"If it does, we forecast Citigroup would have to pay at least a 20 percent premium over the market price on this acquisition," Yang said.
But Yang acknowledged the possibility as speculation, saying a further stake sale was likely merely because Citigroup Chairman Sanford Weill -- a man said to be fond of mergers and acquisitions -- may prefer a greater piece of Fubon to the current strategic alliance arrangement.
Tsmc's April sales lower than expected
Taiwan Semiconductor Manu-facturing Co (台積電) said last week that April sales came in at NT$8.86 billion -- weaker than the NT$10 billion many market watchers had expected.
The figure represents a 10.7 percent drop in sales from the previous month, though year over year April sales were up 69.2 percent.
TSMC attributed the drop to four working days in which routine maintenance was performed on its wafer facilities.
Analysts say that overall demand for IC contract foundry services remains strong, though sales for the second-quarter -- typically a weak time of year -- will likely slow compared to the prior quarter.
The world's largest contract chip foundry closed at NT$190 Saturday, down NT$5, or 2.6 percent for the week.
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