Citigroup responded to investigations of conflicts of interest at its investment-banking arm by saying that it would split the unit in two.

ECONOMIST: A loss of confidence

Discover is the easiest business to split off--and the unit that many see as the most likely to go.

FORBES: Adding Up A Morgan Stanley Split

Investors have long hankered for the split, as most see the publishing unit as a drag on earnings and revenues.

WSJ: News Corp 3Q beats Street on pay TV, 'Pi'

Motorola Mobility was created in 2011 when Motorola Inc split the company into a mobile devices unit and a government and public safety division known as Motorola Solutions.

BBC: Motorola phone

In making this split, BP is now looking to create a new safety unit that will rule the groups operations like an inquisition as Dudley grants it powers to audit on an ongoing basis every single operation around the world.

FORBES: BP's Dudley Cleans House Post-Deepwater Debacle

In July, Palm Inc. surprised no one when it announced a plan to split into two companies, with a spinoff of the operating-system software unit likely by early 2003.

FORBES: Handhelds across America