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Pursuant to Article 44 paragraph (2) item 3) of the Central Bank of Montenegro Law (OGM
40/10, 46/10, 6/13, 70/17) and Article 125 paragraph (9) of the Law on Credit Institutions
(OGM, 72/19), the Council of the Central Bank of Montenegro, at its meeting held on 28
December 2020, passed the following
D E C I S I O N
ON RECOVERY PLANS OF CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
I. BASIC PROVISIONS
Subject matter
Article 1
This Decision shall govern in more detail the method and scope of application of
the requirements related to the drawing up of a credit institution recovery plans, as well
as the contents, method and timeframes for submission of these plans and amendments
to the contents of recovery plans following the assessment of recovery plans performed
by the Central Bank of Montenegro (hereinafter: the Central Bank).
Definitions
Article 2
Terms used in this Decision shall have the following meanings:
- recovery options mean activities, agreements, measures or strategies of a credit
institution or a group covered by a recovery plan that are designed to restore
financial stability in situations of a severe financial distress;
- situations of a severe financial distress mean situations which threaten the
financial intermediation function of a credit institution to the point of its market
survival , i.e. its further undisturbed provision of services for which it is authorised
and which may be caused by an external or an internal event;
- material change means each change which has the potential to affect the ability
of a credit institution to implement a recovery plan or to apply one or more recovery
options envisaged in the recovery plan;
- critical functions means activities, services or operations the discontinuance of
which is likely in one or more states, to lead to the disruption of services that are
essential to the real economy or to disrupt financial stability due to the size, market
share, external and internal interconnectedness, complexity or cross-border
activities of an institution or group, with particular regard to the substitutability of
those activities, services or operations;
- core business lines means business and associated services which represent
material sources of revenue, profit or franchise value for a credit institution or for a
group of which a credit institution forms part.
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6) a significant obstacle means any factor that may adversely affect the timely
execution of the recovery option, in particular legal, operational, business, financial
and reputational risk, as well as any other risk that may result in a downgrade of
the credit institution’s credit rating;
7) early warning signals means benchmarks which constitute a part of the internal
risk management process of a credit institution or a group of credit institutions and
which are used to monitor its financial condition;
8) recovery plan indicators means qualitative or quantitative indicators established
by a credit institution to identify points at which appropriate actions specified in the
recovery plan can be taken, or which if they reach a certain level indicate that
appropriate recovery options can be taken to preserve or re-establish sustainable
business and satisfactory financial position of the credit institution;
9) reverse stress-testing means a form of stress testing which is based on the
possible results of a near-default and identifies circumstances that might cause
this to occur.
10)significant credit institution means a credit institution whose average amount of
assets at the end of previous three business years stated in the revised financial
statements exceeds 250,000 euros;
11) significant branch or other entity means a branch of a credit institution or other
entity that:
- significantly contributes to the profit of the credit institution or entities included
in the recovery plan, or has a significant share in their assets, liabilities or
capital,
- performs key economic activities,
- performs a critical operational function, risk management function, or
management function,
- bears high risk that could jeopardise the viability of the credit institution or group
in the worst case scenario,
- could not be sold or liquidated as it would lead to a high risk for the credit
institution or group, or
- are important for the financial stability in at least one country where they have
a head office or where they operate.
II. RECOVERY PLAN STRUCTURE
Parts of a recovery plan
Article 3
(1) A recovery plan of a credit institution shall include at least the following parts:
- a brief overview (hereinafter: summary) of the key elements of the plan and a
summary of total capacity of the credit institution for recovery, including the content
specified in Article 4 of this Decision;
- information on governance including the content specified in Article 5 of this
Decision;
- a strategic analysis, in accordance with Article 15 of this Decision;
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4) a communication and disclosure plan, in accordance with Article 19 of this
Decision;
5) an analysis of preparatory measures contained in the recovery plan, in accordance
with Article 20 of this Decision.
(2) Parts of the recovery plan referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article are separate,
specially marked and described units of the plan.
Summary of key elements of the plan
Article 4
The summary of key elements of the recovery plan referred to in Article 3 item 1) of this
Decision shall contain a brief overview of:
- information on governance, including selected recovery plan indicators and
established levels for considering the taking of measures from the recovery plan;
- strategic analyses, including a summary of recovery options, identified key
functions and main business lines, while indicating scenarios with possible
obstacles and options that are adequate for recovery in those scenarios;
- all material changes in the credit institution, group of credit institutions, or recovery
plan, which occurred after the submission of the latest recovery plan to the Central
Bank;
- a communication and disclosure plan, with a description of how the credit
institution intends to address possible adverse market reactions; and
- preparatory measures specified in the recovery plan.
Information on governance
Article 5
A part of the recovery plan referring to information on governance shall include a detailed
explanation of how the recovery plan is included in the corporate governance system and
risk management system of a credit institution, policies and procedures establishing the
manner of drawing up, updating and approving the recovery plan, and identifying persons
responsible for drawing up and implementing the recovery plans, in particularly the
description of:
- the manner of drawing up and updating the recovery plan, including at least:
- the role and the functions of the persons responsible for the drawing up,
implementing and updating of each part of the plan and of the plan as a whole;
- procedures in situations where the recovery plan needs to be amended due to
material changes which affect the credit institution, its group or the environment
in which they operated,
- a description of how the recovery plan is integrated in the corporate governance
and in the overall risk management framework of the credit institution or its
group, in particular as regards its risk profile, and the link between the recovery
plan and stress testing in the internal capital adequacy assessment process
(hereinafter: ICAAP);
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- where a recovery plan is drawn up for a group of credit institutions, a description
of measures taken and arrangements concluded on a group level which ensure
the coordination and consistency of recovery option of a group as a whole and
each subsidiary;
- policies and procedures governing the approval of the recovery plan, including
whether the recovery plan has been evaluated by an internal auditor, external
auditor or a risk committee, and a confirmation that the recovery plan has been
assessed by the management body responsible for approving the plan;
- the conditions and procedures for ensuring the timely implementation of recovery
options, including at least:
- a detailed description of indicators referred to in Article 6 of this Decision,
- a description of the decision-making process for implementation of a recovery
option in a situation of a severe financial distress, when individual indicators
reach the value defined for taking measures from the recovery plan (including
the role and function of persons included in the process, a description of their
responsibilities, procedures to be applied, and the time and manner for notifying
the Central Bank that the indicators have reached the determined values;
- the consistency of the recovery plan with the risk management framework of the
credit institution or group, including a description of those early warning signals,
which are used for risk management in regular business or for taking appropriate
actions in the part referring to risk management, where their values could be useful
to inform the management that the indicators of the recovery plan could potentially
be reached;
- internal information and reporting systems, including availability of all information
necessary for decision-making on the implementation of recovery options in a
situation of a severe financial distress, to be taken in a reliable and timely manner.
