I need to calculate the Net Debt / EBITDA ratio for 2022 and 2023 to determine the leverage trend. ## Step 1: Calculate Net Debt for both years **Net Debt = Total Debt - Cash and Cash Equivalents** ### For 2023-01-01: - Long-term Borrowings: 12,689 million EUR - Current Borrowings: 2,110 million EUR - Noncurrent Lease Liabilities: 1,309 million EUR - Current Lease Liabilities: 177 million EUR - Total Debt: 12,689 + 2,110 + 1,309 + 177 = 16,285 million EUR - Cash and Cash Equivalents: 3,985 million EUR - **Net Debt 2023 = 16,285 - 3,985 = 12,300 million EUR** ### For 2022-01-01: - Long-term Borrowings: 13,786 million EUR - Current Borrowings: 1,493 million EUR - Noncurrent Lease Liabilities: 1,325 million EUR - Current Lease Liabilities: 196 million EUR - Total Debt: 13,786 + 1,493 + 1,325 + 196 = 16,800 million EUR - Cash and Cash Equivalents: 3,965 million EUR - **Net Debt 2022 = 16,800 - 3,965 = 12,835 million EUR** ## Step 2: Extract EBITDA for both years From the data: - **EBITDA 2023 (for period 2022-01-01 to 2023-01-01): 4,954 million EUR** - **EBITDA 2022 (for period 2021-01-01 to 2022-01-01): 3,529 million EUR** ## Step 3: Calculate Net Debt / EBITDA ratios **Net Debt / EBITDA 2023 = 12,300 / 4,954 = 2.48x** **Net Debt / EBITDA 2022 = 12,835 / 3,529 = 3.64x** ## Step 4: Calculate the year-on-year gap **Gap = 2.48x - 3.64x = -1.16x** The absolute value of the gap is 1.16x, which is significantly larger than 0.3x. ## Step 5: Interpret the trend Since the gap is -1.16x (negative), this means the ratio decreased from 3.64x to 2.48x, which represents an **improvement** in leverage. The company's leverage position improved substantially. However, I need to clarify which year we're measuring. The question asks about "S&P's adjusted leverage trend for 2022." The comparison should be: - 2022 ratio: 3.64x (calculated from 2021 to 2022 data) - 2023 ratio: 2.48x (calculated from 2022 to 2023 data) The change from 2022 to 2023 is -1.16x, which is much greater than 0.3x in absolute terms, indicating the leverage trend is **Improving** (the ratio decreased significantly). Improving