| • | PDF format of this earnings release  |
| • | Financial Supplement PDF - 409kb | Excel - 482kb |
| • | First Quarter 2002 Earnings Review PDF - 180kb |
| • | Travelers First Quarter Earnings Press Releasee |
April 15, 2002
Citigroup Reports First Quarter Earnings
Citigroup First Quarter Core Income of $3.86 Billion, Up 5%, After $816 Million Pre-Tax Charge, Or $519 Million After-Tax, Related to Argentina
Core EPS of $0.74, Up 4%
Revenues Increase 5% to $22 Billion
Net Income of $4.84 Billion, Up 37%, Including $1.06 Billion Gain on Travelers Property Casualty IPO
Net Income Per Share of $0.93, Up 35%
Core EPS of $0.74, Up 4%
Revenues Increase 5% to $22 Billion
Net Income of $4.84 Billion, Up 37%, Including $1.06 Billion Gain on Travelers Property Casualty IPO
Net Income Per Share of $0.93, Up 35%
New York, NY — Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) today reported core income for the first quarter ended March 31, 2002, of $3.86 billion, increasing 5% over the first quarter of 2001. Core income for the quarter included an $816 million pre-tax, or $519 million after-tax, charge reflecting the impact of the economic conditions in Argentina. This charge reduced Citigroup’s core income per share by $0.10 after-tax. In addition, Citigroup’s equity was reduced by $512 million as a result of the effect of currency translation in Argentina. Core income per share, diluted, rose 4% to $0.74, after the Argentina-related charges. Revenues increased 5%, or by nearly $1 billion, to $22 billion in the quarter. During the quarter, Citigroup’s Travelers Property Casualty subsidiary successfully completed an initial public offering of 23.1% of the company’s equity, yielding a $1.06 billion after-tax gain to Citigroup, net of a deferral of $520 million after-tax for potential asbestos claims. Net income for the first quarter, including the gain, was $4.84 billion, or $0.93 per share.
“Our businesses once again delivered exceptional results in the face of difficult economic conditions,” said Sanford I. Weill, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup. “Despite the sizable charges that we took in the quarter, related to Argentina, our core earnings per share increased over last year. Our Global Consumer businesses recorded 26% income growth in the quarter on the strength of 20% revenue growth. Our Corporate and Investment Bank once again outperformed its competitors, extending its lead as the top-ranked global underwriter. Our Global Investment Management and Private Banking group core income was up 6%, despite weak equity markets worldwide.
“Recent events in Argentina, including the imposition of currency translation regulations, the structuring of compensation bonds and the resumption of foreign exchange trading of the peso, have enabled us to determine with a greater degree of certainty the impact of the economic crisis in that country. Given this extraordinary situation, including actions taken by the Argentine government, we have taken substantial write-downs against our corporate and consumer loan portfolios and made prudent additions to our loan loss reserve.
“The very successful initial public offering of 23.1% of Travelers Property Casualty resulted in a $1.06 billion after-tax gain and roughly $5 billion in proceeds, and added $0.20 per share to our net income in the first quarter,” said Weill.
Highlights of the quarter included:
- Strong performance in key businesses:
- Citigroup’s Corporate and Investment Bank once again was the number one underwriter of global debt and equity, as well as the leader in disclosed fees. For the first time, Citigroup was also the top global equity underwriter and it continued to occupy the number one position in fixed income, with market share approaching 23% in U.S. investment grade debt issuance, and ranked number two in U.S. announced M&A. Citigroup’s foreign exchange business was honored during the quarter, as Global Finance Magazine named Citigroup “World’s Best Foreign Exchange Bank.”
- Revenue for Citigroup’s Global Cards franchise advanced 15%, and core income rose 11% to $664 million. The business continued to expand internationally with 32% account growth and 22% loan growth outside North America, and now serves over 108 million accounts globally.