Recovery plan indicators
Article 6
(1) A credit institution shall include in the recovery plan at least the following mandatory
categories of indicators which reveal possible vulnerabilities, weaknesses or threats to
different areas of business:
- capital indicators;
- liquidity indicators;
- profitability indicators; and
- asset quality indicators and risk profile.
(2) Categories of indicators from paragraph (1) of this Article shall be mandatory and may
include of a set of specific indicators listed in the Table 2 Annex 1 which forms an integral
part to this Decision.
(3) In addition to the categories of indicators referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article, a
credit institution shall include in the recovery plan market indicators (e.g. change in
exchange rate, share price, reduction of credit rating or interest) and macroeconomic
indicators (e.g. changes in gross domestic product or the country's credit rating), unless
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the recovery plan provides a satisfactory, precise and detailed explanation why these
indicators are not adequate in relation to the legal structure, risk profile, size and
complexity of the business operations of that credit institution.
(4) A credit institution shall include in the recovery plan at least one indicator from each
mandatory category referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article, and it shall consider
including other specific additional indicators given in Table 3 of Annex 1 which forms an
integral part of this Decision.
(5) When establishing indicators, a credit institution must take into account that the nature
and number of indicators correspond to its size, complexity of operations, risk profile and
system of indicators used in the process of regular risk management.
(6) Recovery plan indicators that the credit institution includes in a recovery plan must be
qualitative and quantitative and easily monitored, and the prescribed level of each
individual indicator must be higher than the minimum prescribed level and high enough
to provide consideration of measures from the recovery plan before breaching regulations
governing these indicators, and/or it must be determined in such a way as to enable the
credit institution to take recovery measures in a timely manner.
(7) Recovery plan indicators of the credit institution referred to in paragraphs (1) and (3)
of this Article shall relate to the financial position of a credit institution in case of an
individual recovery plan, or to the financial position of a group of credit institutions in case
of a group recovery plan.
(8) Recovery plan indicators shall be consistent with the indicators used by the credit
institution or a group in the risk management process.
Capital indicators
Article 7
(1) When choosing capital indicators a credit institution shall take into account indicators
that will indicate in a timely manner a significant actual or likely future decrease in capital
and an increase in financial leverage.
(2) A credit institution shall include indicators from paragraph (1) of this Article into the
Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) and its existing risk
management framework.
(3) The capital indicators thresholds must be calibrated based on the credit institution’s
risk profile and on the time needed to activate the recovery measures; taking into
consideration the recovery capacity resulting from those measures, and taking into
account how quickly the capital situation may change, given the credit institution's
individual circumstances.
(4) When establishing capital indicators thresholds referred to in paragraph (3) of this
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Article, a credit institution shall ensure a sufficient distance from a breach of the capital
requirements applicable to the credit institution, including minimum requirements set out
in Article 134 of the Law on Credit Institutions (hereinafter: the Law), but without taking
into account any buffer requirements.
Liquidity indicators
Article 8
(1) In the framework of liquidity indicators, a credit institution shall include as a minimum:
- minimum liquidity ratio up to 30 days in EUR and other convertible currencies in
total;
- minimum liquidity ratio up to 7 days in EUR and other convertible currencies in
total;
- liquidity coverage ratio – in all currencies in total;
- net stable sources of funding ratio;
- liquidity coverage and stable funding requirements referred to in Article 114 of the
Law; and
- cost of funding on the interbank market.
(2) A credit institution shall take the necessary operational measures in a timely manner
to ensure that liquidity recovery plans may be implemented immediately, and such
operational measures shall include, at least, holding collateral immediately available to
provide credit support by the Central Bank, including holding collateral where necessary
in the currency of the another country to which the credit institution has exposures, or
holding collateral in the currency of the other country to whose currency it has exposure.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Article, a credit institution may exclude any of
the liquidity indicators referred to in that paragraph, if it explains in the recovery plan in a
satisfactory manner, precisely and in detail why those indicators are not adequate with
respect to its legal structure, risk profile, size and/or complexity of business operations.
(4) The credit institution's liquidity indicators refer to short-term and long-term liquidity, as
well as the funding requirements of the credit institution and the credit institution's
dependence on money market and retail deposits, and if necessary, liquidity segregation
by different currencies, if relevant.
(5) A credit institution should integrate liquidity indicators into the internal liquidity
adequacy assessment process and the existing risk management system, and/or define
them in its strategies, policies and procedures.
Profitability indicators
Article 9
(1) The profitability indicators framework referred to in Article 6 paragraph (1) indent 3 of
this Decision must cover all indicators related to the credit institution's income, in
particular return on asset (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and significant losses arising
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from operational risk.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Article, a credit institution may exclude any of
the liquidity indicators referred to in that paragraph, if it explains in the recovery plan in a
satisfactory manner, precisely and in detail why those indicators are not adequate with
respect to its legal structure, risk profile, size and/or complexity of business operations.
(3) Profitability indicators related to operational risk can have a significant impact in terms
of profit and loss, including external and internal fraud as well as other similar events.
Asset quality indicators
Article 10
(1) When determining the framework of asset quality indicators, a credit institution shall
include as a minimum the growth rate of bad loans in total loans and the coverage of
these loans by value adjustments.
