Leonardo carries out activities aimed at institutions to support its business strategy, present the company's position on specific issues and seize potential future business opportunities. These activities, which are carried out in compliance with current regulations, as well as with the principles and standards of conduct set out in Leonardo's Code of Ethics, Anti-Corruption Code and other company rules, mainly consist of monitoring specific regulatory developments and organising meetings with government and parliamentary representatives on matters of interest. Leonardo's representatives who carry out these activities are enrolled in special public registers. Among the main areas for which the Group made use of the support from external lobbyists in 2020 are those involving the development of technologies for infrastructure and transport, the purchase and/or upgrade of aircraft on the part of government agencies, including aircraft for firefighting, search and rescue missions, research and development programmes for submarine programmes, naval systems, ground-based and satellite communication systems."
"As provided for in Leonardo's Code of Ethics, the Company does not contribute company funds to political and trade union parties, movements, committees and organizations, or to their representatives and/or candidates: therefore Leonardo did not pay any political contribution in 2020. The prohibition in the Code of Ethics on political contributions applies to all Group companies worldwide, including the United States. For more details, please see the Code of Ethics and Business conduct of Leonardo DRS. In the United States where voluntary contributions to a Political Action Committee ("PAC") by eligible employees are permitted by law, the operation of the PAC is supervised and monitored for legal compliance to ensure they are not used as vehicles for bribery and corruption.