The Board of Directors of Leonardo convened today under the chairmanship of Gianni De Gennaro, announces the following.

With reference to the judicial decision issued today by the Court of Lucca in relation to the train accident occurred in Viareggio on 29 June 2009 which has held in first instance – and therefore by a non-final judgment – that Mr. Mauro Moretti, Leonardo – Società per azioni’s Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, is liable for non-intentional criminal offences – in relation to his role of RFI S.p.A.’s Chief Executive Officer performed during the period 2001/2006 and therefore prior to the event, the Company’s Board of Directors intended to evaluate - pursuant to applicable laws, any potential effect of such ruling on the exercise of Mr. Moretti’s office.

In this context the Board, in the presence of the members of the Board of Statutory Auditors who shared the evaluations underlying the Board of Directors’ determinations, has verified the persistence in the Chief Executive Officer of all the requirements set forth by the applicable rules and the full capacity to exercise all the prerogatives related to the role and has unanimously confirmed its full trust on Mr. Moretti.
The assessment was supported by a specific pro veritate opinion, requested by the Board of Directors and rendered by leading highly qualified professionals in the fields of civil, criminal and international law, whose summary (“Executive Summary”) is enclosed with this press release.