11/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/01/2024 14:05
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 NOVEMBER 1, 2024
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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November , 2024
Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series N
Pricing Supplement No. 2024-USNCH24442
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement Nos. 333-270327 and 333-270327-01
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The securities offered by this pricing supplement are unsecured debt securities issued by Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and guaranteed by Citigroup Inc. Unlike conventional debt securities, the securities do not pay interest, do not guarantee the repayment of principal at maturity and are subject to potential automatic early redemption on the terms described below. Your return on the securities will depend solely on the performance of the worst performing of the underlyings specified below.
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The securities offer the potential for automatic early redemption at a premium following the valuation date prior to the final valuation date if the closing value of the worst performing underlying on that valuation date is greater than or equal to its initial underlying value. If the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity, the securities will no longer offer the opportunity to receive a premium, but instead, at maturity, will provide for (i) the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of the worst performing underlying from its initial underlying value at the upside participation rate specified below and (ii) if the final underlying value is less than its initial underlying value but greater than or equal to its final buffer value specified below, repayment of the stated principal amount with no premium or other return. However, if the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity and the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date has depreciated from its initial underlying value so that its final underlying value is less than its final buffer value, you will lose 1% of the stated principal amount of your securities for every 1% by which that depreciation exceeds the buffer percentage specified below.
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You will be subject to risks associated with each of the underlyings and will be negatively affected by adverse movements in any one of the underlyings. Although you will have downside exposure to the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date, you will not receive dividends with respect to any underlying.
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Investors in the securities must be willing to accept (i) an investment that may have limited or no liquidity and (ii) the risk of not receiving any payments 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.
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KEY TERMS
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Issuer:
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup Inc.
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Guarantee:
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All payments due on the securities are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Citigroup Inc.
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Underlyings:
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Underlying
Initial underlying value*
Final buffer value**
Dow Jones Industrial AverageTM
S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index
*For each underlying, its closing value on the pricing date
**For each underlying, 85.00% of its initial underlying value
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Stated principal amount:
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$1,000 per security
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Pricing date:
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November 25, 2024
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Issue date:
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November 29, 2024
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Valuation dates:
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November 25, 2025 and November 26, 2029 (the "final valuation date"), each subject to postponement if such date is not a scheduled trading day or certain market disruption events occur
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Maturity date:
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Unless earlier redeemed, November 29, 2029
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Automatic early redemption:
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If, on the valuation date prior to the final valuation date, the closing value of the worst performing underlying on that valuation date is greater than or equal to its initial underlying value, the securities will be automatically redeemed on the third business day immediately following that valuation date for an amount in cash per security equal to $1,000 plus the premium applicable to that valuation date. If the securities are automatically redeemed following the valuation date prior to the final valuation date, they will cease to be outstanding and you will not have the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of any underlying.
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Payment at maturity:
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If the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity, you will receive at maturity for each security you then hold:
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If the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date is greater than its initial underlying value: $1,000 + the return amount
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If the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date is less than or equal to its initial underlying value but greater than or equal to its final buffer value: $1,000
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If the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date is less than its final buffer value:
$1,000 + [$1,000 × (the underlying return of the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date + the buffer percentage)]
If the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity and the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date is less than its final buffer value, which means that the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date has depreciated from its initial underlying value by more than the buffer percentage, you will lose 1% of the stated principal amount of your securities at maturity for every 1% by which that depreciation exceeds the buffer percentage.
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Return amount:
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$1,000 × the underlying return of the worst performing underlying × the upside participation rate
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Upside participation rate:
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175.00%
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Buffer percentage:
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15.00%
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Listing:
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The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange
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Underwriter:
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("CGMI"), an affiliate of the issuer, acting as principal
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Underwriting fee and issue price:
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Issue price(1)
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Underwriting fee(2)
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Proceeds to issuer(3)
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Per security:
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$1,000.00
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$40.00
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$960.00
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Total:
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$
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$
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$
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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KEY TERMS (continued)
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Premium:
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The premium applicable to the valuation date prior to the final valuation date is the percentage of the stated principal amount indicated below. The premium may be significantly less than the appreciation of any underlying from the pricing date to the valuation date prior to the final valuation date.
• November 25, 2025:
8.00% of the stated principal amount
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Final underlying value:
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For each underlying, its closing value on the final valuation date
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Worst performing underlying:
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For any valuation date, the underlying with the lowest underlying return determined as of that valuation date
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Underlying return:
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For each underlying on any valuation date, (i) its closing value on that valuation date minus its initial underlying value, divided by (ii) its initial underlying value
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CUSIP / ISIN:
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17333AYV5 / US17333AYV50
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PS-2
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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PS-3
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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If the closing value of the worst performing underlying on the valuation date below is greater than or equal to its initial underlying value...
