EDP, S.A. appears **Strongly Suitable** for hybrid bond issuance. Key reasons: - **Business profile is highly compatible with hybrids:** EDP is a large integrated utility engaged in electricity generation, transmission, distribution, supply, and gas supply. This gives it infrastructure-like characteristics, essential-service demand, and a material regulated/quasi-regulated component. Such issuers are among the most natural users of hybrid capital. - **Large scale and diversified utility platform:** 2022 revenue was about **€20.7bn**, EBITDA-like profit before provisions, amortisation, financial items, tax and CESE was about **€4.5bn**, and total assets were about **€58.8bn**. The group has substantial generation and network assets, with PPE of about **€24.2bn**, and operates across multiple geographies and activities. This supports institutional investor appetite. - **Financial profile is in the typical hybrid-issuer range:** S&P net debt / EBITDA of **4.06x** and FFO / net debt of **18.84%** are consistent with a leveraged investment-grade utility profile where hybrid equity credit can be meaningful for rating headroom. These metrics are not so strong that hybrids would be unnecessary, nor so weak that hybrids would be viewed as distressed subordinated debt. - **Clear funding rationale:** EDP has a capital-intensive business model, with significant investment outflows. Cash payments for PPE and intangible assets were about **€3.5bn** in 2022, and total investing cash flow was negative **€3.2bn**. Hybrid capital is well-suited to funding growth capex, renewable expansion, acquisitions, and refinancing while protecting credit metrics. - **Proven market access and precedent:** EDP has already issued hybrid bonds, including in **2021 or 2022**, and first issued hybrids in **2013**. This is a strong positive signal: the company has an established hybrid investor base and demonstrated credibility using hybrids as part of its capital structure. - **Cash flow generation remains solid:** Operating cash flow improved materially from about **€2.0bn** in 2021 to **€3.8bn** in 2022. Profit remained positive at about **€1.17bn**, and parent-attributable profit was stable at about **€679m**. This supports coupon service capacity. - **Some offsetting considerations, but not enough to weaken suitability:** Moody’s adjusted leverage trend is noted as **improving**, which could reduce the urgency of hybrid issuance. Also, 2022 interest-rate conditions were materially less favorable than 2020–2021, increasing hybrid coupon cost. However, for a large established utility issuer with recurring capex and prior hybrid usage, these factors affect timing and pricing more than fundamental suitability. Overall, EDP fits the classic profile of a hybrid issuer: large investment-grade utility, significant capex needs, meaningful leverage-management benefit, visible cash flows, and a proven hybrid issuance track record. Strongly Suitable