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 AUGUST
28, 2015 |
Citigroup Inc. |
September----,
2015
Medium-Term
Senior Notes, Series G
Pricing
Supplement No. 2015-CMTNG0667
Filed
Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration
Statement No. 333-192302 |
Market-Linked Notes
Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----,
2023
Overview
| ▪ | The notes offered by this pricing supplement are unsecured senior debt securities issued by Citigroup Inc. Unlike conventional
debt securities, the notes do not pay interest. Instead, the notes offer the potential for a positive return at maturity based
on the performance of a basket (the “basket”) consisting of the S&P 500® Index, the EURO STOXX 50®
Index and the TOPIX® Index (each, a “basket component”) from the initial basket level to the final basket
level. |
| ▪ | The notes provide 1-to-1 exposure to the performance of the basket within a limited range of potential appreciation. If the
basket appreciates from the initial basket level to the final basket level, you will receive a positive return at maturity equal
to that appreciation, subject to the maximum return at maturity specified below. However, if the value of the basket remains the
same or depreciates from the initial basket level to the final basket level, you will be repaid the stated principal amount of
your notes at maturity but will not receive any return on your investment. Even if the basket appreciates from the initial basket
level to the final index level, so that you do receive a positive return at maturity, there is no assurance that your total return
at maturity on the notes will compensate you for the effects of inflation or be as great as the yield you could have achieved on
a conventional debt security of ours of comparable maturity. |
| ▪ | Investors in the notes must be willing to forgo (i) any return on the notes in excess of the maximum return at maturity and
(ii) any dividends that may be paid on the stocks included in the basket components during the 7.5-year term of the notes. If
the basket does not appreciate from the pricing date to the valuation date, you will not receive any return on your investment
in the notes. |
| ▪ | In order to obtain the modified exposure to the basket that the notes provide, investors must be willing to accept (i) an investment
that may have limited or no liquidity and (ii) the risk of not receiving any amount due under the notes if we default on our obligations.
All payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Inc. |
KEY TERMS |
Basket: |
Basket Component |
Weighting |
Initial Component Level* |
|
S&P 500® Index (ticker symbol: “SPX”) |
1/3 |
|
|
EURO STOXX 50® Index (ticker symbol: “SX5E”) |
1/3 |
|
|
TOPIX® Index (ticker symbol: “TPX”) |
1/3 |
|
|
* 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: |
$10 per note |
Pricing date: |
September , 2015 (expected to be September 15, 2015) |
Issue date: |
September , 2015 (three business days after the pricing date) |
Valuation date: |
March , 2023 (expected to be March 15, 2023), subject to postponement if such date is not a scheduled trading day or if certain market disruption events occur |
Maturity date: |
March , 2023 (expected to be March 20, 2023) |
Payment at maturity: |
For each note you hold at maturity, the $10 stated principal amount plus the note return amount, which will be either zero or positive |
Note return amount: |
§
If the final basket level is greater than the initial basket level:
$10 x the basket return,
subject to the maximum return at maturity
§
If the final basket level is less than or equal to the initial basket level:
$0 |
Basket return: |
The final basket level minus the initial basket level, divided by the initial basket level |
Initial basket level: |
100 |
Final basket level: |
100 × [1 + (component return of SPX × 1/3) + (component return of SX5E
× 1/3) + (component return of TPX × 1/3)]
|
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. |
Maximum return at maturity: |
The maximum return at maturity will be determined on the pricing date and will be at least $15.00 per note (150.00% of the stated principal amount). Because of the maximum return at maturity, the payment at maturity will not exceed $25.00 per note. |
Listing: |
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange |
CUSIP / ISIN: |
17323Q692 / US17323Q6926 |
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 |
Proceeds to issuer |
Per note: |
$10.00 |
$0.30(2) |
$9.65 |
|
|
$0.05(3) |
|
Total: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
(1) Citigroup Inc. currently expects
that the estimated value of the notes on the pricing date will be at least $9.000 per note, which will be less than the issue
price. The estimated value of the notes is based on CGMI’s proprietary pricing models and our internal funding rate. It
is not an indication of actual profit to CGMI or other of our affiliates, nor is it an indication of the price, if any, at which
CGMI or any other person may be willing to buy the notes from you at any time after issuance. See “Valuation of the Notes”
in this pricing supplement.
