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Market Survey Results for April 2008

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Market Commentary By Prosper Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Larsen

In April, we saw the supply of loan listings with an attractive risk-return tradeoff hit an all time high and approximately double compared to the prior month. At the end of March, the supply of loan listings with an attractive risk-return tradeoff was approximately $5 million; and at the end of April the supply increased to approximately $11 million and has remained at that level into May.

This significant increase in the supply of loan listings with an attractive risk-return tradeoff is attributed to the fact that on April 15 we commenced our business arrangement with WebBank, a Utah-chartered industrial bank. Through our agreement, all loans originated through the Prosper marketplace resulting from listings posted on or after April 15, 2008 are made by WebBank under its bank charter. Prosper provides services to WebBank in connection with the origination of such loans and Prosper services loans made to Prosper borrowers on behalf of registered Prosper lenders who purchase such loans. In effect, this partnership opened the platform to more borrowers, who may have previously been constrained by low state rate caps.

Also in April, we saw the supply of prime borrower listings hit an all time high, accounting for nearly half of all loan listings in terms of dollars requested. Prime borrower originations also reached its record level of 43% of funded loans.

Currently, the significant increased supply of quality listings is providing more attractive bidding opportunities, which is making it easier for lenders to efficiently deploy more money onto the platform.

Mix of Funded Borrowers

    April

2008

  April

2007

  Year-to-Date

2008

  Year-to-Date

2007

  Since

Inception

Prime   43%   30%   41%   28%   33%
Near Prime   51%   55%   53%   55%   54%
Sub Prime   6%   14%   5%   17%   13%

Membership and Loan Volume Statistics

    April

2008

  April

2007

  Year-to-Date

2008

  Year-to-Date

2007

  Since

Inception

New Members   46,312   34,144   154,585   137,849   692,713
Funded Loans ($)   $8.5 million   $8.7 million   $28.9 million   $28.3 million   $137.3 million
Funded Loans (Units)   1,305   1,091   4,379   4,145   21,699
Average Loan Size   $6,486   $7,956   $6,607   $6,824   $6,326
Daily Average Number of Borrower Listings   2,744   2,001   2,333   1,866   1,665

Estimated Annual Return on Prosper Select Index

    April 2008
Prosper Select Index   8.84%
Prime Select Index   8.90%
Near Prime Select Index   8.65%
Sub Prime Select Index   11.56%

Average Borrower Rates on Prosper Select Loans

    April

2008

  March

2008

  April

2007

 

Year-to-Date

2008

 

Year-to-Date

2007

 

Since

Inception

Prime Select Loans   9.82%   9.86%   10.44%   9.96%   9.88%   10.04%
Near Prime Select Loans   15.05%   15.52%   15.46%   15.91%   14.96%   16.04%
Sub Prime Select Loans   25.00%   35.00%   25.29%   28.88%   22.60%   24.17%

Definitions

Attractive Risk-Return Tradeoff: For purposes of this survey release, listings are considered to have attractive returns if, based on historical loan repayment performance of Prosper borrowers with similar characteristics, they are priced sufficiently to compensate lenders for risk. Risk includes both the risk of non-payment by the borrower and other risks associated with people-to-people lending. In general, as the credit quality of the borrower declines, the range of possible returns widens, requiring a larger risk premium to compensate the additional uncertainty. The amount of risk premium required to compensate for a given level of risk is a subjective judgment. The following formula is used by Prosper to determine if a listing is priced adequately to have an attractive risk adjusted return: Maximum Borrower Rate > Risk Free Rate1 + 3.25% + (Expected Annual Default * 1.5) + Prosper Servicing Fee. All lenders should make their own judgments with respect to what constitutes an adequately priced listing.

1 Risk Free Rate = 2-year CD national rate on BankRate.

Since Inception: November 1, 2005 through April 30, 2008. Prospers by invitation only friends and family launch began on November 1, 2005 and Prosper launched to the general public on February 13, 2006.

