is shedding businesses to focus on home-improvement and consumer electronics.

Management then cut costs and shed unprofitable businesses, leading to a rebound in Oxford's profits.

The company, based in Tacoma, Wash., announced a program last spring to shed businesses.

Aetna has been growing quickly through acquisitions, while focusing on health care operations and shedding other businesses.