In this context, if banks find it tough to increase capital as the numerator of the capital adequacy ratio, finally the only option left would be to deleverage, namely, to shrink their assets in the denominator to raise the ratio.
分子の資本増強が難しければ、結局は分母の資産サイドの減額、すなわちデレバレッジによって自己資本比率を引き上げるほかはない。 - 財務省