cd-corresp.htm

 

September 21, 2022

VIA CORRESPONDENCE

Melissa Kindelan
Kathleen Collins
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Technology
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Re:

Chindata Group Holdings Ltd
Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021
Filed April 29, 2022
File No. 001-39556

Dear Ms. Kindelan and Ms. Collins:

This letter sets forth the response of Chindata Group Holdings Limited (the “Company”) to the comments contained in the letter dated September 7, 2022 from the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) regarding the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Form 20-F”).

For ease of review, the Company has set forth below each of the numbered comments of the Staff’s letter and its responses thereto.

Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021

Introduction, page 1

1.

We note your response to prior comment 1. Please revise to include your definition of China or PRC in the Introduction where you define all other terms and ensure that it is clear such definition includes Hong Kong and Macau. Also, clarify, if true, that the only time "China" and "PRC" does not include Hong Kong or Macau is when you reference specific laws and regulations adopted by the PRC.

Response: In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company proposes to revise the definition of “China” or “PRC” and add the definition of “PRC government” or “State” in future filings on Form 20-F as follows:

Page 1 of the Form 20-F.

 

“China” or “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purpose of this annual report only, Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau; including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; the only instances in which Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are not included in the definition of “China” or “PRC” is when we reference specific laws and regulations that have been adopted by the People’s Republic of China and other legal and tax matters related to the People’s Republic of China;

 

“PRC government” or “State” refers to the central government of the PRC, including all political subdivisions (including provincial, municipal and other regional or local government entities) and its organs or, as the context requires, any of them;

In addition, the Company proposes to revise certain “China” or “PRC” to “mainland China” to the extent the context requires throughout the Form 20-F in future filings on Form 20-F.

Item 3. Key Information, page 3

2.

We note your revised disclosures in response to prior comment 3. Please further revise to remove the reference to 100% as it relates to Sitan Beijing and Hebei Qinshu as this appears to imply that the WFOE has equity ownership over the VIE.

1

 


 

Response: In response to the Staff’s comments, the Company proposes to revise the referenced diagram in future filings on Form 20-F as follows, with the added disclosure underlined for ease of reference:

Pages 4 and 89 of the Form 20-F.

The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure as of the date of this annual report, including our significant subsidiaries, the significant VIEs and the VIE’s principal subsidiaries.

 

Financial Information Related to Our VIEs, page 8

3.

Please explain why the amounts disclosed in your proposed revised disclosures to prior comment 5 do not agree to the amounts disclosed in the revised consolidating worksheets for "intercompany costs and expenses."

Response: The Company respectfully advises the Staff that the amounts disclosed in the proposed revised disclosure to prior comment 5 represent the cash paid by the VIEs to the WFOEs, their subsidiaries and other mainland China subsidiaries of the Company, and vice versa, which is consistent with the cash flow amounts disclosed in Note 4 of the tables in the section headed “Condensed Consolidating Cash Flows Data” as set forth on pages 7 to 8 of this response letter. The amounts disclosed in the revised section headed “Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations Data” for “intercompany costs and expenses” represent the costs and expenses incurred between the VIEs and the WFOEs, their subsidiaries and other mainland China subsidiaries of the Company, and do not represent the cash-paid amounts.

4.

We note your revised presentation in response to prior comment 8. Please further revise to present a separate column for the WFOEs that are the primary beneficiaries, which appear to be Suzhou Stack Data Technology Investment Company Limited and Hebei Stack Data Technology Investment Company Limited and their respective subsidiaries. Also, tell us what the "other subsidiaries" column represents and how these subsidiaries differ from the other subsidiaries included in the WFOE column in your proposed revised disclosures. If this column relates to subsidiaries of the WFOE or the Parent, please move the placement of the column in the worksheet so that it is clear to which entity the subsidiaries belong.

Response: The Company respectfully advises the Staff that it proposes to revise the column “WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other PRC Subsidiaries” to “WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries”, which includes Suzhou Stack Data Technology Co., Ltd. and Hebei Stack Data Technology Investment Co., Ltd. and their respective subsidiaries, as well as other mainland China subsidiaries of the Company that have provided or may provide services to the VIEs as designated by WFOEs under the contractual arrangements.

