The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This preliminary pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, nor are they soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 26, 2022 | |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
May , 2022 Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series N Pricing Supplement No. 2022-USNCH11755 Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) Registration Statement Nos. 333-255302 and 333-255302-03 |
Market-Linked Notes Linked to the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due May 29, 2026
Overview
| ▪ | The notes offered by this pricing supplement are unsecured senior debt securities issued by Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and guaranteed by Citigroup Inc. Unlike conventional debt securities, the notes do not pay interest. Instead, the notes offer the potential for a positive return at maturity based on the performance of the worst performing of the underlyings specified below from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value. |
| ▪ | If the worst performing underlying appreciates from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value, you will receive a positive return at maturity equal to that appreciation multiplied by the upside participation rate. However, if the worst performing underlying remains the same or depreciates from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value, you will be repaid the stated principal amount of your notes at maturity but will not receive any return on your investment. Even if the worst performing underlying appreciates from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value, so that you do receive a positive return at maturity, there is no assurance that your total return at maturity on the notes will compensate you for the effects of inflation or be as great as the yield you could have achieved on a conventional debt security of ours of comparable maturity. |
| ▪ | Investors in the notes must be willing to forgo any dividends with respect to any underlying during the term of the notes. If the worst performing underlying does not appreciate from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value, you will not receive any return on your investment in the notes. |
| ▪ | Your return on the notes will depend solely on the performance of the worst performing underlying. You will not benefit in any way from the performance of the better performing underlying. |
| ▪ | In order to obtain the modified exposure to the worst performing underlying that the notes provide, investors must be willing to accept (i) an investment that may have limited or no liquidity and (ii) the risk of not receiving any amount due under the notes if we and Citigroup Inc. default on our obligations. All payments 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. |
| Underlyings: | Underlying | Initial underlying value* |
| iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (ticker symbol: “EEM”) | $ | |
| EURO STOXX 50® Index (ticker symbol: “SX5E”) | ||
| * For each underlying, its closing value on the pricing date | ||
| Aggregate stated principal amount: | $ | ||
| Stated principal amount: | $1,000 per note | ||
| Pricing date: | May 26, 2022 | ||
| Issue date: | June 1, 2022 | ||
| Valuation date: | May 26, 2026, subject to postponement if such date is not a scheduled trading day or if certain market disruption events occur | ||
| Maturity date: | May 29, 2026 | ||
| Payment at maturity: | For each note you hold at maturity, the $1,000 stated principal amount plus the note return amount, which will be either zero or positive | ||
| Note return amount: |
▪
If the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying is greater than its initial underlying value: ▪
If the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying is less than or equal to its initial underlying
value: | ||
| Final underlying value: | For each underlying, its closing value on the valuation date | ||
| Worst performing underlying: | The underlying with the lowest underlying return | ||
| Upside participation rate: | 100% to 125% (to be determined on the pricing date) | ||
| Underlying return: | For each underlying, (i) its final minus its initial underlying value, divided by (ii) its initial underlying value | ||
| Listing: | The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange | ||
| CUSIP / ISIN: | 17330FE49 / US17330FE490 | ||
| Underwriter: | Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”), an affiliate of the issuer, acting as principal | ||
| Underwriting fee and issue price: | Issue price(1) | Underwriting fee(2) | Proceeds to issuer(3) |
| Per note: | $1,000 | $11.25 | $988.75 |
| Total: | $ | $ | $ |
(1) Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. currently expects that the estimated value of the notes on the pricing date will be at least $885.00 per note, which will 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 will receive an underwriting fee of up to $11.25 for each 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. For more information on the distribution of the notes, see “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” in this pricing supplement. 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.
Investing in the notes involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. See “Summary Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-5.
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 product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
You should read this pricing supplement together with the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below:
Product Supplement No. EA-03-08 dated May 11, 2021 Underlying Supplement No. 10 dated May 11, 2021
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. |
Additional Information
The terms of the notes are set forth in the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, as supplemented by this pricing supplement. The accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus contain important disclosures that are not repeated in this pricing supplement. For example, the accompanying product supplement contains important information about how the closing value of each underlying will be determined and about adjustments that may be made to the terms of the notes upon the occurrence of market disruption events and other specified events with respect to each underlying. The accompanying underlying supplement contains information about each underlying that is not repeated in this pricing supplement. It is important that you read the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus together with this pricing supplement in deciding whether to invest in the notes. Certain terms used but not defined in this pricing supplement are defined in the accompanying product supplement.
