VNET Reports Unaudited Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VNET Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: VNET) ("VNET" or the "Company"), a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral internet data center services provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

"We achieved strong third quarter results mainly driven by our wholesale IDC business," said Josh Sheng Chen, Founder, Executive Chairperson and interim Chief Executive Officer of VNET. "Our wholesale IDC business maintained its strong growth momentum as we capitalized on rising AI-driven demand. We also continued attracting high-quality customers during the third quarter, with six new order wins totaling 84MW. Notably, we won a new wholesale order from an Internet customer for 32MW at our Huailai IDC Campus, one of our green computing clusters in Hebei province. Moving forward, we will continue to develop our high-performance data centers and green business, providing reliable, premium IDC services to meet market demand. Propelling VNET's high-quality, sustainable development remains our priority as we strive to deliver value to all of our stakeholders."

Qiyu Wang, Chief Financial Officer of VNET, commented, "In the third quarter, we remained focused on high-quality revenue businesses with high margins. Our total net revenues increased by 12.4% year over year to RMB2.12 billion, mainly driven by remarkable wholesale revenue growth of 86.4% year over year. Our adjusted EBITDA also grew by 17.1% year over year to RMB594.8 million in the third quarter of 2024. We previously reported adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2023 at RMB507.9 million. Such figure included VAT surplus deduction benefit of RMB13.3 million, which is now considered non-continuable due to the termination of preferential tax policies since January 1, 2024 (the "Discontinued VAT Benefits"). The year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA would be 20.2% if the Discontinued VAT Benefits were excluded from the adjusted EBITDA calculation for the same period last year. We also aim to enter a definitive agreement with one of China's leading insurance companies by the end of 2024 to form a pre-REITs fund. The fund will feature the first and second phases of our Taicang IDC Campus as the underlying assets, with us retaining approximately a 51% interest in the fund. This will further strengthen our cash reserves and support our sustainable development. Looking ahead, we will continue strengthening our core capabilities and capitalizing on AI-driven opportunities to create long-term shareholder value."

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

    --  Total net revenues increased by 12.4% to RMB2.12 billion (US$302.2
        million) from RMB1.89 billion in the same period of 2023.
        --  Net revenues from the IDC business([1]) increased by 18.4% to
            RMB1.50 billion (US$213.5 million) from RMB1.27 billion in the same
            period of 2023.
            --  Net revenues from the wholesale IDC business ("wholesale
                revenues") increased by 86.4% to RMB523.0 million (US$74.5
                million) from RMB280.6 million in the same period of 2023.
            --  Net revenues from the retail IDC business ("retail revenues")
                decreased slightly by 1.0% to RMB975.5 million (US$139.0
                million) from RMB984.9 million in the same period of 2023.
        --  Net revenues from the non-IDC business([2]) increased by 0.2% to
            RMB622.3 million (US$88.7 million) from RMB621.4 million in the same
            period of 2023.
    --  Adjusted cash gross profit (non-GAAP) increased by 16.6% to RMB860.7
        million (US$122.6 million) from RMB738.4 million in the same period of
        2023. Adjusted cash gross margin (non-GAAP) was 40.6%, compared with
        39.1% in the same period of 2023.
    --  Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) increased by 17.1% to RMB594.8 million
        (US$84.8 million) from RMB507.9 million in the same period of 2023. Such
        figure in the third quarter of 2023 included Discontinued VAT Benefits
        of RMB13.3 million. The year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA would
        be 20.2% if the Discontinued VAT Benefits were excluded from the
        adjusted EBITDA calculation for the same period last year. Adjusted
        EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 28.0%, compared with 26.9% in the same
        period of 2023.
    --  Net income increased by RMB372.0 million and RMB260.3 million to
        RMB332.2 million (US$47.3 million) in the third quarter, compared with a
        net loss of RMB39.9 million in the same period of 2023 and a net income
        of RMB71.8 million in the second quarter of 2024, respectively.

