Fremont up for sale

At least parts of it. The Santa Monica-based subprime lender is talking to as many as six suitors, according to Bloomberg News. During a conference call with employees, who remain on paid leave, a Fremont executive said final presentations may be made today. Fremont does other things besides making subprime loans, so it's unclear what part of the company is on the block. More than two dozen mortgage lenders have gone bankrupt, closed operations or sought buyers since the start of 2006, according to Bloomberg. Fremont shares are trading at a little over $8 a share - half what they were at just two months ago.