EX-99.1 2 tm2516159d5_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

INDEX TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

  Page
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 F-2
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three-month Periods Ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 F-3
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the Three-month Periods Ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 F-4
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Three-month Periods Ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 F-5
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three-month Periods Ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 F-7
   
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements F-10

 

F-1

 

 

GDS HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

       As of 
Assets  Note   December 31,
2024
   March 31,
2025
 
Current assets               
Cash   6    7,867,659    7,575,709 
Restricted cash   6    67,419    49,584 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses   7    3,021,956    3,029,603 
Value-added-tax (“VAT”) recoverable        240,506    251,279 
Other current assets   10    415,531    1,419,985 
Total current assets        11,613,071    12,326,160 
Non-current assets               
Restricted cash   6    158,452    153,686 
VAT recoverable        1,489,532    1,469,485 
Property and equipment, net   8    40,204,133    38,975,530 
Intangible assets, net   9    481,114    430,303 
Prepaid land use rights, net        21,774    21,620 
Operating lease right-of-use assets   15    5,193,408    5,078,823 
Goodwill        5,886,379    5,662,075 
Deferred tax assets        381,274    377,336 
Long-term investments in equity investees   11    7,544,555    7,914,553 
Other non-current assets        674,936    1,048,279 
Total non-current assets        62,035,557    61,131,690 
Total assets        73,648,628    73,457,850 
                
Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity and Shareholders’ Equity               
Current liabilities               
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term borrowings (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB254,176 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025)   12    4,341,649    4,074,661 
Convertible bonds payable, current   13    575    574 
Accounts payable (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB502,672 and RMB 511,841 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   14    2,593,305    2,049,681 
Accrued expenses and other payables (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB253,236 and RMB282,325 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   14    1,298,097    1,406,268 
Deferred revenue (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB82,633 and RMB86,189 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   7    90,975    95,883 
Operating lease liabilities, current (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB33,563 and RMB31,993 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   15    117,345    118,193 
Finance lease and other financing obligations, current (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB45,153 and RMB47,223 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   15    636,152    660,577 
Total current liabilities        9,078,098    8,405,837 
Non-current liabilities               
Long-term borrowings, excluding current portion (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB2,230 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025)   12    21,905,985    21,760,462 
Convertible bonds payable   13    8,576,583    8,568,530 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB81,881 and RMB81,682 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   15    1,279,726    1,271,563 
Finance lease and other financing obligations, non-current (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB851,192 and RMB838,684 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   15    7,601,651    7,426,774 
Deferred tax liabilities (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB32,746 and RMB31,392 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)        1,240,731    1,209,522 
Other long-term liabilities (including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to GDS Holdings of RMB57,766 and RMB58,722 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   16    297,221    372,426 
Total non-current liabilities        40,901,897    40,609,277 
Total liabilities        49,979,995    49,015,114 
                
Mezzanine Equity               
Redeemable preferred shares (US$0.00005 par value; 150,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025; Redemption value of RMB1,080,656 and RMB1,079,123 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively; Liquidation preference of RMB1,080,656 and RMB1,079,123 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   17    1,080,656    1,079,123 
Total mezzanine equity        1,080,656    1,079,123 
                
GDS Holdings Limited Shareholders' Equity               
Ordinary shares (US$0.00005 par value; 3,500,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025; 1,511,590,567 Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025; 43,590,336 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025)        527    527 
Additional paid-in capital        29,596,268    29,594,970 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss        (1,094,377)   (1,081,445)
Accumulated deficit        (6,044,372)   (5,281,351)
Total GDS Holdings Limited shareholders’ equity        22,458,046    23,232,701 
Non-controlling interests        129,931    130,912 
Total equity        22,587,977    23,363,613 
                
Commitments and contingencies   24           
                
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and equity        73,648,628    73,457,850 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-2

 

 

GDS HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

       Three-month periods ended March 31, 
       2024   2025 
Net revenue   20    2,432,234    2,723,158 
Cost of revenue        (1,911,031)   (2,078,333)
Gross profit        521,203    644,825 
                
Operating expenses               
Selling and marketing expenses        (30,276)   (32,764)
General and administrative expenses        (242,478)   (238,936)
Research and development expenses        (9,980)   (7,889)
Income from continuing operations        238,469    365,236 
                
Other income (expenses):               
Interest income        14,690    15,624 
Interest expenses   8    (477,198)   (457,101)
Foreign currency exchange gain, net        6,835    1,018 
Government grants        5,475    3,056 
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries   10    -    1,057,045 
Others, net        1,609    6,629 
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes and share of results of equity method investees        (210,120)   991,507 
                
Income tax expenses   21    (62,392)   (199,701)
Share of results of equity method investees        -    (27,732)
Net (loss) income from continuing operations        (272,512)   764,074 
                
Discontinued operations               
Loss from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes   5    (72,419)   - 
Loss from discontinued operations        (72,419)   - 
                
Net (loss) income        (344,931)   764,074 
                
Net (loss) income from continuing operations        (272,512)   764,074 
Net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests        (1,178)   (1,053)
Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to GDS Holdings Limited shareholders        (273,690)   763,021 
                
Loss from discontinued operations        (72,419)   - 
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interests        282    - 
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to GDS Holdings Limited shareholders        (72,137)   - 
                
Net (loss) income attributable to GDS Holdings Limited shareholders        (345,827)   763,021 
                
Cumulative dividend on redeemable preferred shares   17    (13,458)   (13,455)
Net (loss) income available to GDS Holdings Limited ordinary shareholders        (359,285)   749,566 
                
(Loss) income per Class A and Class B ordinary share               
Basic               
Continuing operations   22    (0.19)   0.49 
Discontinued operations   22    (0.05)   - 
Total   22    (0.24)   0.49 
Diluted               
Continuing operations   22    (0.19)   0.43 
Discontinued operations   22    (0.05)   - 
Total   22    (0.24)   0.43 
                
Weighted average number of ordinary share outstanding               
Basic   22    1,469,982,015    1,484,257,047 
Diluted   22    1,469,982,015    1,797,675,770 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3

 

 

GDS HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)

INCOME 

(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

   Three-month periods ended
March 31,
 
   2024   2025 
         
Net (loss) income   (344,931)   764,074 
Other comprehensive (loss) income          
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil tax   (56,025)   16,434 
Share of results of equity method investees   -    (3,394)
Comprehensive (loss) income   (400,956)   777,114 
           
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests   (97)   (1,161)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to GDS Holdings Limited shareholders   (401,053)   775,953 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4

 

 

GDS HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

            Ordinary Shares     Additional
paid-in
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
    Accumulated     Total GDS
Holdings Limited
shareholders’
    Non-
controlling
       
      Note     Number     Amount     capital     loss     deficit     equity     interests     Total equity  
Balance at January 1, 2024           1,524,432,991     516     29,337,095     (974,393 )   (9,469,758 )   18,893,460     165,577     19,059,037  
                                                         
(Loss) income for the period           -     -     -     -     (345,827 )   (345,827 )   896     (344,931 )
Other comprehensive loss           -     -     -     (55,226 )   -     (55,226 )   (799 )   (56,025 )
Total comprehensive (loss) income           -     -     -     (55,226 )   (345,827 )   (401,053 )   97     (400,956 )
                                                         
