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 MAY 2, 2016

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.

May ----- , 2016

Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series N

Pricing Supplement No. 2016-USNCH0044

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration Statement Nos. 333-192302 and 333-192302-06

Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019

Overview 

The securities 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 securities do not pay interest and do not repay a fixed amount of principal at maturity. Instead, the securities offer a payment at maturity that may be greater than, equal to or less than the stated principal amount, depending on the performance of a basket (the “basket”) consisting of the S&P 500 ® Index, the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index and the Nikkei 225 Index (each, a “basket component”), from the initial basket level to the final basket level.

The securities offer modified exposure to the performance of the basket, with (i) a minimum positive return at maturity if the level of the basket remains the same or appreciates at all from the initial basket level to the final basket level, (ii) 1-to-1 participation in any appreciation of the basket in excess of the minimum positive return and (iii) contingent repayment of the stated principal amount at maturity if, and only if, the basket does not depreciate by more than 20.00%. In exchange, investors in the securities must be willing to forgo any dividends that may be paid on the stocks that constitute the basket components. In addition, investors in the securities must be willing to accept full downside exposure to the basket if the basket depreciates by more than 20.00%. If the basket depreciates by more than 20.00% from the pricing date to the valuation date, you will lose 1% of the stated principal amount of your securities for every 1% by which the final basket level is less than the initial basket level. There is no minimum payment at maturity.

In order to obtain the modified exposure to the basket that the securities 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 securities if we and Citigroup Inc. default on our obligations. All payments on the securities 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 securities are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Citigroup Inc.
Basket: Basket Component Weighting Initial Component Level*
  S&P 500 ® Index (ticker symbol: “SPX”) 33.34%  
  EURO STOXX 50 ® Index (ticker symbol: “SX5E”) 33.33%  
  Nikkei 225 Index (ticker symbol: “NKY”) 33.33%  
  *  The initial component level for each basket component will be the closing level of that basket component on the pricing date
Aggregate stated principal amount: $
Stated principal amount: $1,000 per security
Pricing date: May     , 2016 (expected to be May 26, 2016)
Issue date: June     , 2016 (three business days after the pricing date)
Valuation date: November     , 2019 (expected to be November 26, 2019), subject to postponement if such date is not a scheduled trading day or if certain market disruption events occur with respect to a basket component
Maturity date: December     , 2019 (expected to be December 2, 2019)
Payment at maturity:

For each $1,000 stated principal amount security you hold at maturity:

  If the final basket level is greater than or equal to the initial basket level:
$1,000 + the greater of (i) the fixed return amount and (ii) $1,000 × the basket percent increase  

   If the final basket level is less than the initial basket level but greater than or equal to the barrier level: $1,000

  If the final basket level is less than the barrier level: $1,000 × the basket performance factor  

If the final basket level is less than the barrier level, your payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than $800.00 per security. You should not invest in the securities unless you are willing and able to bear the risk of losing a significant portion of your investment.

Initial basket level: 100
Final basket level: 100 × [1 + (component return of SPX × 33.34%) + (component return of SX5E × 33.33%) + (component return of NKY × 33.33%)]
Component return: For each basket component: (final component level – initial component level) / initial component level
Final component level: For each basket component, its closing level on the valuation date
Fixed return amount: $150.00 to $200.00 per security (15.00% to 20.00% of the stated principal amount), to be determined on the pricing date. You will receive the fixed return amount only if the final basket level is greater than or equal to the initial basket level.
Basket performance factor: The final basket level divided by the initial basket level
Basket percent increase: The final basket level minus the initial basket level, divided by the initial basket level
Barrier level: 80, 80.00% of the initial basket level
Listing: The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.
CUSIP / ISIN: 17324C3F1 / US17324C3F10
Underwriter: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”), an affiliate of the issuer, acting as principal

Underwriting fee and issue price: Issue price (1)(2) Underwriting fee (3) Proceeds to issuer (3)
Per security: $1,000.00 $22.50 $977.50
Total: $ $ $

(1) Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. currently expects that the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date will be at least $900.00 per security, which will be less than the issue price. The estimated value of the securities 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 securities from you at any time after issuance. See “Valuation of the Securities” in this pricing supplement.