As disclosed in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements on page F-13 of the Form 20-F under the section headed “OrganizationExclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”, in accordance with

2

 


 

the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the WFOEs have the right to designate their subsidiaries and other mainland China subsidiaries of the Company, to provide services including but not limited to technical and consulting services to the VIEs. As such, the Company believes that the “WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries” column represents all the mainland China entities of the Company that have provided or may provide services to the VIEs pursuant to the VIE contractual agreements. Therefore, the Company respectfully proposes not to revise to present a separate column for the WFOEs that are the primary beneficiaries, because such presentation does not provide a clear and complete depiction of the activities between the VIEs and the WFOEs, their subsidiaries and other mainland China subsidiaries of the Company. The Company respectfully advises the Staff that it believes the current presentation provides more meaningful information of the consolidated financial statements in terms of VIE contractual arrangement.

The Company proposes to revise the column “Other Subsidiaries” to “Non-Mainland China Subsidiaries”, which represents all the non-mainland China subsidiaries of the Company. The Company also proposes to move the placement of this column after the column of “Chindata Group Holdings Limited” so that it is clear to which entity the subsidiaries belong.

In response to the Staff’s comments, the Company proposes to revise the disclosure in future filings on Form 20-F as follows, with the added disclosure underlined and the removed disclosure crossed out for ease of reference:

Pages 8 to 11 of the Form 20-F.

The following tables present the condensed consolidating schedules of financial information condensed consolidating financial statements for Chindata Group Holdings Limited, non-mainland China subsidiaries of the Company, our subsidiaries, WFOEs, their subsidiaries and other mainland China subsidiaries of the Company, our VIEs and the VIEs and their subsidiaries for the periods and as of the dates presented. As a result of our direct ownership in our WFOEs and the aforementioned contractual arrangements, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of each of the VIEs for accounting purpose only, and we treat them as our consolidated affiliated entities under the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. We have consolidated the financial results of the VIEs and their respective subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. Our and the consolidated VIEs’ historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this information together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in this annual report.

3

 


 

Condensed Consolidated Consolidating Balance Sheets Data

 

 

As of December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Chindata Group Holdings Limited

 

 

Non-Mainland China Subsidiaries*

 

 

WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries**

 

 

VIEs and Their Subsidiaries

 

 

Eliminating Adjustments

 

 

Consolidated Totals

 

 

 

RMB

(in thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

459,522

 

 

 

760,583

 

 

 

2,592,435

 

 

 

577,753

 

 

-

 

 

 

4,390,293

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

-

 

 

 

14,424

 

 

 

58,085

 

 

 

588,518

 

 

-

 

 

 

661,027

 

Other current assets

 

 

66,690

 

 

 

309,986

 

 

 

779,177

 

 

 

140,150

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,296,003

 

Amounts due from Group companies

 

 

6,110,715

 

 

 

4,315,399

 

 

 

2,127,650

 

 

 

921,276

 

 

 

(13,475,040)

 

 

-

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

 

3,550,034

 

 

 

4,991,407

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(8,541,441)

 

 

-

 

Contractual interest in the consolidated VIEs(1)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

94,780

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(94,780)

 

 

-

 

Property and equipment, net

 

-

 

 

 

1,306,918

 

 

 

7,910,494

 

 

 

57,832

 

 

 

152,347

 

 

 

9,427,591

 

Lease right-of-use assets

 

-

 

 

 

231,503

 

 

 

486,292

 

 

 

222,574

 

 

-

 

 

 

940,369

 

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

 

-

 

 

 

6,145

 

 

 

754,741

 

 

 

17,797

 

 

-

 

 

 

778,683

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

595

 

 

 

525,155

 

 

 

652,121

 

 

 

10,114

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,187,985

 

Total assets

 

 

10,187,556

 

