To estimate S&P's adjusted leverage trend for 2022, we need to calculate the Net Debt / EBITDA ratio for both the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years and compare the year-on-year gap. **1. Calculate the ratio for the 2023 fiscal year (ending 2023-01-01):** - **EBITDA 2023:** The facts state "Beneficio Bruto De Explotacion Ebitda" for 2022-01-01 to 2023-01-01 is 13,228,000,000 EUR. - **Net Debt 2023:** Net Debt is calculated as Total Financial Debt - Cash and Cash Equivalents. - Noncurrent Financial Liabilities (44,216,000,000 EUR) + Current Financial Liabilities (25,079,000,000 EUR) = 69,295,000,000 EUR. - Cash and Cash Equivalents = 4,608,000,000 EUR. - Net Debt 2023 = 69,295,000,000 - 4,608,000,000 = 64,687,000,000 EUR. - **Ratio 2023:** 64,687,000,000 / 13,228,000,000 ≈ 4.89x. **2. Calculate the ratio for the 2022 fiscal year (ending 2022-01-01):** - **EBITDA 2022:** The facts state "Beneficio Bruto De Explotacion Ebitda" for 2021-01-01 to 2022-01-01 is 12,006,000,000 EUR. - **Net Debt 2022:** - Noncurrent Financial Liabilities (37,175,000,000 EUR) + Current Financial Liabilities (21,297,000,000 EUR) = 58,472,000,000 EUR. - Cash and Cash Equivalents = 4,033,000,000 EUR. - Net Debt 2022 = 58,472,000,000 - 4,033,000,000 = 54,439,000,000 EUR. - **Ratio 2022:** 54,439,000,000 / 12,006,000,000 ≈ 4.53x. **3. Determine the trend:** - The gap in the ratio year-on-year is 4.89x - 4.53x = +0.36x. - The definition of "Stable" requires the gap to be within ± 0.3x. Because the gap of 0.36x is higher than 0.3x, the ratio has worsened, meaning the leverage trend is Deteriorating. Deteriorating