The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these notes has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This preliminary pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these notes, nor are they soliciting an offer to buy these notes, in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 19, 2023 |
Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. | March----, 2023 Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series N Pricing Supplement No. 2023- USNCH[ ] Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) Registration Statement Nos. 333-255302 and 333-255302-03 |
Fixed to Floating Rate Notes Linked to the 1-Year U.S. Dollar SOFR ICE Swap Rate Due April 3, 2024
· | The notes will bear interest during each monthly interest period (i) during the first six months: at a fixed rate of 6.00% per annum and (ii) after the sixth month until maturity: at a floating rate based on the 1-Year U.S. Dollar SOFR ICE Swap Rate (“SOFR CMS1” or, a “USD SOFR ICE swap rate”) plus the floating rate spread specified below, subject to a minimum interest rate of 0.00% per annum. After the sixth month, interest payments on the notes will vary and may be paid at a rate as low as the minimum interest rate. |
· | The notes are designed for investors who seek fixed interest payments for the first six months of the term of the notes and floating interest payments linked to SOFR CMS1 thereafter. |
· | The notes are senior unsecured debt obligations of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and are guaranteed by Citigroup Inc. All payments due on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and Citigroup Inc. |
KEY TERMS | |||
Issuer: | Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup Inc. | ||
Guarantee: | All payments due on the notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Citigroup Inc. | ||
Stated principal amount: | $1,000 per note | ||
Pricing date: | March 1, 2023 | ||
Issue date: | March 3, 2023 | ||
Maturity date: | April 3, 2024. If the maturity date is not a business day, then such date will be postponed to the next succeeding business day. | ||
Payment at maturity: | $1,000 per note plus accrued and unpaid interest | ||
Interest rate per annum: |
· During each interest period from and including the issue date to but excluding September 3, 2023, the notes will bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.00% per annum (or approximately 3.00% in total with respect to the first six interest periods). · During each interest period commencing on or after September 3, 2023, the notes will bear interest at a floating rate equal to SOFR CMS1, as determined on the interest determination date for that interest period, plus a spread of 0.10% (the “floating rate spread”), subject to a minimum interest rate of 0.00% per annum. | ||
SOFR CMS1: | On any interest determination date, SOFR CMS1, as determined under “Additional Terms of the Notes—Determination of SOFR CMS1” on that interest determination date. For more information, see “Additional Terms of the Notes—Discontinuance of SOFR CMS1” and “Information About SOFR and USD SOFR ICE Swap Rates” in this pricing supplement. | ||
Interest period: | Each period from, and including, an interest payment date (or the issue date in the case of the first interest period) to, but excluding, the next succeeding interest payment date. | ||
Interest payment dates: | The 3rd day of each month, commencing on April 3, 2023 and ending on the maturity date. If any interest payment date is not a business day, then such date will be postponed to the next succeeding business day. | ||
Interest determination date: | For any interest period commencing on or after September 3, 2023, the second U.S. government securities business day prior to the first day of that interest period. | ||
Day count convention: | Act/360 Adjusted. See “Determination of Interest Payments” in this pricing supplement. | ||
U.S. government securities business day: | Any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s U.S. holiday schedule recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities. | ||
Business day: |
A business day means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the securities exchanges or banking institutions or trust companies in the City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close | ||
Business day convention: | Following | ||
CUSIP / ISIN: | 17331CJ40 / US17331CJ403 | ||
Listing: | The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and, accordingly, may have limited or no liquidity. You should not invest in the notes unless you are willing to hold them to maturity. | ||
Underwriter: | Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”), an affiliate of the issuer, acting as principal. See “General Information—Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest” in this pricing supplement. | ||
Underwriting fee and issue price: | Issue price(1) | Underwriting fee(2) | Proceeds to issuer(3) |
Per note: | $1,000.00 | $ | $ |
Total: | $ | $ | $ |
(1) Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. currently expects that the estimated value of the notes on the pricing date will be between $990 and $1,000 per note, which may be less than the issue price. The estimated value of the notes is based on CGMI’s proprietary pricing models and our internal funding rate. It is not an indication of actual profit to CGMI or other of our affiliates, nor is it an indication of the price, if any, at which CGMI or any other person may be willing to buy the notes from you at any time after issuance. See “Valuation of the Notes” in this pricing supplement.