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...then you will receive the following payment per security upon automatic early redemption:
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November 25, 2025
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$1,000.00 + applicable premium = $1,000.00 + $80.00 = $1,080.00
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Payment at Maturity Diagram
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n The Securities
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n The Worst Performing Underlying
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PS-4
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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Underlying
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Hypothetical initial underlying value
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Hypothetical final buffer value
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Dow Jones Industrial AverageTM
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100.00
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85.00 (85.00% of its hypothetical initial underlying value)
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S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index
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100.00
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85.00 (85.00% of its hypothetical initial underlying value)
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Underlying
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Hypothetical final underlying value
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Hypothetical underlying return
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Dow Jones Industrial AverageTM *
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105.00
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5.00%
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S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index
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140.00
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40.00%
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Underlying
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Hypothetical final underlying value
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Hypothetical underlying return
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Dow Jones Industrial AverageTM
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120.00
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20.00%
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S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index*
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95.00
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-5.00%
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PS-5
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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Underlying
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Hypothetical final underlying value
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Hypothetical underlying return
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Dow Jones Industrial AverageTM *
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30.00
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-70.00%
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S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index
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105.00
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5.00%
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PS-6
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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You may lose a significant portion of your investment. Unlike conventional debt securities, the securities do not provide for the repayment of the stated principal amount at maturity in all circumstances. If the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity, your payment at maturity will depend on the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date. If the final underlying value of the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date is less than its final buffer value, which means that the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date has depreciated from its initial underlying value by more than the buffer percentage, you will lose 1% of the stated principal amount of your securities for every 1% by which that depreciation exceeds the buffer percentage.
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The securities do not pay interest. Unlike conventional debt securities, the securities do not pay interest prior to maturity. You should not invest in the securities if you seek current income during the term of the securities.
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The securities are subject to heightened risk because they have multiple underlyings. The securities are more risky than similar investments that may be available with only one underlying. With multiple underlyings, there is a greater chance that any one underlying will perform poorly, adversely affecting your return on the securities.
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The securities are subject to the risks of each of the underlyings and will be negatively affected if any one underlying performs poorly. You are subject to risks associated with each of the underlyings. If any one underlying performs poorly, you will be negatively affected. The securities are not linked to a basket composed of the underlyings, where the blended performance of the underlyings would be better than the performance of the worst performing underlying alone. Instead, you are subject to the full risks of whichever of the underlyings is the worst performing underlying.
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You will not benefit in any way from the performance of any better performing underlying. The return on the securities depends solely on the performance of the worst performing underlying, and you will not benefit in any way from the performance of any better performing underlying.
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You will be subject to risks relating to the relationship between the underlyings. It is preferable from your perspective for the underlyings to be correlated with each other, in the sense that their closing values tend to increase or decrease at similar times and by similar magnitudes. By investing in the securities, you assume the risk that the underlyings will not exhibit this relationship. The less correlated the underlyings, the more likely it is that any one of the underlyings will perform poorly over the term of the securities. All that is necessary for the securities to perform poorly is for one of the underlyings to perform poorly. It is impossible to predict what the relationship between the underlyings will be over the term of the securities. The underlyings differ in significant ways and, therefore, may not be correlated with each other.
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The securities may be automatically redeemed prior to maturity, limiting the term of the securities. If the closing value of the worst performing underlying on the valuation date prior to the final valuation date is greater than or equal to its initial underlying value, the securities will be automatically redeemed. If the securities are automatically redeemed following the valuation date prior to the final valuation date, they will cease to be outstanding and you will not have the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of any underlying. Moreover, you may not be able to reinvest your funds in another investment that provides a similar yield with a similar level of risk.
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You will not receive dividends or have any other rights with respect to the underlyings. You will not receive any dividends with respect to the underlyings. This lost dividend yield may be significant over the term of the securities. The payment scenarios described in this pricing supplement do not show any effect of such lost dividend yield over the term of the securities. In addition, you will not have voting rights or any other rights with respect to the underlyings or the stocks included in the underlyings.