Third Quarter 2024 Operational Highlights

Wholesale IDC Business([3])

    --  Capacity in service was 358MW as of September 30, 2024, compared with
        332MW as of June 30, 2024, and 290MW as of September 30, 2023. Capacity
        under construction was 297MW as of September 30, 2024.
    --  Capacity utilized by customers reached 279MW as of September 30, 2024,
        compared with 252MW as of June 30, 2024, and 161MW as of September 30,
        2023. The sequential increase during the third quarter of 2024 was 27MW,
        which was mainly contributed by the E-JS Campus 02 C data center and the
        N-OR06 data center.
    --  Utilization rate([4]) of wholesale capacity was 78.0% as of September
        30, 2024, compared with 75.9% as of June 30, 2024, and 55.4% as of
        September 30, 2023.
        --  Utilization rate of mature wholesale capacity([5]) was 95.6% as of
            September 30, 2024, compared with 94.9% as of June 30, 2024, and
            94.4% as of September 30, 2023.
        --  Utilization rate of ramp-up wholesale capacity([6]) was 46.4% as of
            September 30, 2024, compared with 45.7% as of June 30, 2024, and
            18.4% as of September 30, 2023.
    --  Total capacity committed([7]) was 352MW as of September 30, 2024,
        compared with 326MW as of June 30, 2024, and 236MW as of September 30,
        2023.
    --  Commitment rate([8]) for capacity in service was 98.2% as of September
        30, 2024, compared with 98.1% as of June 30, 2024, and 81.3% as of
        September 30, 2023.
    --  Total capacity pre-committed([9]) was 262MW and pre-commitment
        rate([10]) for capacity under construction was 88.4% as of September 30,
        2024.

Retail IDC Business([11])

    --  Capacity in service was 52,250 cabinets as of September 30, 2024,
        compared with 52,177 cabinets as of June 30, 2024, and 52,200 cabinets
        as of September 30, 2023.
    --  Capacity utilized by customers reached 32,950 cabinets as of September
        30, 2024, compared with 33,253 cabinets as of June 30, 2024, and 33,845
        cabinets as of September 30, 2023.
    --  Utilization rate of retail capacity was 63.1% as of September 30, 2024,
        compared with 63.7% as of June 30, 2024, and 64.8% as of September 30,
        2023.
        --  Utilization rate of mature retail capacity([12]) was 69.5% as of
            September 30, 2024, compared with 72.5% as of June 30, 2024, and
            73.1% as of September 30, 2023.
        --  Utilization rate of ramp-up retail capacity([13]) was 16.8% as of
            September 30, 2024, compared with 12.7% as of June 30, 2024, and
            18.7% as of September 30, 2023.
    --  Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) per retail cabinet was RMB8,788 in the
        third quarter of 2024, compared with RMB8,753 in the second quarter of
        2024 and RMB8,845 in the third quarter of 2023.



        [1] IDC business refers to managed hosting services, consisting of the wholesale IDC business and the retail IDC business. Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, our IDC business was subdivided into wholesale IDC business and retail IDC business according to the nature and scale of our data center projects. Prior
         to 2024, the subdivision was based on customer contract types.



     
     [2] Non-IDC business consists of cloud services and VPN services.


        [3] For wholesale IDC business, certain projects hosted in our E-JS02 data center with an aggregate of 27MW capacity were excluded and are expected to be continuously excluded from in-service wholesale due to pending commercial discussion with the client. Such projects were included as in-service wholesale from
         the first quarter of 2021 to the fourth quarter of 2023, given that such projects had been delivered to the client based on the terms of the MOU.



     
     [4] Utilization rate is calculated by dividing capacity utilized by customers by the capacity in service.



     
     [5] Mature wholesale capacity refers to wholesale data centers in which utilization rate is at or above 80%.



     
     [6] Ramp-up wholesale capacity refers to wholesale data centers in which utilization rate is below 80%.



     
     [7] Total capacity committed is the capacity committed to customers pursuant to customer agreements remaining in effect.



     
     [8] Commitment rate is calculated by total capacity committed divided by total capacity in service.



     
     [9] Total capacity pre-committed is the capacity under construction which is pre-committed to customers pursuant to customer agreements remaining in effect.



     
     [10] Pre-commitment rate is calculated by total capacity pre-committed divided by total capacity under construction.