(2) CGMI, an affiliate of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and the underwriter of the sale of the notes, is acting as principal and will receive an underwriting fee of up to $0.50 per note sold in this offering. The total underwriting fee and proceeds to issuer in the table above give effect to the actual total underwriting fee. You should refer to “Risk Factors” and “General Information—Fees and selling concessions” in this pricing supplement for more information. In addition to the underwriting fee, CGMI and its affiliates may profit from expected hedging activity related to this offering, even if the value of the notes declines. See “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying prospectus.
(3) The per note proceeds to issuer indicated above represent the minimum per note proceeds to issuer for any note, assuming the maximum per note underwriting fee. As noted above, the underwriting fee is variable.
Concurrent with this offering of the notes, the issuer is offering other notes that are similar to the notes but that have economic terms that differ from those provided by the notes. The differences in the economic terms reflect differences in costs to the issuer in connection with the distribution of the notes and such other notes.
Investing in the notes involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional fixed-rate debt securities. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-2.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or determined that this pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus are truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
You should read this pricing supplement together with the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, which can be accessed via the hyperlink below:
Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus each dated May 11, 2021
The notes are not bank deposits and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Risk Factors
The following is a non-exhaustive list of certain key risk factors for investors in the notes. You should read the risk factors below together with the risk factors included in the accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus, including Citigroup Inc.’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which describe risks relating to the business of Citigroup Inc. more generally. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.
· | After the sixth month, the notes will pay interest at a floating rate that may be as low as the minimum interest rate on one or more interest payment dates. The rate at which the notes will bear interest during each monthly interest period after the sixth month will depend on SOFR CMS1 on the interest determination date for that interest period plus the floating rate spread. As a result, the interest payable on the notes will vary with fluctuations in SOFR CMS1, subject to the minimum interest rate. It is impossible to predict whether SOFR CMS1 will rise or fall or the amount of interest payable on the notes. After the sixth month, you may receive interest on the notes reflecting only the minimum interest rate for extended periods of time or even throughout the remaining term of the notes. |
· | The notes are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and Citigroup Inc., and any actual or perceived changes to the creditworthiness of either entity may adversely affect the value of the notes. You are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and Citigroup Inc. If Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. defaults on its obligations under the notes and Citigroup Inc. defaults on its guarantee obligations, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. As a result, the value of the notes will be affected by changes in the market’s view of the creditworthiness of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. or Citigroup Inc. Any decline, or anticipated decline in the credit ratings of either entity, or any increase or anticipated increase in the credit spreads of either entity, is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. |
· | The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and you may not be able to sell them prior to maturity. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Therefore, there may be little or no secondary market for the notes. CGMI currently intends to make a secondary market in relation to the notes and to provide an indicative bid price for the notes on a daily basis. Any indicative bid price for the notes provided by CGMI will be determined in CGMI’s sole discretion, taking into account prevailing market conditions and other relevant factors, and will not be a representation by CGMI that the notes can be sold at that price or at all. CGMI may suspend or terminate making a market and providing indicative bid prices without notice, at any time and for any reason. If CGMI suspends or terminates making a market, there may be no secondary market at all for the notes because it is likely that CGMI will be the only broker-dealer that is willing to buy your notes prior to maturity. Accordingly, an investor must be prepared to hold the notes until maturity. |
· | The estimated value of the notes on the pricing date, based on CGMI’s proprietary pricing models and our internal funding rate, may be less than the issue price. The difference, if any, is attributable to certain costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the notes that are included in the issue price. These costs include (i) any selling concessions or other fees paid in connection with the offering of the notes, (ii) hedging and other costs incurred by us and our affiliates in connection with the offering of the notes and (iii) the expected profit (which may be more or less than actual profit) to CGMI or other of our affiliates in connection with hedging our obligations under the notes. These costs adversely affect the economic terms of the notes because, if they were lower, the economic terms of the notes would be more favorable to you. The economic terms of the notes are also likely to be adversely affected by the use of our internal funding rate, rather than our secondary market rate, to price the notes. See “The estimated value of the notes would be lower if it were calculated based on our secondary market rate” below. |
