SoftBank's investments alone caused WeWork's valuation to skyrocket from $17 billion to $47 billion. Now SoftBank is taking control of the company and setting new terms once again.
But American capitalism is a little different than the mafia. Instead of disposing of Neumann's body, SoftBank is paying Neumann up to $970 million for his equity, depending on how much he wants to sell, and an additional $185 million as a "consulting fee," which is really just a bonus for taking SoftBank's bailout package over J.P.
That could have been a warning to investment banks and WeWork's board that other investors may not have agreed the company was worth $47 billion. Instead, J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley said they couldwilling to value WeWork between $60 billion and $100 billion. And WeWork proceeded with an ill-advised IPO that has brought the company weeks away from bankruptcy because of its aggressive expansion and outstanding lease obligations.
Even the $20 billion starting point in 2018 was set by SoftBank, which invested $4.4 billion, in conjunction with its $100 billion Vision Fund, in a 2017 Series G. You have to go back to 2016 to find a valuation of WeWork not affected by SoftBank — a $690 million round led by one of China's largest hotel companies, Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels. That Series F round valued WeWork at $16.9 billion.
If WeWork had topped out at a private valuation of $16.9 billion instead of $47 billion, the company almost certainly would be trading publicly today. Even if public investors had rejected a $17 billion valuation, WeWork probably would be in the same boat as
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SoftBank to take control of WeWork: SourcesSoftBank will take control of embattled WeWork and provide $4-5 billion in new funding, sources say. The deal would aim to help WeWork get back on track and reach profitability.
Read more »
WeWork board weighs $9.5-billion takeover bid from SoftBankSoftBank is offering to take over WeWork, buying as much as $3 billion of stock from existing shareholders and providing $5 billion in debt financing.
Read more »
SoftBank takes control of WeWork in bailout deal; Neumann out - Business InsiderThe Japanese investor will give Adam Neumann $1.7 billion. He'll get a $185 million consulting fee and will step down from the board.
Read more »
SoftBank is reportedly paying WeWork founder Adam Neumann $1.7 billion to step off the boardWeWork has been considering two competing takeover bids from SoftBank and JPMorgan.
Read more »