Italy has sold approximately 12.5% of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA for about €650 million ($704 million) as part of Giorgia Meloni's government plan to divest from the bailed-out lender. The sale involved 157.5 million shares at €4.15 each, including a 2.5% discount on Monte Paschi’s closing price. The Finance Ministry confirmed that the pricing represented a 42% increase from the government’s previous placement in November.