Item 4.01 | Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant. |
On November 9, 2023, Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) informed WeWork Inc. (the “Company” or “WeWork”) that EY will not seek to be retained as the Company’s independent registered accounting firm and will therefore no longer provide audit services to the Company and its subsidiaries following the previously announced Chapter 11 cases of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. There is no dispute between the Company and EY.
EY’s reports on the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and in the subsequent interim period through November 9, 2023, (i) there were no “disagreements” as that term is defined in the fourth paragraph of the Instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K (“Regulation S-K”) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), between the Company and EY on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of EY, would have caused EY to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in their reports on the financial statements for such years, and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The Company has provided EY with a copy of the disclosures made in this Current Report prior to its filing with the SEC and requested that EY furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether EY agrees with the statements made herein. A copy of EY’s letter dated November 13, 2023 is attached as Exhibit 16.1 hereto.
The Company will disclose its engagement of a new independent registered public accounting firm once the evaluation process has been completed and as required by, and in accordance with, the SEC’s rules and regulations.
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s ability to engage a new independent registered public accounting firm, may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Although WeWork believes the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained, and it is possible that actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding WeWork’s ability to successfully identify and engage a new independent registered public accounting firm; WeWork’s ability to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q and otherwise comply with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act; WeWork’s ability to comply with its reporting obligations under its debt agreements; WeWork’s ability to successfully consummate and complete a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11; WeWork’s ability to continue operating in the ordinary course while the Chapter 11 cases are pending; potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 cases on WeWork’s business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations; WeWork’s ability to obtain timely approval by the bankruptcy court with respect to the motions filed in the Chapter 11 cases; objections to WeWork’s recapitalization process or other pleadings filed with the bankruptcy court that could protract the Chapter 11 cases; employee attrition and WeWork’s ability to retain senior management and other key personnel due to the distractions and uncertainties caused by the Chapter 11 cases; WeWork’s ability to improve its liquidity and long-term capital structure and to address its debt service obligations through the restructuring; WeWork’s ability to comply with the restrictions imposed by the terms and conditions of the potential financing arrangements; WeWork’s ability to find solutions with landlords to effectively and timely rationalize its real estate footprint; WeWork’s ability to effectively implement its strategic plan; WeWork’s liquidity needs to operate its business and execute its strategy, and related use of cash; WeWork’s ability to retain its members, attract new members, and maintain relationships with suppliers, customers, employees and other third parties and regulatory authorities as a result of the Chapter 11 cases; the effects of the restructuring and the Chapter 11 cases on WeWork and on the interests of various constituents, including holders of WeWork’s common
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