· | The estimated value of the notes was determined for us by our affiliate using proprietary pricing models. CGMI derived the estimated value disclosed on the cover page of this pricing supplement from its proprietary pricing models. In doing so, it may have made discretionary judgments about the inputs to its models, such as the volatility of SOFR CMS1 and interest rates. CGMI’s views on these inputs and assumptions may differ from your or others’ views, and as an underwriter in this offering, CGMI’s interests may conflict with yours. Both the models and the inputs to the models may prove to be wrong and therefore not an accurate reflection of the value of the notes. Moreover, the estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement may differ from the value that we or our affiliates may determine for the notes for other purposes, including for accounting purposes. You should not invest in the notes because of the estimated value of the notes. Instead, you should be willing to hold the notes to maturity irrespective of the initial estimated value. |
· | The estimated value of the notes would be lower if it were calculated based on our secondary market rate. The estimated value of the notes included in this pricing supplement is calculated based on our internal funding rate, which is the rate at which we are willing to borrow funds through the issuance of the notes. Our internal funding rate is generally lower than our secondary market rate, which is the rate that CGMI will use in determining the value of the notes for purposes of any purchases of the notes from you in the secondary market. If the estimated value included in this pricing supplement were based on our secondary market rate, rather than our internal funding rate, it would likely be lower. We determine our internal funding rate based on factors such as the costs associated with the notes, which are generally higher than the costs associated with conventional debt securities, and our liquidity needs and preferences. Our internal funding rate is not the same as the rate at which interest is payable on the notes. |
Because there is not an active market for traded instruments referencing our outstanding debt obligations, CGMI determines our secondary market rate based on the market price of traded instruments referencing the debt obligations of Citigroup Inc., our parent company and the guarantor of all payments due on the notes, but subject to adjustments that CGMI makes in its sole
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discretion. As a result, our secondary market rate is not a market-determined measure of our creditworthiness, but rather reflects the market’s perception of our parent company’s creditworthiness as adjusted for discretionary factors such as CGMI’s preferences with respect to purchasing the notes prior to maturity.
· | The estimated value of the notes is not an indication of the price, if any, at which CGMI or any other person may be willing to buy the notes from you in the secondary market. Any such secondary market price will fluctuate over the term of the notes based on the market and other factors described in the next risk factor. Moreover, unlike the estimated value included in this pricing supplement, any value of the notes determined for purposes of a secondary market transaction will be based on our secondary market rate, which will likely result in a lower value for the notes than if our internal funding rate were used. In addition, any secondary market price for the notes will be reduced by a bid-ask spread, which may vary depending on the aggregate stated principal amount of the notes to be purchased in the secondary market transaction, and the expected cost of unwinding related hedging transactions. As a result, it is likely that any secondary market price for the notes will be less than the issue price. |
· | The value of the notes prior to maturity will fluctuate based on many unpredictable factors. The value of your notes prior to maturity will fluctuate based on the level and volatility of SOFR CMS1, interest and yield rates in the market generally, the time remaining to maturity of the notes and our and Citigroup Inc.’s creditworthiness, as reflected in our secondary market rate. Changes in the level of SOFR CMS1 may not result in a comparable change in the value of your notes. You should understand that the value of your notes at any time prior to maturity may be significantly less than the issue price. |
· | Immediately following issuance, any secondary market bid price provided by CGMI, and the value that will be indicated on any brokerage account statements prepared by CGMI or its affiliates, will reflect a temporary upward adjustment. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will steadily decline to zero over the temporary adjustment period. See “Valuation of the Notes” in this pricing supplement. |
· | Our offering of the notes does not constitute a recommendation to invest in an instrument linked to SOFR CMS1. You should not take our offering of the notes as an expression of our views about how SOFR CMS1 will perform in the future or as a recommendation to invest in any instrument linked to SOFR CMS1, including the notes. As we are part of a global financial institution, our affiliates may, and often do, have positions (including short positions), and may publish research or express opinions, that in each case conflict with an investment in the notes. You should undertake an independent determination of whether an investment in the notes is suitable for you in light of your specific investment objectives, risk tolerance and financial resources. |
· | Secondary market sales of the notes may result in a loss of principal. You will be entitled to receive at least the full stated principal amount of your notes, subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and Citigroup Inc., only if you hold the notes to maturity. If you are able to sell your notes in the secondary market prior to maturity, you are likely to receive less than the stated principal amount of the notes. |
· | SOFR CMS1 will be affected by a number of factors and may be highly volatile. SOFR CMS1 is influenced by many factors, including: |
· | the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board; |
· | current market expectations about future interest rates; |
· | current market expectations about inflation; |
· | the volatility of the foreign exchange markets; |
· | the availability of relevant hedging instruments; |
· | supply and demand for overnight U.S. Treasury repurchase agreements; and |
· | general credit and economic conditions in global markets, and particularly in the United States. |
As a result of these factors, SOFR CMS1 may be highly volatile. Because SOFR CMS1 is a market rate and is influenced by many factors, it is impossible to predict the future value of SOFR CMS1.
