VNET Reports Unaudited Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

BEIJING,Nov. 23,2022 -- 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 three months ended September 30,2022.

"In the third quarter of 2022,we maintained steady growth across each of our business lines with a continued focus on fulfilling market demand for high-quality and reliable IDC services against the complicated macro backdrop," said Jeff Dong,Chief Executive Officer of VNET. "Led by our dual-core growth strategy,we continued to gain sales momentum in our wholesale business while expanding our customer base with exciting progress in value-added service offerings of our retail business. On top of our success to acquire a wholesale service contract of approximately 15MW with a leading cloud service provider in the third quarter,we recently once again extended our contract with one of our existing wholesale customers,a leading social platform in China,to add new capacity of approximately 33MW. Looking ahead,we still see strong long-term demand with accelerating digital transformation across a wide spectrum of verticals. We will continue to execute prudently yet decisively,strategically positioning VNET to capture rising opportunities and creating sustainable value for our stakeholders along the way."

Tim Chen,Chief Financial Officer of VNET,commented,"We are pleased to report another quarter of results which reflect the effectiveness and agility of our dual-core growth strategy in a challenging macro environment. Our net revenues for the quarter increased by 16.3% year-over-year to RMB1.81 billion and adjusted EBITDA reached RMB455.3 million. We remain confident in our distinctive growth strategy,outstanding value proposition and a powerful suite of service offerings,which empower us to capitalize on long-term prospects of the data center industry."

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

Net revenues increased by 16.3% to RMB1.81 billion (US$255.0 million) from RMB1.56 billion in the same period of 2021.

Adjusted cash gross profit (non-GAAP) increased by 4.9% to RMB707.7 million (US$99.5 million) from RMB674.5 million in the same period of 2021. Adjusted cash gross margin (non-GAAP) was 39.0%,compared to 43.2% in the same period of 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) increased by 1.1% to RMB455.3 million (US$64.0 million) from RMB450.4 million in the same period of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 25.1%,compared to 28.9% in the same period of 2021.

Third Quarter 2022 Operational Highlights

Total cabinets under management increased by 1,829 in the third quarter of 2022 to reach 82,660 as of September 30,2022,compared to 65,264 as of September 30,2021.

Cabinets utilized by customers increased by 1,027 in the third quarter of 2022 to reach 45,527 as of September 30,compared to 44,500 as of June 30,2022 and 38,325 as of September 30,2021.

Overall utilization rate of cabinets[1] was 55.1% as of September 30,compared to 55.1% as of June 30,2022 and 58.7% as of September 30,2021.

Retail IDC MRR[2] per cabinet reached RMB9,287 in the third quarter of 2022,compared to RMB9,186 in the second quarter of 2022 and RMB9,296 in the third quarter of 2021.

[1]The overall utilization rate is calculated by dividing the number of customer-utilized cabinets by the total cabinets under management at the end of the period. Before the first quarter of 2022,the Company used the compound utilization rate,a metric that was calculated based on the weighted average number of customer-utilized cabinets over the reported period.

[2]RetailIDCMRRrefers to Monthly Recurring Revenues for the retailIDCbusiness.

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

NET REVENUES: Net revenues in the third quarter of 2022 were RMB1.81 billion (US$255.0 million),representing an increase of 16.3% from RMB1.56 billion in the same period of 2021. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to the increased demand from both wholesale and retail IDC customers,as well as the growth of cloud and VPN services.

GROSS PROFIT: Gross profit in the third quarter of 2022 was RMB316.6 million (US$44.5 million),compared with RMB375.2 million in the same period of 2021. Gross margin in the third quarter of 2022 was 17.5%,compared to 24.0% in the same period of 2021.

ADJUSTED CASH GROSS PROFIT, which excludes depreciation,amortization,and share-based compensation expenses,was RMB707.7 million (US$99.5 million) in the third quarter of 2022,compared to RMB674.5 million in the same period of 2021. Adjusted cash gross margin in the third quarter of 2022 was 39.0%,compared to 43.2% in the same period of 2021.

OPERATING EXPENSES: Total operating expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were RMB310.2 million (US$43.6 million),compared to RMB261.3 million in the same period of 2021. As a percentage of net revenues,total operating expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were 17.1%,compared to 16.7% in the same period of 2021.

