To assess whether Hera S.p.A. is suitable to issue hybrid bonds, we need to evaluate the company's financial health, leverage, and cash flow generation, as hybrid bonds are typically issued by companies looking to optimize their cost of capital without diluting equity, and they require stable cash flows to service the periodic coupon payments. 1. **Size and Stability of Operations**: Hera is a large Italian multi-utility group. The revenue and asset base are massive (Revenue of €20.08 billion and Total Assets of €17.1 billion in 2022). Utilities typically have highly predictable and regulated cash flows, making them ideal candidates for hybrid debt, which requires consistent interest payments. 2. **Leverage and Equity Position**: - Total Equity (2023-01-01): €3.64 billion - Total Liabilities (2023-01-01): €13.47 billion - The Debt-to-Equity ratio stands at approximately 3.7x. While leverage is high (typical for capital-intensive utilities), issuing hybrid bonds—partially treated as equity by rating agencies—would improve the group's equity credit and lower the effective leverage ratio, a common financial strategy for such companies. 3. **Profitability and Cash Flows**: - Profit Loss (2022): €305.3 million - Cash Flows From Operating Activities (2022): €35.7 million (Operating cash flow before working capital changes was €1.2 billion, but severely impacted by a €927.6 million increase in working capital, largely driven by massive jumps in inventories and trade receivables likely tied to energy price volatility). - Even with the working capital drag, the underlying operating profitability (EBIT of €533.8 million) and operating cash flow before working capital changes (€1.2 billion) provide substantial coverage for hybrid bond coupons. 4. **Interest Coverage**: - Finance Costs (2022): €217.2 million - EBIT (2022): €533.8 million - The basic interest coverage ratio is around 2.5x. Given the stable nature of utility revenues, this coverage is sufficient to handle additional coupon obligations from hybrid issuances. Overall, Hera’s business model as a utility provides the revenue stability demanded by hybrid investors, and its capital structure benefits from the equity-like characteristics of hybrid bonds to manage leverage. Therefore, the company is strongly suitable to issue hybrid bonds. Strongly Suitable