- Citigroup continued to expand its Global Consumer Finance franchise, with the acquisition of Taihei Financial in Japan, and the opening of additional offices in Mexico, Puerto Rico and India. Core income for Global Consumer Finance rose 38% to $563 million.
- In the Emerging Markets, the combination of Citigroup and Banamex has created the #1 bank in Mexico, and generated 34% income growth from the fourth quarter, as expenses were reduced by $65 million. Banamex also consolidated its position in the retirement services and insurance businesses by completing the acquisition of AEGON’s 48% stake in Afore Banamex and Seguros Banamex.
- Citigroup continued to increase its operating leverage, as revenues increased 5% while expenses declined 6%. Expenses declined approximately $600 million from the first quarter of 2001, driven by reductions in headcount and other fixed and variable expenses in the Corporate and Investment Bank, expense savings related to recent acquisitions, the elimination of goodwill amortization in the first quarter, and the implementation of company-wide expense initiatives, including the consolidation of technology infrastructure.
- Increases in credit cost were evident in a number of Citigroup’s consumer businesses. The net credit loss rate for the Citi Cards portfolio rose to 6.41% and loss rates at CitiFinancial increased 47 basis points year over year to 2.97%. In Japan, higher bankruptcies have driven loss rates on the company’s consumer businesses there to 5.47%. Loss rates in Citigroup’s Corporate and Investment Bank’s credit portfolios have improved since the fourth quarter, largely due to a lower level of write-downs related to CitiCapital as well as to Enron, while cash basis loans in the CIB have remained flat. Cash basis loans in the Emerging Markets have increased, largely due to the situation in Argentina. Citigroup has continued to aggressively write down exposures to problem credits in its corporate loans and commercial leasing portfolios.
- To reflect the impact of the economic situation in Argentina, Citigroup recorded a total of $858 million in pre-tax charges, including a $475 million addition to the loan loss provision, $269 million in loan and investment write-downs, a $72 million charge for currency redenomination, and a $42 million restructuring charge.
TOTAL CORPORATE CONSUMER INVESTMENT Addition to loan loss provision $ (475) $ (240) $ (235) Credit and investment write-downs (269) (117) (52) (100) Redenomination charge (72) (101) 29 PRE TAX IMPACT – CORE INCOME (816) (458) (258) (100) Restructuring charge (42) (9) (33) TOTAL PRE TAX INCOME IMPACT $ (858) $ (467) $ (291) $ (100)
In addition, the impact of the devaluation of the peso since January 1, 2002, reduced Citigroup’s equity by $512 million.
Citigroup continues to have among the strongest capital levels in the financial services industry, with total equity, including trust preferred securities, increasing to $90.1 billion at March 31, 2002. Citigroup’s return on common equity for the first quarter was 19.1%. The company repurchased 17.9 million shares during the quarter and redeemed $419 million in trust preferred securities and $125 million in preferred stock.
Core income of $1.64 billion for the first quarter, up 21%. Highlights included:
- Revenue increased 12% to $8.0 billion, while expenses declined 6%.
- CitiFinancial income increased 45% due to an 11% increase in revenues combined with a 17% decrease in expenses largely related to continued efficiencies from the Associates integration. Pricing actions and lower funding costs more than offset a 47 basis point increase in the loss rate over the prior year period.
- North America Cards income rose 10%. Revenues increased 14% as receivables grew 5%, reaching $105 billion. Pricing and funding initiatives led to a 190 basis point improvement in the net interest margin, which combined with an 8% drop in expenses to offset an increase in the net credit loss rate, to 6.41%.
- Citibanking income increased 23%, reflecting the integration of EAB. Revenues grew 25% as deposits rose 23%.
- Japan consumer income increased 16%, reflecting continued growth in consumer finance receivables and reduced processing and technology expenses, partly offset by higher credit costs. Excluding the impact of the declining value of the yen versus the U.S. dollar, income growth would have been 31%.