Closing Value. The “closing value” of an underlying on any date is (i) in the case of an underlying that is an underlying index, its closing level on such date and (ii) in the case of an underlying that is an underlying ETF, the closing price of its underlying shares on such date, as provided in the accompanying product supplement. The “underlying shares” of an underlying ETF are its shares that are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange. Please see the accompanying product supplement for more information.
| PS-2 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Payout Diagram
The diagram below illustrates your payment at maturity for a range of hypothetical underlying returns of the worst performing underlying. The diagram assumes that the upside participation rate will be set at the lowest value indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement. The actual upside participation rate will be determined on the pricing date.
Investors in the notes will not receive any dividends with respect to the underlyings. The diagram and examples below do not show any effect of lost dividend yield over the term of the notes. See “Summary Risk Factors—You will not receive dividends or have any other rights with respect to the underlyings” below.
| Market-Linked Notes Payment at Maturity Diagram | |
 | |
| n The Notes | n The Worst Performing Underlying |
| PS-3 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Hypothetical Examples
The examples below illustrate how to determine the payment at maturity on the notes. The examples below are for illustrative purposes, do not show all possible outcomes and are not a prediction of any payment that may be made on the notes. The examples below are based on the following hypothetical initial underlying values and do not reflect the actual initial underlying values of the underlyings. For the actual initial underlying value of each underlying, see the cover page of this pricing supplement. We have used these hypothetical values, rather than the actual initial underlying values, to simplify the calculations and aid understanding of how the notes work. However, you should understand that the actual payment on the notes will be calculated based on the actual initial underlying value of each underlying, and not the hypothetical initial underlying values indicated below. For ease of analysis, figures below have been rounded. The examples below assume that the upside participation rate will be set at the lowest value indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement. The actual upside participation rate will be determined on the pricing date.
| Underlying | Hypothetical initial underlying value |
| iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | $100 |
| EURO STOXX 50® Index | 100 |
The examples below are intended to illustrate how your payment at maturity will depend on the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying. Your actual payment at maturity per note will depend on the actual final underlying value of the worst performing underlying.
Example 1—Upside Scenario A. The final underlying value of the worst performing underlying is 105, resulting in a 5% underlying return for the worst performing underlying. In this example, the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying value of the worst performing underlying is greater than its initial underlying value.
| Underlying | Hypothetical final underlying value | Hypothetical underlying return |
| iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | $150 | 50% |
| EURO STOXX 50® Index* | 105 | 5% |
* Worst performing underlying
Payment at maturity per note = $1,000 + the note return amount
= $1,000 + ($1,000 × the underlying return of the worst performing underlying × the upside participation rate)
= $1,000 + ($1,000 × 5% × 100%)
= $1,000 + $50.00
= $1,050.00
In this scenario, the worst performing underlying has appreciated from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value, and your total return at maturity would equal the underlying return of the worst performing underlying multiplied by the upside participation rate.
Example 2—Upside Scenario B. The final underlying value of the worst performing underlying is 150, resulting in a 50% underlying return for the worst performing underlying.
| Underlying | Hypothetical final underlying value | Hypothetical underlying return |
| iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | $150 | 50% |
| EURO STOXX 50® Index | 170 | 70% |
* Worst performing underlying
Payment at maturity per note = $1,000 + the note return amount
= $1,000 + ($1,000 × the underlying return of the worst performing underlying × the upside participation rate)
= $1,000 + ($1,000 × 50% × 100%)
= $1,000 + $500
= $1,500
| PS-4 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
In this example the notes would underperform a hypothetical alternative investment providing 1-to-1 exposure to the positive performance of the worst performing underlying.
