Around 45 independent traders have filed a lawsuit against Euronext claiming a conflict of interest between the Pan-European exchange's trading and clearing activities.
Euronext has confirmed a report in financial daily newspaper La Tribune that it is being sued over the introduction of automated systems for dealing on the Monep and Matif futures markets in 2001.
The exchange, which is a major shareholder in LCH.Clearnet, is accused of receiving rebates from the clearing house in return for developing the new automated system, which is able to handle hundreds of transactions per minute, according to the La Tribune report.
Euronext told reporters that the 45 traders had made unfair trading complaints against it but the exchange declined to comment further.
A hearing is scheduled for 17 January 2006.