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The performance of the securities will depend on the closing values of the underlyings solely on the valuation dates, which makes the securities particularly sensitive to volatility in the closing values of the underlyings on or near the valuation dates. Whether the securities will be automatically redeemed prior to maturity will depend on the closing values of the underlyings solely on the valuation date prior to the final valuation date, regardless of the closing values of the underlyings on other days during the term of the securities. If the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity, what you receive at maturity will depend solely on the closing value of the worst performing underlying on the final valuation date, and not on any other day during the term of the securities. Because the performance of the securities depends on the closing values of the underlyings on a limited number of dates, the securities will be particularly sensitive to volatility in the closing values of the underlyings on or near the valuation dates. You should understand that the closing value of each underlying has historically been highly volatile.
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PS-7
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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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.
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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.
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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) any selling concessions or other 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.
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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, and correlation between, the closing values of the underlyings, dividend yields on the underlyings and interest rates. CGMI's views on these inputs may differ from your or others' views, and as an underwriter in this offering, CGMI's interests may conflict with yours. Both the models and the inputs to the models may prove to be wrong and therefore not an accurate reflection of the value of the 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.
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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 is payable on the securities.
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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.
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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 closing values of the underlyings, the volatility of, and correlation between, the closing values of the underlyings, dividend yields on the underlyings, interest rates generally, the time remaining to maturity and our and Citigroup Inc.'s creditworthiness, as reflected in our secondary market rate, among other factors described under "Risk Factors Relating to the Securities-Risk Factors Relating to All Securities-The value of your securities prior to maturity will fluctuate based on many unpredictable factors" in the accompanying product supplement. Changes in the closing values of the underlyings 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.
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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
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PS-8
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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temporary upward adjustment will steadily decline to zero over the temporary adjustment period. See "Valuation of the Securities" in this pricing supplement.
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If a material modification event occurs during the term of the securities, we may redeem the securities early for an amount that may result in a significant loss on your investment. See "Additional Terms of the Securities-Material Modification of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index" in this pricing supplement for information about the events that may constitute a material modification event. If a material modification event occurs, we may redeem the securities prior to the maturity date for an amount equal to the early redemption amount determined as of the early redemption notice date. The early redemption amount will be determined in a manner based upon (but not necessarily identical to) CGMI's then contemporaneous practices for determining secondary market bid prices for the securities and similar instruments, subject to the exceptions and more detailed provisions set forth under "Additional Terms of the Securities-Material Modification of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index" below. As discussed above, any secondary market bid price is likely to be less than the issue price and, absent favorable changes in market conditions and other relevant factors, is also likely to be less than the estimated value of the securities set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. Accordingly, if a material modification event occurs, there is a significant likelihood that the early redemption amount you receive will result in a loss on your investment in the securities. The early redemption amount may be significantly less than the amount you would have received had we not elected to redeem the securities and had you been able instead to hold them to maturity. You may lose up to all of your investment.
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The calculation agent may make determinations in connection with a material modification event and the early redemption amount that could adversely affect your return upon early redemption. The calculation agent will be required to determine whether a material modification event has occurred. If the calculation agent determines that a material modification event has occurred and as a result we elect to redeem the securities upon the occurrence of a material modification event, you may incur a significant loss on your investment in the securities. In addition, the calculation agent has broad discretion to determine the early redemption amount, including the ability to make adjustments to proprietary pricing models and inputs to those models in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. The fact that the calculation agent is our affiliate may cause it to have interests that are adverse to yours as a holder of the securities. Under the terms of the securities, the calculation agent has the authority to make determinations that may protect our economic interests while resulting in a significant loss to you on your investment in the securities.
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Our offering of the securities is not a recommendation of any underlying. The fact that we are offering the securities does not mean that we believe that investing in an instrument linked to the underlyings is likely to achieve favorable returns. In fact, as we are part of a global financial institution, our affiliates may have positions (including short positions) in the underlyings or in instruments related to the underlyings, and may publish research or express opinions, that in each case are inconsistent with an investment linked to the underlyings. These and other activities of our affiliates may affect the closing values of the underlyings in a way that negatively affects the value of and your return on the securities.
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The closing value of an underlying 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 in the underlyings or in financial instruments related to the underlyings and may adjust such positions during the term of the securities. Our affiliates also take positions in the underlyings or in financial instruments related to the underlyings on a regular basis (taking long or short positions or both), for their accounts, for other accounts under their management or to facilitate transactions on behalf of customers. These activities could affect the closing values of the underlyings in a way that negatively affects the value of and your return on the securities. They could also result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the securities declines.