· | USD SOFR ICE swap rates and SOFR have limited histories and future performance cannot be predicted based on historical performance. The publication of USD SOFR ICE swap rates began in November 2021, and, therefore, have a limited history. ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“IBA”) launched USD SOFR ICE swap rates for use as a reference rate for financial instruments in order to aid the market’s transition to SOFR and away from LIBOR. However, the composition and characteristics of SOFR differ from those of LIBOR in material respects, and the historical performance of LIBOR and the USD LIBOR-based swap rates will have no bearing on the performance of SOFR or USD SOFR ICE swap rates. In addition, the publication of SOFR began in April 2018, and, therefore, it has a limited history. The future performance of USD SOFR ICE swap rates and SOFR cannot be predicted based on the limited historical performance. The level of SOFR CMS1 and SOFR during the term of the notes may bear little or no relation to the historical actual or historical indicative data. Prior observed patterns, if any, in the behavior of market variables and their relation to USD SOFR ICE swap rates and SOFR, such as correlations, may change in the future. While some pre-publication historical data for SOFR has been released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “NY Federal Reserve”), production of such historical indicative SOFR data inherently involves assumptions, estimates and approximations. No future performance of USD SOFR ICE swap rates or SOFR may be inferred from any of the historical actual or |
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
historical indicative SOFR data. Hypothetical or historical performance data are not indicative of, and have no bearing on, the potential performance of USD SOFR ICE swap rates or SOFR. Changes in the levels of SOFR will affect SOFR CMS1 and, therefore, the return on the notes and the value of the notes, but it is impossible to predict whether such levels will rise or fall.
· | A lack of input data may impact IBA’s ability to calculate and publish USD SOFR ICE swap rates. The input data for USD SOFR ICE swap rates is based on swaps referencing SOFR as the floating leg. USD SOFR ICE swap rates are dependent on receiving sufficient eligible input data, from the trading venue sources identified by IBA in accordance with the “Waterfall” methodology for each USD SOFR ICE swap rate. The ability of the applicable trading venues to provide sufficient eligible input data in accordance with the Waterfall methodology depends on, among other things, there being a liquid market in swap contracts referencing SOFR on such trading venues, which in turn depends, among other things, on there being a liquid market in loans, floating rate notes and other financial contracts referencing SOFR. Because SOFR’s use as a reference rate for financial contracts began relatively recently and the related market for SOFR-based swaps is relatively new, there is limited information on which to assess potential future liquidity in SOFR-based swap markets or in the market for SOFR-based financial contracts more generally. If the market for SOFR-based swap contracts is not sufficiently liquid, or if the liquidity in such market proves to be volatile, this could result in the inability of IBA to calculate SOFR CMS1, which could adversely affect the return on and value of the notes and the price at which you are able to sell the notes in the secondary market, if any. In addition, if SOFR does not maintain market acceptance for use as a reference rate for U.S. dollar denominated financial contracts, uncertainty about SOFR may adversely affect the return on and the value of the notes. |
· | The way SOFR CMS1 is calculated may change in the future, which could adversely affect the value of the notes. The method by which USD SOFR ICE swap rates are calculated may change in the future, as a result of governmental actions, actions by the publisher of USD SOFR ICE swap rates or otherwise. We cannot predict whether the method by which USD SOFR ICE swap rates are calculated will change or what the impact of any such change might be. Any such change could affect SOFR CMS1 in a way that has a significant adverse effect on the notes. |
