London, 03 December 2019: Zopa has today announced it has raised £140m, signing its largest funding round to date.
The additional investment is expected to enable Zopa’s banking entity to fulfil its regulatory capital requirements, a key requirement for the lifting of restrictions on its bank licence. The investment is subject to final approvals, including regulatory change of control. Zopa continues to hold its banking licence with restrictions and is working with the regulator to obtain its full licence.
Once approved, the investment will be provided by IAG Silverstripe, an investment arm of IAG Capital, the private investment group specialising in digital and technology-led businesses. IAG Silverstripe is an existing minority investor in Zopa, having invested in October 2018.
Jaidev Janardana, Zopa CEO, said: “This new funding means we have concluded the fundraising phase of our bank mobilisation. Definitive agreements to provide the funding have been finalised and are subject to final approvals including regulatory change of control.
“We continue to hold our bank licence with restrictions and are working closely with the regulators to gain our full licence. We are excited that that once approved, Zopa will be able to launch its bank alongside its peer-to-peer business and offer a broader set of products to our customers.”
Since pioneering the peer-to-peer lending industry globally in 2005, Zopa has helped half a million people enjoy better value personal loans or grow their money, created a new asset class, and redefined the experience people have come to expect from their financial provider.
Zopa’s bank will sit alongside its existing peer to peer business (Zopa Limited), as part of the overall Zopa Group.
To date, Zopa Limited has lent £5bn in unsecured personal loans to customers in the UK.
About Zopa
Launched in 2005, Zopa pioneered peer-to-peer lending globally, giving people access to simple, fair loans and investments. Since then, its helped half a million customers get the most from their money.
As a peer-to-peer lender, Zopa has approved £5bn in personal loans, been voted Moneywise’s Trusted Loan Provider ten years in a row and was awarded Moneyfacts’ Personal Loan provider of the year for 2019.
As it launches its next generation bank, Zopa’s ambition is to make more people feel good about money, providing simple, fair products that are easy to manage and using its tech know-how to provide a bank that’s fit for the future.
About IAG Silverstripe
IAG Silverstripe LLC (“IAG Silverstripe”) is an investment arm of IAG Capital, a private investment group specialising in digital and innovative technology-led businesses in the finance, life science and real estate services sectors. IAG Silverstripe is an existing minority investor in Zopa, having invested in October 2018.
In the UK, IAG Capital’s digital finance investments include Jaja Finance, the UK credit card business which acquired the Bank of Ireland UK’s credit card portfolio in June 2019 as part of a consortium including Centerbridge Partners and KKR. It is also an investor in Bamboo, the UK consumer loans business.
Julian Wadley
Head of PR
T: +44 (0)20 7291 8320
M: +44 (0)75 6275 2271
Press office: +44 (0)20 3751 1743
www.zopa.com