Example 3—Par Scenario. The final underlying value of the worst performing underlying is 90, resulting in a -10% underlying return for the worst performing underlying.
| Underlying | Hypothetical final underlying value | Hypothetical underlying return |
| iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | $90 | -10% |
| EURO STOXX 50® Index | 115 | 15% |
* Worst performing underlying
Payment at maturity per note = $1,000 + the note return amount
= $1,000 + $0
= $1,000
In this scenario, the worst performing underlying has depreciated from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value, and your payment at maturity per note would equal the stated principal amount per note.
| PS-5 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Summary Risk Factors
An investment in the notes is significantly riskier than an investment in conventional debt securities. The notes are subject to all of the risks associated with an investment in our conventional debt securities (guaranteed by Citigroup Inc.), including the risk that we and Citigroup Inc. may default on our obligations under the notes, and are also subject to risks associated with the worst performing underlying. Accordingly, the notes are suitable only for investors who are capable of understanding the complexities and risks of the notes. You should consult your own financial, tax and legal advisors as to the risks of an investment in the notes and the suitability of the notes in light of your particular circumstances.
The following is a summary of certain key risk factors for investors in the notes. You should read this summary together with the more detailed description of risks relating to an investment in the notes contained in the section “Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” beginning on page EA-6 in the accompanying product supplement. You should also carefully read 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.
| ▪ | You may not receive any return on your investment in the notes. You will receive a positive return on your investment in the notes only if the worst performing underlying appreciates from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value. If the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying is equal to or less than its initial underlying value, you will receive only the stated principal amount for each note you hold at maturity. As the notes do not pay any interest, even if the worst performing underlying appreciates from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value, there is no assurance that your total return at maturity on the notes will be as great as could have been achieved on conventional debt securities of ours of comparable maturity. |
| ▪ | The notes do not pay interest. Unlike conventional debt securities, the notes do not pay interest or any other amounts prior to maturity. You should not invest in the notes if you seek current income during the term of the notes. |
| ▪ | Although the notes provide for the repayment of the stated principal amount at maturity, you may nevertheless suffer a loss on your investment in real value terms if the worst performing underlying declines or does not appreciate sufficiently from its initial underlying value to its final underlying value. This is because inflation may cause the real value of the stated principal amount to be less at maturity than it is at the time you invest, and because an investment in the notes represents a forgone opportunity to invest in an alternative asset that does generate a positive real return. This potential loss in real value terms is significant given the term of the notes. You should carefully consider whether an investment that may not provide for any return on your investment, or may provide a return that is lower than the return on alternative investments, is appropriate for you. |
| ▪ | The notes are subject to the risks of both of the underlyings and will be negatively affected if either of the underlyings performs poorly, even if the other underlying performs well. You are subject to risks associated with both of the underlyings. If either of the underlyings performs poorly, you will be negatively affected, even if the other underlying performs well. The notes are not linked to a basket composed of the underlyings, where the better performance of one could ameliorate the poor performance of the other. Instead, you are subject to the full risks of whichever of the underlyings is the worst performing underlying. |
| ▪ | You will not benefit in any way from the performance of the better performing underlying. The return on the notes depends solely on the performance of the worst performing underlying, and you will not benefit in any way from the performance of the better performing underlying. The notes may underperform a similar investment in both of the underlyings or a similar alternative investment linked to a basket composed of the underlyings, since in either such case the performance of the better performing underlying would be blended with the performance of the worst performing underlying, resulting in a better return than the return of the worst performing underlying. |
| ▪ | You will be subject to risks relating to the relationship between the underlyings. It is preferable from your perspective for the underlyings to be correlated with each other, in the sense that they tend to increase or decrease at similar times and by similar magnitudes. By investing in the notes, you assume the risk that the underlyings will not exhibit this relationship. The less correlated the underlyings, the more likely it is that either one of the underlyings will perform poorly over the term of the notes. All that is necessary for the notes to perform poorly is for one of the underlyings to perform poorly; the performance of the underlying that is not the worst performing underlying is not relevant to your return on the notes at maturity. It is impossible to predict what the relationship between the underlyings will be over the term of the notes. |
| ▪ | You will not receive dividends or have any other rights with respect to the underlyings. The payment scenarios described in this pricing supplement do not show any effect of lost dividend yield over the term of the notes. If the worst performing underlying appreciates, or if it depreciates by up to the dividend yield, this lost dividend yield may cause the notes to underperform an alternative investment providing for a pass-through of dividends and 1-to-1 exposure to the performance of the worst performing underlying or its component companies. |