· | SOFR CMS1 may be determined by the calculation agent in good faith using its reasonable judgment. If, on any interest determination date SOFR CMS1 is not published (subject to a discontinuance as described below), then SOFR CMS1 on that day will be determined by the calculation agent in good faith and using its reasonable judgment. SOFR CMS1 determined in this manner and used in the determination of any interest payment may be different from SOFR CMS1 that would have been published by the administrator of SOFR CMS1. |
· | The calculation agent, which is our affiliate, will make important determinations with respect to the notes. If certain events occur, Citibank, N.A., as calculation agent, will be required to make certain discretionary judgments that could significantly affect one or more payments owed to you under the notes. Such judgments could include, among other things, determining SOFR CMS1 under the circumstances described herein, selecting a successor rate if SOFR CMS1 is discontinued and, if no successor rate is selected, calculating SOFR CMS1 in good faith and using its reasonable judgment. Any of these determinations made by Citibank, N.A. in its capacity as calculation agent may adversely affect any interest payment owed to you under the notes. |
Additional Terms of the Notes
Determination of SOFR CMS1
SOFR CMS1 on any date of determination is the swap rate for a fixed-for-floating U.S. Dollar SOFR-linked interest rate swap transaction with a 1-year maturity as published by the administrator of SOFR CMS1 as of 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that date of determination. If SOFR CMS1 is not published on any U.S. government securities business day on which such rate is required (subject to “—Discontinuance of SOFR CMS1” below), then SOFR CMS1 for that date will be determined by the calculation agent in good faith and using its reasonable judgment.
In a fixed-for-floating U.S. Dollar SOFR-linked interest rate swap transaction, one party pays a fixed rate (the “swap rate”) and the other pays a floating rate based on the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) compounded in arrears for twelve months using standard market conventions. SOFR is intended to be a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by Treasury securities. For more information about SOFR, see “Information About SOFR and USD SOFR ICE Swap Rates—SOFR” in this pricing supplement.
IBA is the current administrator of SOFR CMS1. According to publicly available information (which we have not independently verified), IBA currently determines SOFR CMS1 based on a “waterfall” methodology using eligible input data in respect of SOFR-linked interest rate swaps. The first level of the waterfall (“Level 1”) uses eligible, executable prices and volumes provided by regulated, electronic, trading venues. If these trading venues do not provide sufficient eligible input data to calculate a rate in accordance with Level 1 of the methodology, then the second level of the waterfall (“Level 2”) uses eligible dealer to client prices and volumes displayed electronically by trading venues. If there is insufficient eligible input data to calculate a rate in accordance with Level 2 of the waterfall, then the third level of the waterfall (“Level 3”) uses movement interpolation, where possible for applicable tenors, to calculate a rate. Where it is not possible to calculate SOFR CMS1 at Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 of the waterfall on a given date, then SOFR CMS1 will not be published for that date.
Discontinuance of SOFR CMS1
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
If the calculation and publication of SOFR CMS1 is permanently canceled, then the calculation agent may identify an alternative rate that it determines, in its sole discretion, represents the same or a substantially similar measure or benchmark as SOFR CMS1, and the calculation agent may deem that rate (the “successor rate”) to be SOFR CMS1. Upon the selection of any successor rate by the calculation agent pursuant to this paragraph, references in this pricing supplement to the original SOFR CMS1 will no longer be deemed to refer to the original SOFR CMS1 and will be deemed instead to refer to that successor rate for all purposes. In such event, the calculation agent will make such adjustments, if any, to any value of SOFR CMS1 that is used for purposes of the notes and to any other terms of the notes as it determines are appropriate in the circumstances. Upon any selection by the calculation agent of a successor rate, the calculation agent will cause notice to be furnished to us and the trustee.