        [11] For retail IDC business, since the first quarter of 2024, we have excluded a certain number of reserved cabinets from the capacity in service. Reserved cabinets refer to those that have not been utilized on a large scale, those that are planned to be closed, or those that are planned to be further upgraded.
         As of September 30, 2023, June 30, 2024, and September 30, 2024, 4,426, 4,150, and 4,150 reserved cabinets, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of utilization rate of retail IDC business capacity.



     
     [12] Mature retail capacity refers to retail data centers that came into service prior to the past 24 months.



     
     [13] Ramp-up retail capacity refers to retail data centers that came into service within the past 24 months, or mature retail data centers that have undergone improvements within the past 24 months.

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

TOTAL NET REVENUES: Total net revenues in the third quarter of 2024 were RMB2.12 billion (US$302.2 million), representing an increase of 12.4% from RMB1.89 billion in the same period of 2023. The year-over-year increase was mainly driven by the continued growth of our wholesale IDC business.

Net revenues from IDC business increased by 18.4% to RMB1.50 billion (US$213.5 million) from RMB1.27 billion in the same period of 2023. The year-over-year increase was mainly driven by an increase in wholesale revenues.

    --  Wholesale revenues increased by 86.4% to RMB523.0 million (US$74.5
        million) from RMB280.6 million in the same period of 2023.
    --  Retail revenues decreased to RMB975.5 million (US$139.0 million) from
        RMB984.9 million in the same period of 2023.

Net revenues from non-IDC business increased by 0.2% to RMB622.3 million (US$88.7 million) from RMB621.4 million in the same period of 2023.

GROSS PROFIT: Gross profit in the third quarter of 2024 was RMB491.7 million (US$70.1 million), representing an increase of 60.4% from RMB306.5 million in the same period of 2023. Gross margin in the third quarter of 2024 was 23.2%, compared with 16.2% in the same period of 2023. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to a reduction in depreciation expense due to the change in the estimated useful lives of property and equipment starting from January 1, 2024.

ADJUSTED CASH GROSS PROFIT (non-GAAP), which excludes depreciation, amortization, and share-based compensation expenses, was RMB860.7 million (US$122.6 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared with RMB738.4 million in the same period of 2023. Adjusted cash gross margin (non-GAAP) in the third quarter of 2024 was 40.6%, compared with 39.1% in the same period of 2023.

OPERATING EXPENSES: Total operating expenses in the third quarter of 2024 were RMB300.3 million (US$42.8 million), compared with RMB274.3 million in the same period of 2023.

Sales and marketing expenses were RMB60.7 million (US$8.7 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared with RMB64.1 million in the same period of 2023.

Research and development expenses were RMB53.1 million (US$7.6 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared with RMB80.7 million in the same period of 2023.

General and administrative expenses were RMB132.5 million (US$18.9 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared with RMB137.9 million in the same period of 2023.

ADJUSTED OPERATING EXPENSES (non-GAAP), which exclude share-based compensation expenses, were RMB293.6 million (US$41.8 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared with RMB264.8 million in the same period of 2023. As a percentage of total net revenues, adjusted operating expenses (non-GAAP) in the third quarter of 2024 were 13.8%, compared with 14.0% in the same period of 2023.

ADJUSTED EBITDA (non-GAAP): Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2024 was RMB594.8 million (US$84.8 million), representing an increase of 17.1% from RMB507.9 million in the same period of 2023. Such figure in the third quarter of 2023 included Discontinued VAT Benefits of RMB13.3 million. The year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA would be 20.2% if the Discontinued VAT Benefits were excluded from the adjusted EBITDA calculation for the same period last year). Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) in the third quarter of 2024 was 28.0%, compared with 26.9% in the same period of 2023.

NET INCOME/LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO VNET GROUP, INC.: Net income attributable to VNET Group, Inc. in the third quarter of 2024 was RMB317.6 million (US$45.3 million), compared with a net loss attributable to VNET Group, Inc. of RMB50.5 million in the same period of 2023. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to a gain in debt extinguishment.

