This text provides a comprehensive survey of the law and practice of securitization in the major jurisdictions in which securitizations have been carried out. It reviews the principal assets commonly securitized and the development of the market in each country. Legal aspects of the most important structures are analyzed in detail, involving therefore the establishment of special purpose vehicles, credit enhancement techniques and security issues. The book is also a commentary on specialized issues such as public offerings of asset-backed securities and cross-border considerations. In summary, securitization can be defined broadly as the process of financing assets through the issuance of securities which are "backed" (i.e. secured) by the cash payment streams generated by the assets securitized and by the assets themselves. There are 16 national reports. The book forms a discussion of both market and legal issues. It also allows a quick comparison of different jurisdictions.