Shares issued to depositary bank     22     30,747,912     11     (11 )   -     -     -     -     -  
Redeemable preferred shares dividends     17     -     -     (13,458 )   -     -     (13,458 )   -     (13,458 )
Share-based compensation     19     -     -     76,646     -     -     76,646     -     76,646  
Settlement of liability-classified restricted shares award     19     364,920     -     3,176     -     -     3,176     -     3,176  
Settlement of restricted share awards with shares held by depository bank           (364,920 )   -     -     -     -     -     -     -  
Balance at March 31, 2024           1,555,180,903     527     29,403,448     (1,029,619 )   (9,815,585 )   18,558,771     165,674     18,724,445  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5

 

 

GDS HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY - CONTINUED 

(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

          Ordinary Shares     Additional
paid-in
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
    Accumulated     Total GDS
Holdings Limited
shareholders’
    Non-
controlling
       
      Note     Number     Amount     capital     loss     deficit     equity     interests     Total equity  
Balance at January 1, 2025       1,555,180,903   527   29,596,268   (1,094,377)  (6,044,372)  22,458,046   129,931   22,587,977 
                                      
Income for the period       -   -   -   -   763,021   763,021   1,053   764,074 
Other comprehensive income       -   -   -   12,932   -   12,932   108   13,040 
Total comprehensive income       -   -   -   12,932   763,021   775,953   1,161   777,114 
                                      
Redeemable preferred shares dividends   17   -   -   (13,455)  -   -   (13,455)  -   (13,455)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest       -   -   (49,820)  -   -   (49,820)  (180)  (50,000)
Share-based compensation   19   -   -   61,977   -   -   61,977   -   61,977 
Balance at March 31, 2025       1,555,180,903   527   29,594,970   (1,081,445)  (5,281,351)  23,232,701   130,912   23,363,613 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-6

 

 

GDS HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

       Three-month periods ended March 31, 
   Note   2024   2025 
Cash flows from operating activities:               
Net (loss) income        (344,931)   764,074 
Net loss from discontinued operations        72,419    - 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:               
Amortization of debt issuance and commitment cost and debt discount        34,984    31,804 
Depreciation and amortization        782,672    856,519 
Operating lease cost relating to prepaid land use rights        27,312    27,584 
Net loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment        595    (6,486)
Share-based compensation expenses   19    76,646    61,977 
Share of results of equity method investees        531    27,732 
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries        -    (1,057,045)
Allowance for credit losses        3,889    4,430 
Deferred tax benefit        (20,390)   (17,356)
                
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and disposals:               
Accounts receivable        (594,084)   (12,131)
VAT recoverable        (68,846)   (47,387)
Other current assets        (59,326)   (28,245)
Other non-current assets        4,382    (300)
Accounts payable        48,999    70,060 
Accrued expenses and other payables        (98,893)   100,029 
Deferred revenue        34,862    2,708 
Other long-term liabilities        (3,812)   (4,656)
Operating leases        3,472    6,761 
                
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities from continuing operations        (99,519)   780,072 
Net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations        (25,453)   - 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities        (124,972)   780,072 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-7

 

 

GDS HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - CONTINUED 

(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

       Three-month periods ended March 31, 
   Note   2024   2025 
Cash flows from investing activities:               
Payments for purchase of property and equipment and land use rights        (943,032)   (1,018,957)
Cash paid for equity investments        -    (313,794)
Cash paid for investments and loans to discontinued operations        (409,275)   - 
Cash disposed as a result of deconsolidation of subsidiaries        -    (46,291)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment        -    9,629 
                
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations        (1,352,307)   (1,369,413)
Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations        (652,075)   - 
Net cash used in investing activities        (2,004,382)   (1,369,413)
                
Cash flows from financing activities:               
Proceeds from short-term borrowings        1,420,507    1,582,588 
Proceeds from long-term borrowings        2,836,013    1,340,355 
Repayment of short-term borrowings        (64,720)   (1,433,960)
Repayment of long-term borrowings        (2,909,239)   (910,478)
Payment of issuance cost and commitment cost of debts        (36,061)   (22,307)
Payment of redeemable preferred shares dividends   17    (13,451)   (13,459)
Payment under finance leases and other financing obligations   15    (134,773)   (154,572)
Proceeds from other financing arrangements        200,000    - 
Payment for purchase of property and equipment through vendor financing        -    (113,135)
                
Net cash provided by financing activities from continuing operations        1,298,276    275,032 
Net cash provided by financing activities from discontinued operations        732,968    - 
Net cash provided by financing activities        2,031,244    275,032 
                
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash        (9,909)   (242)
                
Net decrease in cash and restricted cash        (108,019)   (314,551)
                
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period        7,917,932    8,093,530 
Cash and restricted cash at end of period        7,809,913    7,778,979 
Less: Cash and restricted cash of discontinued operations at end of period        (473,248)   - 
Cash and restricted cash of continuing operations at end of period        7,336,665    7,778,979 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-8

 

 

GDS HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - CONTINUED

(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)

 

       Three-month periods ended March 31, 
   Note   2024   2025 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information            
Interest paid        486,245    478,298 
Income tax paid        142,180    226,344 
                
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities               
Settlement of liability-classified restricted share award   19    3,176    - 
Acquisitions of non-controlling interests        -    50,000 
Non-cash effect of deconsolidation of subsidiaries        -    1,272,871 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-9

 

 

1BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (‘‘US GAAP’’). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted as permitted by rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’). The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of GDS Holdings Limited (‘‘GDS Holdings’’) and its consolidated subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities (collectively, ‘‘the Company’’). The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements, included in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2025.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in Renminbi ("RMB"), rounded to the nearest thousand.

 

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present a fair statement of the financial position as of March 31, 2025, and the results of operations and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025, have been made.

 

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the fair value of retained equity method investment upon deconsolidation, the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the consideration transferred in a business combination, the impairment of goodwill, the realization of deferred income tax assets, the fair value of share-based compensation awards, the recoverability of long-lived assets, and incremental borrowing rate of leases. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and as such, differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

11

 

2PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of GDS Holdings Limited, its subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities and variable interest entities’ subsidiaries for which GDS Holdings is the primary beneficiary.

 

The following tables set forth the financial statement balances and amounts of the VIEs and their subsidiaries included in the condensed consolidated financial statements after the elimination of intercompany balances and transactions among VIEs and their subsidiaries.