(2) The issue price for investors purchasing the securities in fee-based advisory accounts will be $977.50 per security, assuming no custodial fee is charged by a selected dealer, and up to $982.50 per security, assuming the maximum custodial fee is charged by a selected dealer. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” in this pricing supplement. 

(3) For more information on the distribution of the securities, 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 securities declines. See “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying prospectus.

Investing in the securities involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. See “Summary Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-4.  

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities 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 following hyperlinks: Product Supplement No. EA-02-04 dated March 8, 2016                   Underlying Supplement No. 4 dated March 8, 2016

Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus, each dated March 7, 2016  

The securities 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.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

Additional Information

 

General. The terms of the securities 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, certain events may occur that could affect your payment at maturity. These events and their consequences are described in the accompanying product supplement in the sections “Description of the Securities—Certain Additional Terms for Securities Linked to an Underlying Index—Consequences of a Market Disruption Event; Postponement of a Valuation Date” and “—Discontinuance or Material Modification of an Underlying Index,” and not in this pricing supplement. The accompanying underlying supplement contains important disclosures regarding each of the basket components that are 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 before deciding whether to invest in the securities. Certain terms used but not defined in this pricing supplement are defined in the accompanying product supplement.

 

Postponement of the valuation date. If the valuation date is postponed for a reason that affects one but not all of the basket components, the final basket level will be calculated based on (i) for any unaffected basket component, its closing level on the originally scheduled valuation date and (ii) for any affected basket component, its closing level on the valuation date as postponed (or, if earlier, the first scheduled trading day for that basket component following the originally scheduled valuation date on which a market disruption event did not occur with respect to that basket component).

 

Hypothetical Examples

 

The diagram below illustrates your payment at maturity for a range of hypothetical percentage changes from the initial basket level to the final basket level. The diagram and examples below are based on a hypothetical fixed return at maturity of 15.00%, which is equivalent to a hypothetical fixed return amount of $150.00 per security. The actual fixed return amount will be determined on the pricing date.

 

Investors in the securities will not receive any dividends that may be paid on the stocks that are included in any basket component. The diagram and examples below do not show any effect of lost dividend yield over the term of the securities. See “Summary Risk Factors—Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the basket components” below.

 

Barrier Digital Plus Securities
Payment at Maturity Diagram
n The Securities       n The Basket

 

May 2016 PS- 2

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

Your actual payment at maturity per security will depend on the actual fixed return amount, which will be determined on the pricing date, and the actual final basket level, which will depend on the actual closing level of each basket component on the valuation date. The examples below are intended to illustrate how your payment at maturity will depend on whether the final basket level is greater than or less than the initial basket level and by how much. Hypothetical values in the examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.

 

Example 1—Upside Scenario A. The hypothetical final basket level is 105.00 (an approximately 5.00% increase from the hypothetical initial basket level), which is greater than the hypothetical initial basket level by less than the hypothetical fixed return of 15.00%.

 

Basket Component Hypothetical Initial Component Level Hypothetical Final Component Level Hypothetical Component Return
S&P 500 ® Index 2,100.00 2,205.00 5.00%
EURO STOXX 50 ® Index 3,100.00 2,945.00 -5.00%
Nikkei 225 Index 17,000.00 19,550.00 15.00%
Hypothetical Final Basket Level: 100.00 × [1 + (5.00% × 33.34%) + (-5.00% × 33.33%) + (15.00% × 33.33%)] = 105.00

 

Payment at maturity per security = $1,000 + the greater of (i) the hypothetical fixed return amount and (ii) $1,000 × the basket percent increase

 

= $1,000 + the greater of (i) $150.00 and (ii) $1,000 × 5.00%

 

= $1,000 + $150.00

 

= $1,150.00

 

Because the basket appreciated from the hypothetical initial basket level to the hypothetical final basket level and the hypothetical fixed return amount is greater than the 5.00% return you would have received based on the performance of the basket, your total return on the securities at maturity in this scenario would equal the hypothetical fixed return of 15.00%.

