Alwaleed comes to Citi rescue for a second time

By Souhail Karam

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said he is among investors helping Citigroup Inc, which posted its first quarterly loss since its creation in 1998, to raise $12.5 billion in convertible preferred securities.

The investment is a "continuation of his strong support of Citigroup, and belief in its long-term success and profitability", the prince said in a statement on Tuesday.

The royal, a nephew of Saudi King Abdullah, is Citigroup's largest individual shareholder, owning 3.6 percent of the biggest U.S. bank by assets through Kingdom Holding, which he controls. He owns 95 percent of the Riyadh-based firm.

P.J. Shoucair, Kingdom Holding's executive director for international investments, said the firm is not taking part in raising funds for Citigroup because it does not fit its investment strategy.

Prince Alwaleed "in his personal capacity participated in the private fund raising," Shoucair said in an email to Reuters. "The Prince remains confident in Citigroup's future," he said.

The Saudi billionaire last came to the bank's aid in 1991, when he invested $590 million in Citigroup predecessor Citicorp, which needed cash as it struggled with Latin American loan losses and a collapse in U.S. real-estate prices.

"The size of Prince Alwaleed's investment in the convertible preferred securities is in line with maintaining his direct, and indirect interest through Kingdom Holding Co, below the 4.9 percent ownership threshold," the prince said in Tuesday's statement.

The U.S. bank reported a $9.83 billion fourth-quarter loss on Tuesday.