Technology
VNET Reports Unaudited First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Published
2 years agoon
By
BEIJING, May 29, 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 first quarter ended March 31, 2024.
“2024 is off to a promising start thanks to continued strong execution of our dual-core, high-quality development strategy during the first quarter,” said Josh Sheng Chen, Founder, Co-chairperson and interim Chief Executive Officer of VNET. “Our IDC business gained momentum as we won bids from new and existing customers and captured increasing AI-driven demand from a wide variety of industries. Notably, we secured a new order from one of our esteemed existing clients for approximately 15MW, scheduled to be completed within 2024. For our wholesale IDC business, capacity in service reached 332MW as of the end of the first quarter with the utilization rate increasing to 71.0%. Looking ahead, we will continue to leverage our reliable IDC services, high power density deployment capabilities, and loyal and expanding customer base to drive quality growth while advancing the development of China’s digital economy.”
Qiyu Wang, Chief Financial Officer of VNET, commented, “We kicked off 2024 with solid first quarter results. Our total revenues for the first quarter increased by 5.1% year-over-year to RMB1.9 billion, driven by the 59.1% year-over-year increase in wholesale revenues. As we move through 2024, our focus will remain on high-quality growth and seizing market opportunities arising from the AI boom, while delivering sustainable, long-term value to our stakeholders.”
First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
Net revenues increased by 5.1% to RMB1.90 billion (US$262.9 million) from RMB1.81 billion in the same period of 2023.Net revenues from the IDC business[1] increased by 5.2% to RMB1.28 billion (US$177.9 million) from RMB1.22 billion in the same period of 2023.Net revenues from the wholesale IDC business (“wholesale revenues”) increased by 59.1% to RMB361.0 million (US$50.0 million) from RMB226.9 million in the same period of 2023.Net revenues from the retail IDC business (“retail revenues”) decreased by 7.1% to RMB923.7 million (US$127.9 million) from RMB994.8 million in the same period of 2023.Net revenues from the non-IDC business[2] increased by 5.0% to RMB613.5 million (US$85.0 million) from RMB584.1 million in the same period of 2023.Adjusted cash gross profit (non-GAAP) increased by 1.5% to RMB765.5 million (US$106.0 million) from RMB754.3 million in the same period of 2023. Adjusted cash gross margin (non-GAAP) was 40.3%, compared with 41.8% in the same period of 2023.Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) decreased by 2.9% to RMB539.8 million (US$74.8 million) from RMB556.2 million in the same period of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 28.4%, compared with 30.8% in the same period of 2023.
First Quarter 2024 Operational Highlights
Wholesale IDC Business[3]
Capacity in service was 332MW as of March 31, 2024, compared with 332MW as of December 31, 2023, and 224MW as of March 31, 2023. Capacity under construction was 139MW as of March 31, 2024.Capacity utilized by customers reached 236MW as of March 31, 2024, compared with 219MW as of December 31, 2023, and 116MW as of March 31, 2023. The sequential increase during the first quarter of 2024 was 17MW, which was mainly contributed by N-OR06, N-HB03 and E-JS03 data centers.Utilization rate[4] of wholesale capacity was 71.0% as of March 31, 2024, compared with 65.8% as of December 31, 2023, and 51.7% as of March 31, 2023.Utilization rate of mature wholesale capacity[5] was 94.6% as of March 31, 2024, compared with 95.0% as of December 31, 2023, and 96.0% as of March 31, 2023.Utilization rate of ramp-up wholesale capacity[6] was 33.6% as of March 31, 2024, compared with 19.7% as of December 31, 2023, and 25.8% as of March 31, 2023.Total capacity committed[7] was 326MW as of March 31, 2024, compared with 326MW as of December 31, 2023, and 180MW as of March 31, 2023.Commitment rate[8] for capacity in service was 98.1% as of March 31, 2024, compared with 98.1% as of December 31, 2023 and 80.0% as of March 31, 2023.Total capacity pre-committed[9] was 104MW and pre-commitment rate[10] for capacity under construction was 74.5% as of March 31, 2024.