 

Example 2—Upside Scenario B. The hypothetical final basket level is 125.00 (an approximately 25.00% increase from the hypothetical initial basket level), which is greater than the hypothetical initial basket level by more than the hypothetical fixed return of 15.00%.

 

Basket Component Hypothetical Initial Component Level Hypothetical Final Component Level Hypothetical Component Return
S&P 500 ® Index 2,100.00 2,730.00 30.00%
EURO STOXX 50 ® Index 3,100.00 3,720.00 20.00%
Nikkei 225 Index 17,000.00 21,250.00 25.00%
Hypothetical Final Basket Level: 100.00 × [1 + (30.00% × 33.34%) + (20.00% × 33.33%) + (25.00% × 33.33%)] = 125.00

 

Payment at maturity per security = $1,000 + the greater of (i) the hypothetical fixed return amount and (ii) $1,000 × the basket percent increase

 

= $1,000 + the greater of (i) $150.00 and (ii) $1,000 × 25.00%

 

= $1,000 + $250.00

 

= $1,250.00

 

Because the basket appreciated from the hypothetical initial basket level to the hypothetical final basket level and the 25.00% return based on the performance of the basket is greater than the hypothetical fixed return amount, your total return on the securities at maturity in this scenario would reflect 1-to-1 exposure to the positive performance of the basket.

 

Example 3—Par Scenario. The hypothetical final basket level is 95.00 (an approximately 5.00% decrease from the hypothetical initial basket level), which is less than the hypothetical initial basket level but greater than the hypothetical barrier level.

 

Basket Component Hypothetical Initial Component Level Hypothetical Final Component Level Hypothetical Component Return
S&P 500 ® Index 2,100.00 1,995.00 -5.00%
EURO STOXX 50 ® Index 3,100.00 3,565.00 15.00%
Nikkei 225 Index 17,000.00 12,750.00 -25.00%
Hypothetical Final Basket Level: 100.00 × [1 + (-5.00% × 33.34%) + (15.00% × 33.33%) + (-25.00% × 33.33%)] = 95.00

 

Payment at maturity per security = $1,000

 

Because the basket did not depreciate from the hypothetical initial basket level to the hypothetical final basket level by more than 20.00%, your payment at maturity in this scenario would be equal to the $1,000 stated principal amount per security.

 

May 2016 PS- 3

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

Example 4—Downside Scenario. The hypothetical final basket level is 30.00 (an approximately 70.00% decrease from the hypothetical initial basket level), which is less than the hypothetical barrier level.

 

Basket Component Hypothetical Initial Component Level Hypothetical Final Component Level Hypothetical Component Return
S&P 500 ® Index 2,100.00 525.00 -75.00%
EURO STOXX 50 ® Index 3,100.00 620.00 -80.00%
Nikkei 225 Index 17,000.00 7,650.00 -55.00%
Hypothetical Final Basket Level: 100.00 × [1 + (-75.00% × 33.34%) + (-80.00% × 33.33%) + (-55.00% × 33.33%)] = 30.00

 

Payment at maturity per security = $1,000 × the basket performance factor

 

= $1,000 × 30.00%

 

= $300.00

 

Because the basket depreciated from the hypothetical initial basket level to the hypothetical final basket level by more than 20.00%, the contingent repayment of the stated principal amount at maturity would not apply in this scenario and your payment at maturity would reflect 1-to-1 exposure to the negative performance of the basket.

 

Summary Risk Factors

 

An investment in the securities is significantly riskier than an investment in conventional debt securities. The securities 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 securities, and are also subject to risks associated with the basket components. Accordingly, the securities are suitable only for investors who are capable of understanding the complexities and risks of the securities. You should consult your own financial, tax and legal advisers as to the risks of an investment in the securities and the suitability of the securities in light of your particular circumstances.

