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A tranche, meaning "slice" in French, is a portion of a larger whole, particularly in finance. It refers to an issue of bonds derived from a pool of similar obligations, differentiated by factors like maturity or rate of return.1

In securitization, various debt instruments like mortgages and consumer loans are pooled and sold as bonds. These bonds are then divided into smaller portions called tranches, with each tranche representing a claim on a part of the underlying debt payments. This process allows lenders to gain liquidity and diversify risk, while also enabling smaller investors to participate in these financial instruments.2

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. tranche
  2. securitization

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