| PS-6 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| ▪ | Your payment at maturity depends on the closing value of the worst performing underlying on a single day. Because your payment at maturity depends on the closing value of the worst performing underlying solely on the valuation date, you are subject to the risk that the closing value of the worst performing underlying on that day may be lower, and possibly significantly lower, than on one or more other dates during the term of the notes. If you had invested directly in the worst performing underlying or in another instrument linked to the worst performing underlying that you could sell for full value at a time selected by you, or if the payment at maturity were based on an average of the closing values of the worst performing underlying throughout the term of the notes, you might have achieved better returns. |
| ▪ | The notes are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and Citigroup Inc. If we default on our obligations under the notes and Citigroup Inc. defaults on its guarantee obligations, you may not receive anything owed to you under 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. |
| ▪ | Sale of the notes prior to maturity 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. The value of the notes may fluctuate during the term of the notes, and if you are able to sell your notes prior to maturity, you may receive less than the full stated principal amount of your notes. |
| ▪ | The estimated value of the notes on the pricing date, based on CGMI’s proprietary pricing models and our internal funding rate, will be less than the issue price. The difference 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, and correlation between, the closing values of the underlyings, dividend yields on the underlyings and interest rates. CGMI’s views on these inputs 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 an interest rate that we will pay to investors in the notes, which do not bear interest. 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 |
| PS-7 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
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 value and volatility of the closing values of the underlyings and a number of other factors, including the price and volatility of the underlyings, the correlation between the underlyings, the dividend yields on the underlyings, interest rates generally, the time remaining to maturity and our and Citigroup Inc.’s creditworthiness, as reflected in our secondary market rate. Changes in the levels of the underlyings 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. |
| ▪ | The EURO STOXX 50® Index and iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF are subject to risks associated with non-U.S. markets, and the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, in particular, is subject to risks associated with emerging markets. Investments linked to the value of non-U.S. stocks involve risks associated with the securities markets in those countries, including risks of volatility in those markets, governmental intervention in those markets and cross-shareholdings in companies in certain countries. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about companies in some of these jurisdictions than about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC. Further, non-U.S. companies are generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements and securities trading rules that are different from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies. The prices of securities in foreign markets may be affected by political, economic, financial and social factors in those countries, or global regions, including changes in government, economic and fiscal policies and currency exchange laws. Moreover, the economies in such countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the economy of the United States in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency. |
With respect to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, stocks issued by companies in emerging markets may be subject to heightened risks, including risks of relatively unstable governments, nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership, prohibitions on the repatriation of assets and less protection of property rights. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a few industries, be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions and suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially increasing price volatility.
| ▪ | The performance of the EURO STOXX 50® Index will not be adjusted for changes in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar. The EURO STOXX 50® Index is composed of stocks traded in euro, the value of which may be subject to a high degree of fluctuation relative to the U.S. dollar. However, the performance of the EURO STOXX 50® Index and the value of your notes will not be adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations. If the euro appreciates relative to the U.S. dollar over the term of the notes, the performance of the EURO STOXX 50® Index as measured for purposes of the notes will be less than it would have been if it offered exposure to that appreciation in addition to the change in the euro prices of the stocks included in the EURO STOXX 50® Index. |
| ▪ | Fluctuations in exchange rates will affect the closing value of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF. Because the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF includes stocks that trade outside the United States and the closing value of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is based on the U.S. dollar value of those stocks, the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is subject to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies in which such stocks trade. Exchange rate movements may be volatile and may be driven by numerous factors specific to the relevant countries, including the supply of, and the demand for, the applicable currencies, as well as government policy and intervention and macroeconomic factors. Exchange rate movements may also be influenced significantly by speculative trading. In general, if the U.S. dollar strengthens against the |
| PS-8 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
currencies in which the stocks included in the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF trade, the closing value of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF will be adversely affected for that reason alone.