Retail IDC Business[11]
Capacity in service was 52,068 cabinets as of March 31, 2024, compared with 52,233 cabinets as of December 31, 2023, and 54,105 cabinets as of March 31, 2023.Capacity utilized by customers reached 33,312 cabinets as of March 31, 2024, compared with 33,450 cabinets as of December 31, 2023, and 33,671 cabinets as of March 31, 2023.Utilization rate of retail capacity was 64.0% as of March 31, 2024, compared with 64.0% as of December 31, 2023, and 62.2% as of March 31, 2023.Utilization rate of mature retail capacity[12] was 72.8% as of March 31, 2024, compared with 73.2% as of December 31, 2023, and 74.1% as of March 31, 2023.Utilization rate of ramp-up retail capacity[13] was 13.0% as of March 31, 2024, compared with 10.8% as of December 31, 2023, and 14.4% as of March 31, 2023.Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) per retail cabinet was RMB8,742 in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB8,759 in the fourth quarter of 2023 and RMB8,874 in the first 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 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 such projects had been delivered to the client based on the terms of MOU.
[4] Utilization rate is calculated by dividing utilized capacity 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 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 March 31, 2023, December 31, 2023, and March 31, 2024, 4,406, 4,426, and 4,426 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.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
NET REVENUES: Net revenues in the first quarter of 2024 were RMB1.90 billion (US$262.9 million), representing an increase of 5.1% from RMB1.81 billion in the same period of 2023. The year-over-year increase was mainly driven by the continued growth of our core businesses.
Net revenues from IDC business increased by 5.2% to RMB1.28 billion (US$177.9 million) from RMB1.22 billion in the same period of 2023. The year-over-year increase was mainly driven by an increase in wholesale revenues and partially offset by a decrease in retail revenues.
Wholesale revenues increased by 59.1% to RMB361.0 million (US$50.0 million) from RMB226.9 million in the same period of 2023.Retail revenues decreased to RMB923.7 million (US$127.9 million) from RMB994.8 million in the same period of 2023.
Net revenues from non-IDC business increased by 5.0% to RMB613.5 million (US$85.0 million) from RMB584.1 million in the same period of 2023. The year-over-year increase was driven by cloud and VPN businesses.
GROSS PROFIT: Gross profit in the first quarter of 2024 was RMB410.7 million (US$56.9 million), representing an increase of 16.6% from RMB352.4 million in the same period of 2023. Gross margin in the first quarter of 2024 was 21.6%, compared with 19.5% 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 RMB765.5 million (US$106.0 million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB754.3 million in the same period of 2023. Adjusted cash gross margin (non-GAAP) in the first quarter of 2024 was 40.3%, compared with 41.8% in the same period of 2023, mainly due to higher utility costs.
OPERATING EXPENSES: Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2024 were RMB364.3 million (US$50.5 million), compared with RMB237.1 million in the same period of 2023. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in share-based compensation resulted from the newly granted RSUs, an increase in professional fees, and partially offset by a decrease in staff cost.
Sales and marketing expenses were RMB71.7 million (US$9.9 million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB65.8 million in the same period of 2023.
Research and development expenses were RMB75.4 million (US$10.4 million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB79.8 million in the same period of 2023.
General and administrative expenses were RMB226.3 million (US$31.3 million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB127.4 million in the same period of 2023.
ADJUSTED OPERATING EXPENSES (non-GAAP), which exclude depreciation, amortization, and share-based compensation expenses, were RMB252.6 million (US$35.0 million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB228.8 million in the same period of 2023. As a percentage of net revenues, adjusted operating expenses (non-GAAP) in the first quarter of 2024 were 13.3%, compared with 12.7% in the same period of 2023.
ADJUSTED EBITDA (non-GAAP): Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2024 was RMB539.8 million (US$74.8 million), representing a decrease of 2.9% from RMB556.2 million in the same period of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) in the first quarter of 2024 was 28.4%, compared with 30.8% in the same period of 2023.
NET INCOME/LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO VNET GROUP, INC.: Net loss attributable to VNET Group, Inc. in the first quarter of 2024 was RMB187.0 million (US$25.9 million), compared with a net income attributable to VNET Group, Inc. of RMB82.3 million in the same period of 2023. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to a one-off recognition of the 2026 Convertible Notes transaction costs due to early redemption, as well as an increase in share-based compensation.
LOSS PER SHARE: Basic and diluted loss per share in the first quarter of 2024 were both RMB2.65 (US$0.12), equivalent to both RMB15.88 (US$0.72) per American depositary share (“ADS”). Each ADS represents six Class A ordinary shares. Diluted loss per share is calculated using adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding.
