Blackrock secures Italy’s approval to hold more than 3% in Leonardo

ROME (Reuters) – BlackRock, the world’s biggest asset manager, has secured Italian government approval to hold a stake of more than 3% in defence and aerospace group Leonardo, a government document showed on Monday.

The document, sent by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office to parliament, deals with so-called “golden power” decisions.

Italy’s government has “golden powers” to block or set conditions on foreign and domestic investments, as well as governance changes, involving companies that operate in strategic sectors such as energy, telecoms, defence and banking.

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte, editing by Alvise Armellini)