 

 

12,461,520

 

 

 

15,455,775

 

 

 

2,536,014

 

 

 

(21,958,914)

 

 

 

18,681,951

 

Accounts payable

 

-

 

 

 

82,878

 

 

 

1,578,161

 

 

 

40,260

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,701,299

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

50,321

 

 

 

283,252

 

 

 

227,456

 

 

 

38,228

 

 

-

 

 

 

599,257

 

Amounts due to Group companies

 

-

 

 

 

6,110,714

 

 

 

5,247,030

 

 

 

2,111,460

 

 

 

(13,469,204)

 

 

-

 

Bank loans

 

-

 

 

 

2,266,574

 

 

3,210,411

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

 

5,476,985

 

Lease liabilities

 

-

 

 

 

66,369

 

 

 

15,611

 

 

 

224,094

 

 

-

 

 

 

306,074

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

22,603

 

 

 

100,543

 

 

 

351,932

 

 

 

8,626

 

 

-

 

 

 

483,704

 

Total liabilities

 

 

72,924

 

 

 

10,630,601

 

 

 

10,630,601

 

 

 

2,422,668

 

 

 

(13,469,204)

 

 

 

8,567,319

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

10,114,632

 

 

 

4,825,174

 

 

 

4,825,174

 

 

 

113,346

 

 

 

(8,489,710)

 

 

 

10,114,632

 

 

 

 

4

 


 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2020

 

 

 

Chindata Group Holdings Limited

 

 

Non-Mainland China Subsidiaries*

 

 

WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries**

 

 

VIEs and Their Subsidiaries

 

 

Eliminating Adjustments

 

 

Consolidated Totals

 

 

 

RMB

(in thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

3,514,736

 

 

 

1,165,183

 

 

 

1,774,104

 

 

 

251,589

 

 

-

 

 

 

6,705,612

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

-

 

 

22,773

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

399,451

 

 

-

 

 

 

422,224

 

Other current assets

 

-

 

 

 

62,710

 

 

 

390,313

 

 

 

9,117

 

 

-

 

 

 

462,140

 

Amounts due from Group companies

 

 

3,288,014

 

 

 

2,849,098

 

 

 

1,143,304

 

 

 

529,8458

 

 

 

(7,810,261)

 

 

-

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

 

3,033,665

 

 

 

3,146,537

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(6,180,202)

 

 

-

 

Contractual interest in the consolidated VIEs(1)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

91,887

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(91,887)

 

 

-

 

Property and equipment, net

 

-

 

 

 

942,608

 

 

 

5,350,113

 

 

 

64,727

 

 

 

66,382

 

 

 

6,423,830

 

Lease right-of-use assets

 

-

 

 

 

245,042

 

 

 

296,101

 

 

 

239,155

 

 

-

 

 

 

780,298

 

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

 

-

 

 

 

11,182

 

 

 

761,749

 

 

 

20,251

 

 

-

 

 

 

793,182

 

Other non-current assets

 

-

 

 

 

134,253

 

 

 

518,678

 

 

 

19,381

 

 

-

 

 

 

672,312

 

Total assets

 

 

9,836,415

 

 

 

8,579,386

 

 

 

10,326,249

 

 

 

1,533,516

 

 

 

(14,015,968)

 

 

 

16,259,598

 

Accounts payable

 

-

 

 

 

13,636

 

 

 

1,140,700

 

 

 

31,694

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,186,030

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

65,388

 

 

 

59,141

 

 

 

147,912

 

 

 

32,519

 

 

-

 

 

 

304,960

 

Amounts due to Group companies

 

-

 

 

 

3,288,013

 

 

 

3,408,508

 

 

 

1,124,418

 

 

 

(7,820,939)

 

 

-

 

Bank loans

 

-

 

 

 

1,898,183

 

 

2,290,850

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

 

4,189,033

 

Lease liabilities

 

-

 

 

 

65,023

 

 

 

1,946

 

 

 

242,359

 

 

-

 

 

 

309,328

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

31,559

 