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We and our affiliates may have economic interests that are adverse to yours as a result of our affiliates' business activities. Our affiliates engage in business activities with a wide range of companies. These activities include extending loans, making and facilitating investments, underwriting securities offerings and providing advisory services. These activities could involve or affect the underlyings in a way that negatively affects the value of and your return on the securities. They could also result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the securities declines. In addition, in the course of this business, we or our affiliates may acquire non-public information, which will not be disclosed to you.
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The calculation agent, which is an affiliate of ours, will make important determinations with respect to the securities. If certain events occur during the term of the securities, such as market disruption events and other events with respect to an underlying, CGMI, as calculation agent, will be required to make discretionary judgments that could significantly affect your return on the securities. 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. See "Risk Factors Relating to the Securities-Risk Factors Relating to All Securities-The calculation agent, which is an affiliate of ours, will make important determinations with respect to the securities" in the accompanying product supplement and "Additional Terms of the Securities" in this pricing supplement.
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Changes that affect the underlyings may affect the value of your securities. The sponsors of the underlyings may at any time make methodological changes or other changes in the manner in which they operate that could affect the values of the underlyings. We are not affiliated with any such underlying sponsor and, accordingly, we have no control over any changes any such sponsor may make. Such changes could adversely affect the performance of the underlyings and the value of and your return on the securities.
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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. Moreover, future legislation, Treasury regulations or IRS guidance could adversely affect the U.S. federal tax treatment of the securities, possibly retroactively.
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PS-9
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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The tax disclosure is subject to confirmation. The information set forth under "United States Federal Tax Considerations" in this pricing supplement remains subject to confirmation by our counsel following the pricing of the securities. If that information cannot be confirmed by our counsel, you may be asked to accept revisions to that information in connection with your purchase. Under these circumstances, if you decline to accept revisions to that information, your purchase of the securities will be canceled.
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The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index may not be successful and may underperform the parent index. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index tracks the hypothetical performance of a dynamic "leverage overlay" methodology on the S&P 500® Index (the "parent index"), which means that the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index reflects exposure to the parent index that may be leveraged up to 200%, as described in Annex A. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index attempts to outperform the parent index by temporarily increasing exposure to the parent index when the parent index has been trending down (as indicated by the current closing value being less than the trailing 10-day average), based on the investment thesis that downturns in performance in the parent index tend to be short-lived and that the parent index will recover relatively quickly from any such downturns. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index seeks to participate in any such recovery on a leveraged basis, enhancing returns. However, there can be no assurance that the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis will prove correct or that the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will effectively implement its investment thesis. As a result, the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index may significantly underperform the parent index.
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The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index is likely to significantly underperform the parent index in a sustained falling U.S. equity market. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index applies leverage to the parent index when the current closing value of the parent index is below the parent index's trailing 10-day average, as described in Annex A. In falling equity markets with sustained depreciation, application of the leverage factor will likely result in significant underperformance of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index relative to the parent index as the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will have enhanced participation in the negative performance of the parent index. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis is premised on the idea that, if the parent index has declined such that its current closing value is less than its trailing 10-day average, the decline is likely to be short-lived and the parent index is likely to soon recover from that decline. However, if that does not turn out to be the case - if the parent index continues to decline for an extended period of time - the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will have leveraged exposure to that decline. If, for example, the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index has 200% leveraged exposure to the parent index, the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will decline by 2% for every 1% decline in the parent index for as long as that decline continues (subject to the excess return deduction described below).
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The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index is more volatile than the parent index, which increases the riskiness of the securities. The leverage factor creates greater volatility in the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index as compared to the parent index, because fluctuations in the value of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will always equal or exceed fluctuations in the value of the parent index. This greater volatility means that, as compared to otherwise comparable securities linked to the parent index, there is a greater likelihood that the closing value of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will be less than the coupon barrier value on one or more valuation dates, such that you will not receive one or more, or any, contingent coupon payments on the securities, and that the closing value of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will be less than the final buffer value on the final valuation date, such that you will receive significantly less than the stated principal amount of your securities at maturity.
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The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis may be wrong. The methodology of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index is premised on the investment thesis that downturns in performance in the parent index tend to be short-lived and that the parent index will recover relatively quickly from any such downturns. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index implements this thesis by applying a leverage factor when the closing value of the parent index is less than its trailing 10-day average. Thus, the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index attempts to enhance returns by offering leveraged performance in the anticipated recovery from the downturn of the parent index. That investment thesis may be wrong. The assumption that downturns will be short-lived and that the parent index will recover quickly after downturns may not be true. Even if this assumption has held true at points in the past, it may not do so the future. If the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis is wrong, the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will, when the parent index closing value declines and does not quickly recover, materially underperform the parent index. Our offering of the securities is not an expression of our view about the validity of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis. You should form your own independent view about the validity of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis in connection with your evaluation of an investment in the securities.