If the calculation and publication of SOFR CMS1 is permanently canceled and no successor rate is chosen as described above, then the calculation agent will calculate the value of SOFR CMS1 on each subsequent date of determination in good faith and using its reasonable judgment. Such value, as calculated by the calculation agent, will be the relevant rate for SOFR CMS1 for all purposes.
Notwithstanding these alternative arrangements, the cancellation of SOFR CMS1 may adversely affect payments on, and the value of, the notes.
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
General Information | |
Additional information: |
The description of the notes in this pricing supplement supplements, and, to the extent inconsistent with, replaces the general terms of the notes set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus. The accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus contain important disclosures that are not repeated in this pricing supplement.
The notes are senior unsecured debt securities issued by Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. under the senior debt indenture described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, the payments on which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Citigroup Inc. The notes will constitute part of the senior debt of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. The guarantee of payments due on the notes will constitute part of the senior indebtedness of Citigroup Inc. and will rank on an equal basis with all other unsecured debt of Citigroup Inc. other than subordinated debt. |
Regular record date: | Interest will be payable on each interest payment date to the holders of record of the notes at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the relevant interest payment date, except that the final interest payment will be made to the persons who hold the notes on the maturity date. |
U.S. federal income tax considerations: |
In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the notes will be treated as “variable rate debt instruments,” and the remaining discussion is based on this treatment. Based on market conditions as of the pricing date, we will determine whether the notes are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes (1) as providing for a single qualified floating rate (“QFR”) or (2) as providing for a single fixed rate followed by a QFR.
If the initial fixed rate on the notes is within 25 basis points of the floating rate on the issue date, the notes will be treated as providing for a single floating rate. Under this treatment, all stated interest on the notes will generally be treated as qualified stated interest (“QSI”) and be taxable to a U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying prospectus supplement) at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s method of tax accounting.
However, if the initial fixed rate is not within 25 basis points of the floating rate, the notes may be treated as issued with original issue discount (“OID”). In order to determine the amount of QSI and OID in respect of the notes, an equivalent fixed rate debt instrument must be constructed. The equivalent fixed rate debt instrument is constructed in the following manner: (i) first, the initial fixed rate is converted to a QFR that would preserve the fair market value of the notes, and (ii) second, each QFR (including the QFR determined under (i) above) is converted to a fixed rate substitute (which will generally be the value of that QFR as of the issue date of the notes). The rules described under “United States Federal Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Original Issue Discount” in the accompanying prospectus supplement are then applied to the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument for purposes of calculating the amount of OID on the notes. Under these rules, the notes will generally be treated as providing for QSI at a rate equal to the lowest rate of interest in effect at any time under the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument, and any interest in excess of that rate will generally be treated as part of the stated redemption price at maturity and, therefore, as giving rise to OID. Based on the application of these rules to the notes, we will indicate in the final pricing supplement if the notes are issued with OID.
QSI on the notes will generally be taxable to a U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying prospectus supplement) as ordinary interest income at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s method of tax accounting. If the notes are issued with OID, a U.S. Holder will be required to include the OID in income for federal income tax purposes as it accrues, in accordance with a constant-yield method based on a compounding of interest. If the notes are not issued with OID, all stated interest on the notes will be treated as QSI and will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s method of tax accounting. If the amount of interest a U.S. Holder receives on the notes in a calendar year is greater than the interest assumed to be paid or accrued under the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument, the excess is treated as additional QSI taxable to the U.S. Holder as ordinary income. Otherwise, any difference will reduce the amount of QSI the U.S. Holder is treated as receiving and will therefore reduce the amount of ordinary income the U.S. Holder is required to take into income.
Upon the sale or other taxable disposition of a note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the disposition (other than any amount attributable to accrued QSI, which will be treated as a payment of interest) and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the note. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a note generally will equal the cost of the note to the U.S. Holder, increased by the amounts of OID (if any) previously included in income by the U.S. Holder with respect to the note and reduced by any payments other than QSI received by the U.S. Holder. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held the note for more than one year at the time of disposition.
Under current law Non-U.S. Holders (as defined in the accompanying prospectus supplement) |
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generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding or income tax with respect to interest (or OID, if any) paid on and amounts received on the sale, exchange or retirement of the notes if they comply with applicable certification requirements. Special rules apply to Non-U.S. Holders whose income on the notes is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business or who are individuals present in the United States for 183 days or more in a taxable year.
