To assess whether Iberdrola, S.A. is suitable to issue hybrid bonds, we need to evaluate key financial metrics that demonstrate the company's stability, leverage, profitability, and ability to service debt. Hybrid bonds are a form of subordinated debt that often possess equity-like characteristics (such as interest deferral and perpetual nature), making them attractive to companies with strong cash flows and solid credit profiles seeking to optimize their capital structure without diluting equity. 1. **Scale and Profitability**: Iberdrola is a massive utility company with total assets of €154.667 billion and revenue of €53.949 billion for 2022. Its EBITDA stands at a robust €13.228 billion, and its net profit attributable to owners of the parent is €4.339 billion. This scale and consistent profitability indicate a strong capacity to meet financial obligations. 2. **Debt and Leverage**: The company has non-current financial liabilities of €44.216 billion and current financial liabilities of €25.079 billion. Its equity stands at €58.114 billion (including non-controlling interests of €16.995 billion). The net financial debt (total financial debt minus cash & equivalents of €4.608 billion) is approximately €64.687 billion. The Net Debt / EBITDA ratio is around 4.89x (€64.687B / €13.228B). While this leverage is somewhat high, it is typical for capital-intensive utility companies that carry stable, regulated cash flows. 3. **Interest Coverage**: The finance costs for the period are €3.042 billion. With an EBITDA of €13.228 billion, the EBITDA-to-interest coverage ratio is over 4.3x, demonstrating a comfortable margin to cover interest payments, including the typically higher coupons of hybrid bonds. 4. **Hybrid Experience**: The financial statements explicitly reveal that Iberdrola already has "Obligaciones Perpetuas Subordinadas" (Perpetual Subordinated Obligations) outstanding, with accrued interests and issuances tracked both in the equity and cash flow statements. This shows the firm is already an established issuer in the hybrid capital market. 5. **Credit Profile**: Utility companies like Iberdrola generally benefit from predictable, regulated cash flows, which supports higher leverage and subordinated debt issuance. Rating agencies typically grant 50% equity credit to hybrid bonds for such stable issuers, helping them manage their credit ratings while raising capital. Given the robust EBITDA, adequate interest coverage, existing framework for perpetual subordinated debt, and the stable nature of its utility business, Iberdrola is highly capable of issuing hybrid bonds and servicing them reliably. Strongly Suitable