EARNINGS PER SHARE: Basic and diluted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2024 were RMB0.20 (US$0.03) and RMB0.05 (US$0.01), respectively, which represents the equivalent to RMB1.20 (US$0.18) and RMB0.30 (US$0.06) per American depositary share ("ADS"). Each ADS represents six Class A ordinary shares. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding.

LIQUIDITY: As of September 30, 2024, the aggregate amount of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments was RMB2.10 billion (US$298.9 million).

Total short-term debt consisting of short-term bank borrowings and the current portion of long-term borrowings was RMB1.87 billion (US$266.4 million). Total long-term debt was RMB8.88 billion (US$1.26 billion), comprised of long-term borrowings of RMB7.08 billion (US$1.0 billion) and convertible promissory notes of RMB1.79 billion (US$255.6 million).

Net cash generated from operating activities in the third quarter of 2024 was RMB760.4 million (US$108.4 million), compared with RMB454.3 million in the same period of 2023. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company obtained new debt financing, refinancing facilities and other financings of RMB0.95 billion (US$134.7 million).

Recent Development

The Company plans to sign a definitive agreement by the end of 2024 on a pre-REITs project with one of China's leading insurance companies, under which the Company will form a pre-REITs fund (the "Fund") to feature the first and second phases of our Taicang IDC Campus as the underlying assets with approximately 210MW total IT capacity and RMB5.74 billion estimated value.

The Company is expected to own approximately 51% interest in the Fund and sell the remaining 49% interest to the insurance company, the consideration of which would be approximately RMB1.15 billion, calculated based on the assets and liabilities of the fund at the establishment date.

After the completion of this transaction, VNET intends to consolidate the Fund for financial reporting purpose, while operating the Taicang IDC project to offer stable and premium infrastructure services. The financial results of the Fund's underlying assets are expected to be consolidated into the Company's financial statement.

Business Outlook

The Company increased its full year 2024 guidance for total net revenues and adjusted EBITDA. Specifically, the Company now expects total net revenues for 2024 to be between RMB8,000 million to RMB8,100 million, representing year-over-year growth of 7.9% to 9.3%, and adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) to be in the range of RMB2,280 million to RMB2,300 million, representing year-over-year growth of 11.8% to 12.8%. Such figure in the third quarter of 2023 adjusted EBITDA included Discontinued VAT Benefits of RMB13.3 million. The year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA would be 16.4% to 17.4% if the Discontinued VAT Benefits were excluded from the adjusted EBITDA calculation for the same period last year.

The forecast reflects the Company's current and preliminary views on the market and its operational conditions and is subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, or 9:00 AM Beijing Time on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

For participants who wish to join the call, please access the links provided below to complete the online registration process.

English line:
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10043189-1ej64l.html

Chinese line (listen-only mode):
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10043190-a2lrfs.html

Participants can choose between the English and Chinese options for pre-registration above. Please note that the Chinese option will be in listen-only mode. Upon registration, each participant will receive an email containing details for the conference call, including dial-in numbers, a conference call passcode and a unique access PIN, which will be used to join the conference call.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.vnet.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible through November 28, 2024, by dialing the following numbers:



     US/Canada:                1 855 883 1031



     Mainland China:             400 1209 216



     Hong Kong, China:            800 930 639



     International:                +61 7 3107
                                          6325



     Reply PIN (English line):       10043189



     Reply PIN (Chinese line):       10043190

Non-GAAP Disclosure

In evaluating its business, VNET considers and uses the following non-GAAP measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a supplemental measure to review and assess its operating performance: adjusted cash gross profit, adjusted cash gross margin, adjusted operating expenses, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" set forth at the end of this press release.

The non-GAAP financial measures are provided as additional information to help investors compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and prospects for the future. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, U.S. GAAP results. In addition, the Company's calculation of the non-GAAP financial measures may be different from the calculation used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited.

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars ("USD") at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to USD were made at the rate of RMB7.0176 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on September 30, 2024, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or USD amounts referred could be converted into USD or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. For analytical presentation, all percentages are calculated using the numbers presented in the financial statements contained in this earnings release.

Statement Regarding Unaudited Condensed Financial Information

The unaudited financial information set forth above is preliminary and subject to potential adjustments. Adjustments to the consolidated financial statements may be identified when audit work has been performed for the Company's year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited condensed financial information.