You should read the section entitled “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The preceding discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of owning and disposing of the notes.
You should also consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the notes and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction. | |
Fees and selling concessions: |
The issue price is $1,000 per note; provided that the issue price for an eligible institutional investor or an investor purchasing the notes in a fee-based advisory account will vary based on then-current market conditions and the negotiated price determined at the time of each sale. The issue price for such investors will not be less than $999.50 per note and will not be more than $1,000 per note. The issue price for such investors reflects a forgone selling concession with respect to such sales as described in the next paragraph.
CGMI, an affiliate of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc., is the underwriter of the sale of the notes and is acting as principal. CGMI may resell the notes to other securities dealers at the issue price of $1,000 per note less a selling concession not in excess of the underwriting fee. CGMI will receive an underwriting fee of up to $0.50 per note, and from such underwriting fee will allow selected dealers a selling concession of up to $0.50 per note depending on market conditions that are relevant to the value of the notes at the time an order to purchase the notes is submitted to CGMI. Dealers who purchase the notes for sales to eligible institutional investors and/or to investors purchasing the notes in fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all selling concessions, and CGMI may forgo some or all of the underwriting fee for sales to it makes to eligible institutional investors and/or to investors purchasing the notes in fee-based advisory accounts. |
Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest: |
The terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Global Selling Agency Agreement dated April 7, 2017 among Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc., Citigroup Inc. and the agents named therein, including CGMI, govern the sale and purchase of the notes.
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
In order to hedge its obligations under the notes, Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. expects to enter into one or more swaps or other derivatives transactions with one or more of its affiliates. You should refer to the sections “Risk Factors—The estimated value of the notes on the pricing date, based on CGMI’s proprietary pricing models and our internal funding rate, may be less than the issue price,” and the section “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying prospectus.
CGMI is an affiliate of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. Accordingly, the offering of the notes will conform with the requirements addressing conflicts of interest when distributing the securities of an affiliate set forth in Rule 5121 of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Client accounts over which Citigroup Inc., its subsidiaries or affiliates of its subsidiaries have investment discretion are not permitted to purchase the notes, either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the client.
See “Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying prospectus supplement for more information. |
Calculation agent: | Citibank, N.A., an affiliate of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc., will serve as calculation agent for the notes. All determinations made by the calculation agent will be at the sole discretion of the calculation agent and will, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc., Citigroup Inc. and the holders of the notes. Citibank, N.A. is obligated to carry out its duties and functions as calculation agent in good faith and using its reasonable judgment. |
We encourage you to also read the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, which can be accessed via the hyperlink on the cover page of this pricing supplement.
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Determination of Interest Payments
On each interest payment date, the amount of each interest payment will equal (i) the stated principal amount of the notes multiplied by the interest rate in effect during the applicable interest period multiplied by (ii) the quotient of the actual number of calendar days in such interest period divided by 360, subject to the minimum interest rate.
Information About SOFR and USD SOFR ICE Swap Rates
SOFR
SOFR is published by the NY Federal Reserve and is intended to be a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by Treasury securities. The NY Federal Reserve reports that SOFR includes all trades in the Broad General Collateral Rate, plus bilateral Treasury repurchase agreement (“repo”) transactions cleared through the delivery-versus-payment service offered by the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (the “FICC”), a subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). SOFR is filtered by the NY Federal Reserve to remove a portion of the foregoing transactions considered to be “specials”. According to the NY Federal Reserve, “specials” are repos for specific-issue collateral which take place at cash-lending rates below those for general collateral repos because cash providers are willing to accept a lesser return on their cash in order to obtain a particular security.
The NY Federal Reserve reports that SOFR is calculated as a volume-weighted median of transaction-level tri-party repo data collected from The Bank of New York Mellon, which currently acts as the clearing bank for the tri-party repo market, as well as General Collateral Finance Repo transaction data and data on bilateral Treasury repo transactions cleared through the FICC’s delivery-versus-payment service. The NY Federal Reserve notes that it obtains information from DTCC Solutions LLC, an affiliate of DTCC.
