The We Company has launched its own real estate acquisition and management platform.
Called ARK, it builds on the company’s WeWork Property Advisors, an investment advisor affiliated with The We Company and Rhône Group and will combine with ARK as part of the launch.
ARK will focus on acquiring, developing and managing real estate assets in global gateway cities and high-growth secondary markets that will benefit from WeWork’s occupancy.
WeWork will deploy its space-as-a-service model in Ark-owned or operated properties for member companies, including Enterprise business which now represent over 40 percent of global memberships – in conjunction with its anchor tenant strategy.
ARK will leverage its access to The We Company’s site selection process and proprietary technology, as well as its relationships with partners and enterprise member companies, to access a range of real estate opportunities.
ARK intends to immediately stabilize assets by executing a pre-packaged business plan and will apply The We Company’s solutions for real estate owners.
Rich Gomel, Managing Partner, ARK, said: “We have seen first hand the value that the WeWork ecosystem can create for landlords and real estate partners. The launch of ARK will help drive growth by leveraging The We Company’s extensive real estate experience and network.
“ARK has been set up to capitalize on that opportunity and allow us to provide different partnership options for the real estate community to participate in the growth and expansion of the We Company.”
Ivanhoé Cambridge, a real estate subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and one of the world’s largest institutional real estate investors, is providing capital and support to the platform.
Ivanhoé Cambridge plans to collaborate with ARK on its real estate acquisition and management of properties around the world.
Sylvain Fortier, Chief Investment and Innovation Officer at Ivanhoé Cambridge said: “Like The We Company, we believe there is enormous upside in disrupting traditional norms of real estate. We share the same vision, commitment to social responsibility, and long-term approach towards real estate making this a natural partnership and one that we are confident will be transformational for both companies.
“The We Company brings its creative and innovative talent, along with its technological and design expertise, which are essential to meeting the new expectations of real estate spaces whether it is in
the commercial or residential sphere. ARK brings a strong team of acquisition and asset management professionals and deep relationships with The We Company. I think we will complement each other beautifully.”
ARK will initially deploy $2.9 billiob in total equity capital following its combination with WeWork Property Advisors. The We Company will be the majority owner of ARK.
The platform will be chaired by Steven Langman, Managing Director of Rhône Group and a member of The We Company’s Board of Directors. He will serve as Chairman of ARK’s Management Committee and will also serve on ARK’s investment committees.
In addition to Langman and Gomel, Wendy Silverstein, formerly of New York Reit and Vornado Realty Trust, will serve as ARK’s Chief Investment Officer.
Founded by Adam and Rebekah Neumann and Miguel McKelvey in 2010, The We Company now comprises three business lines – WeWork, WeLive, and WeGrow.
