31.   They agreed to shed marginal businesses and overhaul management practices.

32.   U.S. stocks rose as investors bought shares of companies that are buying back stock, shedding businesses and raising dividends.

33.   U.S. stocks climbed, led by Whirlpool Corp., after a host of companies said they will fire workers and shed businesses to try to boost profits.

34.   Under his leadership, Sears shrunk its workforce, discontinued its catalog, shed non-retail businesses and spiffed up hundreds of stores.

35.   Under his direction, Sears shrunk its workforce, closed its catalog, shed non-retail businesses and spiffed up hundreds of stores.

36.   Under his guidance, Star started shedding lossmaking businesses.

37.   Wall Street had pressured Kodak for years to shed the business.

38.   Wall Street has pressured Kodak for years to shed the business, which has suffered from a dearth of new products, high overhead costs and price cuts.

39.   Vivendi said it plans to shed noncore businesses in its effort to build a corporate giant controlling the creation and distribution of entertainment content.

40.   While Penske has been bulking up his business, Kmart has been shedding businesses and shuttering stores to improve its badly bruised retailing business.