LIQUIDITY: As of March 31, 2024, the aggregate amount of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents as well as restricted cash was RMB2.09 billion (US$289.5 million).
Total short-term debt consisting of short-term bank borrowings and the current portion of long-term borrowings was RMB1.32 billion (US$183.3 million). Total long-term debt was RMB8.04 billion (US$1.11 billion), comprised of long-term borrowings of RMB6.27 billion (US$868.0 million) and convertible promissory notes of RMB1.77 billion (US$245.6 million).
Net cash generated from operating activities in the first quarter of 2024 was RMB267.6 million (US$37.1 million), compared with RMB455.0 million in the same period of 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, the Company obtained new debt financing, refinancing facilities and other financings of RMB1.86 billion (US$258.0 million). On February 1, 2024, the Company completed the repurchase of the Convertible Senior Notes due 2026, in the aggregate principal amount of US$600 million.
Business Outlook
The Company expects total net revenues for 2024 to be between RMB7,800 million to RMB8,000 million, representing year-over-year growth of 5.2% to 7.9%, and adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) to be in the range of RMB2,220 million to RMB2,280 million, representing year-over-year growth of 8.9% to 11.8%. The above outlook remains unchanged from the previously provided estimates.
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 9:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, or 9:00 AM Beijing Time on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
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 First Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call
Registration Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI823805f3c9104a07a8ce0fba728fff87
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 RMB7.2203 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 29, 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 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
March 31, 2024
RMB
RMB
US$
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
2,243,537
1,782,732
246,906
Restricted cash
2,854,568
306,312
42,424
Accounts and notes receivable, net
1,715,975
1,948,129
269,813
Short-term Investments
356,820
–
–
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
2,375,341
2,481,588
343,695
Amounts due from related parties
277,237
317,717
44,003
Total current assets
9,823,478
6,836,478
946,841
Non-current assets:
Property and equipment, net
13,024,393
13,778,444
1,908,292
Intangible assets, net
1,383,406
1,361,055
188,504
Land use rights, net
602,503
597,906
82,809
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
4,012,329
4,042,957
559,943
Restricted cash
882
882
122
Deferred tax assets, net
247,644
254,358
35,228
Long-term investments, net
757,949
760,552
105,335
Other non-current assets
533,319
516,582
71,546
Total non-current assets
20,562,425
21,312,736
2,951,779
Total assets
30,385,903
28,149,214
3,898,620
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term bank borrowings
30,000
477,749
66,167
Accounts and notes payable
696,177
773,845
107,176
Accrued expenses and other payables
2,783,102
2,928,158
405,545
Advances from customers
1,605,247
1,594,157
220,788
Deferred revenue
95,477
101,103
14,003
Income taxes payable
35,197
54,071
7,489
Amounts due to related parties
356,080
381,524
52,840
Current portion of long-term borrowings
723,325
845,831
117,146
Current portion of finance lease liabilities
115,806
95,668
13,250
Current portion of deferred government grants
8,062
11,328
1,569
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
780,164
821,000
113,707
Convertible promissory notes
4,208,495
–
–
Total current liabilities
11,437,132
8,084,434
1,119,680
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term borrowings
5,113,521
6,266,916
867,958
Convertible promissory notes
1,769,946
1,773,055
245,565
Non-current portion of finance lease liabilities
1,159,525
1,147,268
158,895
Unrecognized tax benefits
98,457
98,457
13,636
Deferred tax liabilities
688,362
693,898
96,104
Deferred government grants
145,112
143,862
19,925
Non-current portion of operating lease liabilities
3,270,759
3,292,955
456,069
Derivative liability
188,706
185,180
25,647
Total non-current liabilities
12,434,388
13,601,591
1,883,799
Shareholders’ equity
Ordinary shares
107
109
15
Additional paid-in capital
17,291,312
17,403,894
2,410,411
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(14,343)
(20,623)
(2,856)
Statutory reserves
80,615
80,615
11,165
Accumulated deficit