2008 Year-to-Date: January 1, 2008 through April 30, 2008.

2007 Year-to-Date: January 1, 2007 through April 30, 2007.

Prosper Select Index: The Prosper Select Index return is the estimated average annual return on principal, based on actual delinquency performance to date. The Prosper Select Index includes AA - E credit grade loans for borrowers whose credit reports at the time of application indicated zero current delinquencies, three or fewer credit inquiries, and a debt-to-income ratio of 40 percent or less. The annual return period reflects loans originated in the twelve month period ending one month prior to the observation date of April 30, 2008. Prime Select includes AA and A credit grade loans (credit scores of 720+). Near Prime Select includes B, C, D credit grade loans (credit scores between 600 and 719). Sub Prime Select includes E credit grade loans (credit scores between 560 and 599).

Average Borrower Rates: Average Borrower Rates are the weighted average borrower rates on Prosper Select Index loans with loan amounts between $5,000 and $10,000. Rates shown are interest rates, not annual percentage rates.

Mix of Funded Borrowers: Prime includes all AA and A credit grade loans (credit scores of 720+). Near Prime includes all B, C, D credit grade loans (credit scores between 600 and 719). Sub Prime includes all E and HR credit grade loans (credit scores below 600).

March 2008 Prosper People-to-People Lending Market Survey

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

Market Commentary By Prosper Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Larsen

As we have previously reported, Prospers mix of well priced loans loans with an attractive risk-return tradeoff has dramatically changed from the same period last year with approximately a 200% increase in the percentage of well priced loans and a six-fold decrease in low priced loans loans with an unattractive risk-return tradeoff. Part of this positive trend is attributable to the introduction of portfolio plans and performance guidance from the Prosper Marketplace changes introduced last October. These changes continue to drive better overall performance of the market.

In March we saw further evidence of this with portfolio plan performance improving. For example, the Conservative portfolio plan one of four model portfolio plans Prosper has provided as templates that can be used by lenders consists of five credit slices. Looking at all the credit slices across all four plans, 18 of 21 slices improved or remained constant. This is quite positive considering the continuing credit crunch occurring in so many traditional financial markets and should lead to both better rates for borrowers and better performance for lenders.

We are also seeing a healthy start of custom portfolio plans, which lenders can create from scratch or modify from an existing Prosper model plan. These plans can be easily shared with friends or family. In March, approximately 1,800 custom plans were created that spawned over 18,000 bids.

Percentage of Attractive Risk-Return Tradeoff Loans as a Percentage of All Loans

     
March 2008   March 2007
72%   21%
 

Mix of Funded Borrowers

                   
    March

2008

  March

2007

  Year-to-Date

2008

  Year-to-Date

2007

  Since

Inception

Prime   39%   29%   41%   27%   32%
Near Prime   56%   57%   54%   55%   55%
Sub Prime   5%   14%   5%   18%   14%
       

Membership and Loan Volume Statistics

                   
    March

2008

  March

2007

 

Year-to-Date

2008

 

Year-to-Date

2007

  Since

Inception

New Members   40,779   38,938   108,273   103,705   646,401
Funded Loans  

$7.3 million

  $8.0 million   $20.5 million   $19.6 million   $128.8 million
Average Loan Size   $6,536   $6,935   $6,659   $6,419   $6,316
Daily Average Number of Borrower Listings   2,287   1,848   2,197   1,821   1,628
       

Estimated Annual Return on Prosper Select Index

   
    March 2008
Prosper Select Index   8.57%
Prime Select Index   9.19%
Near Prime Select Index   8.02%
Sub Prime Select Index   7.62%
 

Average Borrower Rates on Prosper Select Loans

                       
    March

2008

  February

2008

  March

2007

 

Year-to-Date

2008

 

Year-to-Date

2007

 

Since

Inception

Prime Select Loans   9.86%   10.32%   10.38%   10.02%   9.64%   10.06%
Near Prime Select Loans   15.52%   17.10%   15.08%   16.31%   14.76%   16.16%
Sub Prime Select Loans   35.00%   N/A   21.85%   29.69%   21.5%   24.16%
         

Definitions

Portfolio Plans: A portfolio plan is an automatic bidding tool that enables lenders to create their own bidding strategies and have bids placed automatically on listings that match the lenders desired lending criteria. Prosper lenders can create portfolio plans consisting of multiple slices of credit attributes.