| ▪ | Our offering of the notes does not constitute a recommendation of the underlyings. The fact that we are offering the notes does not mean that we believe that investing in an instrument linked to the underlyings is likely to achieve favorable returns. In fact, as we are part of a global financial institution, our affiliates may have positions (including short positions) in the underlyings or in instruments related to the underlyings or such stocks, and may publish research or express opinions, that in each case are inconsistent with an investment linked to the underlyings. These and other activities of our affiliates may affect the closing values of the underlyings in a way that has a negative impact on your interests as a holder of the notes. |
| ▪ | The closing values of the underlyings may be adversely affected by our or our affiliates’ hedging and other trading activities. We expect to hedge our obligations under the notes through CGMI or other of our affiliates, who may take positions directly in the underlyings and other financial instruments related to the underlyings or such stocks and may adjust such positions during the term of the notes. Our affiliates also trade the underlyings and other financial instruments related to the underlyings or such stocks on a regular basis (taking long or short positions or both), for their accounts, for other accounts under their management or to facilitate transactions on behalf of customers. These activities could affect the closing values of the underlyings in a way that negatively affects the value of the notes. They could also result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the notes declines. |
| ▪ | We and our affiliates may have economic interests that are adverse to yours as a result of our affiliates’ business activities. Our affiliates engage in business activities with a wide range of companies. These activities include extending loans, making and facilitating investments, underwriting securities offerings and providing advisory services. These activities could involve or affect the underlyings in a way that negatively affects the value of and your return on the notes. They could also result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the notes declines. In addition, in the course of this business, we or our affiliates may acquire non-public information, which will not be disclosed to you. |
| ▪ | The calculation agent, which is an affiliate of ours, will make important determinations with respect to the notes. If certain events occur, such as market disruption events or the discontinuance of an underlying, CGMI, as calculation agent, will be required to make discretionary judgments that could significantly affect your payment at maturity. In making these judgments, the calculation agent’s interests as an affiliate of ours could be adverse to your interests as a holder of the notes. |
| § | In the case of an underlying that is an underlying ETF, even if the underlying pays a dividend that it identifies as special or extraordinary, no adjustment will be required under the notes for that dividend unless it meets the criteria specified in the accompanying product supplement. In general, an adjustment will not be made under the terms of the notes for any cash dividend paid by the underlying unless the amount of the dividend per share, together with any other dividends paid in the same quarter, exceeds the dividend paid per share in the most recent quarter by an amount equal to at least 10% of the closing value of that underlying on the date of declaration of the dividend. Any dividend will reduce the closing value of the underlying by the amount of the dividend per share. If the underlying pays any dividend for which an adjustment is not made under the terms of the notes, holders of the notes will be adversely affected. See “Description of the Securities—Certain Additional Terms for Securities Linked to an Underlying Company or an Underlying ETF—Dilution and Reorganization Adjustments—Certain Extraordinary Cash Dividends” in the accompanying product supplement. |
| § | In the case of an underlying that is an underlying ETF, the notes will not be adjusted for all events that may have a dilutive effect on or otherwise adversely affect the closing value of the underlying. For example, we will not make any adjustment for ordinary dividends or extraordinary dividends that do not meet the criteria described above, partial tender offers or additional underlying share issuances. Moreover, the adjustments we do make may not fully offset the dilutive or adverse effect of the particular event. Investors in the notes may be adversely affected by such an event in a circumstance in which a direct holder of the underlying shares of the underlying would not. |
| § | In the case of an underlying that is an underlying ETF, the notes may become linked to an underlying other than the original underlying upon the occurrence of a reorganization event or upon the delisting of the underlying shares of that original underlying. For example, if the underlying enters into a merger agreement that provides for holders of its underlying shares to receive shares of another entity and such shares are marketable securities, the closing value of that underlying following consummation of the merger will be based on the value of such other shares. Additionally, if the underlying shares of the underlying are delisted, the calculation agent may select a successor underlying. See “Description of the Securities—Certain Additional Terms for Securities Linked to an Underlying Company or an Underlying ETF” in the accompanying product supplement. |
| § | In the case of the underlying that is an underlying ETF, the value and performance of the underlying shares of the underlying may not completely track the performance of the underlying index that the underlying seeks to track or the net asset value per share of the underlying. In the case of the underlying that is an underlying ETF, the underlying does not fully replicate the underlying index that it seeks to track and may hold securities different from those included in its underlying index. In addition, the performance of the underlying will reflect additional transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation |
| PS-9 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
of its underlying index. All of these factors may lead to a lack of correlation between the performance of the underlying and its underlying index. In addition, corporate actions with respect to the equity securities held by the underlying (such as mergers and spin-offs) may impact the variance between the performance of the underlying and its underlying index. Finally, because the underlying shares are traded on an exchange and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the closing value of the underlying may differ from the net asset value per share of the underlying.