 

   As of 
   December
31, 2024
   March 31,
2025
 
Assets          
Current assets          
Cash   1,858,820    2,206,723 
Restricted cash   3,080    - 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses   2,996,660    2,973,262 
VAT recoverable   170,726    179,084 
Other current assets   156,169    232,702 
Total current assets   5,185,455    5,591,771 
Non-current assets          
Restricted cash   46,322    47,152 
VAT recoverable   48,976    47,557 
Property and equipment, net   1,895,324    2,398,627 
Intangible assets, net   55,393    53,097 
Prepaid land use rights   -    5,145 
Operating lease right-of-use assets   124,230    120,847 
Deferred tax assets   58,970    59,766 
Other non-current assets   113,728    112,325 
Total non-current assets   2,342,943    2,844,516 
Total assets   7,528,398    8,436,287 
           
Liabilities          
Current liabilities          
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term borrowings   404,801    514,246 
Accounts payable   502,672    511,841 
Accrued expenses and other payables   253,236    282,325 
Deferred revenue   82,633    86,189 
Operating lease liabilities, current   33,563    31,993 
Finance lease and other financing obligations, current   45,153    47,223 
Total current third-party liabilities   1,322,058    1,473,817 
Non-current liabilities          
Long-term borrowings, excluding current portion   399,043    524,988 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current   81,881    81,682 
Finance lease and other financing obligations, non-current   851,192    838,684 
Deferred tax liabilities   32,746    31,392 
Other long-term liabilities   57,766    58,722 
Total non-current third-party liabilities   1,422,628    1,535,468 
Total third-party liabilities   2,744,686    3,009,285 
Amounts due to GDS Holdings and its non-VIE subsidiaries, net   4,023,141    5,554,802 
Total liabilities   6,767,827    8,564,087 

 

 

12

 

As of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, accounts receivable of RMB77,129 and RMB114,564, respectively, other current assets of RMB17,018 and RMB17,370, respectively, other non-current assets of RMB4,049 and RMB4,049, respectively, and property and equipment of RMB27,731 and RMB26,344, respectively, of VIEs were pledged solely to secure banking borrowings of VIEs.

 

As of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, long-term borrowings of the consolidated VIEs of RMB547,438 and RMB782,828, respectively, were guaranteed by GDS Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries.

 

Net revenue, net income, operating, investing and financing cash flows of the VIEs that were included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 are as follows:

 

   Three-month periods ended March 31, 
   2024   2025 
Net revenue   2,348,959    2,667,892 
Net income   25,692    50,546 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities   (229,030)   328,468 
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities   (54,153)   70,203 
Net cash used in financing activities   (77,910)   (53,018)

 

The unrecognized revenue-producing assets that are held by the VIEs comprise of internally developed software, intellectual property and trademarks which were not recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as they do not meet all the capitalization criteria.

 

3CHANGES IN ACCOUTING POLICIES

 

No change in accounting policies in the three-month period ended March 31, 2025.

 

4RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which amended disclosure requirements for income tax, including rate reconciliation, income taxes paid and etc. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company will adopt this standard in its consolidated financial statements for fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 and is currently in the process of evaluating the disclosure impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

 

13

 

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which required disclosure, in the notes to financial statements, of specified information about certain costs and expenses. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. It should be applied either (1) prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of this ASU or (2) retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company will adopt the disclosure requirements from annual reports for fiscal year ending December 31, 2027 and is currently in the process of evaluating the disclosure impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-04, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20): Induced Conversions of Convertible Debt Instruments, which clarified the requirements for determining whether certain settlements of convertible debt instruments should be accounted for as an induced conversion. Under the amendments, to account for a settlement of a convertible debt instrument as an induced conversion, an inducement offer is required to provide the debt holder with, at a minimum, the consideration (in form and amount) issuable under the conversion privileges provided in the terms of the instrument. This ASU also made additional clarifications to assist stakeholders in applying the guidance. This ASU also clarified that the induced conversion guidance applies to a convertible debt instrument that is not currently convertible as long as it had a substantive conversion feature as of both its issuance date and the date the inducement offer is accepted. This ASU is effective for all entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2025, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted for all entities that have adopted the amendments in ASU 2020-06. This ASU permits an entity to apply the new guidance on either a prospective or a retrospective basis. The Company will adopt the requirements from annual reports for fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 and is currently in the process of evaluating the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

5DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

On December 31, 2024, the Company deconsolidated DayOne and its subsidiaries (the “Deconsolidation”) and started to recognize DayOne as an equity method investee. DayOne’s operations that were deconsolidated are reported as discontinued operations.

 

 

14

 

Prior to the Deconsolidation, several intra-group arrangements existed between continuing and discontinued operations, which were eliminated as intercompany transactions and were not separately reflected in the Company’s previously issued financial statements. Such intercompany transactions mainly included sales commission, procurement services, license grant, guarantees and management support services. Sales commission, procurement service fees and license fees are reinstated according to ASC 606 and included in net revenue in the consolidated statements of operations for all the years presented since they are expected to continue after Deconsolidation and become part of the Company’s recurring revenue-generating activities. The Company reinstated net revenue of RMB3,375 for these services for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. Guarantee fees and management support service fees are recognized according to ASC 610-20 and included in others, net in the consolidated statements of operations for all the years presented since they are related to transition services which are not within core business of the continuing operations. The Company reinstated other income of RMB12,331 for these services for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024.

 

By reference to the elimination of unrealized profit in Company's share of the income and losses of the investees in the equity method investment, the elimination of unrealized profit for above-mentioned fees capitalized by DayOne in its property and equipment is included in the financial results of discontinued operations, which amounted to RMB2,964 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024.

 

The financial results of DayOne presented in discontinued operations reflect the results of DayOne until the Deconsolidation, adjusted for the transactions discussed above. The following table presents the financial results of discontinued operations:

 

   Three-month
period ended
March 31, 2024
 
Net revenue   199,908 
Cost of revenue   (142,794)
Operating expenses   (72,569)
Loss from operations   (15,455)
Net interest expenses   (43,561)
Other expenses   (13,402)
Loss from operations of discontinued operations before income taxes   (72,418)
Income tax expenses   (1)
Loss from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes   (72,419)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes   (72,419)

 

 

15

 

6CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH

 

A reconciliation of cash and restricted cash in the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the amounts in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows is as follows:

 

   As of 
   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
Cash   7,867,659    7,575,709 
Restricted cash - current assets   67,419    49,584 
Restricted cash – non-current assets   158,452    153,686 
           
Total cash and restricted cash in the consolidated statements of cash flows   8,093,530    7,778,979 

 

Restricted cash was primarily to secure bank borrowings, related interests and certain construction projects.

 

7CONTRACT BALANCES

 

Accounts Receivable, Net

 

Accounts receivable, net consisted of the following:

 

   As of 
   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
Accounts receivable   3,048,182    3,060,229 
Less: allowance for credit losses   (26,226)   (30,626)
           
Accounts receivable, net   3,021,956    3,029,603 

 

Accounts receivable of RMB2,383,419 and RMB2,285,501 was pledged as security for bank loans (Note 12) as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively. Accounts receivable of RMB133,788 and RMB149,212 was pledged as security for finance lease and other financing obligations (Note 15) as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

 

 

16

 

Deferred Revenue

 

The opening and closing balances of the Company’s deferred revenue, including current and non-current portion, are as following:

 

   Deferred revenue 
Beginning balance as of January 1, 2025   141,844 
Increase   2,869 
      
Closing balance as of March 31, 2025   144,713 

 

The difference between the opening and closing balances of the Company's deferred revenue primarily results from the timing difference between the satisfaction of the Company's performance obligation and the customer's payment. As of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, the deferred revenue expected to be recognized as revenue after one year amounted to RMB50,869 and RMB48,830, respectively, were recorded in other long-term liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The amounts of revenue recognized during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 from the opening deferred revenue balance was RMB49,454 and RMB63,201, respectively.

 

Remaining performance obligations

 

The Company enters into certain usage-based contracts for colocation and managed services in which revenues are based on the agreed usage-based fees as the actual services are rendered throughout the contract term. The Company elected to apply the practical expedient under ASC606-10-50-14(b) that allows the Company not to disclose the remaining performance obligations for variable considerations, which are charged based on the agreed unit price and number of racks in usage, in connection with these contracts with remaining durations ranging from 1 year to 9 years.