 

The following is a summary of certain key risk factors for investors in the securities. You should read this summary together with the more detailed description of risks relating to an investment in the securities contained in the section “Risk Factors Relating to the Securities” 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 lose some or all of your investment. Unlike conventional debt securities, the securities do not repay a fixed amount of principal at maturity. Instead, your payment at maturity will depend on the performance of the basket. If the final basket level is less than the barrier level, you will lose 1% of the stated principal amount of the securities for every 1% by which the final basket level is less than the initial basket level. There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities, and you may lose up to all of your investment.

 

The barrier feature of the securities exposes you to particular risks. If the final basket level is less than the barrier level, the contingent repayment of the stated principal amount at maturity will not apply and you will lose 1% of the stated principal amount of the securities for every 1% by which the final basket level is less than the initial basket level. Therefore, the securities offer no protection at all if the basket depreciates by more than 20.00%. As a result, you may lose your entire investment in the securities.

 

The securities do not pay interest. Unlike conventional debt securities, the securities do not pay interest or any other amounts prior to maturity. You should not invest in the securities if you seek current income during the term of the securities.

 

Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the basket components. You will not have voting rights, rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the stocks included in the basket components. The payment scenarios described in this pricing supplement do not show any effect of lost dividend yield, which could be substantial, over the term of the securities.

 

Your payment at maturity depends on the closing levels of the basket components on a single day. Because your payment at maturity depends solely on the closing levels of the basket components on the valuation date, you are subject to the risk that the closing levels on that day may be lower, and possibly significantly lower, than on one or more other dates during the term of the securities. If you had invested directly in the basket components, or if the payment at maturity were based on an average of the closing levels of the basket components throughout the term of the securities, you might have achieved better returns.

 

The securities are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and Citigroup Inc. If we default on our obligations under the securities and Citigroup Inc. defaults on its guarantee obligations, you may not receive anything owed to you under the securities.

 

May 2016 PS- 4

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and you may not be able to sell them prior to maturity. The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. Therefore, there may be little or no secondary market for the securities. CGMI currently intends to make a secondary market in relation to the securities and to provide an indicative bid price for the securities on a daily basis. Any indicative bid price for the securities 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 securities 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 securities because it is likely that CGMI will be the only broker-dealer that is willing to buy your securities prior to maturity. Accordingly, an investor must be prepared to hold the securities until maturity.

 

The estimated value of the securities 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 securities that are included in the issue price. These costs include (i) the selling concessions paid in connection with the offering of the securities, (ii) hedging and other costs incurred by us and our affiliates in connection with the offering of the securities 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 securities. These costs adversely affect the economic terms of the securities because, if they were lower, the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you. The economic terms of the securities are also likely to be adversely affected by the use of our internal funding rate, rather than our secondary market rate, to price the securities. See “The estimated value of the securities would be lower if it were calculated based on our secondary market rate” below.

 

The estimated value of the securities 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 the basket components, the correlation among the basket components, dividend yields on the stocks included in the basket components 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 securities. Moreover, the estimated value of the securities set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement may differ from the value that we or our affiliates may determine for the securities for other purposes, including for accounting purposes. You should not invest in the securities because of the estimated value of the securities. Instead, you should be willing to hold the securities to maturity irrespective of the initial estimated value.

 

The estimated value of the securities would be lower if it were calculated based on our secondary market rate. The estimated value of the securities 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 securities. 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 securities for purposes of any purchases of the securities 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 securities, 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 securities, 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 securities, but subject to adjustments that CGMI makes in its sole 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 securities prior to maturity.

 

The estimated value of the securities is not an indication of the price, if any, at which CGMI or any other person may be willing to buy the securities from you in the secondary market. Any such secondary market price will fluctuate over the term of the securities 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 securities 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 securities than if our internal funding rate were used. In addition, any secondary market price for the securities will be reduced by a bid-ask spread, which may vary depending on the aggregate stated principal amount of the securities 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 securities will be less than the issue price.

 

The value of the securities prior to maturity will fluctuate based on many unpredictable factors. The value of your securities prior to maturity will fluctuate based on the levels of the basket components and a number of other factors, including the volatility of the basket components, the correlation among the basket components, the dividend yields on the stocks included in the basket components, the volatility of the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and each of the currencies in which the stocks included in

 

May 2016 PS- 5

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

the EURO STOXX ® 50 Index and the Nikkei 225 Index trade, the correlation between those exchange rates and the level of the applicable basket component, 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 basket components may not result in a comparable change in the value of your securities. You should understand that the value of your securities 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 Securities” in this pricing supplement.