About VNET

VNET Group, Inc. is a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral internet data center services provider in China. VNET provides hosting and related services, including IDC services, cloud services, and business VPN services to improve the reliability, security, and speed of its customers' internet infrastructure. Customers may locate their servers and equipment in VNET's data centers and connect to China's internet backbone. VNET operates in more than 30 cities throughout China, servicing a diversified and loyal base of over 7,500 hosting and related enterprise customers that span numerous industries ranging from internet companies to government entities and blue-chip enterprises to small- to mid-sized enterprises.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "target," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this announcement as well as VNET's strategic and operational plans, including the plan to sign a definitive agreement on a pre-REITs project, contain forward-looking statements. VNET may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about VNET's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: VNET's goals and strategies; VNET's liquidity conditions; VNET's expansion plans; the expected growth of the data center services market; expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, VNET's services; VNET's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with customers; VNET's plans to invest in research and development to enhance its solution and service offerings; and general economic and business conditions in the regions where VNET provides solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in VNET's reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and VNET undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Xinyuan Liu
Tel: +86 10 8456 2121
Email: ir@vnet.com


                                                         
              
                 VNET GROUP, INC.


                                                    
              
                 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                 
              
                 (Amount in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"))


                                                                                                                           As of                           As of


                   December 31, 2023                                                                                      September 30, 2024


                                                                                                                            RMB                       RMB                US$



     
                 Assets



     
                 Current assets:



      Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                       2,243,537                 1,524,819             217,285



      Restricted cash                                                                                                 2,854,568                   556,266              79,267



      Accounts and notes receivable, net                                                                              1,715,975                 1,861,828             265,308



      Short-term Investments                                                                                            356,820                    15,879               2,263



      Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                       2,375,341                 2,665,924             379,891



      Amounts due from related parties                                                                                  277,237                   317,619              45,260



     
                 Total current assets                                                                               9,823,478                 6,942,335             989,274





     
                 Non-current assets:



      Property and equipment, net                                                                                    13,024,393                15,153,253           2,159,321



      Intangible assets, net                                                                                          1,383,406                 1,347,751             192,053



      Land use rights, net                                                                                              602,503                   588,846              83,910



      Operating lease right-of-use assets, net                                                                        4,012,329                 4,412,834             628,824



      Restricted cash                                                                                                       882                       882                 126



      Deferred tax assets, net                                                                                          247,644                   309,390              44,088



      Long-term investments, net                                                                                        757,949                   798,638             113,805



      Other non-current assets                                                                                          533,319                   371,501              52,938



     
                 Total non-current assets                                                                          20,562,425                22,983,095           3,275,065



     
                 Total assets                                                                                      30,385,903                29,925,430           4,264,339





     
                 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity



     
                 Current liabilities:



      Short-term bank borrowings                                                                                         30,000                   552,270              78,698



      Accounts and notes payable                                                                                        696,177                   728,361             103,791



      Accrued expenses and other payables                                                                             2,783,102                 2,527,584             360,178



      Advances from customers                                                                                         1,605,247                 1,752,935             249,791



      Deferred revenue                                                                                                   95,477                    87,354              12,448



      Income taxes payable                                                                                               35,197                    51,554               7,346



      Amounts due to related parties                                                                                    356,080                   354,903              50,573



      Current portion of long-term borrowings                                                                           723,325                 1,317,343             187,720



      Current portion of finance lease liabilities                                                                      115,806                   107,785              15,359



      Current portion of deferred government grants                                                                       8,062                     8,538               1,217



      Current portion of operating lease liabilities                                                                    780,164                   874,957             124,680



      Convertible promissory notes                                                                                    4,208,495



     
                 Total current liabilities                                                                         11,437,132                 8,363,584           1,191,801





     
                 Non-current liabilities:



      Long-term borrowings                                                                                            5,113,521                 7,082,026           1,009,181



      Convertible promissory notes                                                                                    1,769,946                 1,793,894             255,628



      Non-current portion of finance lease liabilities                                                                1,159,525                 1,169,573             166,663