Sales and marketing expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were RMB80.2 million (US$11.3 million),compared to RMB36.4 million in the same period of 2021.

Research and development expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were RMB73.4 million (US$10.3 million),compared to RMB53.6 million in the same period of 2021.

General and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were RMB165.4 million (US$23.3 million),compared to RMB161.9 million in the same period of 2021.

ADJUSTED OPERATING EXPENSES,which exclude share-based compensation expenses and compensation for postcombination employment in an acquisition,were RMB275.1 million (US$38.7 million) in the third quarter of 2022,compared to RMB244.0 million in the same period of 2021. As a percentage of net revenues,adjusted operating expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were 15.2%,compared to 15.6% in the same period of 2021.

ADJUSTED EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2022 was RMB455.3 million (US$64.0 million),representing an increase of 1.1% from RMB450.4 million in the same period of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2022 excluded share-based compensation expenses of RMB35.2 million (US$5.0 million). Adjusted EBITDA margin in the third quarter of 2022 was 25.1%,compared to 28.9% in the same period of 2021.

NET PROFIT/LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS: Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders in the third quarter of 2022 was RMB425.2 million (US$59.8 million),compared to a net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of RMB156.2 million in the same period of 2021. Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders in the third quarter of 2022 included a foreign exchange loss of RMB317.2 million (US$44.6 million),compared to a foreign exchange loss of RMB16.6 million in the same period of 2021.

LOSS PER SHARE: Basic and diluted loss per share in the third quarter of 2022 were both RMB0.48 (US$0.07) which represented the equivalent of both RMB2.88 (US$0.42) per American depositary share ("ADS"). Each ADS represents six Class A ordinary shares. Diluted profit/loss per share is calculated using adjusted net profit/loss attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding.

As of September 30,the aggregate amount of the Company's cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was RMB3.76 billion (US$528.0 million).

Net cash generated from operating activities, in the third quarter of 2022,was RMB607.4 million (US$85.4 million),compared to RMB134.7 million in the same period of 2021.

Business Outlook

The Company expects net revenues for the full year of 2022 to be in the range of RMB7,250 million to RMB7,550 million,and adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of RMB1,800 million to RMB1,950 million.

The forecast reflects the Company's current and preliminary views on the market and its operational conditions,which does not factor in any of the potential future impacts caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,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 Tuesday,November 22,or 9:00 AM Beijing Time on Wednesday,November 23,2022.

For participants who wish to join the call,please access the link provided below to complete the online registration process and dial in 5 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time.

Event Title: VNET Third Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call

Registration Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI7514498e0482416bb64868603231a4da

Upon registration,each participant will receive a set of dial-in numbers by location,a personal PIN and an email with further detailed instructions,which will be used to join the conference call.

A simultaneous audio webcast and replay of the conference call will be accessible on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.vnet.com.

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 RMB7.1135 to US$1.00,the noon buying rate in effect on September 30,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 6,500 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 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 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,the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments 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 31,2021

September 30,2022

RMB

RMB

US$

(Audited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

1,372,481

3,530,705

496,339

Restricted cash

327,767

219,868

30,909

Accounts and notes receivable,net

1,405,997

1,683,961

236,727

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

2,049,911

1,988,768

279,577

Amounts due from related parties

167,967

174,334

24,507

Total current assets

5,324,123

7,597,636

1,068,059

Non-current assets:

Property and equipment,net

10,092,419

11,653,367

1,638,204

Intangible assets,net

900,335

1,592,135

223,819

Land use rights,net

337,235

485,407

68,237

Operating lease right-of-use assets,net

2,869,338

3,750,424

527,226

Goodwill

1,339,657

1,657

188,326

Restricted cash

8,225

5,500

773

Deferred tax assets,net

168,002

106,656

14,993

Long-term investments,net

98,243

33,023

4,642

Other non-current assets

1,957,462

1,076,144

151,282

Total non-current assets

17,770,916

20,042,313

2,817,502

Total assets

23,095,039

27,639,949

3,885,561

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts and notes payable

493,506

647,749

91,059

Accrued expenses and other payables

2,298,089

2,686,116

377,608

Advances from customers

1,041,902

1,204,318

169,300

Deferred revenue

55,695

95,852

13,475

Income taxes payable

43,770

64,652

9,089

Amounts due to related parties

8,772

10,749

1,511

Current portion of long-term borrowings

384,158

410,153

57,658

Current portion of finance lease liabilities

244,032

218,071

30,656

Current portion of deferred government grant

2,074

2,074

292

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

607,997

688,753

96,823

Total current liabilities

5,179,995

6,028,487

847,471

Non-current liabilities:

