Lafarge mulling options?

According to a report from the Aggregates Research Industries web site, Lafarge North America Inc. is actively seeking buyers for some sectors of its business operations in North America. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a company representative has indicated that large slices of their operating sites may be put up for sale. The recent downturn in the economy has made business conditions difficult, with cement sales down more than 20 percent in the United States in 2008.

The businesses rumored to be for sale are: The company's asphalt and paving business in the U.S. and Canada, including the Contracting Division; and The company's aggregates and concrete business in Colorado and New Mexico. Other options that are being studied according to the source are the mothballing of the company's southeast concrete operations, which is reportedly down by more than a third in this region. Your comment?