(11,016,323)
(11,203,328)
(1,551,643)
Treasury stock
(326,953)
(325,425)
(45,071)
Total VNET Group, Inc. shareholders’ equity
6,014,415
5,935,242
822,021
Noncontrolling interest
499,968
527,947
73,120
Total shareholders’ equity
6,514,383
6,463,189
895,141
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
30,385,903
28,149,214
3,898,620
VNET GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amount in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and US dollars (“US$”) except for number of shares and per share data)
Three months ended
March 31, 2023
December 31, 2023
March 31, 2024
RMB
RMB
RMB
US$
Net revenues
1,805,782
1,898,480
1,898,126
262,887
Cost of revenues
(1,453,402)
(1,607,602)
(1,487,405)
(206,003)
Gross profit
352,380
290,878
410,721
56,884
Operating income (expenses)
Operating income
33,379
32,293
3,949
547
Sales and marketing expenses
(65,776)
(73,286)
(71,743)
(9,936)
Research and development expenses
(79,750)
(80,671)
(75,389)
(10,441)
General and administrative expenses
(127,447)
(148,455)
(226,297)
(31,342)
Reversal of (allowance for) doubtful debt
2,449
(361,471)
5,175
717
Impairment of long-lived assets
–
(506,686)
–
–
Impairment of goodwill
–
(1,364,191)
–
–
Total operating expenses
(237,145)
(2,502,467)
(364,305)
(50,455)
Operating profit (loss)
115,235
(2,211,589)
46,416
6,429
Interest income
5,681
13,196
12,129
1,680
Interest expense
(69,786)
(78,877)
(137,682)
(19,069)
Impairment of long-term investments
–
(51)
–
–
Other income
1,164
4,452
4,814
667
Other expenses
(3,592)
(1,199)
(1,422)
(197)
Changes in the fair value of financial liabilities
21,298
(187,648)
3,858
534
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
78,633
89,426
(28,361)
(3,928)
Income (loss) before income taxes and (loss) gain
from equity method investments
148,633
(2,372,290)
(100,248)
(13,884)
Income tax expenses
(44,886)
(50,626)
(61,384)
(8,502)
(Loss) gain from equity method investments
(174)
(372)
2,606
361
Net income (loss)
103,573
(2,423,288)
(159,026)
(22,025)
Net profit attributable to noncontrolling interest
(21,280)
(19,500)
(27,979)
(3,875)
Net income (loss) attributable to VNET Group, Inc.
82,293
(2,442,788)
(187,005)
(25,900)
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic
0.09
(2.65)
(0.12)
(0.02)
Diluted
0.07
(2.65)
(0.12)
(0.02)
Shares used in earnings (loss) per share computation
Basic*
888,383,240
923,034,050
1,568,300,360
1,568,300,360
Diluted*
1,056,829,494
923,034,050
1,568,300,360
1,568,300,360
Earnings (loss) per ADS (6 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS)
Basic
0.54
(15.88)
(0.72)
(0.12)
Diluted
0.42
(15.88)
(0.72)
(0.12)
* Shares used in earnings (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$”))
Three months ended
March 31, 2023
December 31, 2023
March 31, 2024
RMB
RMB
RMB
US$
Gross profit
352,380
290,878
410,721
56,884
Plus: depreciation and amortization
401,877
450,859
352,604
48,835
Plus: share-based compensation expenses
–
–
2,190.00
303
Adjusted cash gross profit
754,257
741,737
765,515
106,022
Adjusted cash gross margin
41.8 %
39.1 %
40.3 %
40.3 %
Operating expenses
(237,145)
(2,502,467)
(364,305)
(50,456)
Plus: share-based compensation expenses
8,336
9,479
111,681
15,468
Plus: allowance of loan receivables
–
287,900
–
–
Plus: impairment of long-lived assets
–
506,686
–
–
Plus: impairment of goodwill
–
1,364,191
–
–
Adjusted operating expenses
(228,809)
(334,211)
(252,624)
(34,988)
Operating (loss) profit
115,235
(2,211,589)
46,416
6,429
Plus: depreciation and amortization
432,629
483,579
379,551
52,567
Plus: share-based compensation expenses
8,336
9,479
113,871
15,771
Plus: allowance of loan receivables
–
287,900
–
–
Plus: impairment of long-lived assets
–
506,686
–
–
Plus: impairment of goodwill
–
1,364,191
–
–
Adjusted EBITDA
556,200
440,246
539,838
74,767
Adjusted EBITDA margin
30.8 %
23.2 %
28.4 %
28.4 %
VNET GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Amount in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and US dollars (“US$”))
Three months ended
March 31, 2023
December 31, 2023
March 31, 2024
RMB
RMB
RMB
US$
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)
103,573
(2,423,288)
(159,026)
(22,025)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash generated from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
431,654
481,067
377,086
52,226
Share-based compensation expenses
8,336
9,479
113,871
15,771
Others
62,631
2,333,785
137,297
19,015
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts and notes receivable
(254,293)
311,035
(226,973)
(31,435)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(378,933)
(9,076)