Since Inception: November 1, 2005 through March 31, 2008. Prospers by invitation only friends and family launch began on November 1, 2005 and Prosper launched to the general public on February 13, 2006.

2008 Year-to-Date: January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008.

2007 Year-to-Date: January 1, 2007 through March 31, 2007.

Prosper Select Index: The Prosper Select Index return is the estimated average annual return on principal, based on actual delinquency performance to date. The Prosper Select Index includes AA - E credit grade loans for borrowers whose credit reports at the time of application indicated zero current delinquencies, three or fewer credit inquiries, and a debt-to-income ratio of 40 percent or less. The annual return period reflects loans originated in the twelve month period ending one month prior to the observation date of March 31, 2008. Prime Select includes AA and A credit grade loans (credit scores of 720+). Near Prime Select includes B, C, D credit grade loans (credit scores between 600 and 719). Sub Prime Select includes E credit grade loans (credit scores between 560 and 599).

Average Borrower Rates: Average Borrower Rates are the weighted average borrower rates on Prosper Select Index loans with loan amounts between $5,000 and $10,000. Rates shown are interest rates, not annual percentage rates.

Mix of Funded Borrowers: Prime includes all AA and A credit grade loans (credit scores of 720+). Near Prime includes all B, C, D credit grade loans (credit scores between 600 and 719). Sub Prime includes all E and HR credit grade loans (credit scores below 600).

N/A: = Not available; no loans met these criteria.

Prime Borrowing on Prosper Hits Record Levels — February Marketplace Survey

Wednesday, March 12th, 2008

Market Commentary By Prosper Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Larsen.

In February 2008, the percentage of prime loans funded on Prosper once again hit record levels, accounting for 43% of originations. At the same time, the percentage of prime listings on Prosper hit an all time high of just over 18% — a big jump from 9% in February 2007 and the previous high of 12% in December 2007 — while the percentage of sub prime listings hit an all time low of 33% and accounted for a mere 6% of funded loans.

Some other key metrics we watch closely include the type of listings that are created and funded in the Prosper marketplace. Very broadly, we look at listings that, based on historical Prosper loan performance data, can be made at an attractive risk-return tradeoff and those that can only be made at an unattractive risk-return tradeoff. By providing more robust information to lenders on the expected returns of listings, we have seen an increase in originations from attractive risk-return listings of over 200% and a decrease in originations from unattractive risk-return listings of 80% over the course of the last year.

As we discussed at our Prosper Days community conference, these dramatic and constructive shifts in the marketplace have been driven by three key factors: the pervasive credit crunch and sub prime mortgage meltdown; recently introduced performance data-driven tools and features; and, increasing mainstream acceptance of Prosper as an attractive funding source and asset class.

Press Release: Prime Borrowing on Prosper Hits Record Levels

January Marketplace Survey — Prosper Turns 2 with 580,000 Members and Over 117 Million in Loan Volume

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

Tomorrow Prosper will mark its two year anniversary. Since launching on February 13, 2006, Prosper’s funded loan volume has grown to over $117 million, up approximately $81 million or 225% from its first year. Prosper’s national membership now consists of over 580,000 individuals, up approximately 405,000 or 230% over the same period.

“We’re looking forward to formally celebrating our two year anniversary and the community who pioneered people-to-people lending in America - Prosper lenders and borrowers – at our second annual Prosper Days conference,” said Chris Larsen, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prosper. “Together with Prosper community members and social lending experts, we will assess our first two years and provide a glimpse of what’s in store for the future.”