 

As of March 31, 2025, the revenues, excluding any variable considerations, expected to be recognized in future periods related to remaining performance obligations that are unsatisfied were as follows:

 

Revenue expected to be recognized  RMB 
Within 1 year   1,370,240 
After 1 year but within 2 years   1,131,670 
After 2 years but within 3 years   861,843 
After 3 years but within 4 years   626,368 
After 4 years but within 5 years   600,461 
After 5 years   1,182,182 
      
Total   5,772,764 

 

 

17

 

8PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following:

 

   As of 
   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
At cost:          
Leasehold land   868,820    865,817 
Buildings   16,125,870    15,912,401 
Data center equipment   24,936,431    24,465,337 
Leasehold improvement   9,103,258    9,132,383 
Furniture and office equipment   105,371    107,803 
Vehicles   4,506    4,500 
    51,144,256    50,488,241 
Less: Accumulated depreciation   (14,689,668)   (15,213,488)
    36,454,588    35,274,753 
Construction in progress   6,564,474    6,515,550 
    43,019,062    41,790,303 
Less: Impairment losses   (2,814,929)   (2,814,773)
Property and equipment, net   40,204,133    38,975,530 

 

The carrying amounts of the Company’s property and equipment acquired under finance leases and build-to-suit leases were RMB5,452,571 and RMB5,324,628 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

 

Depreciation of property and equipment (including assets acquired under finance leases and other financing arrangement) for continuing operations was RMB728,875 and RMB803,515 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively, and included in the following captions:

 

   Three-month periods ended March 31, 
   2024   2025 
Cost of revenue   708,373    787,244 
General and administrative expenses   19,391    15,502 
Research and development expenses   1,111    769 
           
    728,875    803,515 

 

Property and equipment with a net book value of RMB9,756,698 and RMB9,591,944 was pledged as security for bank loans (Note 12) and other financing obligations (Note 15) as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

 

 

18

 

Interest costs that are directly attributable to the construction of an asset which necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalized as part of the cost of that asset. A reconciliation of total interest costs to ‘‘Interest expenses’’ for continuing operations as reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 is as follows:

 

   Three-month periods ended
March 31,
 
   2024   2025 
Total interest costs   530,098    469,710 
Less: interest costs capitalized   (52,900)   (12,609)
           
Interest expenses   477,198    457,101 

 

9INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

 

Intangible assets consisted of the following:

 

   As of 
   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
Customer contracts   1,451,341    1,442,541 
Software   77,180    84,025 
Licenses   6,000    6,000 
Others   464    464 
    1,534,985    1,533,030 
Less: accumulated amortization   (955,507)   (1,004,363)
Less: impairment losses   (98,364)   (98,364)
           
Intangible assets, net   481,114    430,303 

 

Amortization of intangible assets was RMB53,644 and RMB52,850 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively.

 

10ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSITIONS AND GOODWILL

 

On March 26, 2025, the Company sold 100% equity interest in the project companies (the “Disposal Group”) related to certain data centers to a purchaser, which is a special purpose vehicle established for Asset Backed Security (the “ABS”).The total consideration is determined based on an implied enterprise value of RMB2,980,100 which may be subject to changes based on (1) the net liability balance as of the closing date and estimated subsequent capital expenditures amount and (2) the status of subsequent milestone fulfilment. In conjunction with the sale, the Company concurrently subscribed 30% equity interests of the ABS. The other 70% of equity interest was subscribed by institutional investors in China.

 

 

19

 

As a result of the above transactions, the Company lost control over the Disposal Group and started to recognize the ABS as an equity method investee. The retained investments in the ABS were initially measured at fair value of RMB401,124 (note 18). Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries of RMB1,057,045 was recognized in the three-month period ended March 31, 2025 for such transactions. Goodwill of RMB224,304 allocated to the Disposal Group was derecognized upon deconsolidation.

 

As of March 31, 2025, the fair value of outstanding balance of consideration expected to be received from the ABS for transferring the Disposal Group amounted to RMB1,272,871, of which RMB897,100 is recorded in other current assets and subsequently received in April 2025, and RMB375,771 was recorded in other non-current assets. As of March 31, 2025, the fair value of outstanding balance of the subscription payable expected to be paid to the ABS amounted to RMB82,089, which is recorded in other long-term liabilities.

 

After the Disposition, the Company will continue to provide certain management services to the disposed project companies, the amount of which was immaterial in the three months ended March 31, 2025.

 

11LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY INVESTEES

 

Long-term investments in equity investees included the follows:

 

   Accounting  Percentage of   As of 
Investee  method  ownership   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
DayOne  Equity method   35.6%   7,537,604    7,505,463 
ABS (Note 10)  Equity method   30%   -    401,124 
OnePro Cloud Inc.  Equity method   25%   611    1,626 
Others  Cost method        6,340    6,340 
                   
Total           7,544,555    7,914,553 

 

12BORROWINGS

 

The Company’s borrowings consisted of the following:

 

   As of 
   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
Short-term borrowings   1,798,531    1,934,836 
Current portion of long-term borrowings   2,543,118    2,139,825 
Sub-total   4,341,649    4,074,661 
Long-term borrowings, excluding current portion   21,905,985    21,760,462 
           
Total borrowings   26,247,634    25,835,123 

 

 

20

 

Short-term borrowings

 

The Company’s short-term borrowings consisted of the following:

 

   As of 
   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
Unsecured short-term borrowings   1,798,531    1,934,836 

 

The weighted average interest rates of short-term borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 were 6.39% and 5.94% per annum, respectively, taking into the consideration of issuance costs incurred relating to the facilities.

 

Long-term borrowings

 

The Company’s long-term borrowings consisted of the following:

 

   As of 
   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
Unsecured long-term borrowings   30,743    30,637 
Secured long-term borrowings   24,418,360    23,869,650 
           
    24,449,103    23,900,287 

 

Long-term borrowings were secured by the following assets:

 

   As of 
   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
Accounts receivable   2,383,419    2,285,501 
Other current assets   87,225    86,545 
Property and equipment, net   8,310,725    8,177,551 
Prepaid land use rights, net   16,791    11,106 
Operating lease ROU assets   3,639,061    3,540,194 
Other non-current assets   19,052    18,185 
           
    14,456,273    14,119,082 

 

In addition to the above assets pledged for secured borrowings, some of the borrowings were guaranteed by the equity interests of the subsidiaries of GDS Holdings Limited.

 

The weighted average interest rates of long-term borrowings as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 were 4.12% and 4.07% per annum, respectively, taking into the consideration of debt issuance costs incurred relating to the facilities.

 

 

21

 

The outstanding long-term borrowings mature serially from 2025 to 2038. The aggregate maturities of the above long-term borrowings for each for the five years and thereafter subsequent to March 31, 2025 are as follows:

 

   Long-term borrowings 
Twelve months ending March 31,     
2026   2,139,825 
2027   3,082,590 
2028   3,294,164 
2029   3,150,965 
2030   2,368,361 
Thereafter   9,864,382 
    23,900,287 

 

The Company entered into secured loan agreements with various financial institutions for project development and working capital purpose with terms ranging from 1 to 15 years.

