To estimate the S&P adjusted leverage trend, we calculate the ratio of Net Debt to EBITDA for the years 2021 and 2022 (using the 2022 and 2023 financial reports provided). **1. EBITDA Calculation:** EBITDA is typically calculated as: Profit/Loss from Operating Activities + Depreciation, Amortisation, and Impairment. * **2021:** * Operating Profit: 1,200,400,000 EUR * Depreciation/Amortization: 654,400,000 EUR * **EBITDA 2021: 1,854,800,000 EUR** * **2022:** * Operating Profit: 1,333,500,000 EUR * Depreciation/Amortization: 725,700,000 EUR * **EBITDA 2022: 2,059,200,000 EUR** **2. Net Debt Calculation:** Net Debt is calculated as: (Long-term Borrowings + Short-term Borrowings + Current Portion of Long-term Borrowings) - Cash and Cash Equivalents. * **2022 (End of 2021 period):** * Debt: 8,835,000,000 + 1,947,000,000 + 1,640,000,000 = 12,422,000,000 EUR * Cash: 1,566,800,000 EUR * **Net Debt 2022: 10,855,200,000 EUR** * **2023 (End of 2022 period):** * Debt: 8,416,700,000 + 444,100,000 + 1,909,300,000 = 10,770,100,000 EUR * Cash: 2,155,100,000 EUR * **Net Debt 2023: 8,615,000,000 EUR** **3. Leverage Ratio (Net Debt / EBITDA):** * **Ratio 2022:** 10,855,200,000 / 1,854,800,000 ≈ 5.85x * **Ratio 2023:** 8,615,000,000 / 2,059,200,000 ≈ 4.18x **4. Trend Analysis:** The difference (Gap) = 4.18 - 5.85 = -1.67x. Since the gap is -1.67x, which is significantly lower than -0.3x, the leverage is Improving. Improving