DALLAS
June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Santander Consumer USA ("Santander"), an affiliate
of Banco Santander, has reached an agreement with Citi to purchase $3.2 billion
of CitiFinancial Auto's auto loan portfolio. In addition, Santander and Citi have
entered into an agreement under which Santander will service a portfolio of approximately
$7.2 billion of auto loans that will be retained by Citi.The
purchase supports Santander Consumer USA's strategy to explore partnerships and
transactions that complement the company's existing business model and provide
incremental benefits from a service and growth perspective. Santander continues
to be committed to originating and servicing indirect and direct auto loans that
meet Banco Santander's strict standards related to prudent underwriting and risk
mitigation. Santander will purchase the $3.2 billion portion of the portfolio
at a price equal to 99% of the value of the gross receivables. This
sale to Santander is consistent with Citi's strategy to reduce the assets and
businesses within Citi Holdings, its portfolio of non-core operating businesses
and assets, in an economically rational manner while working to generate long-term
profitability and growth from Citicorp, which comprises its core franchise. Citi
continues to make progress on its strategy and will continue to pursue opportunities
to divest Citi Holdings assets in a manner that creates the most value for shareholders.
Upon completion, this transaction will reduce GAAP assets in Citi Holdings by
approximately $3.2 billion. Other
terms of the sale were not disclosed. The sale is not expected to have a material
impact on Citi's net income. The
transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2010, and
is subject to regulatory approvals and usual closing conditions. Citi's
Institutional Clients Group advised Citi on this transaction. About
Santander: Santander
Consumer USA Inc. is a leading company in the automotive finance sector, whose
core business is indirect, direct and third-party originations and servicing of
auto loans. The company has a serviced auto loan portfolio of approximately $14.9
billion, retail installment contracts with 1.4 million customers and relationships
with more than 12,000 dealer partners nationwide. The company began originating
loans in 1997 and is headquartered in Dallas. Santander Consumer USA is an
affiliate of Banco Santander, a leading international commercial and retail bank. Banco
Santander (SAN.MC, STD.N, BNC.LN) is the Spain-based retail and commercial bank
with a presence in 10 main markets in Europe, and the Americas. At the end of
2009, Santander was the largest bank in the euro zone by market capitalization
and fourth in the world by profit, EUR 8.94 billion. Founded in 1857, Santander
had EUR 1,245 billion in managed funds at the end of 2009. Santander has 92
million customers, 13,682 branches as of first quarter 2010 - more than any other
international bank - and 169,000 employees. About
Citi: Citi, the
leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer
accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi
Holdings, Citi provides 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. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com. Banco
Santander S.A. and Santander Consumer USA Inc. advise that this news release may
contain representations regarding forecasts and estimates. Said forecasts and
estimates may include, among others, remarks on the development of future business
and future returns. Although these forecasts and estimates represent our opinions
regarding future business expectations, perhaps certain risks, uncertainties and
other relevant factors may lead the earnings to be materially different from what
is expected. Included among these factors are (1) the situation of the market,
macroeconomic factors, regulatory and government guidelines, (2) variations in
domestic and international stock exchanges, exchange rates and interest rates,
(3) competitive pressure, (4) technology developments, (5) changes in the financial
position and credit standing of our customers, debtors or counterparts. The risk
factors and other fundamental factors that we have stated could have an adverse
effect on our business and on the performance and earnings described and contained
in our past reports, or in those that we shall present in the future, including
those filed with regulatory and supervisory entities, including the Securities
Exchange Commission of the United States of America.
Media Contacts -------------- Laurie Kight Santander Consumer USA
Inc. 214-237-3690 lkight@santanderconsumerusa.com
Peter Greiff or Angela Roche Banco Santander - Madrid +34-91-2890-5221
comunicacionbancosantander@gruposantander.com ---------------------------------------------
Shannon Bell Stephen Cohen Citi Citi 212-793-6206 212-793-0181 bells@citi.com
stephen1.cohen@citi.com -------------- -----------------------
Investor Contacts: ------------------ Citi Investors Citi Fixed Income
Investors John Andrews Ilene Fiszel-Bieler 212-559-2718 212-559-5091 SOURCE
Santander Consumer USA
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