(44,104)
(6,108)
Accounts and notes payable
(3,377)
(76,250)
77,668
10,757
Accrued expenses and other payables
192,063
68,523
56,105
7,770
Deferred revenue
24,139
(24,005)
5,626
779
Advances from customers
405,945
31,500
(11,090)
(1,536)
Others
(136,727)
27,910
(58,873)
(8,154)
Net cash generated from operating activities
455,011
730,680
267,587
37,060
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment
(608,717)
(1,017,474)
(1,005,368)
(139,242)
Purchases of intangible assets
(2,312)
(20,188)
(5,965)
(826)
(Payments for) proceeds from investments
–
(346,056)
359,239
49,754
(Payments for) proceeds from other investing activities
(90,489)
(18,217)
1,154
160
Net cash used in investing activities
(701,518)
(1,401,935)
(650,940)
(90,154)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from borrowings
279,916
638,706
1,156,279
160,143
Repayments of borrowings
(73,070)
(85,640)
(51,441)
(7,124)
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares
–
2,122,123
–
–
Repurchase of 2026 Convertible Notes
–
–
(4,262,340)
(590,327)
Payment for finance leases
(84,882)
(28,482)
(39,602)
(5,485)
Proceeds from other financing activities
395,096
110,967
591,446
81,914
Net cash generated from (used in) financing activities
517,060
2,757,674
(2,605,658)
(360,879)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash
equivalents and restricted cash
(17,205)
(11,645)
(20,050)
(2,777)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash
253,348
2,074,774
(3,009,061)
(416,750)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of
period
2,989,494
3,024,214
5,098,987
706,202
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
3,242,842
5,098,988
2,089,926
289,452
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vnet-reports-unaudited-first-quarter-2024-financial-results-302158594.html
SOURCE VNET Group, Inc.
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Truemed and Highmark Benefits Administration Partner to Expand Access to Root‑Cause Healthcare and Enable Employers to Reach Benefits Goals
Published
2 hours agoon
May 1, 2026By
AUSTIN, Texas, May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Truemed, the leading platform enabling qualified health purchases with HSA and FSA dollars, today announced a strategic partnership with Highmark Benefits Administration, a trusted provider of comprehensive, compliance‑driven solutions committed to providing A+ benefits administration services to clients nationwide.
The partnership aligns two organizations focused on delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions that help clients achieve business goals while empowering employees to use their benefits confidently and proactively. By integrating Truemed’s medically-necessary qualification process with Highmark’s service‑driven administrative infrastructure, employers can offer a broader range of eligible health interventions while maintaining clarity, compliance, and operational efficiency.
Through this collaboration, eligible Highmark participants can use pre‑tax HSA and FSA funds on evidence‑based, root‑cause health solutions— including fitness and movement programs, nutrition and supplement options, stress‑management tools, and other medically‑necessary interventions designed to help employees proactively improve their health.
“At Highmark Benefits Administration, we understand that managing employee benefits and plan compliance can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Dan Bearden, Founder and Director of Highmark. “Partnering with Truemed expands what’s possible with HSA and FSA dollars while maintaining the clarity and compliance confidence our clients rely on. We’re excited to help participants access more meaningful health solutions.”
“Highmark has built a reputation for exceptional service and operational excellence,” said Justin Mares, CEO of Truemed. “This partnership builds on that foundation by giving eligible participants access to root‑cause health interventions that have been shown to improve health outcomes and chronic condition management. Together, we’re helping employers offer benefits that are simple, compliant, and truly impactful.”
Learn more at: truemed.com/a/highmark
Truemed is for qualified customers. See terms at truemed.com/disclosures.
About Truemed
Truemed partners with consumer health brands and benefits administrators to enable HSA and FSA payments for root‑cause healthcare expenses. Through licensed practitioner review and IRS‑aligned documentation, Truemed helps qualified individuals invest in medically necessary products and services using pre‑tax dollars. Learn more at truemed.com.