(2) CGMI, an affiliate of Citigroup
Inc. and the underwriter of the sale of the notes, is acting as principal and will receive an underwriting fee of $0.35 for each
$10 note sold in this offering. Certain selected dealers, including Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and their financial advisors
will collectively receive from CGMI a fixed selling concession of $0.30 for each $10 note they sell. Additionally, it is possible
that CGMI and its affiliates may profit from expected hedging activity related to this offering, even if the value of the notes
declines. See “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying prospectus.
(3) Reflects a structuring fee
payable to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management by CGMI of $0.05 for each note.
Investing in the notes involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt
securities. See “Summary Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-5.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved
of the notes or determined that this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus
supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
You should
read this pricing supplement together with the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and
prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below:
Product Supplement No. EA-03-03 dated November 13, 2013 Underlying Supplement No. 3 dated November 13, 2013
Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus each dated November 13, 2013
The
notes are not bank deposits and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental
agency, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
Additional
Information
General. The terms of the notes are set forth in the accompanying
product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, as supplemented by this pricing supplement. The accompanying product
supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus contain important disclosures that are not repeated in this pricing supplement.
For example, 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 Notes—Certain Additional Terms for Notes
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 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 notes. 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 less than all of the basket components, the
final basket level will be calculated based on (i) for each unaffected basket component, its closing level on the originally scheduled
valuation date and (ii) for each 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). See “Description of the
Notes—Certain Additional Terms for Notes Linked to an Underlying Index—Consequences of a Market Disruption Event; Postponement
of a Valuation Date” in the accompanying product supplement.
Investment Summary
The notes offer the potential for 100% participation
in any positive performance of the basket, subject to the maximum return at maturity. The notes provide investors:
| ▪ | an opportunity to gain exposure to the basket; |
| ▪ | the repayment of principal at maturity; |
| ▪ | 100% participation in any appreciation of the basket over the term of the notes, subject to the maximum return at maturity;
and |
| ▪ | no exposure to any decline of the basket if the notes are held to maturity. |
At maturity, if the basket has depreciated
or has not appreciated at all, you will receive the stated principal amount of $10 per note, without any positive return on your
investment. All payments on the notes, including the repayment of principal at maturity, are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup
Inc. Investors in the notes will not receive any dividends paid on the stocks that make up the basket components over the term
of the notes.
Maturity: |
Approximately 7.5 years |
Participation rate: |
100% |
Maximum return at maturity: |
At least $15.00 (150.00% of the stated principal amount), to be determined on the pricing date |
Minimum payment at maturity: |
$10.00 |
Interest: |
None |
Key Investment Rationale
The notes offer investors exposure to the performance of a basket
of equally-weighted equity indices and provide for the repayment of principal at maturity. They are for investors who are concerned
about principal risk but seek an equity basket-based return, and who are willing to forgo dividends and any return in excess of
the maximum return at maturity in exchange for the repayment of principal at maturity if the basket depreciates.
Repayment of Principal: |
The notes offer investors 1-to-1 upside exposure to any appreciation of the basket up to the maximum return at maturity, while providing for the repayment of principal in full at maturity. |
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
Upside Scenario: |
If the final basket level is greater than the initial basket level, the payment at maturity for each note will be equal to the $10 stated principal amount plus the basket return, subject to the maximum return at maturity of at least $15.00 per security (at least 150.00% of the stated principal amount). For example, if the final basket level is 3% greater than the initial basket level, the notes will provide a total return of 3% at maturity. |
Par Scenario: |
If the final basket level is less than the initial basket level, the notes will pay only the stated principal amount of $10 at maturity. |
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 maximum return at maturity of $15.00 per note, which is equivalent to a hypothetical maximum return
at maturity of 150.00%.
Investors in the notes 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 notes. See “Summary Risk Factors—Investing in the notes is not equivalent to
investing in the basket components” below.
