VNET Earns First-Ever Inclusion in S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook

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VNET Group, a leading Chinese internet data center services provider, has achieved its first inclusion in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025 global edition, following two years in the China edition. The company secured this recognition with a score of 70 in the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), placing it among 780 top performers selected from 7,690 companies across 62 industries.

VNET stands as one of only 21 mainland Chinese enterprises in the 2025 Yearbook and is the sole honoree from China's IT services industry. The company's CSA score ranks in the top 7% globally in the IT services industry and leads China's IT services sector. VNET's commitment to sustainability is further validated by an A rating from MSCI for three consecutive years, a B rating in climate change from CDP (exceeding 94% of Chinese participants), and a Low ESG Risk Rating from Sustainalytics.

The company emphasizes its dedication to green technologies, including liquid cooling and source-grid-load-storage solutions, to develop sustainable data centers and computing infrastructure.

BEIJING, Feb. 13, 2025 /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 that the Company secured a spot in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025 (or "2025 Yearbook"), marking the Company's first inclusion in the global edition following two consecutive years in the China edition. This recognition underscores VNET's outstanding ESG performance and expanding global influence in sustainable development.

The S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025 showcases companies that excel in sustainable development, as assessed by the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). In 2024, 7,690 companies across 62 industries participated in the CSA were considered for inclusion in the 2025 Yearbook, with 780 top performers selected as Yearbook Members.

VNET earned its spot in the 2025 Yearbook with a score of 70 in the 2024 CSA, a record-setting performance for the Company. Notably, VNET is one of just 21 China mainland enterprises recognized in the 2025 Yearbook and the sole honoree from China's IT services industry. To date, VNET's CSA score ranked in the top 7% of the global IT services industry and attained the highest position within China's IT services sector, demonstrating the Company's industry leadership.

Josh Sheng Chen, Founder, Executive Chairperson, and interim Chief Executive Officer of VNET, commented, "VNET has been dedicated to integrating ESG best practices throughout our operations since inception, and we are thrilled to see our effective ESG strategy once again win recognition by global ESG rating institutions. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as liquid cooling and source-grid-load-storage, we are advancing the development of green, intelligent data centers and computing power infrastructures, building a more sustainable future for the IT industry. We view ESG as the cornerstone of our ongoing success, and moving forward, sustainability will remain central to our efforts to deliver long-term value to all our stakeholders."

In addition to this recognition by S&P Global, VNET has received an ESG rating of A from MSCI, the world's leading provider of ESG indices, for three consecutive years. The Company also boasts a B rating of climate change from CDP, exceeding that of 94% of participating companies in China, as well as a Low ESG Risk Rating from Sustainalytics, a leading independent ESG and corporate governance research, ratings and analytics firm.

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 7,000 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 operate the Assets under the 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 

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SOURCE VNET Group, Inc.

FAQ

What achievement did VNET (VNET) earn in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025?

VNET earned its first-ever inclusion in the global edition of the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025, after being featured in the China edition for two consecutive years.

What score did VNET receive in the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment?

VNET received a score of 70 in the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), ranking in the top 7% of the global IT services industry.

How does VNET's sustainability performance compare to other Chinese companies?

VNET is one of only 21 mainland Chinese enterprises included in the 2025 Yearbook and is the only company recognized from China's IT services industry.

What ESG ratings has VNET received from other major rating agencies?

VNET has received an A rating from MSCI for three consecutive years, a B rating in climate change from CDP (better than 94% of Chinese participants), and a Low ESG Risk Rating from Sustainalytics.

What sustainable technologies is VNET implementing in its data centers?

VNET is implementing liquid cooling and source-grid-load-storage technologies to develop green, intelligent data centers and computing power infrastructures.