During periods of market volatility, securities included in the underlying’s underlying index may be unavailable in the secondary market, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately the net asset value per share of the underlying and the liquidity of the underlying may be adversely affected. This kind of market volatility may also disrupt the ability of market participants to create and redeem shares of the underlying. Further, market volatility may adversely affect, sometimes materially, the price at which market participants are willing to buy and sell the underlying shares. As a result, under these circumstances, the closing value of the underlying may vary substantially from the net asset value per share of the underlying. For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the underlying may not correlate with the performance of its underlying index and/or its net asset value per share, which could materially and adversely affect the value of the notes and/or reduce your return on the notes.
| ▪ | Changes that affect the underlyings may affect the value of your notes. The sponsors of the underlyings may at any time make methodological changes or other changes in the manner in which they operate that could affect the value of the underlyings. We are not affiliated with any such underlying sponsor and, accordingly, we have no control over any changes any such sponsor may make. Such changes could adversely affect the performance of the underlyings and the value of and your return on the notes. |
| PS-10 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Information About the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
The iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in emerging markets, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index was developed by MSCI Inc. as an equity benchmark for international stock performance, and is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets.
The iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is an investment portfolio managed by iShares® Inc. BlackRock Fund Advisors is the investment adviser to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF. iShares®, Inc. is a registered investment company that consists of numerous separate investment portfolios, including the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF.
Information provided to or filed with the SEC by iShares®, Inc. pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, can be located by reference to SEC file numbers 033-97598 and 811-09102, respectively, through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, information may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, press releases, newspaper articles and other publicly disseminated documents. The underlying shares of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF trade on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “EEM.”
Please refer to the section “Fund Descriptions— The iShares® ETFs” in the accompanying underlying supplement for additional information.
We have derived all information regarding the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF from publicly available information and have not independently verified any information regarding the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF. This pricing supplement relates only to the notes and not to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF. We make no representation as to the performance of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF over the term of the notes.
The notes represent obligations of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. (guaranteed by Citigroup Inc.) only. The sponsor of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is not involved in any way in this offering and has no obligation relating to the notes or to holders of the notes.
Historical Information
The closing value of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF on April 20, 2022 was $43.60.
The graph below shows the closing value of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF for each day such value was available from January 3, 2012 to April 20, 2022. We obtained the closing values from Bloomberg L.P., without independent verification. You should not take historical closing values as an indication of future performance.
| iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF – Historical Closing Values January 3, 2012 to April 20, 2022 |
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| PS-11 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
Information About the EURO STOXX 50® Index
The EURO STOXX 50® Index is composed of 50 component stocks of market sector leaders from within the EURO STOXX® Supersector indices, which represent the Eurozone portion of the STOXX Europe 600® Supersector indices. The STOXX Europe 600® Supersector indices contain the 600 largest stocks traded on the major exchanges of certain European countries. The EURO STOXX 50® Index is calculated and maintained by STOXX Limited.
Please refer to the section “Equity Index Descriptions—The EURO STOXX 50® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement for additional information.
We have derived all information regarding the EURO STOXX 50® Index from publicly available information and have not independently verified any information regarding the EURO STOXX 50® Index. This pricing supplement relates only to the notes and not to the EURO STOXX 50® Index. We make no representation as to the performance of the EURO STOXX 50® Index over the term of the notes.
The notes represent obligations of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. (guaranteed by Citigroup Inc.) only. The sponsor of the EURO STOXX 50® Index is not involved in any way in this offering and has no obligation relating to the notes or to holders of the notes.
Historical Information
The closing value of the EURO STOXX 50® Index on April 20, 2022 was 3,896.81.
The graph below shows the closing value of the EURO STOXX 50® Index for each day such value was available from January 3, 2012 to April 20, 2022. We obtained the closing values from Bloomberg L.P., without independent verification. You should not take the historical closing values as an indication of future performance.
| EURO STOXX 50® Index – Historical Closing Values January 3, 2012 to April 20, 2022 |
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| PS-12 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
United States Federal Tax Considerations
In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the notes will be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as described in the section of the accompanying product supplement called “United States Federal Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Notes Treated as Contingent Payment Debt Instruments,” and the remaining discussion is based on this treatment.