      Unrecognized tax benefits                                                                                          98,457                    98,457              14,030



      Deferred tax liabilities                                                                                          688,362                   703,390             100,232



      Deferred government grants                                                                                        145,112                   265,941              37,896



      Non-current portion of operating lease liabilities                                                              3,270,759                 3,587,701             511,243



      Derivative liability                                                                                              188,706



     
                 Total non-current liabilities                                                                     12,434,388                14,700,982           2,094,873





     
                 Shareholders' equity



      Ordinary shares                                                                                                       107                       109                  16



      Additional paid-in capital                                                                                     17,291,312                17,256,955           2,459,096



      Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                             (14,343)                 (16,088)            (2,293)



      Statutory reserves                                                                                                 80,615                    94,276              13,434



      Accumulated deficit                                                                                          (11,016,323)             (10,835,688)        (1,544,073)



      Treasury stock                                                                                                  (326,953)                (163,073)           (23,238)



     
                 Total VNET Group, Inc. shareholders'                                                               6,014,415                 6,336,491             902,942


     
                equity



      Noncontrolling interest                                                                                           499,968                   524,373              74,723



     
                 Total shareholders' equity                                                                         6,514,383                 6,860,864             977,665



     
                 Total liabilities and shareholders'                                                               30,385,903                29,925,430           4,264,339


     
                equity


                                                                                                                                       
              
                 VNET GROUP, INC.


                                                                                                                             
              
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


                                                                                                     
             
     (Amount in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$") except for number of shares and per share data)




                                                                                                                                                         
              
                 Three months ended                                                                
              
                 Nine months ended


                                                                                                                             September 30, 2023                                June 30, 2024                                       September 30, 2024               September 30, 2023                                     September 30, 2024


                                                                                                                                     RMB                                             RMB                                     RMB                             US$                RMB                                    RMB                          US$



      Net revenues                                                                                                                   1,886,924                                     1,993,760                            2,120,794                          302,211                  5,514,450                        6,012,680                       856,800



      Cost of revenues                                                                                                             (1,580,446)                                  (1,568,865)                         (1,629,111)                       (232,146)               (4,512,843)                     (4,685,381)                    (667,661)



     
                 Gross profit                                                                                                        306,478                                       424,895                              491,683                           70,065                  1,001,607                        1,327,299                       189,139





     
                 Operating income (expenses)



      Operating income                                                                                                                  26,706                                                                            11,767                            1,677                     73,980                           15,716                         2,240



      Sales and marketing expenses                                                                                                    (64,077)                                     (58,225)                            (60,700)                         (8,650)                 (192,921)                       (190,668)                     (27,170)



      Research and development expenses                                                                                               (80,673)                                     (61,998)                            (53,127)                         (7,571)                 (241,549)                       (190,514)                     (27,148)



      General and administrative expenses                                                                                            (137,931)                                    (107,297)                           (132,482)                        (18,879)                 (393,395)                       (466,076)                     (66,415)



      Allowance for doubtful debt                                                                                                     (18,316)                                      (2,753)                            (65,731)                         (9,367)                   (7,034)                        (63,309)                      (9,021)



     
                 Total operating expenses                                                                                          (274,291)                                    (230,273)                           (300,273)                        (42,790)                 (760,919)                       (894,851)                    (127,514)





     
                 Operating profit                                                                                                     32,187                                       194,622                              191,410                           27,275                    240,688                          432,448                        61,625



      Interest income                                                                                                                   12,887                                         5,449                                4,218                              601                     28,606                           21,796                         3,106



      Interest expense                                                                                                                (91,800)                                     (92,172)                            (93,996)                        (13,394)                 (233,295)                       (323,850)                     (46,148)



      Impairment of long-term investments                                                                                             (11,115)                                                                                                                                   (11,115)



      Other income                                                                                                                       7,536                                        30,475                               15,584                            2,221                     22,892                           50,873                         7,249



      Other expenses                                                                                                                  (10,975)                                      (6,900)                             (8,783)                         (1,252)                  (14,887)                        (17,105)                      (2,437)



