Audited Financial Information (continued) Benchmark interest rates like London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) are being replaced. The cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries primarily affected are those associated with US dollar denominated variable interest rate facilities which reference LIBOR. These facilities had principal amounts equivalent in aggregate to HK$2,339 million at 31st December 2022. The uncertainty arising from the Group’s exposure to interbank offered rates (IBOR) will cease in 2023. Other variable interest rate facilities of the Company and its subsidiaries are not referenced to rates which are being replaced. Gearing Ratio and Interest Cover The following graphs illustrate the gearing ratio and underlying interest cover for each of the last five years: GEARING RATIO HK$M Ratio (%) 350,000 35 300,000 30 250,000 25 200,000 20 Total equity 150,000 15 Net debt 100,000 10 50,000 5 Gearin ratio 0 0 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 (Retated) (Retated) UNDERLYING HK$M Times INTEREST COVER 28,000 112 24,000 96 Underlying operating profit 20,000 80 et finane arges 16,000 64 12,000 48 apitalised interest 8,000 32 4,000 16 Underlying interest oer Underlying as interest oer 0 0 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022  estated­  estated­ SWIRE PROPERTIES ANNUAL REPORT 2022 87