Market-Linked Notes Payment at Maturity Diagram |
|
Your actual payment at maturity per note will depend on the actual
maximum return at maturity, which will be determined on the pricing date, and the actual final basket level. 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.
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
Example 1—Upside Scenario A. The hypothetical final
basket level is 110.00 (a 10.00% increase from the initial basket level), which is greater than the initial basket level.
Basket Component |
Hypothetical Initial Component Level |
Hypothetical Final Component Level |
Hypothetical Basket Component Return |
S&P 500® Index |
1,900.00 |
1,995.00 |
5% |
EURO STOXX 50® Index |
3,300.00 |
3,630.00 |
10% |
TOPIX® Index |
1,500.00 |
1,725.00 |
15% |
Hypothetical Final Basket Level: |
100.00 × [1 + (5% × 1/3) + (10% × 1/3) + (15% × 1/3)] = 110.00 |
Payment at maturity per note |
= $10 + the note return amount |
|
= $10 + ($10 × basket return), subject to the hypothetical maximum return at maturity of $15.00 |
|
= $10 + ($10 × 10.00%), subject to the hypothetical maximum return at maturity of $15.00 |
|
= $10 + $1.00, subject to the hypothetical maximum return at maturity of $15.00 |
|
= $11.00 |
Because the basket appreciated by 10.00% from the initial basket
level to the hypothetical final basket level and the note return amount of $1.00 results in a total return at maturity of 10.00%,
which is less than the hypothetical maximum return at maturity of 150.00%, your total return at maturity in this scenario would
be 10.00%.
Example 2—Upside Scenario B. The hypothetical final
basket level is 280.00 (a 180.00% increase from the initial basket level), which is greater than the initial basket level.
Basket Component |
Hypothetical Initial Component Level |
Hypothetical Final Component Level |
Hypothetical Basket Component Return |
S&P 500® Index |
1,900.00 |
5,510.00 |
190% |
EURO STOXX 50® Index |
3,300.00 |
2,970.00 |
-10% |
TOPIX® Index |
1,500.00 |
6,900.00 |
360% |
Hypothetical Final Basket Level: |
100.00 × [1 + (190% × 1/3) + (-10% × 1/3) + (360% × 1/3)] = 280.00
|
Payment at maturity per note |
= $10 + the note return amount |
|
= $10 + ($10 × basket return), subject to the hypothetical maximum return at maturity of $15.00 |
|
= $10 + ($10 × 180.00%), subject to the hypothetical maximum return at maturity of $15.00 |
|
= $10 + $18.00, subject to the hypothetical maximum return at maturity of $15.00 |
|
= $25.00 |
Because the basket appreciated by 180.00% from the initial basket
index level to the hypothetical final basket level and the note return amount of $18.00 results in a total return at maturity of
180.00%, which is greater than the hypothetical maximum return at maturity of 150.00%, your total return at maturity in this scenario
would equal the maximum return at maturity of 150.00%. In this scenario, an investment in the notes would underperform a hypothetical
alternative investment providing 1-to-1 exposure to the appreciation of the basket without a maximum return at maturity.
Example 3—Par Scenario. The hypothetical final basket
level is 90.00 (a 10.00% decrease from the initial basket level), which is less than the initial basket level.
Basket Component |
Hypothetical Initial Component Level |
Hypothetical Final Component Level |
Hypothetical Basket Component Return |
S&P 500® Index |
1,900.00 |
1,995.00 |
5% |
EURO STOXX 50® Index |
3,300.00 |
3,630.00 |
10% |
TOPIX® Index |
1,500.00 |
825.00 |
-45% |
Hypothetical Final Basket Level: |
100.00 × [1 + (5% × 1/3) + (10% × 1/3) + (-45% × 1/3)] = 90.00
|
Payment at maturity per note |
= $10 + the note return amount |
|
= $10 + $0 |
|
= $10 |
Because the basket depreciated from the initial basket level
to the hypothetical final basket level, the payment at maturity per note would equal the $10 stated principal amount per note.
In this scenario, even though the S&P 500® Index and the EURO STOXX 50® Index appreciated, the
appreciation is more than offset by the depreciation of the TOPIX® Index.