 

The basket components may offset each other. The performance of one basket component may not correlate with the performance of the other basket components. If one of the basket components appreciates, the other basket components may not appreciate as much or may even depreciate. In such event, the appreciation of one of the basket components may be moderated, wholly offset or more than offset by lesser appreciation or by depreciation in the level of one or more of the other basket components.

 

The EURO STOXX 50 ® Index is subject to risks associated with the Eurozone. The companies whose stocks constitute the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index are leading companies in the Eurozone. A number of countries in the Eurozone are undergoing a financial crisis affecting their economies, their ability to meet their sovereign financial obligations and their financial institutions. Countries in the Eurozone that are not currently experiencing a financial crisis may do so in the future as a result of developments in other Eurozone countries. The economic ramifications of this financial crisis, and its effects on the companies that make up the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index , are impossible to predict. This uncertainty may contribute to significant volatility in the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index , and adverse developments affecting the Eurozone may affect the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index in a way that adversely affects the value of and return on the securities.

 

The EURO STOXX 50 ® Index and the Nikkei 225 Index are subject to risks associated with foreign equity securities. Investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities 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 foreign companies than about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC, and foreign 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 issued 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.

 

The performance of the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index and the Nikkei 225 Index will not be adjusted for changes in currency exchange rates. The EURO STOXX 50 ® Index is composed of stocks traded in euro and the Nikkei 225 Index is composed of stocks traded in Japanese yen. The value of the euro and the yen may each 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 Nikkei 225 Index and the value of your securities will not be adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations. If the euro and/or the yen appreciates relative to the U.S. dollar over the term of the securities, your return on the securities will underperform an alternative investment that offers exposure to that appreciation in addition to the change in the level of the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index and the Nikkei 225 Index .

 

An investment in the securities is not a diversified investment. The fact that the securities are linked to a basket does not mean that the securities represent a diversified investment. First, although the basket components differ in important respects, they each track the performance of equity markets, and each may perform poorly if there is a global downturn in equity markets. Second, the securities are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and Citigroup Inc. No amount of diversification that may be represented by the basket components will offset the risk that we and Citigroup Inc. may default on our obligations.

 

Our offering of the securities is not a recommendation of the basket or the basket components. The fact that we are offering the securities does not mean that we believe that investing in an instrument linked to the basket or any of the basket components 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 stocks included in the basket components or in instruments related to the basket components or such stocks over the term of the securities, and may publish research or express opinions, that in each case are inconsistent with an investment linked to the basket components. These and other activities of our affiliates may affect the levels of the basket components in a way that has a negative impact on your interests as a holder of the securities.

 

The level of a basket component may be adversely affected by our or our affiliates’ hedging and other trading activities. We expect to hedge our obligations under the securities through CGMI or other of our affiliates, who may take positions directly in the stocks included in the basket components and other financial instruments related to the basket components or the stocks included in the basket components and may adjust such positions during the term of the securities. Our affiliates also trade the

 

May 2016 PS- 6

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

stocks included in the basket components and other related financial instruments 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 levels of the basket components in a way that negatively affects the value of the securities. They could also result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the securities declines.

 

We and our affiliates may have economic interests that are adverse to yours as a result of our affiliates’ business activities. Our affiliates may currently or from time to time engage in business with the companies included in the basket components, including extending loans to, making equity investments in or providing advisory services to such companies. In the course of this business, we or our affiliates may acquire non-public information which we will not disclose to you. Moreover, if any of our affiliates is or becomes a creditor of any such company, they may exercise any remedies against such company that are available to them without regard to your interests.

 

The calculation agent, which is an affiliate of ours, will make important determinations with respect to the securities. If certain events occur, such as market disruption events or the discontinuance of a basket component, 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 securities.