(2) A credit institution shall make sure that the indicators referred to in paragraph (1) of
this Article also indicate the quality of off-balance sheet exposures of the credit institution
and the impact of bad loans on the overall asset quality.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Article, a credit institution may exclude any of
the asset quality indicators referred to in that paragraph, if it explains in the recovery plan
in a satisfactory manner, precisely and in detail why those indicators are not adequate
with respect to its legal structure, risk profile, size and/or complexity of business
operations.
Market indicators
Article 11
A credit institution shall establish a framework of qualitative and quantitative market
indicators based on the following indicators:
- indicators with respect to equity, which show differences in the price of shares of
companies on the stock exchange, and on the basis of which the difference
between the book value and market value of equity is determined;
- debt-based indicators identifying the expectations of providers of financing
services through money market, such as credit margin and non-compliance
indicators under exchange agreements;
- portfolio-related indicators that set expectations regarding the assets of each credit
institution (immovable property); and
- indicators that identify the downgrade of credit rating (long-term or short-term) that
may lead to rapid changes in the expectations of market entities regarding the
financial position of the credit institution.
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Macroeconomic indicators
Article 12
(1) A credit institution shall establish macroeconomic indicators on measurements that
affect the credit institution's performance in certain geographical areas or business
sectors that are relevant to the credit institution.
(2) Macroeconomic indicators referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article include:
- geographical macroeconomic indicators, which refer to the geographical areas in
which the credit institution operates, taking into account the risks arising from
potential legal obstacles; and
- sectoral macroeconomic indicators related to the key business lines to which the
credit institution is exposed.
Framework of recovery plan indicators
Article 13
(1) With the recovery plan, a credit institution must establish a framework of recovery
plan indicators, with a detailed and clear definition of each selected indicators.
(2) The credit institution's recovery plan should also contain an explanation of the choice
of each indicator and its level on the basis of which measures are taken from the recovery
plan, and if the calculation of a particular indicator is specifically prescribed, the credit
institution shall explain any deviation from the prescribed method of the calculation of
indicators.
(3) The level of each individual indicator must be established so as to ensure timely taking
of measures from the recovery plan, whereby the analysis must take into account the
strength and speed of reaching the established level.
(4) Indicators and their levels determined in the credit institution’s recovery plan, shall:
- be adapted to the business model, strategy, and risk profile of a credit institution.
It should identify the key vulnerabilities most likely to impact the credit institution’s
financial situation and lead to the point at which it has to decide whether to activate
the recovery plan;
- be adequate to the size and complexity of each credit institution. In particular, the
number of indicators should be sufficient to alert the credit institution of
deteriorating conditions in a variety of areas.
- be able to warn of situations of a severe financial distress, and/or be capable of
defining the point at which a credit institution has to decide whether to take an
action referred to in the recovery plan or to refrain from taking such an action;
- be aligned with the existing risk management framework and with the existing
capital or liquidity plan indicators, and business continuity plan indicators;
- be integrated into the credit institution’s governance and within the internal
information and decision-making procedures; and
- include forward-looking indicators.
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(5) A credit institution shall examine the efficiency of selected indicators and the selected
level of their values at least annually.
Monitoring of indicators in the recovery plan
Article 14
(1) A credit institution shall establish an adequate system of regular monitoring of selected
indicators and adopt an internal act containing the dynamics and the manner of
monitoring, as well as the procedure for reporting on indicators.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) of this Article, a credit institution shall consider using
progressive metrics ("traffic light approach") in order to inform the management board of
that such indicators could potentially be reached.
(3) If a credit institution, through regular monitoring, determines that the selected
indicators have reached the level determined for taking measures from the recovery plan,
the management board of the credit institution shall make a decision on taking or
refraining from taking measures from the recovery plan within five working days, and
notify the Central Bank of that decision without delay.
(4) If the management board of a credit institution makes a decision referred to in
paragraph (3) of this Article to refrain from taking measures from the recovery plan, the
credit institution shall explain such decision in detail in the notification to the Central Bank.
(5) The management board of a credit institution may make a decision on undertaking the
options from the recovery plan even if the established indicators have not reached the
level determined for taking measures.
(6) A credit institution shall notify the Central Bank without delay of the decision referred
to in paragraph (5) of this Article.
Strategic analysis
Article 15
(1) In a strategic analysis, a credit institution shall determine core business lines and
critical functions and determine the procedures necessary to maintain their functioning in
situations of a severe financial distress.
(2) A credit institution shall determine the key functions and lines of business at the
appropriate level of granularity (e.g.: retail deposits, retail loans, corporate deposits, and
the like).
(3) When determining key functions, a credit institution shall perform an analysis of:
- the impact of the termination of the provision of that service on third parties and
the financial system as a whole;
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2) market concentrations in relation to the termination of the provision of that service;
and
3) the possibility for the provision of the service in question to be taken by another
service provider in a comparable scope and quality, at an acceptable cost for the
client and within an appropriate period.
(4) The strategic analysis of a credit institution contained in the recovery plan shall include
the following:
- information on a credit institution and members of a group to which the recovery
plan relates, with the contents as established in Article 16 of this Decision; and
- recovery options, with the contents as established in Article 17 of this Decision.
Information on credit institutions and group members
Article 16
(1) Information on a credit institution and members of a group to which recovery plans
referred to in this Decision relate shall include the following:
- general information on a credit institution and members of a group covered by the
recovery plan, including:
- a description of their general business strategy and risk strategy;
- the business model and the business plan, including a list of countries in which
they operate through material branches of other legal entities;
- core business lines and critical functions;
- a description of the procedures and methods for determining core business
lines and critical functions;
- distribution of core business lines and critical functions across material branches
and legal entities in a group;
- a detailed description of intra-group connections of all connected legal persons
and a detailed description of the legal and financial structure of a credit institution
or a member of a group to which the recovery plan relates, and in particular a
description of the following:
- all existing significant intra-group exposures, financing and capital flows within
a credit institution or a group, existing guarantees within a group or guarantees
the provision of which is, as appropriate, envisaged by the recovery plan;
- legal links, including all important legally binding intra-group agreements such
as domination agreements or profit and loss transfer agreements;
- operational interconnectedness, which concern functions that are centralised
in one legal entity or branch and are important for the operation of other legal
entities, branches or a group as a whole, in particularly the information
technology functions, treasury functions, risk control functions or administrative
functions;
- all the existing agreements on intra-group financial support, providing details of
each such agreement such as the names of the members of the group who are
parties to those agreements and the form and the conditions under which the
financial support is provided;
- description of external interconnectedness including:
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- a description of significant exposures and liabilities to material counterparties;
- a description of important financial products and services which a credit
institution or a member of a group covered by the recovery plan provide to other
participants in the financial markets; and
- a description of important services provided by counterparties to a credit
institution or a member of a group covered by the recovery plan.