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
Summary Risk Factors
An investment in the notes is significantly riskier than an investment
in conventional debt securities. The notes are subject to all of the risks associated with an investment in our conventional debt
securities, including the risk that we may default on our obligations under the notes, and are also subject to risks associated
with the basket components. Accordingly, the notes are suitable only for investors who are capable of understanding the complexities
and risks of the notes. You should consult your own financial, tax and legal advisers as to the risks of an investment in the notes
and the suitability of the notes in light of your particular circumstances.
The following is a summary of certain key risk factors for investors
in the notes. You should read this summary together with the more detailed description of risks relating to an investment in the
notes contained in the section “Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” beginning on page EA-6 in the accompanying product
supplement and the description of risks relating to the basket components contained in the section “Risk Factors” beginning
on page 1 in the accompanying underlying supplement. You should also carefully read the risk factors included in the documents
incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which describe risks relating to our business more generally.
| ▪ | You may not receive any return on your investment in the notes. You will receive a positive return on your investment
in the notes only if the basket appreciates from the initial basket level to the final basket level. If the final basket level
is equal to or less than the initial basket level, you will receive only the stated principal amount of $10 for each note you hold
at maturity. As the notes do not pay any interest, even if the basket appreciates from the initial basket level to the final basket
level, there is no assurance that your total return at maturity on the notes will be as great as could have been achieved on conventional
debt securities of ours of comparable maturity. |
| ▪ | The notes do not pay interest. Unlike conventional debt securities, the notes do not pay interest or any other amounts
prior to maturity. You should not invest in the notes if you seek current income during the term of the notes. |
| ▪ | Your potential return on the notes is limited. Your potential total return on the notes at maturity is limited to the
maximum return at maturity of at least 150.00%, which is equivalent to a maximum return at maturity of $15.00 per note. The actual
maximum return at maturity will be determined on the pricing date. Any increase in the final basket level over the initial basket
level by more than 150.00% will not increase your return on the notes. |
| ▪ | Although the notes provide for the repayment of the stated principal amount at maturity, you may nevertheless suffer a loss
on your investment in real value terms if the basket declines or does not appreciate sufficiently from the initial basket level
to the final basket level. This is because inflation may cause the real value of the stated principal amount to be less at
maturity than it is at the time you invest, and because an investment in the notes represents a forgone opportunity to invest in
an alternative asset that does generate a positive real return. This potential loss in real value terms is significant given the
7.5-year term of the notes. You should carefully consider whether an investment that may not provide for any return on your investment,
or may provide a return that is lower than the return on alternative investments, is appropriate for you. |
| ▪ | Investing in the notes 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 basket components or the securities 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 notes. |
| ▪ | Your payment at maturity depends on the closing levels of the basket components on a single day. Because your payment
at maturity depends on the closing levels of the basket components solely 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 notes. If you had invested in another instrument linked to the basket components that you could sell for full value at a
time selected by you, or if the payment at maturity were based on an average of closing levels of the basket components, you might
have achieved better returns. |
| ▪ | The notes are subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Inc. If we default on our obligations under the notes, you may
not receive anything owed to you under the notes. |
| ▪ | The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and you may not be able to sell them prior to maturity. The
notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Therefore, there may be little or no secondary market for the notes. CGMI
currently intends to make a secondary market in relation to the notes and to provide an indicative bid price for the notes on a
daily basis. Any indicative bid price for the notes provided by CGMI will be determined in CGMI’s sole discretion, taking
into account prevailing market conditions and other relevant factors, and will not be a representation by CGMI that the notes can
be sold at that price, or at all. CGMI may suspend or terminate making a market and providing indicative bid prices without notice,
at any time and for any reason. If CGMI suspends or terminates making a market, there may be no secondary market at all for the
notes because it is likely that CGMI will be the only broker-dealer that is willing to buy your notes prior to maturity. Accordingly,
an investor must be prepared to hold the notes until maturity. |
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
| ▪ | Sale of the notes prior to maturity may result in a loss of principal. You will be entitled to receive at least the
full stated principal amount of your notes, subject to the credit risk of Citigroup Inc., only if you hold the notes to maturity.