Long-term borrowings

2,215,015

3,039,178

427,241

Convertible promissory notes

4,266,951

6,463,682

908,650

Non-current portion of finance lease liabilities

1,119,751

1,241,572

174,537

Unrecognized tax benefits

77,573

86,259

12,126

Deferred tax liabilities

348,404

618,976

87,014

Non-current portion of deferred government grant

2,294

5,489

772

Non-current portion of operating lease liabilities

2,284,055

3,117,532

438,256

Total non-current liabilities

10,314,043

14,572,688

2,048,596

Shareholders' equity

Treasury stock

(349,523)

(349,523)

(49,135)

Ordinary shares

60

60

8

Additional paid-in capital

15,198,055

15,258,788

2,145,046

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(90,443)

(8,358)

(1,175)

Statutory reserves

74,462

76,763

10,791

Accumulated deficit

(7,590,382)

(8,304,392)

(1,167,413)

Total VNET Group,Inc. shareholders' equity

7,242,229

6,673,338

938,122

Noncontrolling interest

358,772

365,436

51,372

Total shareholders' equity

7,601,001

7,038,774

989,494

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

23,561

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 30,2021

June 30,2022

September 30,2022

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Net revenues

1,560,460

1,724,863

1,814,210

255,038

4,444,361

5,184,559

728,834

Cost of revenues

(1,185,225)

(1,367,086)

(1,497,627)

(210,533)

(3,386,299)

(4,154,678)

(584,055)

Gross profit

375,235

357,777

316,583

44,505

1,058,062

1,029,881

144,779

Operating income (expense)

Other operating income

-

1,588

5,763

810

-

47,048

6,614

Sales and marketing

(36,361)

(80,368)

(80,245)

(11,281)

(169,926)

(235,554)

(33,114)

Research and development

(53,591)

(76,740)

(73,350)

(10,311)

(125,452)

(222,705)

(31,307)

General and administrative

(161,930)

(167,044)

(165,436)

(23,257)

(451,419)

(486,717)

(68,422)

(Allowance) reversal for doubtful debt

(9,451)

845

3,096

435

(17,371)

6,574

924

Impairment of loan receivable to potential investee

-

-

-

-

(2,816)

-

-

Total operating expenses

(261,333)

(321,719)

(310,172)

(43,604)

(766,984)

(891,354)

(125,305)

Operating profit

113,902

36,058

6,411

901

291,078

138,527

19,474

Interest income

9,148

8,814

9,455

1,329

22,960

22,818

3,208

Interest expense

(88,013)

(68,530)

(78,733)

(11,068)

(259,587)

(200,382)

(28,169)

Impairment of long-term investment

(3,495)

-

-

-

(3,495)

-

Other income

4,351

2,896

2,169

305

11,786

10,456

1,470

Other expenses

(3,908)

(693)

(3,174)

(446)

(19,202)

(4,219)

(593)

Changes in the fair value of convertible promissory notes

185,840

(2,321)

13,179

1,853

601,306

71,136

10,000

Foreign exchange (loss) gain

(16,588)

(319,875)

(317,157)

(44,585)

27,592

(612,283)

(86,073)

Gain (loss) before income taxes and (loss) gain from equity method investments

201,237

(343,651)

(367,850)

(51,711)

672,438

(573,947)

(80,683)

Income tax expenses

(29,060)

(30,946)

(55,717)

(7,833)

(95,858)

(133,363)

(18,748)

(Loss) gain from equity method investments

(12,027)

1,090

(384)

(54)

(36,937)

2,753

387

Net profit (loss)

160,150

(373,507)

(423,951)

(59,598)

539,643

(704,557)

(99,044)

Net gain attributable to noncontrolling interest

(3,967)

(3,696)

(1,260)

(177)

(12,267)

(7,151)

(1,005)

Net profit (loss) attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders

156,183

(377,203)

(425,211)

(59,775)

527,376

(711,708)

