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 SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
| ||
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
September , 2018 Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series G Pricing Supplement No. 2018-USNCH1456 Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) Registration Statement Nos. 333-216372 and 333-216372-01 | |
Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020
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 the EURO STOXX 50® Index (the “underlying index”) from the initial index level to the final index level. |
| ▪ | The securities offer modified exposure to the potential appreciation of the underlying index and a contingent buffer against a limited range of potential depreciation of the underlying index as described below. In exchange for the contingent buffer, investors in the securities must be willing to forgo any dividends that may be paid on the stocks that constitute the underlying index. In addition, investors in the securities must be willing to accept full downside exposure to the underlying index, with no buffer, if the underlying index depreciates by more than 25.00%. If the underlying index depreciates by more than 25.00% from the initial index level to the final index level, you will lose 1% of the stated principal amount of your securities for every 1% by which the final index level is less than the initial index level. There is no minimum payment at maturity. |
| ▪ | In order to obtain the modified exposure to the underlying index 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. | ||
| Stated principal amount: | $1,000 per security | ||
| Underlying index: | The EURO STOXX 50® Index (ticker symbol: “SX5E”) | ||
| Aggregate stated principal amount: | $ | ||
| Stated principal amount: | $1,000 per security | ||
| Pricing date: | September , 2018 (expected to be September 7, 2018) | ||
| Issue date: | September , 2018 (three business days after the pricing date). See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” in this pricing supplement for additional information. | ||
| Final valuation dates: | Expected to be March 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2020, each subject to postponement if such date is not a scheduled trading day or if certain market disruption events occur | ||
| Maturity date: | March , 2020 (expected to be March 11, 2020), subject to postponement as described under “Additional Information” below | ||
| Payment at maturity: |
For each $1,000 stated principal amount security you hold at maturity, you will receive the following amount in U.S. dollars:
▪ If the final index level is greater than the initial index level: $1,000 + return amount
▪ If the final index level is less than or equal to the initial index level but greater than or equal to the barrier level: $1,000
▪ If the final index level is less than the barrier level: $1,000 × index performance factor
If the final index level is less than the barrier level, your payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than $750.00 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 index level: | , the closing level of the underlying index on the pricing date | ||
| Final index level: | The arithmetic average of the closing level of the underlying index on each of the final valuation dates | ||
| Index performance factor: | The final index level divided by the initial index level | ||
| Index return: | (i) The final index level minus the initial index level, divided by (ii) the initial index level | ||
| Return amount: | $1,000 × the index return × the upside participation rate | ||
| Upside participation rate: | 141.70% | ||
| Barrier level: | , 75.00% of the initial index level | ||
| Listing: | The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange | ||
| CUSIP / ISIN: | 17326YUE4 / US17326YUE49 | ||
| 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 | $12.50 | $987.50 |
| Total: | $ | $ | $ |
(1) Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. currently expects that the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date will be at least $954.60 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 fiduciary accounts is $987.50 per security.
(3) CGMI will receive an underwriting fee of up to $12.50 for each security sold in this offering. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as placement agents for the securities and, from the underwriting fee to CGMI, will receive a placement fee of $12.50 for each security they sell in this offering to accounts other than fiduciary accounts. CGMI and the placement agents will forgo an underwriting fee and placement fee for sales to fiduciary accounts. 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-5.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 hyperlinks below:
Product Supplement No. EA-02-07 dated June 15, 2018 Underlying Supplement No. 7 dated July 16, 2018
Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus, each dated April 7, 2017
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. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
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 (except as set forth in the next paragraph). The accompanying underlying supplement contains important disclosures regarding the underlying index 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 a Final Valuation Date; Postponement of the Maturity Date. If any scheduled final valuation date is not a scheduled trading day, that final valuation date will be postponed to the next succeeding scheduled trading day. In addition, if a market disruption event occurs on any scheduled final valuation date, the calculation agent may, but is not required to, postpone that final valuation date to the next succeeding scheduled trading day on which a market disruption event does not occur. If any final valuation date is postponed so that it coincides with a subsequent scheduled final valuation date, each such subsequent final valuation date will be postponed to the next succeeding scheduled trading day (subject to further postponement as provided above if a market disruption event occurs on such succeeding scheduled trading day). However, in no event will any scheduled final valuation date be postponed more than five scheduled trading days after that originally scheduled final valuation date as a result of a market disruption event occurring on that scheduled final valuation date or on an earlier scheduled final valuation date (in each case, as any such scheduled final valuation date may be postponed). If the last final valuation date is postponed so that it falls less than three business days prior to the scheduled maturity date, the maturity date will be postponed to the third business day after the last final valuation date as postponed. The provisions in this paragraph supersede the related provisions in the accompanying product supplement to the extent the provisions in this paragraph are inconsistent with those provisions. The terms “scheduled trading day” and “market disruption event” are defined in the accompanying product supplement.