The value of the notes may fluctuate during the term of the notes, and if you are able to sell your notes prior to maturity, you
may receive less than the full stated principal amount of your notes. |
| ▪ | The estimated value of the notes on the pricing date, based on CGMI’s proprietary pricing models and our internal
funding rate, will be less than the issue price. The difference is attributable to certain costs associated with selling, structuring
and hedging the notes that are included in the issue price. These costs include (i) the selling concessions and structuring fees
paid in connection with the offering of the notes, (ii) hedging and other costs incurred by us and our affiliates in connection
with the offering of the notes and (iii) the expected profit (which may be more or less than actual profit) to CGMI or other of
our affiliates in connection with hedging our obligations under the notes. These costs adversely affect the economic terms of the
notes because, if they were lower, the economic terms of the notes would be more favorable to you. The economic terms of the notes
are also likely to be adversely affected by the use of our internal funding rate, rather than our secondary market rate, to price
the notes. See “The estimated value of the notes would be lower if it were calculated based on our secondary market rate”
below. |
| ▪ | The estimated value of the notes was determined for us by our affiliate using proprietary pricing models. CGMI derived
the estimated value disclosed on the cover page of this pricing supplement from its proprietary pricing models. In doing so, it
may have made discretionary judgments about the inputs to its models, such as the volatility of the basket components, the correlation
among those 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 notes. Moreover, the estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement may
differ from the value that we or our affiliates may determine for the notes for other purposes, including for accounting purposes.
You should not invest in the notes because of the estimated value of the notes. Instead, you should be willing to hold the notes
to maturity irrespective of the initial estimated value. |
| ▪ | The estimated value of the notes would be lower if it were calculated based on our secondary market rate. The estimated
value of the notes included in this pricing supplement is calculated based on our internal funding rate, which is the rate at which
we are willing to borrow funds through the issuance of the notes. Our internal funding rate is generally lower than the market
rate implied by traded instruments referencing our debt obligations in the secondary market for those debt obligations, which we
refer to as our secondary market rate. If the estimated value included in this pricing supplement were based on our secondary market
rate, rather than our internal funding rate, it would likely be lower. We determine our internal funding rate based on factors
such as the costs associated with the notes, which are generally higher than the costs associated with conventional debt securities,
and our liquidity needs and preferences. Our internal funding rate is not an interest rate that we will pay to investors in the
notes, which do not bear interest. |
| ▪ | The estimated value of the notes is not an indication of the price, if any, at which CGMI or any other person may be willing
to buy the notes from you in the secondary market. Any such secondary market price will fluctuate over the term of the notes
based on the market and other factors described in the next risk factor. Moreover, unlike the estimated value included in this
pricing supplement, any value of the notes determined for purposes of a secondary market transaction will be based on our secondary
market rate, which will likely result in a lower value for the notes than if our internal funding rate were used. In addition,
any secondary market price for the notes will be reduced by a bid-ask spread, which may vary depending on the aggregate stated
principal amount of the notes to be purchased in the secondary market transaction, and the expected cost of unwinding related hedging
transactions. As a result, it is likely that any secondary market price for the notes will be less than the issue price. |
| ▪ | The value of the notes prior to maturity will fluctuate based on many unpredictable factors. The value of your notes
prior to maturity will fluctuate based on the 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, 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 EURO STOXX 50® Index, the volatility of the exchange rate between
the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen, the correlation between that exchange rate and the level of the TOPIX® Index,
the time remaining to maturity and our creditworthiness, as reflected in our secondary market rate. You should understand that
the value of your notes at any time prior to maturity may be significantly less than the issue price. |
| ▪ | Immediately following issuance, any secondary market bid price provided by CGMI, and the value that will be indicated on
any brokerage account statements prepared by CGMI or its affiliates, will reflect a temporary upward adjustment. The amount
of this temporary upward adjustment will steadily decline to zero over the temporary adjustment period. See “Valuation of
the Notes” in this pricing supplement. |
| ▪ | The 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 |
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
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 value of one or more of the other basket components.
