The reasons for the sale are 2 fold. One, these investments are tanking. They are not performing and are a drag company down. Better to divest them while the company is underwater and still has government investments in it.

The other reason is that the federal government and 27% owner of the company, told them to get rid of assets. And when goverment speaks, you listen. Even if the market still goes down, all the factors in the deal point to a bad deal being made by Citigroup. They were told to sell an asset, they did, and they have cover if the deal is bad.