Hypothetical Examples
The diagram below illustrates your payment at maturity for a range of hypothetical percentage changes from the initial index level to the final index level.
Investors in the securities will not receive any dividends that may be paid on the stocks that constitute the underlying index. 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 underlying index or the stocks that constitute the underlying index” below.
| September 2018 | PS-2 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Payment at Maturity Diagram | |
 | |
| n The Securities | n The Underlying Index |
The table and examples below illustrate various hypothetical payments at maturity assuming a hypothetical initial index level of 3,500.00, a hypothetical barrier level of 2,625.00 and various hypothetical final index levels. Your actual payment at maturity per security will depend on the actual initial index level, barrier level and final index level and may differ substantially from the examples shown. It is impossible to predict whether you will realize a gain or loss on your investment in the securities. Figures in the table and examples below have been rounded for ease of analysis. The table and examples below are intended to illustrate how your payment at maturity will depend on whether the final index level is greater than or less than the initial index level and by how much.
| Hypothetical Final Index Level | Hypothetical Index Return(1) | Hypothetical Payment at Maturity per Security | Hypothetical Total Return on Securities at Maturity(2) |
| 7,000.00 | 100.00% | $2,417.00 | 141.70% |
| 6,650.00 | 90.00% | $2,275.30 | 127.53% |
| 6,300.00 | 80.00% | $2,133.60 | 113.36% |
| 5,950.00 | 70.00% | $1,991.90 | 99.19% |
| 5,600.00 | 60.00% | $1,850.20 | 85.02% |
| 5,250.00 | 50.00% | $1,708.50 | 70.85% |
| 4,900.00 | 40.00% | $1,566.80 | 56.68% |
| 4,550.00 | 30.00% | $1,425.10 | 42.51% |
| 4,200.00 | 20.00% | $1,283.40 | 28.34% |
| 3,850.00 | 10.00% | $1,141.70 | 14.17% |
| 3,500.00 | 0.00% | $1,000.00 | 0.00% |
| 3,150.00 | -10.00% | $1,000.00 | 0.00% |
| 2,800.00 | -20.00% | $1,000.00 | 0.00% |
| 2,625.00 | -25.00% | $1,000.00 | 0.00% |
| 2,624.65 | -25.01% | $749.90 | -25.01% |
| 2,450.00 | -30.00% | $700.00 | -30.00% |
| 2,100.00 | -40.00% | $600.00 | -40.00% |
| 1,750.00 | -50.00% | $500.00 | -50.00% |
| 1,400.00 | -60.00% | $400.00 | -60.00% |
| 1,050.00 | -70.00% | $300.00 | -70.00% |
| 700.00 | -80.00% | $200.00 | -80.00% |
| 350.00 | -90.00% | $100.00 | -90.00% |
| September 2018 | PS-3 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
| 0.00 | -100.00% | $0.00 | -100.00% |
(1) Hypothetical index return = (i) hypothetical final index level minus hypothetical initial index level, divided by (ii) hypothetical initial index level
(2) Hypothetical total return on securities at maturity = (i) hypothetical payment at maturity per security minus $1,000 stated principal amount per security, divided by (ii) $1,000 stated principal amount per security
Example 1—Upside Scenario. The hypothetical final index level is 3,850.00 (a 10.00% increase from the hypothetical initial index level), which is greater than the hypothetical initial index level.
Payment at maturity per security = $1,000 + the return amount
= $1,000 + ($1,000 × the index return × the upside participation rate)
= $1,000 + ($1,000 × 10.00% × 141.70%)
= $1,000 + $141.70
= $1,100
Because the underlying index appreciated from the hypothetical initial index level to the hypothetical final index level, your payment at maturity in this scenario would be equal to the $1,000 stated principal amount per security plus the return amount, or $1,141.70 per security.
Example 2—Par Scenario. The hypothetical final index level is 3,150.00 (a 10.00% decrease from the hypothetical initial index level), which is less than the hypothetical initial index level but greater than the hypothetical barrier level.