| ▪ | The basket components may be highly correlated in decline. The performances of the basket components may become highly
correlated during periods of declining prices. This may occur because of events that have broad effects on markets generally or
on the markets that the basket components track. If the basket components become correlated in decline, the depreciation of one
basket component will not be offset by the performance of the other basket components and, in fact, each basket component may contribute
to an overall decline from the initial basket level to the final basket level. |
| ▪ | 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 notes. |
| ▪ | The
performance of the EURO STOXX 50® Index will not be adjusted for changes
in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar. The EURO STOXX 50®
Index is composed of stocks traded in euro, the value of which may be subject to
a high degree of fluctuation relative to the U.S. dollar. However, the performance of
the EURO STOXX 50® Index
and the value of your notes will not be adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations. If the
euro appreciates relative to the U.S. dollar over the term of the notes, your return
on the notes 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. |
| ▪ | The performance of the TOPIX® Index will not be adjusted for changes in the exchange rate between the Japanese
yen and the U.S. dollar. The TOPIX® Index is composed of stocks traded in Japanese yen, the value of which may
be subject to a high degree of fluctuation relative to the U.S. dollar. However, the performance of the TOPIX® Index
and the value of your securities will not be adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations. If the Japanese 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 TOPIX® Index. |
| ▪ | The
EURO STOXX 50®
Index and the TOPIX® Index are subject to non-U.S. securities markets
risk. The EURO STOXX 50®
Index and the TOPIX® Index include constituent stocks that
are issued by non-U.S. companies in non-U.S. securities markets. An investment in securities
linked directly or indirectly to the value of securities issued by non-U.S. companies
involves particular risks. Generally, non-U.S. securities markets may be more volatile
than U.S. securities markets, and market developments may affect non-U.S. markets differently
from U.S. securities markets. Direct or indirect government intervention to stabilize
these non-U.S. markets, as well as cross shareholdings in non-U.S. companies, may affect
trading prices and volumes in those markets. There is generally less publicly available
information about non-U.S. companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject
to the reporting requirements of the SEC, and non-U.S. companies are subject to accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable
to U.S. reporting companies. Securities prices in non-U.S. countries are subject to political,
economic, financial and social factors that may be unique to the particular country.
These factors, which could negatively affect the non-U.S. securities markets, include
the possibility of recent or future changes in the non-U.S. government’s economic
and fiscal policies, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws
or other non-U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to non-U.S. companies or investments
in non-U.S. equity securities and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange
between currencies. Moreover, certain aspects of a particular non-U.S. economy may differ
favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in important respects, such as growth
of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency.
Finally, it will likely be more costly and difficult to enforce the laws or regulations
of a non-U.S. country or exchange. |
| ▪ | Changes made by the sponsor of a basket component may affect the basket component. We are not affiliated with the sponsors
of the S&P 500® Index, the EURO STOXX 50® Index or the TOPIX® Index. Changes that
affect the basket components may affect the value of your notes. The sponsor of a basket component may add, delete or substitute
the securities that constitute the basket component or make other methodological changes that could affect the level of the basket
component. We are not affiliated with any such sponsor and, accordingly, we have no control over any changes any such sponsor may
make. 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 notes. |
| ▪ | Our offering of the notes is not a recommendation of the basket or the basket components. The fact that we are offering
the notes 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, and may publish research or express opinions, that in each case are inconsistent with an investment linked to the
basket components. |
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
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 notes.
| ▪ | 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 notes 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 such stocks and
may adjust such positions during the term of the notes. Our affiliates also trade the stocks included in the basket components
and other financial instruments related to the basket components 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 levels of the basket components in a way that negatively affects the value of the notes. They could
also result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the notes declines. |
| ▪ | We and our affiliates may have economic interests that are adverse to yours as a result of our affiliates’ business
activities. Our affiliates may currently or from time to time engage in business with the issuers of the stocks included in
the basket components, 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 may acquire non-public information about such issuers, which we will not disclose
to you. Moreover, if any of our 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 notes.
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 notes. |
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
Hypothetical Historical
Information About the Basket
Because the basket exists solely
for purposes of the notes, historical information on the performance of the basket does not exist for dates prior to the pricing
date. The graph below sets forth the hypothetical historical daily closing levels of the basket for the period from January 4,
2010 to August 26, 2015, assuming that the basket was created on January 4, 2010 with the same basket components and corresponding
weights 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 notes.
