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

Associated Press

13-02-2025

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.