To assess whether HERA S.P.A. is suitable to issue hybrid bonds, we analyze its financial position as of the end of 2022: 1. **Profitability and Cash Flow**: The company remains profitable, with a Profit After Tax of 305.3 million EUR in 2022. However, Cash Flows from Operating Activities dropped significantly from 1,045.4 million EUR in 2021 to 35.7 million EUR in 2022, primarily due to a large negative swing in working capital (-927.6 million EUR). 2. **Leverage and Debt Profile**: The company has a substantial debt burden. Non-current financial liabilities increased significantly from 3,716 million EUR to 5,689.9 million EUR. Current financial liabilities also rose. The total liabilities to equity ratio is high (13,473.8M / 3,644.7M ≈ 3.7). 3. **Capital Structure**: Hybrid bonds are often used to manage leverage ratios while supporting credit ratings. Given the significant increase in debt and the volatility in operating cash flows, the company has an incentive to issue hybrid instruments to strengthen its capital structure without further diluting ownership or increasing senior debt burdens. 4. **Financial Stability**: Despite the cash flow volatility, the company is a large, established utility ("Gruppo Hera") with consistent revenue growth (20,082M EUR vs 10,555M EUR). Its ability to pay dividends and maintain positive equity (3,644.7M EUR) suggests it is a viable candidate for hybrid debt financing. Given its scale, established operational status, and the utility sector's typical capital requirements, the company shows characteristics consistent with an issuer that would utilize hybrid bonds to optimize its capital structure. Strongly Suitable