Let’s reason through this step-by-step. **1. Current capital structure** - Equity attributable to owners of parent (including hybrid) at end-2022: €7,258 mn - Hybrid capital: €2,125 mn - Total equity: €7,713 mn - Long-term borrowings: €19,006 mn - Total assets: €38,509 mn Hybrid capital is already ~29% of equity attributable to owners of parent and ~27.5% of total equity. Relative to total assets, hybrid is about 5.5%, and relative to long-term debt it’s about 11.2%. **2. Profitability and coverage** - The company made a significant net loss in both 2022 and 2021. - Operating cash flows improved (€1,196 mn in 2022 vs €5,705 mn in 2021 due to working capital swings), but underlying operating cash flow excluding EEG working capital was only €596 mn. - Interest paid was €202 mn in 2022, finance costs €300 mn. Hybrid coupon payments were €57 mn each year. - The losses mean there is pressure on retained earnings and ordinary equity. **3. Market environment** - In 2022, swap rates rose sharply (5Y: 1.726%, 10Y: 1.927%), meaning new fixed-rate debt would be more expensive. - Corporate bond yields also increased (iShares Core Euro Corp Bond yield rose to 1.085%, sub-senior non-financial IG yield to 2.295%). - Given the 0.2 delta for subordinated/senior spread, hybrid (deeply subordinated) would carry an even higher premium. - Rising rate environment makes additional hybrid issuance more costly relative to a few years ago. **4. Rating and equity content** - Hybrid bonds usually get partial equity credit from rating agencies, typically up to a certain percentage of total capital. - Since TenneT is already loss-making, adding more hybrids would increase fixed coupon obligations, worsening interest coverage ratios and potentially pressuring ratings if the equity content limit is exceeded. - Regulated transmission system operators need stable credit ratings to finance large capex programs (capex was €4.4 bn in 2022). **5. Optimal reliance** Given the current ~27% hybrid-to-parent-equity ratio, the loss-making profile, rising interest costs, and the need to maintain strong credit metrics for heavy infrastructure investment, increasing reliance significantly would be imprudent. A moderate share around 25% seems plausible — aligning roughly with current levels — to keep some equity credit benefit without excessive fixed charges. 25%