WeWork CEO Neumann facing boardroom coup?
WeWork Board members may be plotting the removal of CEO Adam Neumann after the company put off its IPO.
CEO Adam Neumann may be forced out if some members of his company’s board have their way, reports Bloomberg.
According to unnamed sources, SoftBank Group head honcho Masayoshi Son was pushing for Neumann’s exit.
WeWork’s botched IPO the cause?
WeWork has postponed its much-hyped IPO to the year-end, likely exciting the ire of investors. At issue is the company’s valuation, which could be $15 billion or less. That’s a far cry from the $47 billion pegged in a January fundraiser.
Also, investors have balked at Neumann’s control over the company and certain governance issues.
Further, the shared office space company has not yet reported a profit, though it has raised over $12 billion to date. Last year, WeWork reported losses of $1.61 billion on revenue of $1.82 billion.
Additionally, Neumann reportedly smoked marijuana on a private jet last summer.
Adam Neumann can remove his full board
Given Neumann’s vice-like control on voting power, however, a boardroom coup may be a pipe dream. Based on his current holdings, Neumann can choose to replace his whole board. Neumann maintains voting control through a three-class share structure.
There’s a precedent, however, of companies getting rid of temperamental or controversial CEO’s. Benchmark Capital, an investor in WeWork, and other institutions succeeded in removing Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick before its IPO.
Latest Alternative Investment News
Artificial Intelligence: AMD Takes On Rivals In The AI Chip Sweepstakes
Chipmaker AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) has unveiled a range of innovative AI solutions spanning from data centers to personal computers. The AMD Instinct MI300 Series features data center AI accelerators, while…
Digital Assets: Robinhood Debuts Crypto Trading On Its App In The EU
Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD) has launched its Crypto app in the European Union (EU), allowing eligible customers to engage in crypto trading with the added incentive of earning Bitcoin rewards. Customers…
FinTech: Samsung Electronics Ties With Mastercard’s Wallet Express
Samsung Electronics (KRX: 005930) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA) have partnered to launch the Wallet Express program, offering banks and card issuers a cost-effective way to expand digital wallet offerings. Through…
Venture Capital: Revaia, Europe’s Biggest Female-Led VC Firm, Racks Up $160M For Second Fund
Revaia, Europe’s largest female-founded venture capital firm, has successfully raised €150 million ($160 million) for its second fund, Revaia Growth II. The funding was secured from sovereign wealth funds, family…