BlackRock calls antitrust claims “unprecedented, unsound and unsupported”

(Reuters) -An attorney for BlackRock called antitrust claims by Republican-led states “unprecedented, unsound and unsupported” on Monday and said they had failed to show how the firms’ involvement with industry climate groups interfered with market competition.

Gibson Dunn attorney Gregg Costa spoke as BlackRock and co-defendants Vanguard and State Street seek to dismiss the claims in the closely watched antitrust case brought by Texas and 12 other states.

(Reporting by Ross Kerber and Niket Nishant; Editing by Mark Porter)