 

 

220,605

 

 

 

270,507

 

 

 

8,108

 

 

-

 

 

 

530,779

 

Total liabilities

 

 

96,947

 

 

 

5,544,601

 

 

 

7,260,423

 

 

 

1,439,098

 

 

 

(7,820,939)

 

 

 

6,520,130

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

9,739,468

 

 

 

3,034,785

 

 

 

3,065,826

 

 

 

94,418

 

 

 

(6,195,029)

 

 

 

9,739,468

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Consolidating Statements of Operations Data

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Chindata Group Holdings Limited

 

 

Non-Mainland China Subsidiaries*

 

 

WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries

and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries**

 

 

VIEs and Their Subsidiaries

 

 

Eliminating Adjustments

 

 

Consolidated Totals

 

 

 

RMB

(in thousands)

 

Third-party revenue

 

-

 

 

 

114,681

 

 

 

81,591

 

 

 

2,656,005

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,852,277

 

Inter-company revenue(2)

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,474,284

 

 

136,580

 

 

 

(2,610,864

)

 

-

 

Third-party costs and expenses

 

 

(20,135)

 

 

 

(200,105)

 

 

 

(1,676,059)

 

 

 

(280,833)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(2,177,132)

 

Inter-company costs and expenses(2)

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(72,077)

 

 

(2,516,806)

 

 

 

2,588,883

 

 

-

 

Share of income of subsidiaries

 

 

318,481

 

 

 

569,567

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(888,048)

 

 

-

 

Share of contractual interest in the consolidated VIEs(3)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

(13,093)

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

13,093

 

 

-

 

Others, net

 

 

18,074

 

 

 

(169,940)

 

 

 

(163,661)

 

 

 

19,750

 

 

 

91,468

 

 

 

(204,309)

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

316,420

 

 

 

314,203

 

 

 

630,985

 

 

 

14,696

 

 

 

(805,468)

 

 

 

470,836

 

Income tax expense

 

-

 

 

 

4,278

 

 

 

(146,940)

 

 

 

(11,754)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(154,416)

 

Net income

 

 

316,420

 

 

 

318,481

 

 

 

484,045

 

 

 

2,942

 

 

 

(805,468)

 

 

 

316,420

 

 

5

 


 

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020

 

 

 

Chindata Group Holdings Limited

 

 

Non-Mainland China Subsidiaries*

 

 

WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries**

 

 

VIEs and Their Subsidiaries

 

 

Eliminating Adjustments

 

 

Consolidated Totals

 

 

 

RMB

(in thousands)

 

Third-party revenue

 

-

 

 

124,991

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,706,086

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,831,077

 

Inter-company revenue(2)

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,494,586

 

 

78,749

 

 

 

(1,573,335)

 

 

-

 

Third-party costs and expenses

 

 

(53,945)

 

 

 

(252,179)

 

 

 

(1,174,571)

 

 

 

(322,154)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(1,802,849)

 

Inter-company costs and expenses(2)

 

-

 

 

 

(3,516)

 

 

 

(28,928)

 

 

 

(1,543,916)

 

 

 

1,576,360

 

 

-

 

Share of (loss)/income of subsidiaries

 

 

(232,287)

 

 

 

105,681

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

126,606

 

 

-

 

Share of contractual interest in the consolidated VIEs(3)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

(52,922)

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

52,922

 

 

-

 

Others, net

 

 

2,887

 

 

 

(219,049)

 

 

 

(120,814)

 

 

 

17,758

 

 

 

74,984

 

 

 

(244,234)

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

 

(283,345)

 

 

 

(244,072)

 

 

 

117,351

 

 

 

(63,477)

 

 

 

257,537

 

 

 

(216,006)

 

Income tax expense

 

-

 

 

 

11,785

 

 

 

(89,830)

 

 

 

10,706

 

 

-

 

 

 

(67,339)

 

Net (loss) income

 

 

(283,345)

 

 

 

(232,287)

 

 

 

27,521

 

 

 

