Italy to keep decree allowing Parmalat AGM delay

ROME, April 20 (Reuters) - Italy has no plans to change a decree introduced to allow Parmalat (PLT.MI) to postpone a key shareholder meeting and gain time to fend off an offensive by France's Lactalis, Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti said on Wednesday.

Parmalat won court backing earlier this month to delay its general shareholder meeting (AGM) until the end of June to allow domestic investors time to prepare a bid for the dairy group and prevent Lactalis from taking control of it.

Lactalis, the world's No. 3 dairy group, has become the leading shareholder in Italy's biggest listed food group by building a stake just below the 30 percent limit that would trigger a mandatory takeover bid.

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte)