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23andMe Files For Chapter 11: Anne Wojcicki Resigns Amid Struggles to Revive Company

In a bold and unexpected move, 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, signaling the company’s struggle to stay afloat amid mounting financial pressure. In its filing with the Eastern District of Missouri federal bankruptcy court, the DNA testing giant revealed it has initiated the process of selling its assets in an attempt to salvage what’s left of its business. Despite the looming uncertainty, 23andMe reassured customers that it would continue operations throughout the asset sale process, emphasizing that there would be no disruptions to how customer data is stored, managed, or protected.

If the bankruptcy court approves its Chapter 11 plan, 23andMe will embark on a 45-day window to solicit bids. If multiple buyers emerge, the company will hold an auction to maximize its value. A key condition for any potential buyer: they must adhere to legal requirements for handling customer data, a significant concern after recent breaches.

In a related shakeup, co-founder Anne Wojcicki, who once helmed the company, has stepped down as CEO. However, Wojcicki isn’t entirely distancing herself from the company—she will remain on 23andMe’s board and is reportedly preparing to bid on the company’s assets herself. Her resignation follows a failed attempt to take 23andMe private. Last month, she made a bid to acquire the company for $2.53 per share, but the deal collapsed when her partner, New Mountain Capital, pulled out. This was followed by a new bid this month, offering just 41 cents per share—a move swiftly rejected by the company’s board. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Wojcicki expressed her disappointment, but also her intent to pursue the company’s assets independently, citing her resignation as a strategic move to position herself better for the bidding process.

The Rise And Fall Of 23andMe

Once a market darling, 23andMe went public in 2021 through a merger with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), reaching a market cap of $6 billion. Wojcicki, a co-founder of the company, saw her fortune soar into the billions. But since then, the company’s stock has plummeted by over 99%, as it failed to reach profitability despite its promising start.

Adding fuel to the fire, the company suffered a major data breach in 2023, when hackers exploited recycled passwords to access sensitive user data. The breach involved over a million genetic data points, including information from high-profile individuals, and was shared across hacker forums. The exposed data included genetic ancestry, birth years, and even personal details of well-known tech figures such as Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. In the aftermath, 23andMe settled in court, agreeing to pay $30 million and offer three years of security monitoring to those affected by the breach.

As 23andMe enters its next phase under bankruptcy proceedings, the company faces a steep uphill battle to regain trust and value. The fate of its assets—and its brand—now rests in the hands of potential buyers.

Cyprus Leads EU With Highest Per Capita Greenhouse Gas Footprint In 2023

Cyprus Tops The Emissions List

New Eurostat data shows that Cyprus recorded the highest per-capita greenhouse gas footprint in the European Union in 2023. The country reported 14.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per person, well above the EU average of 9.0 tonnes. The figures highlight the impact of consumption patterns and imported goods on national emissions.

Overview Of 2023 Emissions Data

According to the report, the greenhouse gas footprint linked to goods and services consumed within the EU averaged 9.0 tonnes per person in 2023, down from 10.0 tonnes in 2022. The consumption-based metric measures emissions generated across entire supply chains, regardless of where production takes place.

Contrasting Emissions Across Member States

Cyprus recorded the highest level at 14.8 tonnes per capita, followed by Ireland at 14.0 tonnes and Luxembourg at 12.7 tonnes. At the lower end of the scale, Portugal reported 6.5 tonnes per capita, with Bulgaria, Sweden, and Romania also recording comparatively low figures. The differences reflect varying consumption patterns and the carbon intensity of imported goods and services.

Consumption Versus Production Emissions

Across the EU, the greenhouse gas footprint tied to consumption reached 4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023, compared with production-based emissions of 3.3 billion tonnes. The gap illustrates how imported goods contribute to overall emissions. Over the past decade, consumption-based emissions declined by 12.9%, while production-based emissions fell by 18.6%, partly influenced by the economic slowdown during the 2020 pandemic.

Implications For Policymakers And Business Leaders

The data suggests that emissions strategies increasingly need to address both domestic production and consumption patterns. For Cyprus, this means looking beyond local energy reforms to examine the carbon footprint of imported products and supply chains. Businesses and policymakers may need to consider broader sustainability measures that reflect how goods are produced and consumed.

As the EU continues to strive for reduced emissions, this report serves as a vital resource. It illustrates the progress in lowering production emissions while drawing attention to the substantial challenge posed by the consumption-based footprint. In the evolving realm of environmental policy, these insights are indispensable for steering future initiatives on a path towards greater sustainability.

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