(52,771)

 

 

 

257,537

 

 

 

(283,345)

 

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2019

 

 

 

Chindata Group Holdings Limited

 

 

Non-Mainland China Subsidiaries*

 

 

WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries**

 

 

VIEs and Their Subsidiaries

 

 

Eliminating Adjustments

 

 

Consolidated Totals

 

 

 

RMB

(in thousands)

 

Third-party revenue

 

-

 

 

140,895

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

712,115

 

 

-

 

 

 

853,010

 

Inter-company revenue(2)

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

551,251

 

 

32,622

 

 

 

(583,873)

 

 

-

 

Third-party costs and expenses

 

 

(33,523)

 

 

 

(293,738)

 

 

 

(379,933)

 

 

 

(207,870)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(915,064)

 

Inter-company costs and expenses(2)

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(4,809)

 

 

(586,527)

 

 

 

591,336

 

 

-

 

Share of (loss)/income of subsidiaries

 

 

(140,967)

 

 

 

65,907

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

75,060

 

 

-

 

Share of contractual interest in the consolidated VIEs(3)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

(38,998)

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

38,998

 

 

-

 

Others, net

 

 

47

 

 

 

(69,475)

 

 

 

(44,042)

 

 

 

48,021

 

 

 

(43,940)

 

 

 

(109,389)

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

 

(174,443)

 

 

 

(156,411)

 

 

 

83,469

 

 

 

(1,639)

 

 

 

77,581

 

 

 

(171,443)

 

Income tax expense

 

-

 

 

 

15,444

 

 

 

(15,370)

 

 

 

1,668

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,742

 

Net (loss) income

 

 

(174,443)

 

 

 

(140,967)

 

 

 

68,099

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

77,581

 

 

 

(169,701)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 


 

 

Condensed Consolidated Consolidating Cash Flows Data

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2021

 

 

 

Chindata Group Holdings Limited

 

 

Non-Mainland China Subsidiaries*

 

 

WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries**

 

 

VIEs and Their Subsidiaries

 

 

Eliminating Adjustments

 

 

Consolidated Totals

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net cash generated from (used in) inter-company transactions(4)

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,801,815

 

 

(1,801,815)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

Net cash (used in) generated from operating activities with external parties

 

 

(6,049)

 

 

 

(15,473)

 

 

 

(1,266,932)

 

 

 

2,262,491

 

 

 

91,468

 

 

 

1,065,505

 

Net cash (used in) generated from operating activities

 

 

(6,049)

 

 

 

(15,473)

 

 

 

534,883

 

 

 

460,676

 

 

 

91,468

 

 

 

1,065,505

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(2,887,209)

 

 

 

(3,188,783)

 

 

 

(3,111,630)

 

 

 

(133,441)

 

 

 

5,368,092

 

 

 

(3,952,971)

 

Net cash (used in) generated from financing activities

 

 

(4,285)

 

 

 

3,231,633

 

 

 

3,526,344

 

 

 

(1,071)

 

 

 

(5,459,560)

 

 

 

1,293,061

 

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020

 

 

 

Chindata Group Holdings Limited

 

 

Non-Mainland China Subsidiaries*

 

 

WFOEs, Their Subsidiaries and Other Mainland China Subsidiaries**

 

 

VIEs and Their Subsidiaries

 

 

Eliminating Adjustments

 

 

Consolidated Totals

 

 

 

RMB

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net cash generated from (used in) inter-company transactions(4)

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,256,254

 

 

(1,256,254)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

Net cash (used in) generated from operating activities with external parties

 

 

(22,553)

 

 

 

(43,215)

 

 

 

(785,558)

 

 

 

1,441,252

 

 

 

74,984

 

 

 

664,910

 

Net cash (used in) generated from operating activities

 

 

(22,553)

 

 

 

(43,215)

 

 

 

470,696

 

 

 

184,998

 

 

 

74,984

 

 

 

664,910

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(2,893,144)

 

 

 

(2,681,882)

 

 

 

(2,497,361)