(2) Material branch or other legal entity referred to in paragraph (1) item 1) indent 2 of this
Article means a branch of a credit institution, or other legal entities that:
- significantly contribute to the profit of a credit institution or entities covered by the
recovery plan, or have an important share in their assets, liabilities and capital;
- perform critical functions;
- perform significant operational functions, risk management function, or
administrative functions;
- carries significant risk, which under the worst case scenario may threaten
sustainability of a credit institution or a group of credit institutions;
- could not be sold or liquidated as it would probably lead to a significant risk for a
credit institution or a group of credit institutions; or
- a branch or an undertaking is vital for the financial stability of the country in which
it has a head office or in which it operates;
Recovery options
Article 17
(1) The recovery plan shall contain a wide range of recovery options that will represent a
reasonable response of the credit institution to scenarios which may lead to a severe
financial distress.
(2) Recovery options shall be such that it can be expected that their use will help a credit
institution or a group for which the plan is being drawn up to maintain or restore
sustainability of their operations and financial position.
(3) Recovery options shall be described in such a way that the Central Bank can assess
the impact and feasibility of each recovery option.
(4) Recovery options shall include extraordinary measures, but also measures that could
be taken as part of the regular business operations of a credit institution or a member of
a group covered by the recovery plan.
(5) A recovery option may not be excluded only because its application may envisage
changes in the existing nature of business operations of the credit institution.
(6) The recovery plan shall also include options to be taken by a credit institution provided
the Central Bank makes a decision that the conditions for early intervention referred to in
the Article 288 paragraph (1) item 1) of the Law have been met, and/or a credit institution
shall clearly state in the recovery plan which options it plans to consider during the early
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intervention phase.
Contents of recovery options
Article 18
(1) In the section of the plan relating to recovery options, a credit institution shall list all
recovery options and provide a description and analysis of each option and define what
level of the selected indicator envisages taking such options.
(2) The recovery options shall contain, for individual option, an overview of the following
envisaged activities, agreements, measures or strategies:
- activities in the area of capital, required to maintain or restore business
sustainability and financial situation of a credit institution or members of a group
covered by the recovery plan, the main objective of which is to ensure sustainability
of critical functions and core business lines;
- activities in the area of liquidity, including agreements and measures for accessing
sources of funding in crisis situations so as to ensure further provision of services
and meeting of obligations as they fall due;
- agreements and measures for reducing financial leverage;
- agreements and measures for reducing risk exposure, or to restructure business
lines, including, where appropriate, an analysis of possible material sale of assets,
legal entities or business lines;
- agreements and measures aimed at achieving a voluntary liabilities restructuring,
provided this does not lead to events such as default, termination of agreement,
reduction in the value of assets of a credit institution or members of a group
covered by the recovery plan, etc.; and
- other measures and strategies which ensure and restore the sustainability of
regular operations and stability of the financial position of a credit institution or
members of a group covered by the recovery plan.
(3) The activities referred to in paragraph (2) item 1) of this Article include activities and
measures aimed at maintaining or restoring the own funds of a credit institution or own
funds on a consolidated group level, through external recapitalization and the use of
internal measures to increase own funds, aimed at improving the capital of the credit
institution or a group for which the recovery plan is being drawn up.
(4) Activities referred to in paragraph (2) item 2) of this Article must include external
measures or measures of reorganisation of the liquidity available within a group, while
contingent sources of financing shall include potential sources of liquidity, the assessment
of available instruments of collateral and the assessment of the possibility of liquidity
transfer within a group and between individual business lines, including, where
appropriate, an analysis of the possibilities of how and when an institution may, under the
conditions determined by the plan, resort to the use of Central Bank instruments,
specifying the assets that might be used as an instrument of collateral;
(5) By way of derogation from paragraph (2) of this Article, a credit institution which is not
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a significant credit institution may, when drawing up a recovery plan, leave out some of
the listed activities, agreements or measures and provide a detailed explanation why
these have been left out.
(6)The recovery options shall contain an assessment of the impact or each individual
recovery option, including the following:
- an assessment of the financial and operational impact, indicating the expected
impact on solvency, liquidity, sources of financing, profitability and business of the
credit institution or a member of a group for which a recovery plan is being drawn
up, and which is affected by an option;
- an assessment of the external impact and an assessment of systemic
consequences, indicating the expected impact on critical functions of a credit
institution and members of a group covered by the recovery plan and their impact
on shareholders, clients and in particular small depositors, other counterparties,
and, where applicable, the rest of the group;
- valuation assumptions and all other assumptions necessary for the assessment of
items 1) and 2) of this paragraph, including the assumption of asset marketability
and behaviour of other entities on the financial market.
(7) The assessment of the impact referred to in paragraph (6) of this Article shall include
a detailed description of the procedures for determining the value and marketability of
core business lines, the part of business operations and assets of a credit institution or
members of a group covered by the recovery plan.
(8)The recovery options shall contain an assessment of the feasibility of each individual
recovery option, in particular:
- an assessment of the risk associated with an individual recovery option, based on
experience in the implementation of such a recovery option or similar measures;
- a detailed analysis and a description of material obstacles to an efficient and timely
implementation of the plan and a description of the manner in which such obstacles
may be removed;
- an analysis of the possible obstacles to efficient implementation of each individual
recovery option which arises from the structure of the group or intra-group
agreements, including the existence of a material practical or legal obstacle to a
prompt transfer of own funds, settlement of liabilities or realisation of assets within
a group (in case of a group recovery plan) and the description of the manner in
which these obstacles can be removed; and
- an assessment of the manner of ensuring business continuity every time an
individual recovery option is used.