Core Income of $559 million, down 15%. Highlights included:
- Income for Mexico, which includes the combined operations of Banamex and Citibank Mexico, was $280 million in the first quarter, as compared to $4 million in the year ago period.
- Emerging Markets consumer income (excluding Mexico) fell 64% to $84 million, reflecting an $89 million after-tax loss in Latin America, resulting from $287 million in credit losses and additions to the loan loss reserve in Argentina. Revenue growth in Asia and CEEMEA was driven by continued expansion of the cards business and stronger investment product sales.
- Income from Emerging Markets Corporate Banking and Global Transaction Services declined 54% from the year ago period to $195 million, as a result of actions taken in Argentina, including a $240 million addition to the loan loss reserve, a $101 million charge relating to redenomination of the currency, and $100 million in credit write-offs. Results for Asia and CEEMEA reflected strong trading-related revenues and continued expense management, as expenses for this segment declined 13%.
Core income of $987 million for the first quarter, down 4%. Highlights included:
- Income for Corporate Finance was $789 million, declining only 4% from the year ago quarter, despite market volume declines of 65% in completed global M&A and 10% in equity issuance. Income was 54% ahead of the fourth quarter of 2001. Revenues decreased 14% from the first quarter of 2001, as a result of lower investment banking and trading-related revenues. Offsetting this decline was a 16% reduction in operating expenses. The provision for credit losses rose from $230 million one year ago, to $312 million, including $17 million in write-offs related to project finance exposure in Argentina, but declined from $476 million in the fourth quarter.
- The Private Client business contributed income of $198 million for the quarter, unchanged from the prior year period and up 3% from the fourth quarter. Lower revenues were offset by tight expense controls, as expenses were reduced by 6%. Net flows were $15 billion in the first quarter, with assets under fee based management rising 12%, to $210 billion. Total client assets were $994 billion at quarter end.
Core income of $406 million for the first quarter, up 6%. Highlights included:
- Income for the Private Bank rose 18% to a record $112 million. Revenue growth of 8% was driven by increases across a range of products, including client trading activity, investments and lending, while expense growth was limited to 6%. Client business volumes rose 14% to $166 billion.
- Asset Management income increased 19%. Expenses declined across the board, falling 13%, which offset a 4% drop in revenues, the result of weak global equity markets. Institutional net flows were strong, with assets under management reaching $455 billion, an increase of 13%. Sales of Citigroup Asset Management’s products were strong throughout proprietary channels, with market share of 56% in the Smith Barney retail channel, 70% at Primerica Financial Services and 45% in the Citibanking North America channel.
- Travelers Life and Annuity income decreased 5% as lower net investment income was partially offset by continued expense management. Business volumes were strong, with double-digit account balance growth in our individual annuity, group annuity and life businesses.
Core income of $327 million for the first quarter, down 4%. Highlights included:
- Personal Lines income fell 25%, reflecting increased weather-related costs, continued higher loss costs and a drop in net investment income, which offset 8% earned premium growth.
- Commercial Lines’ income declined 6%, largely resulting from a decrease in net investment income and favorable reserve development in the prior year.
Income for Citigroup’s Investment Activities was $70 million in the first quarter, reflecting $100 million in pre-tax write-downs on certain investments in Argentina, offset by realized gains in the private equity and insurance portfolios, as well as marked to market gains on an investment in India. Expenses for Corporate/Other were $78 million, a $118 million improvement from the first quarter of 2001, reflecting lower funding costs.
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Citigroup (NYSE: C), the preeminent global financial services company with some 200 million customer accounts in more than 100 countries, provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup’s trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex, and Travelers. Additional information may be found at: www.citigroup.com.
A financial summary follows. Additional financial, statistical and business-related information, as well as business and segment trends, is included in a Financial Supplement. Both the earnings release and the Financial Supplement are available on Citigroup’s web site (http://www.citigroup.com). This document can also be obtained by calling 1-800-853-1754 within the United States or 732-935-2771 outside the United States.