 

As of March 31, 2025, the Company had total working capital and project financing credit facilities of RMB29,187,125 from various financial institutions, of which the unused amount was RMB3,608,757. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had drawn down RMB25,578,368 from such facilities, of which RMB1,930,196 (net of debt issuance costs of RMB15,444) was recorded in short-term borrowings and RMB23,585,076 (net of debt issuance costs of RMB47,652) was recorded in long-term borrowings, respectively. In addition, the Company also had certain borrowings from non-financial institutions.

 

Drawdowns from the credit facility from financial institutions are subject to the approval of the banks and are subject to the terms and conditions of each agreement.

 

More specifically, the terms of these secured loan facility agreements generally include one or more of the following conditions. If any of the below conditions were to be triggered, the Company could be obligated to notify the lender or repay any loans outstanding immediately or on an accelerated repayment schedule.

 

 

22

 

Below are the terms and conditions for project loan facilities as of March 31, 2025:

 

(i)GDS Holdings and GDS Investment Company are not or cease to be, directly or indirectly, the legal and beneficial owner of 100% of the equity interests of, and have the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to control, GDS Investment Company (in the case of GDS Holdings), GDS Beijing, Global Data Solutions Co., Ltd. (“GDS Suzhou”), a subsidiary company of GDS Beijing and the relevant borrowing subsidiaries;
(ii)Management HoldCo ceases to, directly or indirectly, own at least 100% of the equity interests of and have the power to control GDS Beijing or GDS Suzhou;
(iii)GDS Beijing, GDS Suzhou and the relevant borrowing subsidiaries cease to, directly or indirectly, be the legal and beneficial owner of 100% of the equity interests of, and have the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to control, their consolidated subsidiaries;
(iv)GDS Holdings is not or cease to be, directly or indirectly, the legal and beneficial owner of all equity interests held by it in the relevant borrowing subsidiaries, or have the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to control the relevant borrowing subsidiaries;
(v)there are changes in the shareholding structure of a principal operating subsidiary of GDS Holdings, as defined in the relevant loan facility agreement;
(vi)there are changes in the controlling shareholders or the beneficial owners of the relevant borrowing subsidiaries which could have a material adverse effect on their performance of the loan facility agreements; and
(vii)the IDC license of GDS Beijing, the borrowing subsidiaries, other affiliated entities, or the authorization by GDS Beijing to one such subsidiary to operate the data center business and provide IDC services under the auspices of the IDC license held by GDS Beijing, is cancelled or fails to be renewed on or before the expiry date.

 

 

23

 

 

There are certain other events in the loan facility agreements the occurrence of which could obligate GDS Holdings to notify the lender or repay any loans outstanding immediately or on an accelerated repayment schedule, including, among others, if the borrowing subsidiary fails to use the loan in accordance with the use of proceeds as provided in the loan facility agreement, the borrowing subsidiary violates or fails to perform any of its commitments under the loan facility agreement, or if GDS Holdings fails to maintain its shares listed on at least one of the following stock exchanges before the maturity date under the relevant loan facility agreement : (i) Nasdaq; or (ii) The Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited; or (iii) The Hong Kong Stock Exchange; or (iv) any other stock exchange acceptable to the lender. In addition, the terms of these loan agreements include financial covenants that limit certain financial ratios, such as the gross leverage ratio and net debt to EBITDA ratio, during the relevant period, as defined in the agreements. The terms of these loan agreements also include cross default provisions which could be triggered if the Company (i) fails to repay any financial indebtedness in an aggregate amount equivalent to or exceeding RMB50,000 when due or within any originally applicable grace period; (ii) fails to repay any financial indebtedness or perform any of its obligations under any agreement which could have a material adverse effect on its performance of the loan facility agreements; (iii) fails to repay any financial indebtedness raised with any financial institution; or (iv) fails to perform any loan facility agreement with any financial institution which could result in immediate or accelerated repayment of the financial indebtedness or downgrading of the borrowing subsidiary by any credit rating agency administered by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) in accordance with the regulations promulgated by PBOC governing loan market rating standards. As of March 31, 2025, the Company was in compliance with all of the abovementioned covenants.

 

13CONVERTIBLE BONDS PAYABLE

 

The convertible notes payable consisted of following:

 

     As of 
     December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
  Convertible Notes due 2025   575    574 
  Convertible Notes due 2029   4,444,327    4,439,442 
  Convertible Notes due 2030   4,132,256    4,129,088 
             
  Total   8,577,158    8,569,104 
  Including:          
   - Current   575    574 
   - Non-current   8,576,583    8,568,530 

 

 

24

 

The interest expenses related to the convertible notes are as follows:

 

     Three-month periods ended
March 31,
 
     2024   2025 
  Contractual interest   49,073    49,604 
  Amortization of issuance cost   3,937    4,115 
             
  Total interest expenses   53,010    53,719 

 

The effective interest rate of the Convertible Bonds due 2025, after considering the related issuance cost, was 2.03% as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025. The effective interest rate of the Convertible Bonds due 2029, after considering the related issuance cost, was 0.38% as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025. The effective interest rate of the Convertible Bonds due 2030, after considering the related issuance cost, was 4.87% as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

 

As of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, accrued interests for the convertible bonds of RMB81,668 and RMB31,936, respectively, were recorded in accrued expenses.

 

14ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER PAYABLES

 

Accounts payable consisted of the following:

 

     As of 
     December 31,
2024
   March 31,
2025
 
  Accounts payable for operating expenses   481,597    543,701 
  Accounts payable for purchase of property and equipment   2,111,708    1,505,980 
             
      2,593,305    2,049,681 

 

 

25

 

Accrued expenses and other payables consisted of the following:

 

     As of 
     December 31,
2024
   March 31,
2025
 
  Consideration payables for acquisitions of equity interests   309,850    358,116 
  Accrued payroll and welfare benefits   204,047    231,863 
  Accrued interest expenses   125,090    72,187 
  Income tax payable   118,605    104,298 
  Other tax payables   44,500    40,804 
  Accrued debt issuance costs and other financing costs   32,372    28,651 
  Amount due to related parties   9,491    48,649 
  Others   454,142    521,700 
             
      1,298,097    1,406,268 

 

15LEASES

 

A summary of supplemental information related to operating leases as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 is as follows:

 

     As of 
     December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
  Operating lease right-of-use assets, gross   5,274,000    5,159,415 
  Less: Impairment losses   (80,592)   (80,592)
  Operating lease right-of-use assets, net   5,193,408    5,078,823 
  Operating lease liabilities, current   117,345    118,193 
  Operating lease liabilities, non-current   1,279,726    1,271,563 

 

The components of lease cost of continuing operations are as follows:

 

     Three-month periods ended March 31, 
     2024   2025 
  Finance lease cost:          
  - Amortization of right-of-use assets   110,202    110,430 
  - Interest on lease liabilities   141,075    137,162 
  Operating lease cost   83,343    82,098 
  Short-term lease cost   17,098    15,032 
  Variable lease cost (Note)   (716)   (1,694)
             
  Total lease cost   351,002    343,028 

 

 

26

 

 

Note:The Company recognized variable lease credit of RMB716 and RMB1,694 in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively, for certain finance lease and other financing obligations with floating interest rate.