The NY Federal Reserve currently publishes SOFR daily on its website. The NY Federal Reserve states on its publication page for SOFR that use of SOFR is subject to important disclaimers, limitations and indemnification obligations, including that the NY Federal Reserve may alter the methods of calculation, publication schedule, rate revision practices or availability of SOFR at any time without notice. Information contained in the publication page for SOFR is not incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered part of, this pricing supplement.
USD SOFR ICE Swap Rates
A USD SOFR ICE swap rate for a given maturity is the annual fixed rate of interest payable on a hypothetical fixed-for-floating U.S. Dollar interest rate swap transaction with the given maturity. In such a hypothetical swap transaction, the fixed rate of interest, payable annually on an actual / 360 basis (i.e., interest accrues based on the actual number of days elapsed, with a year assumed to comprise 360 days), is exchangeable for a floating payment stream based on SOFR (compounded in arrears for twelve months using standard market conventions), also payable annually on an actual / 360 basis.
Many complex economic factors may influence USD SOFR ICE swap rates, including:
· | the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board; |
· | current market expectations about future interest rates; |
· | current market expectations about inflation; |
· | the volatility of the foreign exchange markets; |
· | the availability of relevant hedging instruments; |
· | supply and demand for overnight U.S. Treasury repurchase agreements; and |
· | general credit and economic conditions in global markets, and particularly in the United States. |
Because USD SOFR ICE swap rates are market rates and are influenced by many factors, it is impossible to predict the future value of any USD SOFR ICE swap rate.
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Historical Information on SOFR CMS1
The graph below shows the daily value of SOFR CMS1 from November 18, 2021 to January 18, 2023. We obtained the values below from Bloomberg L.P., without independent verification. You should not take the historical values of SOFR CMS1 as an indication of the future values of SOFR CMS1 during the term of the notes. Publication of SOFR CMS1 began on November 8, 2021, and it therefore has a limited history.
SOFR CMS1 at 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on January 18, 2023 was 4.801%.
Historical SOFR CMS1 (%) November 18, 2021 through January 18, 2023 |
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Certain Selling Restrictions
Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors
The notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area. For the purposes of this provision:
(a) | the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following: |
(i) | a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or |
(ii) | a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or |
(iii) | not a qualified investor as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC; and |
(b) | the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes. |
Valuation of the Notes
CGMI calculated the estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement based on proprietary pricing models. CGMI’s proprietary pricing models generated an estimated value for the notes by estimating the value of a hypothetical package of financial instruments that would replicate the payout on the notes, which consists of a fixed-income bond (the “bond component”) and one or more derivative instruments underlying the economic terms of the notes (the “derivative component”). CGMI calculated the estimated value of the bond component using a discount rate based on our internal funding rate. CGMI calculated the estimated value of the derivative component based on a proprietary derivative-pricing model, which generated a theoretical price for the instruments that constitute the derivative component based on various inputs, including the factors described under “Risk Factors—The value of the notes prior to maturity will fluctuate based on many unpredictable factors” in this pricing supplement, but not including our and Citigroup Inc.’s creditworthiness. These inputs may be market-observable or may be based on assumptions made by CGMI in its discretionary judgment.
The estimated value of the notes is a function of the terms of the notes and the inputs to CGMI’s proprietary pricing models. The range for the estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover page of this preliminary pricing supplement reflects uncertainty on the date of this preliminary pricing supplement about the inputs to CGMI’s proprietary pricing models on the pricing date.
For a period of approximately three months following issuance of the notes, the price, if any, at which CGMI would be willing to buy the notes from investors, and the value that will be indicated for the notes on any brokerage account statements prepared by CGMI or its affiliates (which value CGMI may also publish through one or more financial information vendors), will reflect a temporary upward adjustment from the price or value that would otherwise be determined. This temporary upward adjustment represents a portion of the hedging profit expected to be realized by CGMI or its affiliates over the term of the notes. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will decline to zero on a straight-line basis over the three-month temporary adjustment period. However, CGMI is not obligated to buy the notes from investors at any time. See “Risk Factors—The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and you may not be able to sell them prior to maturity.”
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