About Highmark Benefits Administration
Highmark Benefits Administration provides comprehensive, cost‑effective benefits administration services designed to simplify complexity and support employer goals. With expertise in enrollment and eligibility management, COBRA administration, FSA/HSA/HRA programs, compliance reporting, carrier billing, and employee communication, Highmark delivers exceptional service backed by modern technology solutions. Learn more at highmarkbenadmin.com.
Media Contact:
Tom Dahl
tom@truemed.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/truemed-and-highmark-benefits-administration-partner-to-expand-access-to-rootcause-healthcare-and-enable-employers-to-reach-benefits-goals-302760163.html
SOURCE Truemed
Technology
DistrictWON’s uReport Partners with KOIN to Usher Back Local Sports Coverage to Every Community
Published
2 hours agoon
May 1, 2026By
PORTLAND, Ore., May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KOIN 6 is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with uReport, bringing comprehensive, community-driven sports coverage to every high school across the entire metro Portland and southwestern Washington markets.
Through this initiative, KOIN is offering uReport, a human-powered, AI-assisted platform widely endorsed across high schools and colleges nationwide, fully-funded to all high schools in the region. uReport is ISTE EdTech Index Approved and listed in the ISTE Learning Technology Directory, a vetted resource used by educators to identify high-quality digital learning tools.
This partnership empowers schools, students, and communities to create and share stories, highlights, and updates across all sports, while amplifying that content across KOIN.com. uReport is already endorsed by leading organizations including the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, College Sports Communicators and other groups representing over 17,000 high schools and colleges.
“Local sports coverage has historically reached the biggest schools and the biggest games. uReport flips that. Every school in our market — from the 6A powerhouse to the 1A program with 80 kids — now has a dedicated platform on KOIN.com,” said Tom Keeler, Vice President & General Manager of KOIN.
Key benefits for each school & community include:
A dedicated content platform for every school.The ability to cover every game, every sport at every level and include unlimited pictures and videos.Every school will also be featured on KOIN.com, allowing all schools to consistently make the news!Schools also distribute content onto their own social channels, creating an amazing content library Real-world training for student journalism and responsible use of AI in storytellingA free fan-powered mobile app for real-time contributions from the communityFull customer support for the platform, all year.
Check out a quick explainer video here: KOIN – Supercharging Your Coverage
KOIN will host three short webinars for Portland market school administrators to learn more. Any administrator is encouraged to participate (administrator, teacher, coach or other, click below to attend):
Tuesday 5/5: 9am PT
Wednesday 5/6: 8am PT
Thursday 5/7: 12pm PT
Schools can self-start and sign-up right now to cover spring events and continue to have access for the entire 2026–27 academic year. Self-start sign-up is easy here: www.ureport.com/koin.
For more information, contact uReport Director of Customer Success, Dan McGrath: 216-647-3857; dmcgrath@districtwon.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/districtwons-ureport-partners-with-koin-to-usher-back-local-sports-coverage-to-every-community-302760179.html
SOURCE DistrictWON
Technology
Fuutura Outlines Architecture Built for the Cross-Border Stablecoin Corridors the IMF Now Tracks
Published
2 hours agoon
May 1, 2026By
As the IMF’s April 2026 Global Financial Stability Report calls for enhanced regulatory oversight of cross-border stablecoin flows to emerging markets, Fuutura’s compliance-first architecture across identity, payments, and trading is built to support exactly this kind of regulatory oversight
PANAMA CITY, Panama, May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fuutura, a blockchain infrastructure company building a compliance-first financial ecosystem for the global market, today set out its position on rising cross-border stablecoin flows to emerging markets, following the IMF’s call for enhanced regulatory oversight in its April 2026 Global Financial Stability Report.
The IMF’s findings reflect a structural shift in how money moves across emerging economies. Cross-border flows of the two largest dollar-pegged stablecoins, Tether and USD Coin, rose from approximately $12 billion in early 2020 to $316 billion by early 2025, outpacing flows of Bitcoin and Ethereum. A significant share of those flows has been directed toward emerging markets, with cumulative net inflows accelerating since late 2023. The IMF’s concern is that rapid stablecoin adoption in emerging markets, absent appropriate regulation and backstops, could lead to currency substitution, weaken the transmission of monetary policy, increase capital flow volatility, and create challenges for capital flow management measures.
The IMF report also acknowledges that stablecoins, with adequate regulation, could offer improved settlement efficiency, faster cross-border payments, increased competition in the payment space, and broader access to digital finance. The same flows that warrant enhanced oversight also reflect genuine demand for financial services that legacy infrastructure has consistently failed to deliver in emerging markets.