 

Changes that affect the basket components may affect the value of your securities. The sponsors of the basket components may add, delete or substitute the stocks that constitute the basket components or make other methodological changes that could affect the levels of the basket components. Such changes could be made at any time and could adversely affect the performance of the basket components and the value of and your payment at maturity on the securities.

 

The U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities are unclear. There is no direct legal authority regarding the proper U.S. federal tax treatment of the securities, and we do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). Consequently, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the securities are uncertain, and the IRS or a court might not agree with the treatment of the securities as prepaid forward contracts. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment of the securities, the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the securities might be materially and adversely affected. As described below under “United States Federal Tax Considerations,” in 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on various issues regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. Any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including the character and timing of income or loss and the degree, if any, to which income realized by non-U.S. persons should be subject to withholding tax, possibly with retroactive effect. You should read carefully the discussion under “United States Federal Tax Considerations” and “Risk Factors Relating to the Securities” in the accompanying product supplement and “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in this pricing supplement. You should also consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities, as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

May 2016 PS- 7

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

Hypothetical Historical Information About the Basket

 

Because the basket exists solely for purposes of these securities, historical information on the performance of the basket does not exist for dates prior to the pricing date for these securities. The graph below sets forth the hypothetical historical daily levels of the basket for the period from January 3, 2011 to April 28, 2016, assuming that the basket was created on January 3, 2011 with the same basket components and corresponding weights in the basket and with a level of 100 on that date. The hypothetical performance of the basket is based on the actual closing levels of the basket components on the applicable dates. We obtained these closing levels from Bloomberg L.P., without independent verification. Any historical trend in the level of the basket during the period shown below is not an indication of the performance of the basket during the term of the securities.

 

Hypothetical Historical Basket
January 3, 2011 to April 28, 2016

May 2016 PS- 8

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

Information About the Basket Components

 

S&P 500 ® Index

 

The S&P 500 ® Index consists of 500 common stocks selected to provide a performance benchmark for the large capitalization segment of the U.S. equity markets. It is calculated and maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. The S&P 500 ® Index is reported by Bloomberg L.P. under the ticker symbol “SPX.”

 

“Standard & Poor’s,” “S&P” and “S&P 500 ® ” are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC and have been licensed for use by Citigroup Inc. and its affiliates. For more information, see “Equity Index Descriptions—S&P 500 ® Index—License Agreement” in the accompanying underlying supplement. Please refer to the sections “Risk Factors” and “Equity Index Descriptions—S&P 500 ® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement for important disclosures regarding the S&P 500 ® Index, including certain risks that are associated with an investment linked to the S&P 500 ® Index.

 

Historical Information

 

The closing level of the S&P 500 ® Index on April 28, 2016 was 2,075.81.

 

The graph below shows the closing levels of the S&P 500 ® Index for each day such level was available from January 3, 2011 to April 28, 2016. We obtained the closing levels from Bloomberg L.P., without independent verification. You should not take the historical levels of the S&P 500 ® Index as an indication of future performance.

 

S&P 500 ® Index – Historical Closing Levels
January 3, 2011 to April 28, 2016

May 2016 PS- 9

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

EURO STOXX 50 ® Index

 

The EURO STOXX 50 ® Index is composed of 50 component stocks of market sector leaders from within the 19 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 18 European countries. The EURO STOXX 50 ® Index is reported by Bloomberg L.P. under the ticker symbol “SX5E.”

 

STOXX Limited (“STOXX”) and its licensors and CGMI have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to CGMI and its affiliates, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index, which is owned and published by STOXX, in connection with certain financial instruments, including the securities. For more information, see “Equity Index Descriptions—EURO STOXX 50 ® Index—License Agreement with STOXX Limited” in the accompanying underlying supplement.

 

Please refer to the section “Equity Index Descriptions—EURO STOXX 50 ® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement for important disclosures regarding the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index.

 

Historical Information

 

The closing level of the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index on April 28, 2016 was 3,125.43.

 

The graph below shows the closing levels of the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index for each day such level was available from January 3, 2011 to April 28, 2016. We obtained the closing levels from Bloomberg L.P., without independent verification. You should not take the historical levels of the EURO STOXX 50 ® Index as an indication of future performance.

