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Citigroup to shed US$500 bil. of assets, keep banking model


By Madlen Read, AP
Sunday, May 11, 2008


    

NEW YORK -- Citigroup Inc.'s new chief executive, Vikram Pandit, plans to stick with a global bankin

g model after months of intense review -- but only after shrinking the company by about one-fifth first.

The three-year game plan, revealed Friday, includes getting rid of more businesses, mortgages, real-estate operations and jobs.

The bank aims to shed between US$400 billion and US$500 billion of its US$2.2 trillion in assets and grow revenue by 9 percent over the next few years as it tries to rebound from massive losses tied to deterioration in the credit markets.

The US$500 billion in so-called "legacy assets" the bank intends to sell off or allow to mature include yet-to-be-named noncore businesses, as well as assets in Citigroup's securities and consumer banking segments. That includes mortgages and other real estate-related holdings.

Meanwhile, the anticipated rise in revenue will derive largely from cutting costs -- which Chief Financial Officer Gary Crittenden said will mean more job reductions. Citi has so far lowered its headcount by 13,200 since last summer.

The moves could mean the bank loses its standing as the nation's largest if it doesn't grow other assets simultaneously. According to their most recent regulatory filings, Bank of America Corp. has US$1.74 trillion in total assets, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. has US$1.64 trillion.

The investor presentation Friday did not come as a huge surprise. Citigroup has already begun its winding-down process by writing down about US$38 billion in soured debt since last summer, and setting plans to reduce its residential mortgage assets by US$45 billion over the coming year. It has also sold businesses including CitiCapital, CitiStreet and Diners Club. These moves arrived on top of huge stock sales to outside investors, including government funds in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.


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Citigroup to shed US$500 bil. of assets, keep banking model

The Citigroup Center in New York is seen in this Jan. 15 photo. Citigroup Inc. on Friday said it is aiming for 9 percent revenue growth as it looks to rebound from recent struggles tied to deterioration in the mortgage and credit markets.(AP)

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