Let’s reason through this step-by-step. **1. Understanding hybrid bonds in capital structure** Hybrid bonds have characteristics of both debt and equity. They can improve credit ratios and provide tax benefits (interest is tax-deductible), but they also come with higher coupon costs than senior debt and can be called or converted. **2. ENEL’s current use of hybrids** From the equity breakdown: - 2022-01-01: Equity Instruments Perpetual Hybrid Bonds = €5,567M - 2023-01-01: Equity Instruments Perpetual Hybrid Bonds = €5,567M - Total equity attributable to owners of parent: ~€28.7B So hybrids are about 19.4% of parent equity and about 13.2% of total equity. This suggests ENEL is already using hybrids but not as the dominant source. **3. Debt levels and leverage** - Total liabilities are high (€177.5B at end of 2022). - Long-term borrowings increased from €54.5B to €68.2B year-over-year. - Operating profit improved, but profit after tax fell significantly due to discontinued operations and impairments. This indicates some caution is needed in adding more fixed-cost capital. **4. Market environment in 2022** - Swap rates rose sharply in 2022 (5Y from negative to +1.726%). - Corporate bond yields also rose (iBoxx sub-senior IG from 1.298% to 2.295%). - This means issuing hybrid bonds became more expensive. - A heavy reliance on hybrids (75–100%) would lock in high coupon costs for a long period. **5. Strategic considerations** - 0% would ignore the benefits of hybrid capital for credit rating optimization. - 100% would be very aggressive and likely too costly and risky. - 25% to 50% seems reasonable—provides flexibility without overburdening interest costs. - Given ENEL already sits near ~19% of parent equity in hybrids, moving toward 25% is a modest increase, whereas 50% would mean roughly doubling hybrid reliance, which seems aggressive given the rising rate environment. **6. Conclusion** A 25% reliance strikes a balance between benefiting from hybrid features and managing the cost of capital in a rising rate environment. 25%