Hypothetical Historical Basket Performance
January 4, 2010 to August 26, 2015 |
|
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
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 section
“Equity Index Descriptions—S&P 500® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement for important
disclosures regarding the S&P 500® Index.
Historical
Information
The closing level of the S&P 500® Index on
August 26, 2015 was 1,940.51.
The graph below shows the closing levels of the S&P 500®
Index for each day such level was available from January 4, 2010 to August 26, 2015. 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 4, 2010 to August 26, 2015 |
|
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
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 notes. 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 August 26, 2015 was 3,280.78.
The graph below shows the closing levels of the EURO STOXX 50®
Index for each day such level was available from January 4, 2010 to August 26, 2015. 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 4, 2010 to August 26, 2015 |
|
TOPIX® Index
The TOPIX® Index tracks the Tokyo Stock Exchange
and is a commonly used statistical indicator of trends in the Japanese stock market. It comprises all domestic common stocks listed
on the TSE First Section. Stocks listed on the TSE First Section are generally large companies with longer established and more
actively traded issues. The TOPIX® Index is calculated and maintained by the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The TOPIX®
Index is reported by Bloomberg L.P. under the ticker symbol “TPX.”
The TOPIX® Trademarks, including “TOPIX®”
and “TOPIX® Index,” are subject to the intellectual property rights owned by the Tokyo Stock Exchange,
Inc., and have been licensed for use by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and its affiliates. For more information, see “Equity
Index Descriptions—TOPIX® Index—License Agreement with the TSE” in the accompanying underlying
supplement.
Please refer to the section “Equity Index Descriptions—TOPIX®
Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement for important disclosures regarding the TOPIX® Index.
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
Historical Information
The closing level of the TOPIX® Index on August
26, 2015 was 1,500.41.
The graph below shows the closing levels of the TOPIX®
Index for each day such level was available from January 4, 2010 to August 26, 2015. We obtained the closing levels from Bloomberg
L.P., without independent verification. You should not take the historical levels of the TOPIX® Index as an indication
of future performance.
TOPIX® Index – Historical Closing Levels
January 4, 2010 to August 26, 2015 |
|
United States
Federal Tax Considerations
In the opinion of our tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell
LLP, based on current market conditions, the notes should be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, as described in the section of the accompanying product supplement called “United States Federal
Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Notes Treated as Contingent Payment Debt Instruments,” and
the remaining discussion is based on this treatment. If you are a U.S. Holder, you will be required to recognize interest income
during the term of the notes at the “comparable yield,” which generally is the yield at which we could issue a fixed-rate
debt instrument with terms similar to those of the notes, including the level of subordination, term, timing of payments and general
market conditions, but excluding any adjustments for the riskiness of the contingencies or the liquidity of the notes. We are required
to construct a “projected payment schedule” in respect of the notes representing a payment the amount and timing of
which would produce a yield to maturity on the notes equal to the comparable yield. Assuming you hold the notes until their maturity,
the amount of interest you include in income based on the comparable yield in the taxable year in which the notes mature will be
adjusted upward or downward to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and projected payment on the notes at maturity
as determined under the projected payment schedule. However, special rules may apply if the payment at maturity on the notes is
treated as becoming fixed prior to maturity. See “United States Federal Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to U.S.
Holders—Notes Treated as Contingent Payment Debt Instruments” in the accompanying product supplement for a more detailed
discussion of the special rules.
Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of the notes prior to maturity,
you generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds received and your adjusted tax basis in
the notes. Your adjusted tax basis will equal your purchase price for the notes, increased by interest previously included in income
on the notes. Any gain generally will be treated as ordinary income, and any loss generally will be treated as ordinary loss to
the extent of prior interest inclusions on the note and as capital loss thereafter.
We have determined that the comparable yield for a note is a
rate of %, compounded semi-annually, and that the projected payment schedule with respect to a note
consists of a single payment of $ at maturity.
