FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C)
March 05, 2007
Citi Completes Acquisition of Grupo Financiero Uno in Central America
The Company Names Edgardo del Rincón Gutiérrez as CEO of Grupo Financiero Uno for Central America
New York – Citi announced today that it has successfully completed the acquisition of Grupo Financiero Uno (“GFU”) in Central America after receiving the required regulatory approvals in the United States and Central America. The acquisition agreement was announced on October 27, 2006.
Through this acquisition, Citi expands its Latin America consumer banking presence through the incorporation of a distribution network that includes 75 branches, and more than 100 kiosks and points of sale. GFU currently provides services to more than a million customers in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Citi also announced that it has named Edgardo del Rincón Gutiérrez as CEO of Grupo Financiero Uno in Central America. Mr. del Rincón Gutiérrez most recently served as the GFU integration team director. Prior to that, he was General Director of Crédito Familiar for Banamex, where he directed the opening of 115 branches in 2006. He also served as Director of Banamex’s Centro Division, as Director of Banamex’s credit card business, and as General Director of Artikos, a joint venture between Commerce One and Banamex for business-to-business e-commerce in Mexico and Latin America. Mr. del Rincón Gutiérrez joined Banamex in 1985.
Citi has been present in Central America for more than 100 years and is the leader in the Corporate Banking and Investment sector in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama. It also operates a credit card business in Panama.
Citi is present in 24 countries of Latin America and, in the region, holds a position of leadership in corporate banking services, having a growing presence in consumer banking and solid recognition and extraordinary loyalty on the part of customers. The company operates more than 2,100 branches that offer financial services in Mexico and Latin America, where services are provided to 13,000 corporate customers, 17 million consumer banking customers and nine million cardholders.
# # #
Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Major brand names under Citi's trademark red arc include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Citi Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.
Certain statements in this document are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors. More information about these factors is contained in Citigroup’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.