      Changes in the fair value of financial liabilities                                                                                   266                                           712                              (7,107)                         (1,013)                    21,718                          (2,537)                        (362)



      Gain on debt extinguishment                                                                                                            -                                                                          246,175                           35,080                                                    246,175                        35,080



      Foreign exchange gain (loss)                                                                                                      24,606                                       (4,387)                              14,833                            2,114                  (168,391)                        (17,915)                      (2,553)



     
                 (Loss) income before income taxes and                                                                              (36,408)                                      127,799                              362,334                           51,632                  (113,784)                         389,885                        55,560


     
                gain from equity method investments



      Income tax expenses                                                                                                              (6,317)                                     (59,149)                            (31,149)                         (4,439)                  (63,748)                       (151,682)                     (21,615)



      Gain from equity method investments                                                                                                2,842                                         3,199                                  965                              138                      3,651                            6,770                           965



     
                 Net (loss) income                                                                                                  (39,883)                                       71,849                              332,150                           47,331                  (173,881)                         244,973                        34,910



      Net income attributable to noncontrolling                                                                                       (10,579)                                      (8,174)                            (14,524)                         (2,070)                  (27,167)                        (50,677)                      (7,221)


     interest



     
                 Net (loss) income attributable to the                                                                              (50,462)                                       63,675                              317,626                           45,261                  (201,048)                         194,296                        27,689


     
                VNET Group, Inc.





      (Loss) earnings per share



      Basic                                                                                                                             (0.06)                                         0.04                                 0.20                             0.03                     (0.23)                            0.12                          0.02



      Diluted                                                                                                                           (0.06)                                         0.04                                 0.05                             0.01                     (0.24)                          (0.02)                       (0.00)



      Shares used in (loss) earnings per share


     computation



      Basic*                                                                                                                       889,058,872                                 1,594,662,099                        1,602,860,426                    1,602,860,426                888,724,901                    1,588,659,647                 1,588,659,647



      Diluted*                                                                                                                     889,058,872                                 1,595,517,338                        1,740,565,086                    1,740,565,086                899,884,241                    1,725,023,283                 1,725,023,283





     (Loss) earnings per ADS (6 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS)



     Basic                                                                                                                              (0.36)                                         0.24                                 1.20                             0.18                     (1.38)                            0.72                          0.12



     Diluted                                                                                                                            (0.36)                                         0.24                                 0.30                             0.06                     (1.44)                          (0.12)                       (0.02)





      * Shares used in (loss) earnings per share/ADS computation were computed under weighted average method.


                                                                                                                                 
              
                 VNET GROUP, INC.


                                                                                                                   
              
                 RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS


                                                                                                         
              
                 (Amount in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"))




                                                                                                                              
              
                 Three months ended                                                              
              
                 Nine months ended


                                                                                                  September 30, 2023                                June 30, 2024                                       September 30, 2024             September 30, 2023                                   September 30, 2024


                                                                                                          RMB                                             RMB                                     RMB                           US$                RMB                                  RMB                          US$



      Gross profit                                                                                          306,478                                       424,895                              491,683                         70,065                  1,001,607                      1,327,299                       189,139



      Plus: depreciation and amortization                                                                   431,933                                       364,616                              368,764                         52,548                  1,233,983                      1,085,984                       154,751



      Plus: share-based compensation                                                                              -                                      (2,190)                                 234                             33                                                      234                            33


     expenses



     
                 Adjusted cash gross profit                                                               738,411                                       787,321                              860,681                        122,646                  2,235,590                      2,413,517                       343,923


                                   Adjusted cash gross margin                                                 39.1 %                                       39.5 %                              40.6 %                        40.6 %                    40.5 %                        40.1 %                       40.1 %





      Operating expenses                                                                                  (274,291)                                    (230,273)                           (300,273)                      (42,790)                 (760,919)                     (894,851)                    (127,514)



      Plus: share-based compensation                                                                          9,475                                      (12,962)                               6,709                            956                     25,817                        105,428                        15,023


     expenses



     
                 Adjusted operating expenses                                                           (264,816)*                                    (243,235)                           (293,564)                      (41,834)                 (735,102)                     (789,423)                    (112,491)