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Even if the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis proves to have merit, the specific rules by which the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index is calculated may not effectively implement that thesis. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index is calculated pursuant to a rules-based methodology that contains a number of specific parameters. These parameters will be significant determinants of the performance of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index. There is nothing inherent in any of these specific parameters that necessarily makes them the right specific parameters to use for the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index. If the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index had used different parameters, it might have achieved significantly better returns. As a result, even if the
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PS-10
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis has merit, the specific rules by which the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index is calculated may not effectively implement that thesis. The following is a non-exhaustive list of specific parameters that may not be the right specific parameters to use for the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index:
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Trailing 10-day average. The trailing 10-day average of the parent index, which is observed to determine whether a leverage factor is applied to the parent index, might not cover the optimal period of time to effectively implement the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's investment thesis. Even if the investment thesis has merit in applying a leverage factor when the parent index is in a downturn, the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index might have achieved significantly better results if it had used a trailing period shorter or longer than 10 days.
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Leverage multiplier. The leverage multiplier of 50 might not be the optimal amount by which to determine the amount of leverage applied to the parent index.
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Daily reset of leverage. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index resets its exposure to the parent index on a daily basis and may perform less favorably than it would if it maintained a given leverage amount for a period longer than one trading day.
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Leverage only following downturns. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index only seeks to apply leverage when the parent index has been in a downturn. In a period of sustained appreciation of the parent index, the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index seeks only to participate on a 1-to-1 basis in that appreciation. The S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index might have achieved better returns if it sought to apply leverage at a time of sustained appreciation of the parent index.
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The excess return deduction will adversely affect the performance of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index. At any time when the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index has greater than 100% exposure to the parent index, the leveraged portion of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's return will be reduced by an "excess return deduction" based on the effective federal funds rate (prorated for the number of calendar days since the most recent trading day). This excess return deduction reduces the performance of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index, and any increase in the effective federal funds rate will increase its negative effect. Although many factors may affect the effective federal funds rate, one important factor is the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve. Although the Federal Reserve has maintained the target rate at relatively low levels in recent years, the Federal Reserve may raise the target rate at any time. If the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, the performance of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index will be adversely affected. The excess return deduction will offset any appreciation of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index when the leverage factor is applied and exacerbate any depreciation of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index when the leverage factor is applied, in each case with respect to the leveraged portion of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index's exposure to the parent index.
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Hypothetical back-tested performance information is subject to significant limitations. All information regarding the performance of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index prior to July 31, 2019 is hypothetical and back-tested, as the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index did not exist prior to that time. It is important to understand that hypothetical back-tested S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index performance information is subject to significant limitations, in addition to the fact that past performance is never a guarantee of future performance. In particular:
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The publisher of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index developed the rules of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index with the benefit of hindsight-that is, with the benefit of being able to evaluate how the rules would have caused the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index to perform had it existed during the hypothetical back-tested period. The fact that the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index appreciated over any portion of the hypothetical back-tested period may not therefore be an accurate or reliable indication of any fundamental aspect of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index methodology.
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The hypothetical back-tested performance of the S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index might look different if it covered a different historical period. The market conditions that existed during the historical period covered by the hypothetical back-tested S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index performance information are not necessarily representative of the market conditions that will exist in the future.
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PS-11
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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PS-12
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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Dow Jones Industrial AverageTM - Historical Closing Values
January 2, 2014 to October 31, 2024 |
PS-13
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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S&P 500 Dynamic Participation Index - Hypothetical Back-Tested and Historical Closing Values
January 2, 2014 to October 31, 2024 |
PS-14
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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You should not recognize taxable income over the term of the securities prior to maturity, other than pursuant to a sale or exchange.
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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.
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PS-15
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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PS-16
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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first, calculating the percentage difference between the current closing value of the parent index and the trailing 10-day average, expressed as a percentage of the current closing value;
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second, determining the "leverage factor" by multiplying that percentage difference by a "leverage multiplier" of 50, subject to a maximum leverage factor of 100%; and
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third, adding the leverage factor to 100% to arrive at the overall leveraged exposure, subject to a maximum leveraged exposure of 200%.
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PS-17
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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PS-18
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Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc.
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PS-19
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