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases of continuing operations is as follows:

 

     Three-month periods ended March 31, 
     2024   2025 
  Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of lease liabilities:        
  - Operating cash flows from finance leases   (110,548)   (90,538)
  - Operating cash flows from operating leases   (49,775)   (47,580)
  - Financing cash flows from finance leases   (134,773)   (154,572)
             
  Non-cash information on lease liabilities arising from obtaining ROU assets:          
  - Finance leases   -    - 
  - Operating leases   17,994    19,463 

 

Weighted average remaining lease term and weighted average discount rate for leases, excluding prepaid land use rights, are as follows:

 

     As of 
     December 31,
2024
   March 31,
2025
 
  Weighted average remaining lease term:        
  - Finance leases   11.8    11.6 
  - Operating leases   12.0    11.8 
             
  Weighted average discount rate:          
  - Finance leases   6.57%   6.58%
  - Operating leases   6.15%   6.14%

 

Weighted average discount rate for other financing obligations is 7.37% and 7.39% as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

 

 

27

 

Maturities of lease and other financing obligations were as follows:

 

   As of December 31, 2024   As of March 31, 2025 
   Finance lease
obligations
   Other
financing
obligations
   Total of
finance
lease and
other
financing
obligations
   Operating
lease
obligations
   Total   Finance
lease
obligations
   Other
financing
obligations
   Total of
finance
lease and
other
financing
obligations
   Operating
lease
obligations
   Total 
Within 1 year   693,373    404,653    1,098,026    196,052    1,294,078    704,902    414,693    1,119,595    198,990    1,318,585 
After 1 year but within 2 years   693,058    411,108    1,104,166    159,315    1,263,481    699,797    1,626,730    2,326,527    166,479    2,493,006 
After 2 years but within 3 years   717,908    1,625,281    2,343,189    156,743    2,499,932    702,607    328,699    1,031,306    154,872    1,186,178 
After 3 years but within 4 years   669,546    149,770    819,316    149,715    969,031    676,395    108,613    785,008    150,844    935,852 
After 4 years but within 5 years   698,531    84,861    783,392    154,118    937,510    707,458    88,717    796,175    154,935    951,110 
After 5 years   5,013,131    166,727    5,179,858    1,197,588    6,377,446    4,836,952    143,868    4,980,820    1,163,083    6,143,903 
Total   8,485,547    2,842,400    11,327,947    2,013,531    13,341,478    8,328,111    2,711,320    11,039,431    1,989,203    13,028,634 
                                                   
Less: total future interest   (2,681,576)   (408,568)   (3,090,144)   (616,460)   (3,706,604)   (2,588,956)   (363,124)   (2,952,080)   (599,447)   (3,551,527)
                                                   
Present value of lease and other financing obligations   5,803,971    2,433,832    8,237,803    1,397,071    9,634,874    5,739,155    2,348,196    8,087,351    1,389,756    9,477,107 
Including:                                                  
- Current portion             636,152    117,345    753,497              660,577    118,193    778,770 
- Non-current portion             7,601,651    1,279,726    8,881,377              7,426,774    1,271,563    8,698,337 

 

Lease and other financing obligations were secured by the following assets:

 

     As of 
     December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
  Accounts receivable   133,788    149,212 
  Property and equipment, net   1,445,973    1,414,393 
  Operating lease ROU assets   18,521    18,373 
             
      1,598,282    1,581,978 

 

 

28

 

16OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

Other long-term liabilities consisted of the following:

 

     As of 
     December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
  Asset retirement obligations   103,214    105,578 
  Deferred government grants   114,209    113,271 
  Subscription payable to ABS   -    82,089 
  Deferred revenue – non-current (Note 7)   50,869    48,830 
  Others   28,929    22,658 
             
  Total   297,221    372,426 

 

17REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES

 

On March 27, 2019 (the “Issue Date”), GDS Holdings completed its issuance of 150,000 Convertible Preferred Shares (“redeemable preferred shares”) to an investor at the subscription price of US$1 thousand per share with total consideration of US$150 million.

 

The movement of redeemable preferred shares is set out as below:

 

     Redeemable
preferred shares
 
  Balance at January 1, 2025   1,080,656 
  Accrual of redeemable preferred shares dividends   13,455 
  Settlement of redeemable preferred shares dividends   (13,459)
  Foreign exchange impact   (1,529)
        
  Balance at March 31, 2025   1,079,123 

 

 

29

 

18FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

 

The Company did not have financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

 

Following is a description of the valuation techniques that the Company uses to measure fair value of other financial assets and financial liabilities:

 

·Short-term financial instruments (cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable and payable, short-term borrowings, and accrued expenses and other payables) - cost approximates fair value because of the short maturity period.

 

·Long-term borrowings - fair value is based on the amount of future cash flows associated with each debt instrument discounted at the Company’s current borrowing rate for similar debt instruments of comparable terms. The carrying values of the long-term borrowings approximate their fair values as all the long-term debt carry various interest rates which approximate rates currently offered by the Company’s bankers for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities.

 

·Convertible Bonds payable—the estimated fair value was RMB8,763,243 and RMB8,973,332 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively. The fair value of Convertible Bonds due 2025 was measured based on the price in the open market and the fair values of Convertible Bonds due 2029 and Convertible Bonds due 2030 were measured using Binomial Model.

 

Non-recurring fair value measurements

 

Equity method investments for the retained investments in the common stock of an investee (including a joint venture) in a deconsolidation transaction are initially measured at fair value on a non-recuring basis. As of December 31, 2024, the long-term investments in DayOne were measured at fair value of RMB7,537,604. As of March 26, 2025, the long-term investments in the ABS were measured at fair value of RMB401,124. The fair values of retained investments in DayOne and the ABS were measured using a discounted cash flow approach.

 

The outstanding balance of consideration expected to be received for transferring the Disposal Group and the subscription payable to the ABS were measured at fair value of RMB1,272,871 and RMB82,089, respectively. The fair value of consideration for transferring the Disposal Group and the subscription payable to ABS is determined based on the discounted cashflows, which is estimated with the achievement of related milestones.

 

Key estimates and assumptions used to determine the fair value include the amount and timing of future expected cash flows and discount rate.

 

 

30

 

19SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

 

Equity Incentive Plans

 

The Company adopted the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan ("the 2014 Plan") in July 2014 for the granting of share options to key employees, directors and external consultants in exchange for their services. The total number of shares, which may be issued under the 2014 Plan, is 29,240,000 shares.

 

The Company adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (‘‘the 2016 Plan’’) in August 2016 for the granting of share options, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based award (collectively referred to as the ‘‘Awards’’) to key employees and directors. The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares, which may be subject to Awards under the Plan, is 56,707,560 ordinary shares, provided, however, that the maximum number of unallocated ordinary shares which may be issuable pursuant to Awards are subject to certain automatic approval mechanism up to 3% of total issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company, if and whenever the unallocated ordinary shares which may be subject to equity awards under the 2016 Plan accounts for less than 1.5% of the Company's total issued and outstanding ordinary shares.

 

Restricted shares to directors, officers and employees

 

In January 2025, the Company granted non-vested restricted shares of 3,000,000 to employees, officers and directors. The restricted share awards contained service condition. For restricted shares granted, the value of the restricted shares was determined by the fair value of the restricted shares on the grant date, when all criteria for establishing the grant dates were satisfied. The value of restricted shares subject to service conditions attached is recognized as the compensation expense using the graded-vesting method.