January 2008 Prosper People-to-People Lending Market Survey

Membership and Loan Volume Statistics

    January

2008

  January

2007

  Since

Inception

New Members   37,121   19,675   575,249
Funded Loans   $7.2 million   $6.3 million   $116.2 million
Average Loan Size   $6,848   $6,152   $6,304
Daily Average Number of Borrower Listings   2,413   1,575   1,595

Estimated Annual Return on Prosper Select Index

    January 2008
Prosper Select Index   8.19%
Prime Select Index   8.75%
Near Prime Select Index   7.90%
Sub Prime Select Index   4.93%

Average Borrower Rates on Prosper Select Loans

    January

2008

  December

2007

  January

2007

  Since Inception
Prime Select Loans   9.91%   9.80%   8.86%   10.06%
Near Prime Select Loans   16.80%   16.07%   14.60%   16.18%
Sub Prime Select Loans   28.39%   32.99%   21.46%   24.07%

Mix of Funded Borrowers

    January

2008

  January

2007

  Since

Inception

Prime   40%   23%   31%
Near Prime   55%   53%   55%
Sub Prime   5%   24%   14%

Definitions

Since Inception: November 1, 2005 through January 31, 2008. Prospers by invitation only friends and family launch began on November 1, 2005 and Prosper launched to the general public on February 13, 2006.

Prosper Select Index: The Prosper Select Index return is the estimated average annual return on principal, based on actual delinquency performance to date. The Prosper Select Index includes AA - E credit grade loans for borrowers whose credit reports at the time of application indicated zero current delinquencies, three or fewer credit inquiries, and a debt-to-income ratio of 40 percent or less. The annual return period reflects loans originated in the twelve month period ending one month prior to the observation date of January 31, 2008. Prime Select includes AA and A credit grade loans (credit scores of 720+). Near Prime Select includes B, C, D credit grade loans (credit scores between 600 and 719). Sub Prime Select includes E credit grade loans (credit scores between 560 and 599).

Average Borrower Rates: Average Borrower Rates are the weighted average borrower rates on Prosper Select Index loans with loan amounts between $5,000 and $10,000. Rates shown are interest rates, not annual percentage rates.

Mix of Funded Borrowers: Prime includes all AA and A credit grade loans (credit scores of 720+). Near Prime includes all B, C, D credit grade loans (credit scores between 600 and 719). Sub Prime includes all E and HR credit grade loans (credit scores below 600).

December 2007 Marketplace Survey

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

Chris Larsen CEO of Prosper provided the commentary in the December 2007 Marketplace Survey. He places the Prosper Marketplace in the larger context of the “subprime” meltdown including the credit crunch that is being seen nationwide. His assertion is that all aspects of lending are affected by the credit tightening including the Prosper marketplace. Lenders are requiring better rates of return for carrying risk and in general are less willing to carry riskier loans.

People-to-People Lending Marketplace Survey December 2007

Membership and Loan Volume Statistics*

December

2007

December

2006

2007

Full Year

2006

Full Year

Since

Inception

New Members

31,620

18,251

400,361

137,545

538,128

Funded Loans

$6.2 million

$4.5 million

$80.9 million

$28.1 million

$109.1 million

Average Loan Size

$7,268

$4,638

$7,053

$4,765

$6,272

Daily Average Number of Borrower Listings

2,924

1,723

2,348

1,037

1,562

Estimated Annual Return on Prosper Select Index*

December 2007

Prosper Select Index

8.34%

Prime Select Index

8.46%

Near Prime Select Index

8.43%

Sub Prime Select Index

5.59%

Average Borrower Rates on Prosper Select Loans*

December

2007

November

2007

December

2006

2007

Year-to-Date

2006

Year-to-Date

Since Inception

Prime Select Loans

9.80%

10.22%

9.21%

9.98%

10.39%

10.08%

Near Prime Select Loans

16.07%

15.90%

16.50%

16.01%

16.41%

16.11%

Sub Prime Select Loans

32.99%

21.63%

23.86%

23.42%

25.01%

23.91%

Mix of Funded Borrowers*

December

2007

December

2006

2007

Year-to-Date

2006

Year-to-Date

Since

Inception

Prime

43%

25%

32%

25%

30%

Near Prime

52%

44%

57%

49%

55%

Sub Prime

5%

31%

11%

26%

15%


* For definitions please see see the survey

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