      Operating profit                                                                           
              32,187*                                      194,622                              191,410                         27,275                    240,688                        432,448                        61,625



      Plus: depreciation and amortization                                                                   466,285                                       394,334                              396,428                         56,491                  1,332,649                      1,170,313                       166,768



      Plus: share-based compensation                                                                          9,475                                      (15,152)                               6,943                            989                     25,817                        105,662                        15,057


     expenses



     
                 Adjusted EBITDA                                                                         507,947*                                      573,804                              594,781                         84,755                  1,599,154                      1,708,423                       243,450


                                   Adjusted EBITDA margin                                                     26.9 %                                       28.8 %                              28.0 %                        28.0 %                    29.0 %                        28.4 %                       28.4 %





     * Included VAT surplus deduction benefit of RMB13.3 million, which is now considered non-continuable due to the termination of preferential tax policies since January 1, 2024.


                                                                                            
              
                 VNET GROUP, INC.


                                                                             
              
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS


                                                                    
              
                 (Amount in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"))




                                                                                                                                                              
     
         Three months ended


                                                                                                                                          September 30, 2023      June 30, 2024                        September 30, 2024


                                                                                                                                                  RMB                   RMB                      RMB                            US$



     
                 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES



      Net (loss) income                                                                                                                            (39,883)             71,849               332,150                          47,331



     
                 Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash generated from operating activities:



          Depreciation and amortization                                                                                                             461,603             388,711               393,719                          56,105



          Share-based compensation expenses                                                                                                           9,475            (15,152)                6,943                             989



          Others                                                                                                                                    130,633             101,890             (107,550)                       (15,326)



     
                 Changes in operating assets and liabilities



          Accounts and notes receivable                                                                                                            (70,896)            142,469             (138,968)                       (19,803)



          Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                                                (48,380)           (79,893)              116,055                          16,538



          Accounts and notes payable                                                                                                                 21,763            (47,018)                8,463                           1,206



          Accrued expenses and other payables                                                                                                      (54,577)           (61,463)               65,481                           9,329



          Deferred revenue                                                                                                                           36,008            (14,000)                2,300                             328



          Advances from customers                                                                                                                   124,816            (63,305)              222,083                          31,647



          Others                                                                                                                                  (116,249)           (18,884)            (140,310)                       (19,994)



     
                 Net cash generated from operating activities                                                                                     454,313             405,204               760,366                         108,350





     
                 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES



      Purchases of property and equipment                                                                                                         (946,444)          (998,489)          (1,426,892)                      (203,330)



      Purchases of intangible assets                                                                                                               (18,228)            (7,594)             (33,806)                        (4,817)



      Proceeds from (payments for) investments                                                                                                      144,516           (138,224)               92,426                          13,171



      Proceeds from other investing activities                                                                                                       70,010             117,209                31,762                           4,526



     
                 Net cash used in investing activities                                                                                          (750,146)        (1,027,098)          (1,336,510)                      (190,450)





     
                 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES



      Proceeds from bank borrowings                                                                                                                 756,101             690,848               745,534                         106,238



      Repayments of bank borrowings                                                                                                                (78,050)          (533,324)            (129,893)                       (18,510)



      Repayments of 2025 Convertible Notes                                                                                                        (148,842)



      Payments for finance leases                                                                                                                  (30,366)            (9,586)             (27,669)                        (3,943)



      Proceeds from (payments for) other financing activities                                                                                       216,711             516,493              (59,645)                        (8,499)



     
                 Net cash generated from financing activities                                                                                     715,554             664,431               528,327                          75,286





     
                 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on                                                                                      (12,476)              3,370               (6,049)                          (862)


     
                cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash



     
                 Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash                                                                                            407,245              45,907              (53,866)                        (7,676)


     
                equivalents and restricted cash



     
                 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at                                                                                  2,616,969           2,089,926             2,135,833                         304,354


     
                beginning of period



     
                 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at                                                                                  3,024,214           2,135,833             2,081,967                         296,678


     
                end of period

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vnet-reports-unaudited-third-quarter-2024-financial-results-302311297.html

SOURCE VNET Group, Inc.