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Will Adam Neumann Buy Back WeWork?

February 09, 2024 / 06:28

This episode discusses Adam Newman's attempts to buy back WeWork, the company's bankruptcy, and the implications of his actions. Key topics include Newman's financing efforts, the role of former CEO Sandy Mathrani, and the potential for WeWork's recovery.

Adam Newman, co-founder of WeWork, is reportedly trying to repurchase the company after it filed for bankruptcy in November 2023. His efforts date back to October 2022 when he sought a billion dollars in financing but faced obstacles from Sandy Mathrani.

The conversation highlights Newman's controversial reputation, with co-hosts discussing his lack of shame and the cultural issues surrounding his actions compared to other business figures like Elizabeth Holmes.

Discussion also covers the potential for WeWork's recovery through bankruptcy, with insights on the co-working space market's growth since the pandemic. The hosts speculate on the future of the company and the investors interested in its assets.

The episode concludes with reflections on the challenges faced by WeWork and the broader implications of Newman's business strategies.

TLDR

Adam Newman attempts to buy back WeWork post-bankruptcy, facing scrutiny over his controversial actions and the company's future.

Episode

6:28
00:00:00
we work co-founder Adam Newman is reportedly trying to buy back bankrupt company this is my favorite store I
00:00:05
thought you'd love it reminder we work filed for bankruptcy in November of 2023 four years after Adam Newman stepped
00:00:11
down Newman's attempts to purchase uh apparently stretch back to October 2022 when he attempted to arrange a billion
00:00:17
dollars in financing but he was stonewalled by former CEO Sandy mathrani the letter was sent by Newman's Council
00:00:24
cited the support of Dan L's hedge fund third point but in response the fund said it only had preliminary
00:00:30
conversations with Newman oh look at that and had not made a commitment to participate it you know funding secured
00:00:35
I guess um uh I just go for it Scott you're the you're the we work guy well you got to
00:00:44
give the guy credit I mean he kind of has no shame I I believe that the reason Adam Newman was not brought up on
00:00:51
criminal charges I don't know if he would have been found guilty and the reason why um Elizabeth Holmes is in
00:00:58
prison is that is is a cultural issue involving Saving Face and that is masi yoshian decided orasa didn't want to
00:01:09
lose face and declare bankruptcy and say that he'd been fooled by Adam Newman um
00:01:14
and as a result uh Adam Newman who is the ultimate poker player in terms of just kind of enormous balls said I'll
00:01:22
let this thing go under unless you buy me out at a ridiculous premium he walked away with I think 10 or no one has ever
00:01:29
got a 10% commission that has never happened before the usually the complaint is okay this company's very
00:01:35
profitable but you're overpaying the CEO I mean if you whatever you think about Elon mus compensation and that that the
00:01:43
compensation committee was not representing all shareholders and could have you know they they probably could
00:01:49
have got the same deal paying him 10 billion the this is unprecedented and he is Shameless he went out and immediately
00:01:56
did a high-profile thing around trying to pretend that buying apartment was somehow like a and something flow where
00:02:02
did that go I think I think Andre and Horwitz is probably already regretting getting in bed with this guy it's not a
00:02:08
good look for them and now he's back saying anyways if he if his board had decided to had all of a sudden gone you
00:02:16
know he misled Us and got aggressive with him I think this could have been a very different outcome for him and
00:02:23
instead he's back and trying to buy um we work out of bankruptcy I don't think the judge is going to look kindly on him
00:02:32
having taken so much money out and then showing up to buy the bond I even think there's a law he's he's got a set though
00:02:38
doesn't he oh my gosh and not only that have have you spent time with him he's very amusing I had breakfast with him
00:02:44
once and he's super amusing but no no I kept reaching for my wallet and I was like no I just heard he's very Charming
00:02:50
I heard from my I have a couple of friends at wework and I heard from him the morning I put out that thing then
00:02:57
and when the IPO Unwound basically saying thanks my kids can't go to school now um but anyways he's
00:03:05
um the when Dan L comes out and says no Adam's exaggerating that's a really bad look for Adam Newman and I would bet