(9) The assessment of business continuity referred to in paragraph (8) item 4) of this
Article shall include an analysis of internal activities (e.g. information systems, human
resources, public procurement) and access of the credit institution or members of a group
covered by a recovery plan to market infrastructure (such as access to clearing and
settlement as well as to payment system), and the assessment of operational contingency
shall take into account:
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- any arrangements and measures necessary to maintain continuous access to
relevant financial markets infrastructure;
- any arrangements and measures necessary to maintain the continuous functioning
of the operational processes of the credit institution or group members covered by
the recovery plan, including infrastructure and IT services;
- necessary and expected timeframe for the implementation and effectiveness of
each recovery option; and
- effectiveness of recovery options and adequacy of indicators in a range of
scenarios of financial stress which assesses the impact of each of these scenarios
on the credit institution or group member, in particular on their capital, liquidity,
profitability, risk profile and operations, potential impact of each individual option,
feasibility of recovery options as well as potential impediments to their
implementation.
(10) The assessment of business continuity shall determine the recovery options of the
credit institution and members of a group covered by the recovery plan that could be
implemented in a certain scenario, possible impact of that recovery option, its feasibility,
obstacles to its implementation and the time frame for its implementation in the conditions
of a severe financial distress.
(11) The group recovery plan shall include mechanisms which ensure coordination and
consistent application of the recovery options on the level of the parent company,
subsidiary level and, where appropriate, on the level of material branches.
Communication and public disclosure plan
Article 19
(1) Communication and disclosure plan referred to in Article 4 paragraph (1) item 4 of this
Decision, shall contain a detailed description of the manner how the credit institution shall
resolve possible negative reactions of the market, and it shall contain:
- an internal communication plan, in particular communication with employees,
unions, workers' councils or other employee representatives;
- an external communication plan, in particular communication with shareholders
and other investors, Central Bank, counterparties, financial markets, financial
markets infrastructure, depositors, and, where appropriate, with the public; and
- effective proposals for managing any potential negative market reactions.
(2) The recovery plan shall also include an analysis of the manner of application of the
communication and public disclosure plan in the case of implementation of one or more
recovery plan measures or agreements.
(3) The communication and public disclosure plan shall also provide for special
communication needs associated with a particular recovery option.
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Preparatory measures
Article 20
(1) The recovery plan shall include an analysis of the preparatory measures that a credit
institution or a group for which a plan is being drawn up has taken, plans to take, or will
need to take to facilitate implementation or improvement of the efficacy of the recovery
plan, especially for measures that require a longer time period or larger number of
activities for their implementation or which call for timely implementation in order to have
efficient measure, such as the increase of own funds or sale of different forms of assets.
(2) The recovery plan shall define a time frame for the implementation of the preparatory
measures referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article.
(3) In addition to preparatory measures referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article, the
recovery plan shall contain measures for removing the obstacles identified in the recovery
plan which are necessary for efficient implementation of the recovery options.
III. RECOVERY PLAN STRESS SCENARIOS
Stress scenarios
Article 21
(1) A credit institution shall, taking into account the nature, scope and complexity of its
activities, prepare a range of stress scenarios of a severe macroeconomic and financial
distress so as to determine various hypothetical events on which it will test the efficiency
of recovery options as well as the adequacy of indicators and their levels determined by
the recovery plan.
(2) To test a recovery plan, a significant credit institution shall use as a minimum one
scenario for each of the following types of events:
- system systemic events representing events which might have severe negative
effects on the financial system or the real economy;
- a credit institution specific events, that is events which might have serious negative
effects on a credit institution, a group or a credit institution within a group; and
- a combination of events from items 1) and 2) of this paragraph, which take place
simultaneously and are interactive.
(3) A non-significant credit institution may carry out stress testing using a single scenario
which comprises several systemic events referred to in Article 24 of this Decision and
several specific events referred to in Article 25 of this Decision and which are specific of
a credit institution or a group for which the recovery plan is being drawn up.
(4) A credit institution shall conduct stress testing of its recovery plan not less than once
a year and submit it together with the recovery plan to the Central Bank.
16
Stress testing requirements
Article 22
(1) When preparing the stress scenarios referred to in Article 21 of this Decision, a credit
institution shall make sure they meet the following requirements:
- the scenario shall be based on the most relevant events for a credit institution or a
group, taking account of the business and the financing model, the activities and
the structure, size or interconnectedness with other financial system entities or the
financial system as a whole, particularly of the identified weaknesses of a credit
institution or a group;
- the events envisaged in the scenario would lead to a failure of a credit institution
or a group in the case of a failure to apply on time the recovery measures; and
- the scenario is based on extraordinary but possible events.
(2) When developing each stress scenario referred to in Article 21 of this Decision, a
credit institution shall, for the purpose of meeting requirements from paragraph (1) item
- of this Article, use events which have sufficient intensity.
(3) Where possible, a credit institution shall include in each stress scenario an
assessment of the impact of events referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article on each of
the following aspects of business of a credit institution or a group:
- available capital;
- available liquidity;
- risk profile;
- profitability;
- operations, including payment and settlement systems; and
- reputation.
(4) When developing stress scenarios which would lead to a situation where a business
model of a credit institution or a group is not sustainable without successful application of
recovery plan measures, a credit institution shall consider the possibility of applying a
reverse stress testing.
Number of stress scenarios
Article 23
(1) A credit institution shall adjust the number of stress scenarios to the nature, scope
and complexity of the activity of a credit institution or a group for which a recovery plan is
being drawn up, interconnectedness with other institutions and the financial system in
general and its financing models.
(2) Systemically important credit institutions, in line with Article 21 paragraph (2) of this
Decision shall apply more than three scenarios.
(3) The range of stress scenarios, in the case of significant credit institutions shall also
include slow and fast moving events.