Neither the comparable yield nor the projected payment schedule
constitutes a representation by us regarding the actual amount that we will pay on the notes.
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
Subject to the discussion in the accompanying product supplement
regarding “FATCA,” if you are a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying product supplement) of the notes, under
current law you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding or income tax in respect of any payment on or any amount
received on the sale, exchange or retirement of the notes, provided that (i) income in respect of the notes is not effectively
connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and (ii) you comply with the applicable certification
requirements. See “United States Federal Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” in the accompanying
product supplement for a more detailed discussion of the rules applicable to Non-U.S. Holders of the notes.
You should read the section entitled “United States
Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement. The preceding discussion, when read in combination with
that section, constitutes the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences
of owning and disposing of the notes.
You should also consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects
of the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the notes and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state,
local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
Supplemental
Plan of Distribution
CGMI, an affiliate of Citigroup Inc. and the underwriter of the
sale of the notes, is acting as principal and will receive an underwriting fee of $0.35 for each $10 note sold in this offering.
From this underwriting fee, CGMI will pay selected dealers not affiliated with CGMI, including Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
and their financial advisers collectively, a fixed selling concession of $0.30 for each $10 note they sell. In addition, Morgan
Stanley Wealth Management will receive a structuring fee of $0.05 for each note they sell.
CGMI is an affiliate of ours. Accordingly, this offering will
conform with the requirements addressing conflicts of interest when distributing the 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 notes, either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the
client.
See “Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest”
in the accompanying product supplement and “Plan of Distribution” in each of the accompanying prospectus supplement
and prospectus for additional information.
A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the notes will
be used to hedge our obligations under the notes. We expect to hedge our obligations under the notes through CGMI or other of our
affiliates. CGMI or such other of our affiliates may profit from this expected hedging activity even if the value of the notes
declines. This hedging activity could affect the closing levels of the basket components and, therefore, the value of and your
return on the notes. For additional information on the ways in which our counterparties may hedge our obligations under the notes,
see “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying prospectus.
Valuation of
the Notes
CGMI calculated the estimated value of the notes set forth on
the cover page of this pricing supplement based on proprietary pricing models. CGMI’s proprietary pricing models generated
an estimated value for the notes by estimating the value of a hypothetical package of financial instruments that would replicate
the payout on the notes, which consists of a fixed-income bond (the “bond component”) and one or more derivative instruments
underlying the economic terms of the notes (the “derivative component”). CGMI calculated the estimated value of the
bond component using a discount rate based on our internal funding rate. CGMI calculated the estimated value of the derivative
component based on a proprietary derivative-pricing model, which generated a theoretical price for the instruments that constitute
the derivative component based on various inputs, including the factors described under “Summary Risk Factors—The value
of the notes prior to maturity will fluctuate based on many unpredictable factors” in this pricing supplement, but not including
our creditworthiness. These inputs may be market-observable or may be based on assumptions made by CGMI in its discretionary judgment.
The estimated value of the notes is a function of the terms of
the notes and the inputs to CGMI’s proprietary pricing models. As of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, it
is uncertain what the estimated value of the notes will be on the pricing date because it is uncertain what the values of the inputs
to CGMI’s proprietary pricing models will be on the pricing date.
For a period of approximately four months following issuance
of the notes, the price, if any, at which CGMI would be willing to buy the notes from investors, and the value that will be indicated
for the notes on any brokerage account statements prepared by CGMI or its affiliates (which value CGMI may also publish through
one or more financial information vendors), will reflect a temporary upward adjustment from the price or value that would otherwise
be determined. This temporary upward adjustment represents a portion of the hedging profit expected to be realized by CGMI or its
affiliates over the term of the notes. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will decline to zero on a straight-line basis
over the four-month temporary adjustment period. However, CGMI is not obligated to buy the notes from investors at any time. See
“Summary Risk Factors—The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and you may not be able to sell them
prior to maturity.”
Citigroup Inc. |
Market-Linked Notes Based on a Basket of Three Equity Indexes Due March----, 2023 |
|
Contact
Clients may contact their local brokerage representative. Third-party
distributors may contact Citi Structured Investment Sales at (212) 723-7005.
© 2015 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.
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