Payment at maturity per security = $1,000
Because the hypothetical final index level is less than the hypothetical initial index level by less than 25.00%, your payment at maturity in this scenario would be equal to the $1,000 stated principal amount per security.
Example 3—Downside Scenario. The hypothetical final index level is 1,750.00 (a 50.00% decrease from the hypothetical initial index level), which is less than the hypothetical barrier level.
Payment at maturity per security = $1,000 × the index performance factor
= $1,000 × 50.00%
= $500.00
Because the hypothetical final index level is less than the hypothetical initial index level by more than 25.00%, your payment at maturity in this scenario would reflect 1-to-1 exposure to the negative performance of the underlying index, with no buffer.
| September 2018 | PS-4 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
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 underlying index. 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 advisors 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 underlying index. If the final index 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 index level is less than the initial index 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 index level is less than the barrier level, the contingent buffer against a limited range of potential depreciation of the underlying index offered by the securities will not apply and you will lose 1% of the stated principal amount of the securities for every 1% by which the final index level is less than the initial index level. Unlike securities with a non-contingent buffer feature, the securities offer no protection at all if the underlying index depreciates by more than 25.00% from the initial index level to the final index level. 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 underlying index or the stocks that constitute the underlying index. You will not have voting rights, rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the stocks that constitute the underlying index. As of September 4, 2018, the average dividend yield of the underlying index was approximately 3.68% per year. While it is impossible to know the future dividend yield of the underlying index, if this average dividend yield were to remain constant for the term of the securities, you would be forgoing an aggregate yield of approximately 5.52% (assuming no reinvestment of dividends) by investing in the securities instead of investing directly in the stocks that constitute the underlying index or in another investment linked to the underlying index that provides for a pass-through of dividends. The payment scenarios described in this pricing supplement do not show any effect of lost dividend yield over the term of the securities. |
| ▪ | The payment at maturity on the securities is based on the arithmetic average of the closing level of the underlying index on the five final valuation dates. As a result, you are subject to the risk that the closing level of the underlying index on those five final valuation dates will result in a less favorable return than you would have received had the final index level been based on the closing level on other days during the term of the securities. If you had invested in another instrument linked to the underlying index that you could sell for full value at a time selected by you, you might have achieved better returns. In addition, because the final index level is based on the average over the five final valuation dates, your return on the securities may be less favorable than it would have been if it were based on the closing level of the underlying index on only one of those five final valuation dates. |
| ▪ | 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. |
| ▪ | 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. |
| September 2018 | PS-5 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
| ▪ | 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 placement fees 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 underlying index, dividend yields on the stocks that constitute the underlying index 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 level and volatility of the underlying index and a number of other factors, including the price and volatility of the stocks that constitute the underlying index, the dividend yields on the stocks that constitute the underlying index, interest rates generally, the volatility of the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the euro, the correlation between that exchange rate and the level of the underlying index, the time remaining to maturity and our and Citigroup Inc.’s creditworthiness, as reflected in our secondary market rate. Changes in the level of the underlying index 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. |
| September 2018 | PS-6 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
| ▪ | The underlying index is subject to risks associated with non-U.S. markets. Investments in securities 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. |
| ▪ | The underlying index performance will not be adjusted for changes in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar. The underlying 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 underlying index and the value of your securities will not be adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations. If the euro 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 underlying index. |
| ▪ | Our offering of the securities does not constitute a recommendation of the underlying index by CGMI or its affiliates or by the placement agents or their affiliates. The fact that we are offering the securities does not mean that we believe, or that the placement agents or their affiliates believe, that investing in an instrument linked to the underlying index is likely to achieve favorable returns. In fact, as we and the placement agents are part of global financial institutions, our affiliates and the placement agents and their affiliates may have positions (including short positions) in the stocks that constitute the underlying index or in instruments related to the underlying index 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 underlying index. These and other activities of our affiliates or the placement agents or their affiliates may affect the level of the underlying index in a way that has a negative impact on your interests as a holder of the securities. |
| ▪ | The level of the underlying index 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 that constitute the underlying index and other financial instruments related to the underlying index or such stocks and may adjust such positions during the term of the securities. Our affiliates and the placement agents and their affiliates also trade the stocks that constitute the underlying index and other financial instruments related to the underlying index 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 level of the underlying index in a way that negatively affects the value of the securities. They could also result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates or the placement agents or their affiliates while the value of the securities declines. |
| ▪ | We and our affiliates or the placement agents or their affiliates may have economic interests that are adverse to yours as a result of our affiliates’ or their business activities. Our affiliates or the placement agents or their affiliates may currently or from time to time engage in business with the issuers of the stocks that constitute the underlying index, including extending loans to, making equity investments in or providing advisory services to such issuers. In the course of this business, we or our affiliates or the placement agents or their affiliates may acquire non-public information about such issuers, which we and they will not disclose to you. Moreover, if any of our affiliates or the placement agents or their affiliates is or becomes a creditor of any such issuer, they may exercise any remedies against such issuer 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 the underlying index, 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. |
| ▪ | Adjustments to the underlying index may affect the value of your securities. STOXX Limited (the “underlying index publisher”) may add, delete or substitute the stocks that constitute the underlying index or make other methodological changes that could affect the level of the underlying index. The underlying index publisher may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of the underlying index at any time without regard to your interests as holders of 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 |
| September 2018 | PS-7 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
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.