(100,049)

Profit (loss) per share

Basic

0.18

(0.43)

(0.48)

(0.07)

0.60

(0.80)

(0.11)

Diluted

(0.03)

(0.43)

(0.48)

(0.07)

(0.08)

(0.84)

(0.12)

Shares used in profit (loss) per share computation

Basic*

863,643,659

886,618

888,443,329

888,329

863,755,692

886,886,953

124,676,594

Diluted*

897,660

886,329

902,513,487

920,954

129,456,239

Profit (loss) per ADS (6 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS)

Basic

1.08

(2.58)

(2.88)

(0.42)

3.60

(4.80)

(0.66)

Diluted

(0.18)

(2.58)

(2.88)

(0.42)

(0.48)

(5.04)

(0.72)

* Shares used in profit (loss) 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 30,2022

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

Gross profit

375,778

Plus: depreciation and amortization

297,046

362,003

388,217

54,575

852,185

1,077,613

151,488

Plus: share-based compensation expenses

2,211

(6,066)

2,876

404

9,781

(1,330)

(187)

Adjusted cash gross profit

674,492

713,714

707,676

99,484

1,920,028

2,106,164

296,079

Adjusted cash gross margin

43.2%

41.4%

39.0%

39.0%

43.2%

40.6%

40.6%

Operating expenses

(261,305)

Plus: share-based compensation expenses

2,397

53,551

32,355

4,549

57,189

127,291

17,894

Plus: compensation for postcombination employment in an acquisition

14,959

17,453

2,685

377

14,959

37,398

5,257

Plus: impairment of loan receivable to potential investee

-

-

-

-

2,816

-

-

Adjusted operating expenses

(243,977)

(250,715)

(275,132)

(38,678)

(692,020)

(726,665)

(102,154)

Operating profit

113,474

Plus: depreciation and amortization

316,951

385,876

410,988

57,776

914,794

1,146,473

161,169

Plus: share-based compensation expenses

4,608

47,485

35,231

4,953

66,970

125,961

17,707

Plus: compensation for postcombination employment in an acquisition

14,816

-

-

Adjusted EBITDA

450,420

486,872

455,315

64,007

1,290,617

1,448,359

203,607

Adjusted EBITDA margin

28.9%

28.2%

25.1%

25.1%

29.0%

27.9%

27.9%

VNET GROUP,INC

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

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

Three months ended

September 30,2022

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net profit (loss)

160,598)

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

Depreciation and amortization

316,776

Share-based compensation expenses

4,953

Others

(41,287)

447,480

436,876

61,415

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

Accounts and notes receivable

(245,169)

(137,720)

64,291

9,038

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(148,754)

526,090

84,574

11,889

Accounts and notes payable

51,070

(47,279)

(6,646)

Accrued expenses and other payables

113,093

21,363

158,009

22,213

Deferred revenue

5,183

19,989

20,086

2,824

Advances from customers

8,314

70,884

(33,711)

(4,739)

Others

(89,879)

(141,299)

(97,697)

(13,734)

Net cash generated from operating activities

134,672

942,711

607,417

85,391

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Purchases of property and equipment

(650,599)

(527,867)

(563,546)

(79,222)

Purchases of intangible assets

(8,466)

(12,690)

(16,976)

(2,386)

Payments for investments

(391,522)

(38,280)

(36,631)

(5,149)

(Payments for) proceeds from other investing activities

(442,027)

208

2,670

375

Net cash used in investing activities

(1,492,614)

(578,629)

(614,482)

(86,382)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from bank borrowings

385,364

18,860

273,169

38,401

Repayment of bank borrowings

(7,469)

(43,275)

(73,070)

(10,272)

Payments for finance lease

(129,699)

(75,145)

(116,896)

(16,433)

Proceeds from (payments for) other financing activities

8,204

(62,119)

(10,438)

(1,467)

Net cash generated from (used in) financing activities

256,400

(161,679)

72,765

10,229

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash,cash equivalents and restricted cash

11,540

48,962

74,119

10,418

Net (decrease) increase in cash,cash equivalents and restricted cash

(1,090,002)

251,365

139,818

19,656

Cash,cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

5,021,490

3,364,890

3,616,255

508,365

Cash,cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

3,931,488

3,255

3,756,073

528,021

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