P2P lending platform Prosper is in talks with a group of investment firms to sell around $5 billion worth of loans over the course of the next two years.
Interested firms include Fortress Investment Group LLC, Soros Fund Management LLC, Third Point LLC, and Jefferies LLC. Some of these firms are in talks with banks about borrowing money to support the purchases. According to the Wall Street Journal, “The loans would be bought at face value, but the firms are also in discussions to receive equity warrants in Prosper as they make the purchases.”
Once finalized, this deal will help to quiet naysayers of P2P lending platforms, an industry which has faced increased scrutiny since Lending Club’s CEO was forced to resign and Prosper laid off 28% of its workforce. The loan purchase agreements are expected to be complete in the coming weeks.
News was also released that Prosper has already started selling loans to BBVA Compass, a bank whose VC arm took an equity stake in Prosper in 2015.
Aside from the aforementioned layoffs and a 12% drop in lending volume in the first quarter of this year, Prosper has issued relatively positive news over the course of the past six months. In March, the company appointed a USAA executive as its new CFO, rebranded its recently purchased BillGuard app to Prosper Daily, and teamed up with HomeAdvisor to improve access to home financing. In June, Prosper launched an all-new interface for investors, simplifying the view of portfolio diversification.
Founded in 2005, Prosper presented at FinovateSpring 2009 as well as the inaugural Finovate in 2007.