To determine S&P's adjusted leverage trend for 2022, we need to calculate the Net Debt / EBITDA ratio for both the 2022 and 2023 periods and find the year-on-year gap. According to the provided definition, if the gap is less than -0.3x (meaning the ratio decreased by more than 0.3x), it is "Improving"; if it is between -0.3x and +0.3x, it is "Stable"; and if it is greater than +0.3x (ratio increased by more than 0.3x), it is "Deteriorating". Let's calculate the figures for the periods ending on 2022-01-01 (representing fiscal year 2021) and 2023-01-01 (representing fiscal year 2022): **For 2022 (Period ending 2022-01-01):** - Cash And Cash Equivalents: 964,000,000 EUR - Other Current Financial Assets: 9,000,000 EUR - Other Noncurrent Financial Assets: 64,000,000 EUR - Total Financial Assets = 964M + 9M + 64M = 1,037,000,000 EUR - Other Noncurrent Financial Liabilities: 4,322,000,000 EUR - Other Current Financial Liabilities: 746,000,000 EUR - Total Financial Liabilities = 4,322M + 746M = 5,068,000,000 EUR - Net Debt = Total Financial Liabilities - Total Financial Assets = 5,068M - 1,037M = 4,031,000,000 EUR - EBITDA (Gross Operating Income EBITDA): 1,428,000,000 EUR - Net Debt / EBITDA = 4,031 / 1,428 ≈ 2.82x **For 2023 (Period ending 2023-01-01):** - Cash And Cash Equivalents: 2,584,000,000 EUR - Other Current Financial Assets: 14,000,000 EUR - Other Noncurrent Financial Assets: 70,000,000 EUR - Total Financial Assets = 2,584M + 14M + 70M = 2,668,000,000 EUR - Other Noncurrent Financial Liabilities: 5,867,000,000 EUR - Other Current Financial Liabilities: 1,022,000,000 EUR - Total Financial Liabilities = 5,867M + 1,022M = 6,889,000,000 EUR - Net Debt = Total Financial Liabilities - Total Financial Assets = 6,889M - 2,668M = 4,221,000,000 EUR - EBITDA (Gross Operating Income EBITDA): 1,505,000,000 EUR - Net Debt / EBITDA = 4,221 / 1,505 ≈ 2.81x **Year-on-year Gap:** - Gap = 2023 Ratio - 2022 Ratio = 2.81x - 2.82x = -0.01x The gap of -0.01x falls within the ± 0.3x range, which qualifies the trend as Stable. Stable