 

In January 2025, the Compensation Committee of the Board of the Company approved the resolution to amend certain vesting conditions of 800,501 outstanding restricted shares. The amendment is accounted for as a modification of the terms of the restricted shares (the "Modification"). The incremental compensation cost of RMB11,333 is recognized on the modification date.

 

 

31

 

A summary of the restricted share activity is as follows:

 

     Number of Shares   Weighted average grant-
date fair value per share
 
           (RMB) 
  Unvested at January 1, 2025   47,437,976    13.0 
  Granted (Note 1)   3,800,501    25.9 
  Forfeited (Note 2)   (5,284,709)   14.2 
             
  Unvested at March 31, 2025   45,953,768    13.9 

 

 

Note 1: Including the restricted shares of 800,501 granted in the Modification.

Note 2: Including the restricted shares of 800,501 cancelled in the Modification.

 

The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of RMB76,646 and RMB61,977 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively, for the restricted share awards. As of March 31, 2025, total unrecognized compensation expense relating to the unvested shares was RMB226,920. The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.42 years using the graded-vesting attribution method. The Company did not capitalize any of the share-based compensation expenses as part of the cost of any asset for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025.

 

Total intrinsic value of restricted shares vested was RMB3,163 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024. Aggregate intrinsic value of unvested restricted shares as of March 31, 2025 was RMB1,422,365.

 

A summary of share-based compensation expenses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 is as follows:

 

     Three-month periods ended
March 31,
 
     2024   2025 
  Costs of revenue   26,096    6,016 
  Selling and marketing expenses   6,921    6,560 
  General and administrative expenses   39,793    47,603 
  Research and development expenses   2,322    1,798 
  Others, net (Note)   1,514    - 
             
  Total share-based compensation expenses   76,646    61,977 

 

 

Note:Represent the share-based compensation expenses included in management support service fees charged to DayOne.

 

 

32

 

20REVENUE

 

Net revenue consisted of the following:

 

     Three-month periods ended
March 31,
 
     2024   2025 
  Colocation services   2,093,973    2,495,923 
  Managed service and others   338,261    226,985 
  Service revenue   2,432,234    2,722,908 
  Equipment sales   -    250 
             
  Total   2,432,234    2,723,158 

 

21INCOME TAX

 

The income tax expenses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 were RMB62,392 and RMB199,701, respectively.

 

The Company’s effective tax rates for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025 were negative 29.7% and positive 20.1%, respectively. The difference between effective tax rate and the PRC statutory tax rate of 25% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 was mainly due to non-PRC resident enterprises not subject to income tax and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, mainly related to the net operating losses and other temporary difference generated by certain subsidiaries of the Company. The difference between effective tax rate and the PRC statutory tax rate of 25% for three-month period ended March 31, 2025 was mainly attributable to the non-taxable gain on transferring Disposed Group, net off by the income tax expense arising from the intra-group transfer of interests in one subsidiary (the “Intra-Group Transfer"). The Intra-Group Transfer is related to preparation of a potential public REIT transaction. No deferred tax assets are recognized from the Intra-Group Transfer as it is uncertain whether the temporary difference arose can be reversed in the foreseeable future.

 

 

33

 

 

22(LOSS) INCOME PER CLASS A and CLASS B ORDINARY SHARE

 

The computation of basic and diluted (loss) income per share is as follows:

 

     Three-month periods ended
March 31,
 
     2024   2025 
  Numerator:        
  Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to GDS Holdings Limited shareholders   (273,690)   763,021 
  Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to GDS Holdings Limited shareholders   (72,137)   - 
  Net (loss) income attributable to GDS Holdings Limited shareholders   (345,827)   763,021 
             
  Cumulative dividend on redeemable preferred shares   (13,458)   (13,455)
  Net income attributable to preferred shareholders based on the participating rights   -    (24,539)
             
  Numerator for basic (loss) income per share   (359,285)   725,027 
             
  Effect of dilutive securities:          
  Convertible Notes due 2029   -    4,201 
  Convertible Notes due 2025   -    3 
  Convertible Notes due 2030   -    49,516 
             
  Numerator for diluted (loss) income per share   (359,285)   778,747 
             
  Denominator:          
  Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding   1,469,982,015    1,484,257,047 
             
  Denominator for basic (loss) income per share   1,469,982,015    1,484,257,047 
             
  Effect of dilutive securities:          
  Restricted shares   -    24,818,571 
  Convertible bonds due 2029   -    99,200,000 
  Convertible bonds due 2025   -    12,400 
  Convertible bonds due 2030   -    189,387,752 
             
  Denominator for diluted (loss) income per share   1,469,982,015    1,797,675,770 
             
  (Loss) income per ordinary share          
  Basic          
    Continuing operations   (0.19)   0.49 
    Discontinued operations   (0.05)   - 
    Total   (0.24)   0.49 
  Diluted          
    Continuing operations   (0.19)   0.43 
    Discontinued operations   (0.05)   - 
    Total   (0.24)   0.43 

 

 

34

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted (loss) income per Class A and Class B ordinary share:

 

     Three-month periods ended March 31, 
     2024   2025 
     Class A   Class B   Class A   Class B 
  Basic:                    
  Allocation of net (loss) income available to GDS Holdings Limited ordinary shareholders   (348,631)   (10,654)   703,734    21,293 
  Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding   1,426,391,679    43,590,336    1,440,666,711    43,590,336 
  (Loss) income per ordinary share   (0.24)   (0.24)   0.49    0.49 
                       
  Diluted:                    
  Allocation of net (loss) income available to GDS Holdings Limited ordinary shareholders   (348,631)   (10,654)   759,864    18,883 
  Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding   1,426,391,679    43,590,336    1,754,085,434    43,590,336 
  (Loss) income per ordinary share   (0.24)   (0.24)   0.43    0.43 

 

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, the Company issued 30,747,912 ordinary shares to its share depository bank, which have been and will continue to be used to settle restricted share awards upon their exercise. No consideration was received by the Company for this issuance of ordinary shares. These ordinary shares are legally issued and outstanding but are treated as escrowed shares for accounting purposes and, therefore, have been excluded from the computation of loss per ordinary share. Any ordinary shares not used in the settlement of stock option and restricted share awards will be returned to the Company.

 

The following securities were excluded from the computation of diluted (loss) income per share as inclusion would have been either the performance condition relating to the securities have not been satisfied or anti-dilutive.

 

     Three-month periods ended March 31 
     2024   2025 
  Redeemable preferred shares   33,707,864    33,707,864 
  Restricted shares   48,354,040    12,773,359 
  Convertible bonds payable   288,600,152    - 
             
  Total   370,662,056    46,481,223 

 

 

35

 

23SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The following table present segment information about profit or loss:

 

     Three-month periods ended March 31, 
     2024   2025 
  Net revenue from external customers:          
  - Service revenue   2,428,859    2,722,908 
  - Equipment sales   -    250 
      2,428,859    2,723,158 
  Net revenue from discontinued operations:          
  - Service revenue   3,375    - 
  Net revenue   2,432,234    2,723,158 
  Cost of revenue   (1,911,031)   (2,078,333)
  Operating expenses (Note i)   (282,734)   (279,589)
  Other segment items (Note ii)   (448,589)   626,271 
  Income tax expenses   (62,392)   (199,701)
  Share of results of equity method investees   -    (27,732)
  Net (loss) income from continuing operations   (272,512)   764,074 
  Plus (deduct):          
  Depreciation and amortization   782,672    856,519 
  Interest income   (14,690)   (15,624)
  Interest expenses   477,198    457,101 
  Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries   -    (1,057,045)
  Other adjustments (Note iii)   168,048    318,822 
  Adjusted EBITDA   1,140,716    1,323,847 

 

 

  Note i: Operating expenses include selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses and impairment losses of long-lived assets.