 

EURO STOXX 50 ® Index – Historical Closing Levels
January 3, 2011 to April 28, 2016

May 2016 PS- 10

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

Nikkei 225 Index

 

The Nikkei 225 Index tracks the Tokyo Stock Exchange (the “TSE”) and is widely used as a benchmark of the Japanese Stock Market. It is the average price of 225 stocks listed on the TSE First Section, but it is different from a simple average in that the divisor is adjusted to maintain continuity and reduce the effect of external factors not directly related to the market. The Nikkei 225 Index is calculated and maintained by Nikkei Inc. The Nikkei 225 Index is reported by Bloomberg L.P. under the ticker symbol “NKY.”

 

“Nikkei,” “Nikkei Stock Average,” and “Nikkei 225” are the service marks of Nikkei Inc. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. has entered into an agreement with Nikkei Inc. that provides Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and certain of its affiliates or subsidiaries identified in that agreement with a non-exclusive license and, for a fee, with the right to use the Nikkei 225 Index, which is owned and published by Nikkei Inc. For more information, see “Equity Index Descriptions— Nikkei Stock Average —License Agreement with Nikkei Inc. and Disclaimers” in the accompanying underlying supplement. Please refer to the section “Equity Index Descriptions— Nikkei Stock Average” in the accompanying underlying supplement for important disclosures regarding the Nikkei 225 Index.

 

Historical Information

 

The closing level of the Nikkei 225 Index on April 28, 2016 was 16,666.05.

 

The graph below shows the closing levels of the Nikkei 225 Index for each day such level was available from January 3, 2011 to April 28, 2016. We obtained the closing levels from Bloomberg L.P., without independent verification. You should not take the historical levels of the Nikkei 225 Index as an indication of future performance.

 

Nikkei 225 Index – Historical Closing Levels
January 3, 2011 to April 28, 2016

May 2016 PS- 11

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

United States Federal Tax Considerations

 

You should read carefully the discussion under “United States Federal Tax Considerations” and “Risk Factors Relating to the Securities” in the accompanying product supplement and “Summary Risk Factors” in this pricing supplement.

 

In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, which is based on current market conditions, a security should be treated as a prepaid forward contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes. By purchasing a security, you agree (in the absence of an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary) to this treatment. There is uncertainty regarding this treatment, and the IRS or a court might not agree with it.

 

Assuming this treatment of the securities is respected and subject to the discussion in “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement, the following U.S. federal income tax consequences should result under current law:

 

· You should not recognize taxable income over the term of the securities prior to maturity, other than pursuant to a sale or exchange.

 

· Upon a sale or exchange of a security (including retirement at maturity), you should recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and your tax basis in the security. Such gain or loss should be long-term capital gain or loss if you held the security for more than one year.

 

Subject to the discussion in “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement, if you are a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying product supplement) of the securities, you generally should not be subject to U.S. federal withholding or income tax in respect of any amount paid to you with respect to the securities, provided that (i) income in respect of the securities 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.

 

In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require holders of these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; whether short-term instruments should be subject to any such accrual regime; the relevance of factors such as the exchange-traded status of the instruments and the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose an interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including the character and timing of income or loss and the degree, if any, to which income realized by non-U.S. persons should be subject to withholding tax, possibly with retroactive effect. If withholding tax applies to the securities, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so 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 securities.

 

You should also consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of an investment in the securities 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 securities, is acting as principal and will receive an underwriting fee of $22.50 for each $1,000 security sold in this offering (or up to $5.00 per security in the case of sales to fee-based advisory accounts). The actual underwriting fee will be equal to $22.50 for each $1,000 security sold by CGMI directly to the public and will otherwise be equal to the selling concession provided to selected dealers, as described in this paragraph. CGMI will pay selected dealers not affiliated with CGMI a fixed selling concession of $22.50 for each security they sell to accounts other than fee-based advisory accounts. CGMI will pay selected dealers not affiliated with CGMI, which may include dealers acting as custodians, a variable selling concession of up to $5.00 for each $1,000 security they sell to fee-based advisory accounts. Broker-dealers affiliated with CGMI, including Citi International Financial Services, Citigroup Global Markets Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited, will receive a fixed selling concession, and financial advisers employed by such affiliated broker-dealers will receive a fixed selling concession, of $22.50 for each $1,000 security they sell. CGMI will pay the registered representatives of CGMI a fixed selling concession of $22.50 for each $1,000 security they sell directly to the public.

