Notice2025-11881

Self-Regulatory Organizations; LCH SA; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Revisions to Its CDSClear Fee Grid for Services Provided to Dealers

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
June 27, 2025

Issuing agencies

Securities and Exchange Commission

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27696-27698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11881]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-103312; File No. SR-LCH SA-2025-006]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; LCH SA; Notice of Filing and 
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Revisions 
to Its CDSClear Fee Grid for Services Provided to Dealers

June 24, 2025.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4,\2\ notice is hereby given that on June 
11, 2025, Banque Centrale de Compensation, which conducts business 
under the name LCH SA (``LCH SA''), filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change 
(``Proposed Rule Change''), as described in Items I, II and III below, 
which Items have been prepared primarily by the clearing agency. LCH SA 
has designated this proposal for immediate effectiveness pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f) thereunder.\4\ The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    LCH SA is proposing to amend its CDSClear fee grid (the ``Fee 
Grid'') by incorporating changes with respect to the CDSClear business 
and clearing services offered for CDS Dealers (the ``Proposed Rule 
Change'').\5\ The text of the Proposed Rule Change is provided in 
Exhibit 5.\6\ The implementation of the Proposed Rule Change will be 
contingent on LCH SA's receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ All capitalized terms not defined herein have the same 
meaning as in the Rule Book in its version as available on LCH SA's 
website: <a href="https://www.lseg.com/en/post-trade/clearing/clearing-resources/rulebooks/lch-sa#t-over-the-counter-credit-default-swaps">https://www.lseg.com/en/post-trade/clearing/clearing-resources/rulebooks/lch-sa#t-over-the-counter-credit-default-swaps</a>.
    \6\ All capitalized terms not defined herein have the same 
definition as in the Framework, unless otherwise stated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, LCH SA included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the Proposed Rule Change and 
discussed any comments it received on the Proposed Rule Change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. LCH SA has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, 
B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The purpose of the Proposed Rule Change is for LCH SA CDSClear to 
amend its Fee Grid regarding the CDS Dealer status offering.\7\ The 
Proposed Rule Change also removes references to LCH SA's former service 
offerings, EquityClear and CommodityClear, and adds references to LCH 
SA's new offering, DigitalAssetClear.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See Exchange Act Release No. 34-102217 (Jan. 16, 2025), 90 
FR 8060 (Jan. 23, 2025) (SR-LCH SA-2024-005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    LCH SA is proposing to amend the CDSClear Fee Grid as follows:
(A) Self-Clearing Fees
1. CDS Dealer Status
    Following the full regulatory approval received by LCH SA for the 
CDS Dealer Status arrangement,\8\ LCH SA is proposing to add a new fee 
for market participants that are CDS Dealers of [euro]100,000 per 
annum. This fee is separate from any fees for trades submitted for 
clearing, which will be charged based on the tariff of the Clearing 
Member with which the CDS Dealer is party to a CDS Dealer Clearing 
Agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    LCH SA is proposing to add footnote (4) to its fee grid to note 
that the annual fee will be charged to the Clearing Member with which 
the CDS Dealer is party to a CDS Dealer Clearing Agreement. The fee 
will be paid over 12 months and charged one twelfth each month where 
the CDS Dealer is considered live for the whole month, regardless of 
the go-live date within that month. Footnote (4) further specifies that 
variable fees will be charged based on the fee tariff of the Clearing 
Member with which the CDS Dealer is party to a CDS Dealer Clearing 
Agreement.
(B) Annual Account Structure Fees
    LCH SA is proposing to remove references to LCH SA EquityClear and 
CommodityClear Account Charges following the closure of these 
businesses in 2024. References to account fees for Cash Markets and 
Derivatives Markets are being removed for the same reason and replaced 
with