  Note ii: Other segment items include interest income, interest expenses, foreign currency exchange gain, net, government grants, gain from purchase price adjustment, others, net, and gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries.

  Note iii: Other adjustments include operating lease cost relating to prepaid land use rights, accretion expenses for asset retirement costs, share-based compensation expenses, gain from purchase price adjustment, share of results of equity method investees and income tax expenses.

 

The following table present information about assets:

 

     As of 
     December 31,
2024
   March 31,
2025
 
  Investment in equity method investees (Note 11)   7,538,215    7,908,213 
  Total assets   73,648,628    73,457,850 

 

 

36

 

The following table present information about expenditures for additions to long-lived assets:

 

     Three-month periods ended
March 31,
 
     2024   2025 
  Payments for purchase of property and equipment and land use rights   943,032    1,018,957 

 

During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025, substantially all of the Company’s continuing operations are in the PRC. The summary of long-lived assets as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 in each area is as follows:

 

     As of 
     December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
  PRC   45,108,954    43,720,349 
  Hong Kong SAR   786,390    780,860 
  Others   5,085    5,067 
             
  Total   45,900,429    44,506,276 

 

24COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

(a)Capital commitments

 

Capital commitments outstanding for continuing operations as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 not provided for in the financial statements were as follows:

 

     As of 
     December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
  Contracted for   1,974,182    2,344,773 

 

In addition, commitment for purchase of land use rights was RMB335,675 and RMB334,515 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

 

(b)Lease commitments

 

The Company’s lease commitments are disclosed in Note 15.

 

 

37

 

(c)Litigation contingencies

 

In June 2023, the Company and its chief executive officer and chief financial officer were named as defendants in a putative class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The complaints in the action alleges that a number of the Company’s SEC filings included false and misleading statements regarding certain financing transactions. In June 2024, the parties reached a settlement in the amount of US$3 million, with no admission of liability or wrongdoing, and plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of class action settlement. The settlement agreement was preliminary approved in October 2024. In February 2025, the court heard the motion for final approval of the settlement and tentatively granted approval. Final approval of the settlement is pending. As of the date of this report, final approval of the settlement is pending.

 

(d)Guarantees

 

As of March 31, 2025, the Company provided the following guarantees to DayOne:

 

(1)Bank facility guarantees:

 

The Company provided guarantees to DayOne for bank borrowing facilities with total amount of RMB10,523,027, which mature from May 2025 to August 2028. As of March 31, 2025, total outstanding principal balance of the borrowings under these facilities was RMB7,990,634. The Company also provided guarantees to DayOne for the bank facilities for issuance of letter of guarantee with total amount of RMB1,644,063. As of March 31, 2025, the balance of outstanding letter of guarantees issued under such facilities was RMB1,414,245.

 

(2)Lease agreement guarantees:

 

The Company provided unconditional and irrevocable guarantees to DayOne for the performance in certain lease agreements with landlords. These leases had lease terms of up to 30 years.

 

(3)Sales agreement guarantees:

 

The Company provided guarantees to DayOne for the performance under certain data center service agreements with customers with terms up to 25 years subject to extension.

 

As of March 31, 2025, the Company estimated that its risks under the guarantees were remote.

 

 

38

 

25RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

In the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025, the related parties of the Company are as follows:

 

  Name of party  Relationship
  STT Garnet Pte. Ltd. (“STT Garnet”)  Principal ordinary shareholder of the Company
  STT GDC Pte. Ltd.  Former principal ordinary shareholder of the Company, transferred the equity of the Company to STT Garnet in May 2024 (Note)
  STT Singapore DC Pte. Ltd.  Subsidiary of STT GDC Pte. Ltd.
  STT DEFU 2 Pte. Ltd.  Subsidiary of STT GDC Pte. Ltd.
  OnePro Cloud Inc.  Entity over which the Company has significant influence
  DayOne  Consolidated subsidiaries before Deconsolidation;
Entities over which the Company has significant influence after Deconsolidation
  ABS  The security over which the Company has significant influence, including the Disposal Group which was consolidated by the Company before being sold to the ABS

 

 

Note:Certain directors and officers of STT GDC Pte. Ltd. and its sole indirect shareholder, Singapore Technologies Telemedia Pte. Ltd., are also directors and key members of Board Committees of the Company.

 

The Company entered into the following material related party transactions.

 

(a) Major transactions with related parties

 

        Three-month periods ended March 31, 
        2024   2025 
  Continuing operations:             
                
  Commission income  (Note i)          
     DayOne      -    4,882 
                
  Procurement service fee income  (Note i)          
     DayOne      -    3,527 
                
  License fee income  (Note i)          
     DayOne      -    1,636 
                
  Management support service fee income             
     DayOne  (Note i)   -    12,738 
                
  Guarantee fee income  (Note i)          
     DayOne      -    7,227 

 

 

39

 

        Three-month periods ended March 31, 
      2024   2025 
  Discontinued operations:             
                
  Commission and market support fee income  (Note ii)          
     STT Singapore DC Pte. Ltd.      1,845    - 
     STT DEFU 2 Pte. Ltd.      1,805    - 
         3,650    - 

 

The guarantees provided by the Company to DayOne are disclosed in Note 24.

 

(b) Major balances with related parties

 

        As of 
        December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025 
  Amount due from related parties:             
     DayOne  (Note i)   51,176    107,057 
     ABS  (Note iii)   -    82,508 
     OnePro Cloud Inc.  (Note iv)   3,106    3,101 
         54,282    192,666 
                
  Amount due to related parties:             
     DayOne  (Note i)   9,491    48,649 

 

 

  Note i: During the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, the Company charged DayOne sales commission and fees for procurement services, license grant, guarantees and management support services. As of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, amount due from DayOne mainly represents receivables for the service fees charged to DayOne, and the amount due to DayOne mainly represents payables for the data center service fees received from customer on its behalf and certain payments by DayOne on behalf of the Company.

 

Note ii: During the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized RMB1,845 and RMB1,805, respectively, as commission and market support fee income from STT Singapore DC Pte. Ltd. and STT DEFU 2 Pte. Ltd. Income earned is based on amount billed on behalf of these two related parties to the ultimate customer amounting to RMB10,787 and RMB12,449, respectively.

 

  Note iii: The Disposal Group sold to the ABS became related parties of the Company upon deconsolidation. As of March 31, 2025, amount due from the ABS represented the outstanding service fee and loans receivable from the Disposal Group as a result of transactions before its deconsolidation.

 

  Note iv: On September 2, 2022, the Company subscribed convertible bonds of US$400 thousand issued by OnePro Cloud Inc. The convertible bond has a term of 12 months with interest rate of 8% per annum and is convertible into Series A Preferred Shares of OnePro Cloud Inc. at the option of holders under certain conditions.