WeWork Assembles Team To Avoid Bankruptcy As NYSE Starts Delisting Process

WeWork exterior
Bisnow/Jon Banister

Hoping to avoid public bankruptcy proceedings, coworking giant WeWork is amassing a team of restructuring experts.

The company brought on real estate adviser Hilco Global and tapped consultant Alvarez & Marsal and law firm Kirkland & Ellis to help address the company's massive debts and future as a business without having to go to court, Bloomberg reports.

The news comes after WeWork cast "substantial doubt" on its ability to remain in business in a second-quarter earnings call earlier this month. The company reported that it posted a net loss of $397M, deeper than its first-quarter loss of $299M.

Meanwhile, the New York Stock Exchange suspended trading of WeWork's warrants because of "abnormally low" prices Wednesday, Reuters reported. The NYSE has initiated WeWork's delisting, which was warned about in April.

WeWork said its shares would continue to trade on the NYSE, according to Reuters. Shares were trading at about 13 cents Wednesday, well below the $1 threshold necessary to remain on the exchange. The company said last week it would execute a stock split to regain compliance.

Warrants give the holder the right to trade shares of a company at a certain price before they expire.

A key piece of the company's ability to keep its restructuring out of court will depend on whether it can renegotiate or exit leases in its most expensive markets, sources told Bloomberg. WeWork typically signed 25-year leases, pivoting to more flexible management agreements only around the time of its unsuccessful pre-pandemic initial public offering attempt.

Rent sucks up 74% of WeWork's revenues and accounts for two-thirds of its operating expenses, executives said on the company's latest earnings call.

“We will continue to invest in our product offerings while simultaneously taking necessary steps to reduce rent and tenancy costs,” a WeWork representative told Bloomberg in a statement. “Our members remain our priority and, regardless of any near term actions we may take, we will continue to operate and serve them for the long term.”

Kirkland & Ellis and Hilco Global are both working with Regal Cinemas parent Cineworld Group PLC in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. WeWork also added four experts in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring to its board this month following the resignation of three members.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's National Newsletters
Related Stories

Why Hines Is Restarting Its Development Engine

After Departing Trump Admin, HUD's Former Philly Head Joins Local Planning Commission

The Honest Co. Moving HQ To The Bluffs: The Los Angeles Deal Sheet

How Integrated Infrastructure Can Help AI Data Centers Deploy Faster, Build Smarter

Nvidia Buys Stake In Data Center Power Company

Invesco Cuts Fees, Adds Incentives To Quell Fund Redemption Requests

Investors Anchor Big Capital Into Marinas, Betting On Shallow Supply

Developers Eyeing Dallas' 50-Mile Trails Loop For Uptown-Like Opportunities

Nike Closes 15 Stores Amid Tumultuous Year

Large Commercial Real Estate Sales Up 30% Despite Economic Headwinds

Evergrande Founder Sentenced To Life, 56 Others Sent To Prison In China

Loud And Clear: Why Aiphone Thinks Intercom Ownership Is Best For Multitenant Buildings