Italy’s prosecutors are investigating Leonardo SpA’s Chief Executive Officer Roberto Cingolani for having provided an environmental authorization to Solvay SA during his time as minister, according to people familiar with the matter.
(Bloomberg) — Italy’s prosecutors are investigating Leonardo SpA’s Chief Executive Officer Roberto Cingolani for having provided an environmental authorization to Solvay SA during his time as minister, according to people familiar with the matter.
Before taking the Leonardo job, Cingolani was minister for environmental transition in the government led by Mario Draghi. In February 2022 he renewed a permit to allow Solvay operating a plant which has been legally dumping chemical waste on a beach in Tuscany. Prosecutors have already asked a judge to dismiss the case, a person familiar with the matter said.
Representatives for Cingolani and Leonardo declined to comment. Italian media reported the story earlier.
Read more: Solvay to Cut Beach Waste as It Settles With Activist Bluebell
The investigation is the latest step in what had been a battle between activist investor Giuseppe Bivona’s Bluebell Capital Partners and the Belgian chemical company. Late last year, Solvay agreed to invest about 15 million euros ($16.3 million) in technical and process solutions and improvements in production at the facility which has been manufacturing soda ash and sodium bicarbonate since 1912.
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