In its 11-year history, NanoGram has spun off or sold operations to other companies in communications and medical electronics.
Last week, news broke of a 22-year-old undergraduate getting a relatively light sentence for her role in a drug selling operation, done with her brother.
Ford is selling operations unrelated to carmaking.
The company said it planned to sell operations in Canada, Hungary and Indonesia.
Nortel Networks said yesterday that it was selling operations that produce optical components for $108 million to Bookham Technology of Britain.
David Barford, the director of selling operations at John Lewis, the department store, said: "Men have been out in force this week buying last-minute presents in lingerie and beauty.
Energis also offered to cut 400 jobs and sell operations it bought in Continental Europe during a two-year acquisition spree that increased debt.
Auctions are an important part of selling operations in the agricultural markets of many countries, for they have traditionally provided a rapid and effective means of disposing of goods, especially perishable products.
"In the early days we had a Jack/Jill of All Trades, and that person probably did proofreading, selling, operations and H.R.," Ms. Hessan said.
The recent colder weather meant consumers had been put in "the right mood for shopping", according to Maggie Porteus, head of selling operations at John Lewis.
