Chinese online consumer lender Yirendai has announced progression toward securitization of a portfolio of consumer loans; the firm has transferred an existing trust fund of RMB300 million ($43.6 million) used to fund loans on its platform to Bohai International Trust Co., Ltd., and the firm has completed the issuance of asset-backed securities in the amount of RMB300 million through private placements. Source
Panel discusses how to determine the valuation of loans and in turn how to value funds which hold loans; over the last four years loan methodologies have changed from bank accounting (holding loans at par value and holding a reserve against expected losses) to using fair value; the most prevalent approach is a discounted cash flow analysis; this shift happened as more investors entered this space and funds got larger; James Wu of MonJa and John Schrader of Duff & Phelps dig into the details of fair value and how to comfort investors who are looking to invest in this space. Source
Peer-to-peer platform Octopus Choice is estimating GBP50 million ($64.08 million) in loans in its first year of business; the platform offers loans secured on residential property with average returns of 4.2% and loan to value ratios of up to 70%; the firm's loans have ranged from GBP95,000 ($121,744) to more than GBP5 million ($6.41 million); the firm has been fully authorized by the FCA and has received its HMRC approval to offer an IFISA. Source
Kevin Caley from ThinCats writes on the evolution of the P2P lending industry and why financial advisers should consider the investment for their clients; reports on the industry's growth and the comparable returns of the product; notes the introduction of the IFISA as a factor for greater investment and increased acceptance from financial advisers. Source
European marketplace lender Lendix will offer loans to Italian SMEs; the platform will now support peer-to-peer loans from EUR30,000 ($32,175) to EUR2 million ($2.1 million) for Italian businesses; Lendix has originated a total of over EUR70 million ($75 million) in business loans from borrowers in France and Spain. Source
A new study has been released by two researchers at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government; it reports on the evolution of online lending and outlines factors for sustainability; suggestions include harmonizing state lending laws and increasing state usury caps; the entire report can be downloaded from this link. Source
Revolut has partnered with Trussle to offer mortgage loan solutions for its clients; the partnership is the most recent in a series of partnerships for the digital only bank, adding to lending solutions from lenders Lending Works and Bricklane; Trussle will provide a multi-lender service to Revolut customers through technology that can recommend mortgage loans for first time borrowers and suggest alternatives for current borrowers. Source
BlackRock's investment in the Funding Circle SME Income Fund has increased to 15%; meanwhile Aberdeen's ownership has also increased to a substantial share; investments from the institutional managers show the success of the Fund and the confidence in its management; Sachin Patel is the Fund's lead portfolio manager and the Funding Circle SME Income Fund has grown to assets under management of approximately GBP300 million ($383.5 million) following a recent C-Share issuance. Source
Consumer lender Avant filed documents with the SEC for a new unsecured consumer loan portfolio, Avant Loans Funding Trust 2017-A; the ABS deal looks to consist of 41,250 unsecured consumer loans, though the total portfolio pricing has yet to be released; the deal was audited by Deloitte; banks involved in the transaction include J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Credit Suisse Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. Source
Renaud Laplanche launched his new online lending firm at the beginning of April; Upgrade raised $60 million for its launch and is reportedly valued at $168 million; the company will compete directly with many unsecured consumer lenders offering loans from $2,000 to $50,000; a key part of the offering will be a mobile app to help borrowers manage their finances which has yet to be released. Source