NASD, the private sector regulator of the U.S. securities industry, has fined Citigroup Global Markets Inc., US$250,000 for using inappropriate hedge fund sales literature.

The NASD says that more than 100 pieces of sales literature distributed between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003, cited a targeted rate of return without providing a sound basis for evaluating the target, improperly used hypothetical returns in charts or graphs, and/or failed to include adequate risk disclosure. In settling this matter, Citigroup neither admitted nor denied the allegations, but consented to the entry of findings.

The NASD reports that is its largest enforcement action to date involving hedge fund sales by broker-dealers.

“As hedge funds and ‘funds of hedge funds’ are marketed more and more aggressively to individual investors, ensuring that those investors receive full and accurate information is critical,” said NASD vice chairman Mary Schapiro, in a release. “This enforcement action underscores our commitment to making certain that firms provide the investing public with a sound basis for evaluating hedge fund investments, and adequately disclose all of the risks.”