17
Scenario covering events on overall system level
Article 24
(1) When preparing a stress scenario for events on overall system level, a significant
credit institution shall take into account, as a minimum, the influence of the following
events:
- failures of significant counterparties which affect the financial stability of the entire
system;
- a fall in the available liquidity on the interbank market;
- increased sovereign risk and capital outflows from significant countries in which a
credit institution or a group operates;
- unfavourable developments in real estate prices and other forms of assets in one
or several relevant markets; and
- macroeconomic crisis.
(2) By way of derogation from paragraph (1) of this Article, a credit institution may, after
having made a detailed analysis, decide that one of the events referred to in paragraph
(1) of this Article is not relevant for it, and shall in such a case provide a detailed
explanation for any such decision in its recovery plan.
Credit institution-specific scenario
Article 25
(1) When drawing up a stress scenario for events specific for a credit institution or a group,
a significant credit institution shall take into account, as a minimum, the influence of the
following events:
- failures of significant counterparties;
- damaged reputation of a credit institution or a group;
- significant liquidity outflows;
- unfavourable developments in the prices of real estate and other forms of assets
that a credit institution or a group is exposed to in one or more relevant markets;
- significant loan losses; and
- significant losses arising from operational risk.
(2) By way of derogation from paragraph (1) of this Article, a credit institution may decide,
after having made a detailed analysis that one of the events referred to in paragraph (1)
of this Article is not relevant for it, and shall in such a case provide a detailed explanation
for any such decision in its recovery plan.
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IV. SCOPE OF APPLICATION AND DRAWING UP THE RECOVERY PLAN
Recovery plan scope
Article 26
(1) A significant credit institution shall apply all the provisions of this Decision in their
entirety.
(2) A non-significant credit institution may reduce the number of stress scenarios in
accordance with Article 21 paragraph (3) of this Decision, reduce the number of events
when making stress scenarios in accordance with Articles 21 to 25 of this Decision and
reduce the requirements in accordance with Article 27 paragraph (3) of this Decision.
(3) By way of derogation from paragraph (2) of this Article, the Central Bank may issue a
decision requiring a non-significant credit institution to apply the provisions of this
Decision in an extended or full scope.
Drawing up, adoption and review of recovery plans
Article 27
(1) The management board of a credit institution shall assess and adopt a recovery plan,
subject to a prior approval from the supervisory board.
(2) A significant credit institution shall ensure that the persons responsible for drawing up
a recovery plan are not the persons responsible for conducting stress testing of the
recovery plans.
(3) The risk control function of a credit institution shall:
- coordinate the drawing up of the recovery plan;
- monitor indicators and report to the management board on the values of the
selected indicators;
- prepare scenarios and conduct stress testing of recovery plans; and
- report to the management board on the process of drawing up, need for updating
and implementation of the recovery plan and the results of the stress testing of the
recovery plans.
(4) The internal audit of a credit institution shall conduct assessment of the recovery plan
and the application and efficiency of the procedures of drawing up, adoption and
monitoring of recovery plans execution.
(5) A credit institution shall not fully outsource drawing up of the recovery plan.
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V. SUBMITTING RECOVERY PLANS TO THE CENTRAL BANK
Submitting recovery plans
Article 28
(1) A credit institution shall update as a minimum once a year the existing recovery plan
or, where appropriate, draw up a new recovery plan and submit it to the Central Bank by
31 December of the current year at the latest.
(2) A credit institution shall also update its recovery plan after each material change and
submit it to the Central Bank without delay.
(3) Together with the recovery plan submitted to the Central Bank, a credit institution shall
submit a decision of the management board on the adoption, and/or updating of the
recovery plan along with filled in forms from Annex 2, which forms an integral part to this
Decision.
VI. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONTENTS OF THE RECOVERY PLAN
Obligation to revise the recovery plan
Article 29
(1) A credit institution shall revise the content of the recovery plan when the Central Bank,
after assessing that there are material deficiencies in the recovery plan or material
obstacles to its implementation, in accordance with Article 128 paragraph (1) of the Law
orders the credit institution to submit the revised recovery plan to the Central Bank.
(2) The Central Bank shall performed the assessment referred to in paragraph (1) of this
Article in accordance with Articles 30 to 35 of this Decision.
Completeness of recovery plans
Article 30
The Central Bank shall assess the extent to which the recovery plan of the credit
institution meets the requirements of Articles 125 to 130 of the Law and reviews the
completeness of the plan by assessing:
- whether the recovery plan covers all information from Article 125 paragraph (2) of
the Law, as closely regulated by this Decision;
- whether the recovery plan provides updated information regarding all material
changes of the credit institution or group member, and in particular changes in their
legal or organisational structure, their business or financial situation since the last
submission of the plan, in accordance with Article 126 paragraph (1) of the Law;
- where applicable, whether the recovery plan includes an analysis of how and when
the credit institution or group member covered by the recovery plan may, in the
circumstances envisaged by that plan, request the use of Central Bank’s
20
instruments and whether the plan specifies assets that would be expected to
qualify as collateral;
4) whether the recovery plan has adequately considered a range of scenarios of
severe macroeconomic and financial stress that is relevant to the credit institution
or group member covered by the plan, in accordance with Articles 21 to 25 of this
Decision;
5) whether the recovery plan contains an appropriate framework of indicators for
determining the levels for undertaking appropriate activities envisaged by the plan,
in accordance with Articles 6 to 14 of this Decision;
6) whether the information from items 1) to 5) of this paragraph are submitted for the
group as a whole;
7) whether, if applicable, the recovery plan includes arrangements for intra group
financial support that have been made on the basis of an agreement on intra group
financial support in accordance with Articles 182 to 202 of the Law;
8) whether the recovery plan for each scenario of severe macroeconomic and
financial stress contained in the plan in accordance with Article 24 of this Decision
states that there are:
- obstacles to implementing recovery measures within the group, including at
the level of individual members of the group covered by the plan;
- significant practical or legal obstacles to the prompt transfer of own funds or
repayment of liabilities or assets within the group.