[[Page 27697]]

references to the new clearing service, DigitalAssetClear. 
Specifically, LCH SA is removing references to the previously applied 
quarterly account charges for EquityClear and CommodityClear.
2. Statutory Basis
    LCH SA believes that the Proposed Rule Change is consistent with 
the requirements of Section 17A of the Exchange Act \9\ and the 
regulations thereunder applicable to LCH SA. Section 17A(b)(3)(D) of 
the Act \10\ requires that the rules of a clearing agency provide for 
the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges 
among its participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(D).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    LCH SA believes the amendments to the Fee Grid are reasonable given 
the changes to its CDSClear service and equitable for both existing and 
new Clearing Members and Clients.
    A participant that is not a member of CDSClear but is affiliated 
with an existing Clearing Member that wishes to otherwise access the 
service, may clear as a Client of the Clearing Member or as a CDS 
Dealer.\11\ LCH is proposing to amend the annual fee payable by a 
participant joining as a CDS Dealer to [euro]100,000. The variable fees 
are still payable based on the fee tariff of the Clearing Member.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Participants may also apply to become a Clearing Member 
directly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    LCH SA also believes that the Proposed Rule Change is consistent 
with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act and regulations 
thereunder applicable to it, including Commission Rule 17Ad-22(e). In 
particular, Section 17A(b)(3)(F) \12\ of the Act requires, inter alia, 
that the rules of a clearing agency be designed to ``promote the prompt 
and accurate clearance and settlement of . . . derivatives agreements, 
contracts, and transactions''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    LCH SA is proposing an annual fee that allows participants to join 
as CDS Dealers and is designed to incentivize and encourage a broader 
set of market participants to submit transactions for clearing even if 
not a Clearing Member of the CDSClear service. LCH SA believes the 
specific CDS Dealer fee provides transparency regarding the cost of 
clearing and promotes the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement 
of CDS products.
    LCH SA therefore believes that the Proposed Rule Change is 
consistent with the requirements of Section 17A(b)(3)(D) \13\ of the 
Act and 17A(b)(3)(F) \14\ of the Act in that the amendments to the Fee 
Grid are reasonable and equitable among its participants and are 
encouraging clearing activity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(D).
    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    Section 17A(b)(3)(I) of the Act \15\ requires that the rules of a 
clearing agency not impose any burden on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. LCH SA does not 
believe that the Proposed Rule Change would impose any burden on 
competition. The purpose of the Proposed Rule Change is for LCH SA to 
amend its Fee Grid to incorporate a new fee for market participants 
that are CDS Dealers following the implementation of the Dealer Status 
initiative. This fee will be separate from any variable clearing fees, 
which will be charged based on the tariff of the Clearing Member with 
which the CDS Dealer is party to a CDS Dealer Clearing Agreement and in 
accordance with the existing CDSClear fees and will be applied equally 
for all Dealers. Thus, LCH SA does not believe that the Proposed Rule 
Change would impose a burden on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(I).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change 
Received From Members, Participants or Others

    Written comments relating to the Proposed Rule Change have not been 
solicited or received. LCH SA will notify the Commission of any written 
comments received by LCH SA.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder. At 
any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the 
Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it 
appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate 
in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

    <bullet> Use the Commission's internet comment form (<a href="http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>); or
    <bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b696e777e36787476767e756f685b687e78357c746d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ea989f868fc7898587878f849e99aa998f89c48d859c">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include 
file number SR-LCH SA-2025-006 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

    Send paper comments in triplicate to Vanessa Countryman, Secretary, 
Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549.

All submissions should refer to file number SR-LCH SA-2025-006. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/self-regulatory-organization-rulemaking">https://www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/self-regulatory-organization-rulemaking</a>). Copies of the 
submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with 
respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, 
and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change 
between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be 
withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 
552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. 
Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying 
at the principal office of LCH SA and on LCH SA's website at: (<a href="https://www.lch.com/resources/rulebooks/proposed-rule-changes">https://www.lch.com/resources/rulebooks/proposed-rule-changes</a>).
    Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; 
you should submit only information that you wish to make available 
publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication 
submitted materials that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. 
All submissions should refer to file number SR-LCH SA-2025-006 and 
should be submitted on or before July 18, 2025.


[[Page 27698]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-11881 Filed 6-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>
Indexed from Federal Register on June 27, 2025.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.