WeWork says Canadian properties will stay

WeWork is not currently planning to close any of its Canadian locations despite undergoing financial restructuring. Instead, the company sees Canada as an important market and is committed to improving and growing its business there. WeWork operates 21 locations across Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary and has reported a growing demand for flexible workspaces in these areas​​. Moreover, WeWork’s new executive leadership has indicated plans to continue to expand in a “smart and profitable way,” which may include additional building openings in the coming months and exploring potential new Canadian markets​​.

“To successfully achieve its goals, WeWork Inc. and certain of its entities filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and intend to file recognition proceedings in Canada under Part IV of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (the “CCAA Recognition Proceedings”). WeWork’s locations outside of the U.S. and Canada are not part of this process. WeWork’s franchisees around the world are similarly not affected by these proceedings,” the company said in a statement on its website November 6.

However, it’s important to note that WeWork has recently removed four Canadian locations from its website, signaling some changes in its Canadian operations​​. The overall strategy appears to focus on consolidation and careful growth following the company’s financial challenges.

WeWork filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a series of financial difficulties, marking a significant fall from its peak valuation of $47 billion in 2019. This downfall followed years of rapid expansion, large losses, and internal turmoil. WeWork’s IPO filing in August 2019 revealed substantial losses, which led to the stepping down of CEO Adam Neumann and a withdrawal of its IPO plans. By May 2021, the company had reported a $2.1 billion loss for the quarter, influenced by the pandemic and a legal settlement with SoftBank. Despite these challenges, WeWork went public in October 2021 with a valuation of $9 billion after merging with a special purpose acquisition company​.

WeWork began as a startup offering coworking spaces in New York City’s SoHo district in 2010. It quickly expanded globally and attracted significant investment, particularly from SoftBank, leading to a valuation of $47 billion by January 2019. However, the company faced losses and scrutiny over its financial sustainability and governance, which became evident when it attempted to go public in August 2019. The IPO was withdrawn, CEO Adam Neumann stepped down, and SoftBank had to write down its investment, valuing WeWork at much less. Despite these setbacks, WeWork went public in October 2021 through a merger, although at a greatly reduced valuation.