Quality of recovery plans
Article 31
In assessing the fulfilment of the requirements and criteria established by the Law
and the provisions of this Decision, if applicable, the Central Bank shall review the quality
of the recovery plan and assess:
- whether the recovery plan is clear, i.e. whether:
- it is self-explanatory and clear;
- the definitions and descriptions are clear and consistent throughout the plan;
- the assumptions and valuations made within the plan are adequately
explained;
- references to documents not contained in the recovery plan and annexes
supplement the recovery plan in a way which substantially contributes to
identifying recovery options to maintain or restore the financial strength and
viability of the credit institution or group covered by the recovery plan;
- whether the information contained in the recovery plan are relevant, and/or
whether such information focuses on indenting options to maintain or restore the
financial strength and viability of the financial institution or group;
- whether the plan is comprehensive, and/or whether, taking into account in
particular the nature of the business of the credit institution or group member
covered by the recovery plan and their size and interconnectedness to other
institutions and groups and to the financial system in general, meets the following
requirements:
21
- the plan provides a sufficient level of detail concerning the information required
to be included in recovery plans pursuant to provisions of the Law;
- the plan contains a sufficiently wide range of recovery options and indicators,
in line with Articles 6 to 12 of this Decision;
- whether there is internal consistency of the recovery plan, and individual recovery
plan and group recovery plan, that is, in case where the Central Bank requires that
subsidiaries on an individual basis prepare recovery plans, that there is internal
consistency between these plans and the group recovery plan.
Implementation of the arrangements proposed in the recovery plans
Article 32
(1) When assessing the extent to which the recovery plan satisfies the criterion set out in
Article 127 paragraph (1) item 1) of the Law, the Central Bank shall review the following:
- the level of integration and consistency of the recovery plan with the general
corporate governance and the internal processes of the credit institution or group
member to which the recovery plan applies and its/their risk management
framework;
- whether the recovery plan contains a sufficient number of plausible and viable
recovery options which make it reasonably likely that the credit institution or group
would be able to counter different scenarios of financial distress quickly and
effectively;
- whether recovery options included in the plan set out actions which effectively
address the scenarios of severe macroeconomic and financial stress reflected in
accordance with Article 125 paragraph (6) of the Law;
- whether the timeline for implementing the options is realistic and is taken into
account in the procedures designed to ensure implementation of recovery actions;
- the level of the credit institution's or group's preparedness to redress the situation
of financial stress, as determined in particular by assessing whether the
preparatory measures necessary have been adequately identified and, where
appropriate, those measures have been implemented or a plan to implement them
has been prepared;
- the adequacy of the range of scenarios of severe macroeconomic and financial
stress against which the plan has been tested;
- the adequacy of the processes for testing the plan against the scenarios referred
to in item 6) of this paragraph and the extent to which the analysis of recovery
options and indicators in each scenario is verified by that testing;
- whether the assumptions and valuations made within the plan and each recovery
option are realistic and plausible.
(2) The plausibility of each recovery option set out in the plan as referred to in paragraph
(1) item 2) of this Article shall be assessed taking into account all of the following
elements:
- the extent to which its implementation is within the credit institution's or group's
control and the extent to which it would rely on action by third parties;
22
2) whether the plan includes a sufficiently wide range of recovery options and
appropriate indicators, conditions and procedures to ensure timely implementation
of these options;
3) the extent to which the plan considers reasonably foreseeable impacts of the
implementation of the proposed recovery option on the credit institution or group;
4) whether the recovery plan and in particular the recovery options would be likely to
maintain the viability of the credit institution or group and restore its financial
soundness;
5) if applicable, the extent to which the credit institution or group, or competitors with
similar characteristics, have managed a previous episode of financial stress with
similar characteristics to the scenario being considered by using the recovery
options described, in particular as regards timely implementation of recovery
options and, in the case of a group recovery plan, the coordination of recovery
options within the group.
Assessment of recovery options
Article 33
When assessing the extent to which the recovery plan satisfies the criterion set out
in Article 127 paragraph (1) item 2) of the Law, the Central Bank shall review the following:
- whether it is reasonably likely that the plan and individual recovery options
can be implemented in a timely and effective manner even in situations of
severe macroeconomic or financial stress;
- whether it is reasonably likely that the plan and particular recovery options
can be implemented to an extent which sufficiently achieves their objectives
without any significant adverse effect on the financial system;
- whether the range of recovery options sufficiently reduces the risk that
obstacles to implementing those options or adverse systemic effects arise
due to the recovery actions of other institutions or groups being taken at the
same time;
- the extent to which the recovery options may conflict with those of credit
institutions or groups which have similar vulnerabilities, for example due to
their similar business models, strategies or scope of activity, if the options
were implemented at the same time;
- the extent to which the implementation of recovery options by several credit
institutions or groups at the same time is likely to negatively affect the impact
and feasibility of those options.
Assessment of specific requirements for group recovery plans
Article 34
When assessing the extent to which a group recovery plan satisfies the criteria set
out in Articles 129 paragraph (2) and Article 130 paragraph (2) of the Law, the Central
Bank shall review the following:
- the extent to which the recovery plan can stabilise the group as a whole and any
credit institution of the group, in particular taking into account:
23
- the availability of recovery options at the group level to restore where
necessary the financial position of a subsidiary, without disturbing the group's
financial soundness;
- whether, following the implementation of a particular recovery option, the group
as a whole, and any credit institution within the group which would be intended
to continue to carry on business under that recovery option, would still have a
viable business model;
- the extent to which arrangements included in the plan ensure the coordination
and consistency of measures to be taken at the level of the parent undertaking
or of a credit institution subject to consolidated supervision pursuant to the
Law, or at the level of individual credit institutions, respectively, and the extent
to which governance processes included in the plan take into account the
governance structure of individual subsidiaries and any relevant legal
restrictions shall be reviewed in particular;
- the extent to which the recovery plan provides solutions to overcome any obstacles
to the implementation of recovery measures within the group which are identified
in relation to a scenario provided for in Article 125 paragraph (6) of the Law; if the
obstacles cannot be overcome, the extent to which alternative recovery measures
could achieve the same objectives;
- the extent to which the plan provides solutions to overcome any substantial
practical or legal impediments to a prompt transfer of own funds or the repayment
of liabilities or assets within the group which are identified; if the impediments
cannot be overcome, the extent to which alternative recovery options could
achieve the same objectives.
