UPDATE 1-WeWork prefers JPMorgan's financing package over SoftBank's control- Bloomberg

Reuters
Updated

(Adds response from SoftBank and WeWork, reported layoffs, background)

Oct 14 (Reuters) - Shared office space company WeWork Companies Inc is leaning toward a near $5 billion financing package led by JPMorgan Chase & Co, instead of selling a controlling stake to Japan's SoftBank Group Corp, Bloomberg reported https://bloom.bg/2pl8JmL late on Monday.

The debt package may include at least $2 billion of unsecured notes with a 15% coupon, Bloomberg reported.

The report said that WeWork preferred the JPMorgan package over a stake sale to SoftBank, which already owns around one-third of the company, because it would not dilute the stakes of top private shareholders.

The Bloomberg report cited people familiar with the matter.

SoftBank and WeWork declined to comment on the report. JPMorgan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters reported earlier in October that WeWork and JPMorgan were negotiating a debt deal after the company postponed last month's initial public offering as investor concerns grew about its valuation and its business model.

Reuters reported on Sunday, citing a source, that SoftBank had prepared a financing package that would significantly increase its one-third stake and further dilute the influence of co-founder Adam Neumann.

The Guardian newspaper reported early on Tuesday that WeWork is expected to sack at least 2,000 people as early as this week.

In recent weeks, the cash-strapped office-sharing company has seen its credit ratings being downgraded deeper into junk territory by global credit rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings.

WeWork lost $1.9 billion in 2018 and burned through $2.36 billion in cash in the first half of this year, according to U.S. filings.

The company last month replaced Neumann as chief executive with insiders Artie Minson and Sebastian Gunningham taking on joint CEO roles.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Jane Wardell)