The online lending platform is reportedly close to closing $500m in a round backed by existing investor SoftBank that will value it at about $4.3bn.

US-based online lending platform Social Finance (SoFi) is set to raise roughly $500m in a funding round featuring telecom group and existing investor SoftBank, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Private equity firm Silver Lake Partners is expected to lead the round, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. It will be joined by venture capital firm DCM Ventures, investment adviser Third Point and undisclosed Asian investors.

SoFi operates a range of online lending services covering its core market of student loan…