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Citi to Exchange Preferred Securities for Common, Increasing Tangible Common Equity to as Much as $81 Billion
Autor: Bancherul.ro
2009-03-02 08:38
Transaction Does Not Involve Additional U.S. Government Investment

New York - Citi today announced it will issue common stock in exchange for preferred securities, which will substantially increase its tangible common equity (TCE) without any additional U.S. government investment. The transaction is intended to build Citi’s TCE to a level that removes uncertainty and restores investor confidence in the company.

Citi will offer to exchange common stock for up to $27.5 billion of its existing preferred securities and trust preferred securities at a conversion price of $3.25 a share. The U.S. government will match this exchange up to a maximum of $25 billion face value of its preferred stock at the same conversion price. (See attached transaction summary).

Citi Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit said, “This securities exchange has one goal – to increase our tangible common equity. While we believe Tier 1 capital remains the most important measure of the financial strength of banks, we recognize that the markets also view Tangible Common Equity as an important measure. This transaction – which requires no additional investment from U.S. taxpayers – does not change Citi’s strategy, operations or governance. Our clients and partners will not be affected and will continue to receive the high level of service they expect from Citi around the world.”

This transaction could increase the TCE of the company from the fourth quarter level of $29.7 billion to as much as $81 billion, which assumes the exchange of $27.5 billion of preferred securities, the maximum eligible under this transaction. Citi’s Tier 1 capital ratio is 11.9 percent as of December 31, 2008, and is among the highest of major banks. This ratio is not impacted by this transaction.

Based on the maximum eligible conversion, the U.S. government would own approximately 36 percent of Citi’s outstanding common stock and existing shareholders would own approximately 26 percent of the outstanding shares. All investors’ new stakes will be determined following the exchange.

Citi will offer to exchange:

• Interim securities and warrants for privately held convertible preferred securities;
• Interim securities and warrants for U.S. government-held preferred securities; and
• Common stock for publicly held convertible and non-convertible preferred securities.


The interim securities will convert to common stock, subject to shareholder authorization of the additional common stock needed for the transaction. The interim securities are common stock equivalent. The warrants entitle the holders to purchase shares of Citi common stock at $0.01 a share if such shareholder authorization is not obtained. If shareholder authorization is not received, the interim securities will pay a 9 percent dividend that will increase quarterly.

The non-U.S. government exchange will accommodate all preferred stock holders other than trust preferred holders. The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Pte Ltd., HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Capital Research Global Investors, Capital World Investors and other investors have said they will participate in the exchange. Depending upon the participation rate in the exchange, holders of Trust Preferred Securities (TruPs) and Enhanced Trust Preferred Securities (ETruPs) may also be eligible to participate.

The U.S. government will exchange the portion of its existing preferred securities that is not exchanged for common shares into new trust preferred securities. These securities will carry an annual coupon of 8 percent.

In connection with the transactions, Citi will suspend dividends on its preferred shares. As a result, the common stock dividend also will be suspended. The company will continue to pay the distribution on its Trust Preferred Securities and Enhanced Trust Preferred Securities at the current rates.

The company will host an investor conference call today at 8:30 am (EST). Dial-in numbers for the conference call are as follows: US & Canada: (877) 700-4194 / International: (706) 679-8401; Conference code: 88132598. A live webcast of the call will be available at Citi’s Investor Relations website: http://www.citigroup.com/citi/fin.