As soon as 30 years ago Asset Backed Securities (ABS) were introduced in the USA as financial instruments. As late as 1998 they also appeared on the financial markets in Germany. The fact that ABS open up new opportunities for financing which does not depend on banks has recently been recognized in particular by housebuilding enterprises. But the potential of ABS is huge. An article on the MittelstandsWiki describes these financial instruments and their pros and cons. 