00:03:15
Dan's gonna have nothing to do with this guy now no Dan's a very canny investor yeah and I can't imagine any
00:03:21
institution when you're an Institutional Investor you make a lot of money um uh over the long term just by by doing the
00:03:28
following not making stupid mistakes and anyone who loses money with Adam Newman
00:03:33
right now will be accused of making a stupid mistake and so I think it's going to be just very difficult he wouldn't
00:03:39
lose money what do you think of the actual thing let's leave aside he flee flee these people and some you know no
00:03:44
he just got took the money he didn't fleece them they knew they knew just what he well I don't okay but I would be
00:03:50
very interested I believe that the board I mean that's what people say people will say that Elizabeth Holmes lied to
00:03:56
her board and I would just love to know all the emails about what Adam Newman was saying about performance of the
00:04:02
company anyways this will all come out I'm sure at U at some point but just to talk about wework for a second um wework
00:04:10
was invented for bankruptcy and for someone to make money here because in bankruptcy you get to go through their
00:04:15
whatever it is 770 locations and cherry-pick the ones that are working and exit the leases of the ones that
00:04:22
aren't and repackage the thing and pay the debtors some of their money back issue new Equity we work we work with
00:04:29
live on I believe that I bet everyone from Barry Stern to a variety of um real estate Savvy investors are looking at
00:04:37
this thing because I called when I when I saw I called a friend of mine as a distress credit investor and said could
00:04:42
you look at the wework bonds and what it would cost to take over this company because retail and this is a retail
00:04:48
concept is invented or bankruptcy is invented for this so this will we work will will live on to fight another day
00:04:56
so get this uh the the amount of global co-working space or the user base that uses co-working from 21 2021 to
00:05:06
2024 is estimated to be up 100% the number of people using co-working space has doubled since um since the pandemic
00:05:16
it's a good business this is a good business that's had uh that has quite frankly just a terrible capital
00:05:23
structure and it just wasn't a tech company it didn't need a wave company you know he bought he kind of lathered
00:05:28
Tech all over was just crazy crazy time is over sandep came in sandep is not crazy but he had a bad capital structure
00:05:34
they just owed too much money and leases this is what kills retail companies when
00:05:39
you enter into a bad lease they're 10year leases so that lease is costing you 3 million bucks a year and you're
00:05:45
making 2 million it's a weeping sore of a liability that will cost you $10 million in losses over 10 years but poof
00:05:53
under the opes of chapter 11 bankruptcy which is a wonderful thing about America
00:05:57
you get to go through and cherry pick all your leases and get out of bad ones we work yeah you are it's like hotels
00:06:02
they say the first person it's a good brand it's a good they say it's the third person who owns a hotel that makes
00:06:06
money the first person comes in be build something beautiful and non-economic someone else comes in and takes it off
00:06:12
them they lose money and then the third person who comes in and buys the hotel for 40 or 60 cents on the dollar makes
00:06:17
money we're at that third person right now right yeah yeah that's a good brand good luck Adam good luck
00:06:26
Adam

Episode Highlights

  • Adam Newman's Bold Moves
    Adam Newman attempts to buy back WeWork after its bankruptcy, showcasing his audacity.
    “He walked away with a 10% commission that has never happened before.”
    @ 01m 29s
    February 09, 2024
  • The Future of Co-Working
    The user base for co-working spaces is expected to double by 2024, indicating a strong market.
    “The number of people using co-working space has doubled since the pandemic.”
    @ 05m 10s
    February 09, 2024

Episode Quotes

  • He's the ultimate poker player in terms of just kind of enormous balls.
    Will Adam Neumann Buy Back WeWork?
  • This will all come out, I'm sure, at some point.
    Will Adam Neumann Buy Back WeWork?
  • WeWork was invented for bankruptcy and for someone to make money here.
    Will Adam Neumann Buy Back WeWork?

Key Moments

  • Bankruptcy Attempt00:06
  • Newman's Financing Struggles00:17
  • Cultural Issues00:51
  • Market Potential05:10
  • Third Owner Success06:19

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