Nature of the entity or entities being assessed
Article 35
When assessing the overall credibility of a recovery plan in accordance with Articles
31, 32 and 33 of this Decision, the Central Bank shall take into account the nature of the
business of the credit institution or group member covered by the plan, their size and their
interconnectedness to other credit institutions and groups and to the financial system in
general.
VII. FINAL PROVISION
Article 36
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the
Official Gazette of Montenegro, and it shall apply from the date of application of the Law
on Credit Institutions (OGM 72/19).
24
THE COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO
CHAIRMAN
Decision number 0101-7725-6/2020 G O V E R N O R,
Podgorica, 28 December 2020
Radoje Žugić, m.p.
25
ANNEX 1
RECOVERY PLAN INDICATORS
Table 1: CATEGORIES OF RECOVERY PLAN INDICATORS
- the first four categories are mandatory, while the last two categories may be
excluded if a credit institution justifies that they are not relevant for it
Mandatory categories of indicators
- Capital indicators - which identify any significant present and likely future
deterioration in the level and quality of the credit institution's
capital, including deterioration in the Common Equity Tier 1
and total capital ratio, as well as and financial leverage ratio.
- Liquidity indicators – which ensure that a credit institution has an adequate access
to sources of contingency financing, including possible
sources of liquidity, assessment of available collateral, and
assessment of liquidity transfer options between group
members and business operations, aimed at ensuring
business continuity and the fulfilment of obligations at maturity.
- Profitability indicators – covering all aspects of a credit institution's income that
could lead to a sharp deterioration in its financial position due
to a reduction in retained earnings (or losses) affecting the own
funds of the institution.
- Asset quality indicators – which monitor and measures credit institution’s asset
quality.
Categories subject to rebuttable presumption
- Market-based indicators – which determine the expectations of market
participants that there will be a deterioration in the financial
condition of the credit institution, which may lead to disruptions
in the financing of capital markets.
- Macroeconomic indicators – which identify the deterioration of the conditions in
which the credit institution operates, i.e. the concentration of
exposures or sources of financing.
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Table 2: RECOVERY PLAN INDICATORS1
Indicator name Level of early
warning
Level of initiating recovery
plan options
- Capital indicators
a) Common equity Tier 1 ratio
b) Total capital adequacy ratio
c) financial leverage ratio
- Liquidity indicators
a) minimum liquidity ratio (MLR) up to 30 days in
EUR
b) minimum liquidity ratio (MLR) up to 30 days in all
other convertible currencies, total
c) minimum liquidity ratio (MLR) up to 7 days in EUR
d) minimum liquidity ratio (MLR) up to 7 days in all
other convertible currencies
e) liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) in all currencies total
f) net stable funding ratio (NSFR)
g) ordering specific liquidity requirements
h) cost of funding at interbank market
- Profitability indicators
a) return on assets (ROA)
b) return on capital (ROE)
c) from the aspect of operational risk, the possibility
of recording significant losses
- Risk indicators
a) annual growth rate of the share of bad loans
b) coverage of bad loans by value adjustments
c) provisions for potential credit losses
- Market indicators
a) of credit rating (negative credit rating or the
reduction of credit rating)
b) CDS spread
c) stock price variation
- Macroeconomic indicators
a) GDP variations
b) CDS of sovereigns
If the credit institution has determined several levels for different options, please enter the level at which
the first option is triggered.
If the credit institution has explained why it does not apply this indicator, please enter “N/A - not
applicable” in the column “Level of initiating recovery plan options”.
Please enter only credit institutions to which specific liquidity requirements have been imposed pursuant
to Article 280 of the Law on credit institutions (OGM 72/19).
A credit institution adds rows for additional recovery plan indicators that it has identified, which are not
listed in the table.
1 For each indicator, a credit institution may clarify that it is not adequate, in which case it is necessary to replace it with
another indicator that is more adequate for the credit institution.
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Table 3: EXAMPLE OF ADDITIONAL RECOVERY PLAN INDICATORS
Additional recovery plan indicators
- Capital indicators
a) Retained earnings and Reserves / Total Equity
b) Adverse information on the financial position of significant counterparties
- Liquidity indicators
a) Concentration of liquidity and funding sources
b) Cost of total funding (retail and wholesale funding)
c) Average tenure of wholesale funding
d) Contractual maturity mismatch
e) Available unencumbered assets
- Profitability indicators
a) Cost-income ratio (Operating costs / Operating income)
b) Net interest margin
- Asset quality indicators
a) bad loans minus value adjustments / equity
b) Total loans/ gross bad loans
c) Growth rate of impairments on financial assets
d) Bad loans by significant geographic or sector concentration
e) Total exposures / forborne exposures
- Market-based indicators
a) Price to book ratio
b) Reputational threat to the institution or significant reputational damage
- Macroeconomic indicators
a) Rating under negative review or rating downgrade of sovereigns
b) Unemployment rate
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ANNEX 2
FORMS SUBMITTED TO THE CENTRAL BANK WITH RECOVERY PLAN
TEMPLATE 1: KEY FUNCTIONS
Key functions Does the interruption
of the provision of that
service influences
third parties and the
financial system as a
whole?
Is the market
of the service
in question
concentrated?
Is it possible that
another service
provider adequately
takes over the
provision of the service
in question?
Is it a
critical
function?
Critical services
for providing
critical functions
TEMPLATE 2: CORE/SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS LINES
Core/Significant business lines Explanation why a significant/core is considered significant
29
TEMPLATE 3: RECOVERY OPTIONS
Option
name
Areas of measures Is it applied in
early intervention
phase
Capital Liquidity Financial
leverage
Risk
management
Restructuring
of liabilities
Other
30
TEMPLATE 4: SCENARIOS
Scenario
name
Type of scenario Fast-
/slowdevelopin
g events
Stresses
and their
parameter
s
Application
of reverse
stress
testing
Level of
indicators
after stress
testing
Measures
that are
applicable
in the
scenario
Level of
indicators
after the
implementa
tion of
measures
Specific Systemic Combined