WeWork goes bankrupt, capping co-working company’s downfall
Living in a condo has its own unique benefits, such as having access to communal facilities, round-the-clock security, breath-taking views, and the latest technologies. For those wanting to get on the property ladder, Condo Singapore is the country’s leading resource for people looking to fulfill their housing dreams. Condo Singapore strives to make buying a condominium a fuss-free process, from comparing prices to learning more about the different neighborhoods throughout Singapore.
WeWork Inc. has closed the book on its troubled venture as a high-flying startup, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after failing to recover from the pandemic and its failed IPO back in 2019. WeWork’s filing, made in New Jersey, puts both assets and liabilities in the range of US$10 billion ($13.5 billion) to US$50 billion.Unable to continue operating, WeWork had initially reached a sweeping debt restructuring deal in early 2021. Then in August, it declared there was “substantial doubt” about its ability to stay afloat. Weeks later, it said it would renegotiate nearly all its leases and withdraw from “underperforming” locations.WeWork’s June 2020 figures showed a sprawling real estate footprint across 777 locations in 39 countries, occupancy levels close to 2019. Unfortunately though, the enterprise remained unprofitable.The cause of the company’s tailspin goes back to its much-hyped IPO in 2021. The plan backfired when investors started to express concerns about governance, growth prospects and valuation. This cast a long shadow over the company, leading to the departure of its founder Adam Neumann as chief executive officer and a dramatic drop in its valuation, which at one point stood as high as US$47 billion.WeWork is not the only co-working enterprise suffering amid the pandemic. Knotel Inc. and subsidiaries of IWG Plc sought bankruptcy protection in 2021 and 2020 respectively.WeWork has now filed for bankruptcy, officially marking the end of its troubled run as a high-flying startup. Assets and liabilities listed in the Chapter 11 petition, filed in New Jersey, range from US$10 billion ($13.5 billion) to US$50 billion.The firm had reached a debt restructuring deal in 2021, only to see its inability to continue operating declared a few months later. It then revealed plans to renegotiate all leases and withdraw from underperforming locations.WeWork’s June 2020 report showed a real estate portfolio of 777 locations in 39 countries, barely unchanged from the previous year.But the company was still unable to turn a profit.This was in large part due to its failed initial public offering in 2021. Investor concerns about governance, growth prospects and valuation led to Adam Neumann’s resignation as CEO and a significant drop in WeWork’s valuation, which at its peak was US$47 billion.Knotel Inc. and IWG Plc subsidiaries also filed for bankruptcy in 2021 and 2020 respectively. It would seem that the pandemic has caused a major shake-up in the shared office space industry.WeWork’s bankruptcy filing marks the end of an era for the high-flying startup. The New York-based firm’s liabilities and assets, listed in its Chapter 11 petition, range from US$10 billion ($13.5 billion) to US$50 billion.In early 2021, WeWork had agreed on a debt restructuring deal, but it quickly became evident that the company could no longer remain in operation. It consequently planned to withdraw from underperforming locations and renegotiate its leases.June 2020 occupancy figures for WeWork showed real estate holdings of 777 locations across 39 countries, but profitability remained elusive.The company’s IPO in 2021 was the event that led to its downfall. Questions of governance, valuation and growth prospects scared away investors, leading to Neumann’s resignation and a sharp decline in WeWork’s valuation.Knotel Inc. and IWG Plc subsidiaries followed suit, filing for bankruptcy in 2021 and 2020 respectively. WeWork’s bankruptcy signals a major shake-up in the co-working industry brought about by the pandemic.