
Strategic Contingency Models for Solvent Wind-Downs Executive Summary Solvent wind-down planning has evolved from a niche regulatory expectation into a core element of strategicmanagement for banks and investment firms. Even well-capitalised and profitable institutions must be capableof discontinuing a business line, exiting a market or winding down operations in an orderly and solvent manner,without undermining financial stability, franchise value, client relationships, or long-term profitability. In anenvironment characterised by heightened supervisory scrutiny, structural shifts in business models, andincreasing geopolitical and regulatory fragmentation, wind-down capabilities are no longer relevant only intimes of distress. They are a strategic discipline that supports decision-making and sustainable value creation. In this context, value leakage refers to avoidable erosion of franchise value and economics during an exit,predominantly through forced sales and haircuts, increased funding spreads, heightened client churn, executiondelays, operational friction, and stranded or underestimated costs. Historically, exit planning has often been treated as an afterthought: Triggered late, under pressure, and executedreactively. By contrast, a well-designed solvent wind-down framework established ahead of need allows institutionsto exit activities in a controlled manner, on their own terms and pace, and with a clear understanding of financialand operational consequences. Increasingly, supervisors expect institutions to demonstrate precisely this capability. Translating strategic intent into an executable wind-down capability depends critically on robust contingencymodels. These models form the analytical backbone of solvent wind-down planning. They quantify the financial,capital, liquidity, and funding implications of an orderly exit over time, allowing institutions to anticipate constraints,identify critical dependencies, and maintain control throughout execution. Rather than relying on static balancesheet snapshots or high-level assumptions, contingency models provide a dynamic, forward-looking view of howa wind-down would unfold across multiple dimensions. When designed effectively, contingency models enable senior management and boards to assess whether aproposed exit is feasible, sustainable, and value-preserving under a range of plausible scenarios. They supportinformed trade-offs between speed, cost, and risk, and help ensure that customer protection, market integrity,and regulatory expectations remain central throughout the process. In doing so, they transform solvent wind-down planning from a compliance or regulatory exercise into a strategic management tool. The message for senior management and boards is clear: Solvent wind-down planning is not about anticipatingfailure. It is about demonstrating preparedness, operational discipline, and strategic optionality. Institutions thatinvest early in credible solvent wind-down capabilities strengthen supervisory confidence, enhance resilience tostrategic shocks, and improve their ability to navigate an increasingly dynamic and uncertain market landscape,without unnecessary value leakage. Solvent Wind-Downsas a Strategic Scenario A solvent wind-down refers to the orderly cessation ofregulated activities while an institution remains solvent andliquid throughout execution. It is characterised by continuedcompliance with prudential requirements and the full, timelyfulfilment of obligations to clients, counterparties, andcreditors. Unlike distressed exits, a solvent wind-down isexecuted from a position of financial viability, with the explicitobjective of preserving value, protecting stakeholders, andmaintaining control over the pace and structure of the exit.Therefore, solvent wind-downs are recognised as anappropriate exit mechanism in situations where continuedoperation is no longer viable or desirable, yet formal resolutionor insolvency would be neither necessary nor proportionate.Within the supervisory framework, wind-downs occupy aclearly differentiated position: In general, a solvent wind-down differs fundamentally fromresolution and/or insolvency. Execution remains management-led, subject to supervisory oversight, with the institutionretaining compliance with capital and liquidity requirementsthroughout the process. Client accounts and exposures areunwound, transferred, or allowed to run-off in a controlled andtransparent manner. Operational, legal, and financial risksare actively managed rather than crystallised abruptly.Central to this approach is a pre-defined wind-downplan that establishes governance arrangements, fundingassumptions, operational capabilities, and communicationprotocols in advance, reducing reliance on ad-hocdecision-making under pressure. Importantly, solvent wind-downs are rarely triggered byacute financial distress. In practice, they most often arisefrom strategic decisions. Common triggers include strategicportfolio rebal