Back in 2017, locally-listed office provider Servcorp declared that WeWork was little more than "a glorified hot-desk organisation" with "limited technology and a rudimental business model".

It was among the more colourful public criticisms that the ASX-listed business levelled over the years at the Softbank-backed co-working juggernaut, which this month pulled its planned float on concerns of widening losses, an inflated valuation, unusual payments and growing unease about founder Adam Neumann, who has now resigned as chief executive.