If you are a U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying product supplement), you will be required to recognize interest income during the term of the notes at the “comparable yield,” which generally is the yield at which we could issue a fixed-rate debt instrument with terms similar to those of the notes, including the level of subordination, term, timing of payments and general market conditions, but excluding any adjustments for the riskiness of the contingencies or the liquidity of the notes. We are required to construct a “projected payment schedule” in respect of the notes representing a payment the amount and timing of which would produce a yield to maturity on the notes equal to the comparable yield. Assuming you hold the notes until their maturity, the amount of interest you include in income based on the comparable yield in the taxable year in which the notes mature will be adjusted upward or downward to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and projected payment on the notes at maturity as determined under the projected payment schedule.
Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of the notes prior to maturity, you generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds received and your adjusted tax basis in the notes. Your adjusted tax basis will equal your purchase price for the notes, increased by interest previously included in income on the notes. Any gain generally will be treated as ordinary income, and any loss generally will be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of prior interest inclusions on the note and as capital loss thereafter.
We have determined that the comparable yield for a note is a rate of %, compounded semi-annually, and that the projected payment schedule with respect to a note consists of a single payment of $ at maturity.
Neither the comparable yield nor the projected payment schedule constitutes a representation by us regarding the actual amount that we will pay on the notes.
Non-U.S. Holders. Subject to the discussions below regarding Section 871(m) and in “United States Federal Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” and “—FATCA” in the accompanying product supplement, if you are a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying product supplement) of the notes, under current law you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding or income tax in respect of any payment on or any amount received on the sale, exchange or retirement of the notes, provided that (i) income in respect of the notes is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and (ii) you comply with the applicable certification requirements. See “United States Federal Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” in the accompanying product supplement for a more detailed discussion of the rules applicable to Non-U.S. Holders of the notes.
As discussed under “United States Federal Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” in the accompanying product supplement, Section 871(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities (“ U.S. Underlying Securities”) or indices that include U.S. Underlying Securities. Section 871(m) generally applies to instruments that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more U.S. Underlying Securities, as determined based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations. However, the regulations, as modified by an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) notice, exempt financial instruments issued prior to January 1, 2023 that do not have a “delta” of one. Based on the terms of the notes and representations provided by us as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, our counsel is of the opinion that the notes should not be treated as transactions that have a “delta” of one within the meaning of the regulations with respect to any U.S. Underlying Security and, therefore, should not be subject to withholding tax under Section 871(m). However, the final determination regarding the treatment of the notes under Section 871(m) will be made as of the pricing date for the notes, and it is possible that the notes will be subject to withholding under Section 871(m) based on the circumstances as of that date.
A determination that the notes are not subject to Section 871(m) is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this treatment. Moreover, Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including your other transactions. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the notes.
If withholding tax applies to the notes, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.
You should read the section entitled “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product 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.
| PS-13 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
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.
Supplemental Plan of Distribution
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 $11.25 for each note sold in this offering. The actual underwriting fee will be equal to the selling concession provided to selected dealers, as described in this paragraph. From this underwriting fee, CGMI will pay selected dealers not affiliated with CGMI a variable selling concession of up to $11.25 for each note they sell.
CGMI is an affiliate of ours. Accordingly, this offering will conform with the requirements addressing conflicts of interest when distributing the notes of an affiliate set forth in Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Client accounts over which Citigroup Inc. or its subsidiaries have investment discretion will not be 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 product supplement and “Plan of Distribution” in each of the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus for additional information.
A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the notes will be used to hedge our obligations under the notes. We expect to hedge our obligations under the notes through CGMI or other of our affiliates. CGMI or such other of our affiliates may profit from this expected hedging activity even if the value of the notes declines. This hedging activity could affect the closing values of the underlyings and, therefore, the value of and your return on the notes. For additional information on the ways in which our counterparties may hedge our obligations under the notes, see “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying prospectus.
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 “Summary 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 or 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. As of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, it is uncertain what the estimated value of the notes will be on the pricing date because it is uncertain what the values of the inputs to CGMI’s proprietary pricing models will be 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 “Summary 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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| PS-14 |