In addition, Section 871(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), imposes a withholding tax of up to 30% on “dividend equivalents” paid or deemed paid to non-U.S. investors in respect of certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities. In light of Treasury regulations, as modified by an IRS notice, that provide a general exemption for financial instruments issued in 2018 that do not have a “delta” of one, as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement the securities should not be subject to withholding under Section 871(m). However, information about the application of Section 871(m) to the securities will be updated in the final pricing supplement. Moreover, the IRS could challenge a conclusion that the securities should not be subject to withholding under Section 871(m). If withholding applies to the securities, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.
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.
| September 2018 | PS-8 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
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 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—The EURO STOXX 50® Index—License Agreement” in the accompanying underlying supplement.
Please refer to the section “Equity Index Descriptions—The 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 underlying index on September 4, 2018 was 3,359.36.
The graph below shows the closing levels of the underlying index for each day such level was available from January 2, 2013 to September 4, 2018. We obtained the closing levels from Bloomberg L.P., without independent verification. You should not take the historical levels of the underlying index as an indication of future performance.
| EURO STOXX 50® Index – Historical Closing Levels January 2, 2013 to September 4, 2018 |
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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. |
| September 2018 | PS-9 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
| · | 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 discussions below under “Possible Withholding Under Section 871(m) of the Code” and 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.
Possible Withholding Under Section 871(m) of the Code. 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 Code 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 Equities”) or indices that include U.S. Underlying Equities. Section 871(m) generally applies to instruments that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more U.S. Underlying Equities, as determined based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (a “Specified Security”). However, the regulations, as modified by an IRS notice, exempt financial instruments issued in 2018 that do not have a “delta” of one. Based on the terms of the securities and representations provided by us, our counsel is of the opinion that the securities 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 Equity and, therefore, should not be Specified Securities subject to withholding tax under Section 871(m).
A determination that the securities 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. For example, if you enter into other transactions relating to a U.S. Underlying Equity, you could be subject to withholding tax or income tax liability under Section 871(m) even if the securities are not Specified Securities subject to Section 871(m) as a general matter. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the securities.
This information is indicative and will be updated in the final pricing supplement or may otherwise be updated by us in writing from time to time. Non-U.S. Holders should be warned that Section 871(m) may apply to the securities based on circumstances as of the pricing date for the securities and, therefore, it is possible that the securities will be subject to withholding tax under Section 871(m).
If withholding tax applies to the securities, 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 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 up to $12.50 for each security sold in this offering. The amount of the underwriting fee to CGMI will be equal to the placement fee paid to the placement agents. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as placement agents for the securities and, from the underwriting fee to CGMI, will receive a placement fee of $12.50 for each security they sell in this offering to accounts other than fiduciary accounts. CGMI and the placement agents will forgo an underwriting fee and placement fee for sales to fiduciary accounts. 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.
| September 2018 | PS-10 |
| Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. |
| Contingent Buffered Notes Based on the EURO STOXX 50® Index Due March , 2020 |
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.
Secondary market sales of securities typically settle two business days after the date on which the parties agree to the sale. Because the issue date for the securities is more than two business days after the pricing date, investors who wish to sell the securities at any time prior to the second business day preceding the issue date will be required to specify an alternative settlement date for the secondary market sale to prevent a failed settlement. Investors should consult their own investment advisors in this regard.
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 level of the underlying index 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 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
Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors
The securities may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area. For the purposes of this provision:
| (a) | the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following: |
| (i) | a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or |
| (ii) | a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or |
| (iii) | not a qualified investor as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC; and |
| (b) | the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the securities. |
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| September 2018 | PS-11 |