Fuutura is being built to make both possible at once. A compliance by design approach facilitates the very regulatory oversight the IMF is advocating. That same architecture allows the platform to serve users in markets unreached by legacy financial infrastructure. What that looks like in practice is best described by the people who have built it.
“The IMF’s findings lay bare something that anyone working in cross-border financial services across emerging markets has been seeing for years. The flows are real, the demand is structural, and the existing infrastructure has not been built to give regulators the kind of visibility they need to do their work properly. That is the gap our infrastructure is built to address, across cross-border payments, identity verification, and the trading layer that connects users to the global financial system. Compliance is not something we have layered on top of an existing platform. It is part of how the system functions at every level.”
Ellis McGrath, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Fuutura
The architectural choice that defines Fuutura is the integration of compliance at a foundational level. Most digital asset platforms operate perimeter compliance, with KYC and AML conducted at onboarding and transaction monitoring sitting on top of an existing technology stack. Fuutura’s design records verified KYC and AML attestations on-chain and ties them to the user’s wallet, so that every interaction with the platform is gated by the presence of that attestation at the smart contract level. This applies across the entire ecosystem. Whether a user is opening a wallet, executing a trade on the exchange, or moving funds across borders, the same compliance design governs every interaction. The result is infrastructure where compliance is enforceable on every transaction and auditable by regulators at the on-chain level.
“The platforms that earn regulators’ trust will be the ones that make their work easier. The IMF’s call for proportionate monitoring of stablecoin flows reflects a broader truth about the relationship between innovators and regulators in this industry. Architecture that is open to inspection by default. A company posture that welcomes the questions responsible oversight requires. We believe the future of digital finance depends on builders and regulators working together, and we have designed Fuutura to support that relationship across every product on the platform.”
Oliver Cook KC, Co-founder and Chief Legal Officer, Fuutura
Fuutura is building for a market where existing financial infrastructure has consistently failed to deliver. The cross-border stablecoin corridors identified by the IMF are one part of that market. The broader scope is the millions of people and businesses across emerging economies who require digital identity, secure custody, and access to global financial markets in a single connected environment. The company’s launch marks the beginning of a phased rollout, with further ecosystem development planned as the platform scales across the markets it was designed to serve.
About Fuutura
Fuutura is a blockchain infrastructure company building a compliance-first financial ecosystem facilitating participation in the global financial system from underserved markets with a focus on the Global-South. The platform combines digital identity verification, a wallet, and a trading exchange into one unified ecosystem, giving users access to crypto and tokenised real-world assets through a single environment. Fuutura is pursuing licensing in multiple jurisdictions. Built with KYC and AML integrated at an architectural level, Fuutura is designed to be open to regulatory oversight by design. Fuutura is building infrastructure to extend digital finance to markets that legacy banking has not reached.
Media Contact
Fuutura
pr@fuutura.com
Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Disclosures
Digital asset risk. Digital assets are high-risk and their value may fall as well as rise. Trading digital assets involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
Forward-looking statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Fuutura, its technology, products, business plans and future conduct, including statements relating to the phased rollout of the ecosystem, regulatory engagement and licensing outcomes, geographic expansion, and market ambitions. Forward-looking statements are identifiable by words such as “building,” “plans,” “intends,” “expects,” “designed to,” “anticipates” and similar expressions, as well as by statements regarding future outcomes, ambitions or strategic direction.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those expressed. These include, without limitation, changes in the regulatory environment across jurisdictions; the availability and timing of licensing or authorisation; developments in digital asset markets; technological and cybersecurity risks; operational risks; counterparty and third-party risks; the pace of product development; and other factors beyond Fuutura’s control.
No offer or advice. Nothing in this press release constitutes an offer to sell, a solicitation to purchase, investment advice, or a recommendation in respect of any digital asset, crypto-asset, token, security, or financial product or instrument. Fuutura’s products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions and may be subject to regulatory restrictions. Access to Fuutura’s platform is restricted to residents of jurisdictions where its services are permitted.
No duty to update. Fuutura undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This release is not for distribution in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or in any other jurisdiction where such distribution would be unlawful.
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2970890/Fuutura.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2965342/5949163/Fuutura_Logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fuutura-outlines-architecture-built-for-the-cross-border-stablecoin-corridors-the-imf-now-tracks-302760188.html
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