 

CGMI is an affiliate of ours. Accordingly, this offering will conform with the requirements addressing conflicts of interest when distributing the securities 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 securities, either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the client.

 

May 2016 PS- 12

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

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 securities will be used to hedge our obligations under the securities. We expect to hedge our obligations under the securities 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 securities declines. This hedging activity could affect the closing levels of the basket components and, therefore, the value of and your return on the securities. For additional information on the ways in which our counterparties may hedge our obligations under the securities, see “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Valuation of the Securities

 

CGMI calculated the estimated value of the securities 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 securities by estimating the value of a hypothetical package of financial instruments that would replicate the payout on the securities, which consists of a fixed-income bond (the “bond component”) and one or more derivative instruments underlying the economic terms of the securities (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 securities 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 securities is a function of the terms of the securities 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 securities will be on the pricing date because certain terms of the securities have not yet been fixed and 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 securities, the price, if any, at which CGMI would be willing to buy the securities from investors, and the value that will be indicated for the securities 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 securities. 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 securities from investors at any time. See “Summary Risk Factors—The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and you may not be able to sell them prior to maturity.”

 

Certain Selling Restrictions

 

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

 

The contents of this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (“Hong Kong”). Investors are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If investors are in any doubt about any of the contents of this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, they should obtain independent professional advice.

 

The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document, other than

 

(i) to persons whose ordinary business is to buy or sell shares or debentures (whether as principal or agent); or

 

(ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the “Securities and Futures Ordinance”) and any rules made under that Ordinance; or

 

(iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance; and

 

There is no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the securities which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

 

Non-insured Product: These securities are not insured by any governmental agency. These securities are not bank deposits and are not covered by the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Scheme.

 

May 2016 PS- 13

Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
Barrier Digital Plus Securities Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due December ----- , 2019
 

Singapore

 

This pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the securities will be offered pursuant to exemptions under the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “Securities and Futures Act”). Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold or made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase nor may this pricing supplement or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale or invitation for subscription or purchase of any securities be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (a) to an institutional investor pursuant to Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, (b) to a relevant person under Section 275(1) of the Securities and Futures Act or to any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the Securities and Futures Act and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act, or (c) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the Securities and Futures Act. Where the securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act by a relevant person which is:

 

(a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the Securities and Futures Act) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interests (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the relevant securities pursuant to an offer under Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act except:

 

(i) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the Securities and Futures Act or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the Securities and Futures Act; or

 

(ii) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or

 

(iii) where the transfer is by operation of law; or

 

(iv) pursuant to Section 276(7) of the Securities and Futures Act; or

 

(v) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

 

Any securities referred to herein may not be registered with any regulator, regulatory body or similar organization or institution in any jurisdiction.

 

The securities are Specified Investment Products (as defined in the Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products and Notice on the Sale of Investment Product issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore on 28 July 2011) that is neither listed nor quoted on a securities market or a futures market.

 

Non-insured Product: These securities are not insured by any governmental agency. These securities are not bank deposits. These securities are not insured products subject to the provisions of the Deposit Insurance and Policy Owners’ Protection Schemes Act 2011 of Singapore and are not eligible for deposit insurance coverage under the Deposit Insurance Scheme.

 

Contact

 

Clients may contact their local brokerage representative.

 

© 2016 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. All rights reserved. Citi and Citi and Arc Design are trademarks and service marks of Citigroup Inc. or its affiliates and are used and registered throughout the world.

 

May 2016 PS- 14

Citigroup (NYSE:C)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Citigroup Charts.
Citigroup (NYSE:C)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Citigroup Charts.