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CyrusOne Inc

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FY2020 Annual Report · CyrusOne Inc
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2020 Annual Report

www.cyrusone.com

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 
ACT OF 1934

☒

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

☐

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period   ___________ to ____________          

Commission File Number: 001-35789

CyrusOne Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

46-0691837
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

2850 N. Harwood Street, Suite 2200, Dallas, TX 75201
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(972) 350-0060
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
Common Stock, $.01 par value
1.450% Senior Notes due 2027

Trading Symbol
CONE
CONE27

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
The NASDAQ Global Select Market
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  

Yes ý   No ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. 

Yes ¨   No ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to 
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    

Yes ý   No ¨

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  has  submitted  electronically  every  Interactive  Data  File  required  to  be 
submitted  pursuant  to  Rule  405  of  Regulation  S-T  (§  232.405  of  this  chapter)  during  the  preceding  12  months  (or  for  such 
shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    

Yes ý   No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 
smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, 
“smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer

Non-accelerated filer

☒

☐

Accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

☐

☐

☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition 
period  for  complying  with  any  new  or  revised  financial  accounting  standards  provided  pursuant  to  Section  13(a)  of  the 
Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the 
effectiveness  of  its  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  under  Section  404(b)  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  (15  U.S.C. 
7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ☐   No ý

The aggregate market value of the Common Stock owned by non-affiliates on June 30, 2020, was $8.5 billion, computed 

by reference to the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on such date.

There were 120,460,690 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 12, 2021.

Portions  of  the  definitive  proxy  statement  relating  to  the  Company’s  2021  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  are 

incorporated by reference into Part III of this report to the extent described herein.

EXPLANATORY NOTE 

Unless  otherwise  indicated  or  unless  the  context  requires  otherwise,  all  references  in  this  report  to  “we,”  “us,”  “our,”  “our 
Company”  or  “the  Company”  refer  to  CyrusOne  Inc.,  a  Maryland  corporation,  together  with  its  consolidated  subsidiaries, 
including CyrusOne LP, a Maryland limited partnership. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all 
references  to  “our  operating  partnership”  or  “the  operating  partnership”  refer  to  CyrusOne  LP  together  with  its  consolidated 
subsidiaries. 

CyrusOne  Inc.  is  a  real  estate  investment  trust,  or  REIT,  whose  only  material  asset  is  its  ownership  of  operating  partnership 
units of CyrusOne LP. CyrusOne Inc. does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole beneficial owner and trustee 
of CyrusOne GP, a Maryland statutory trust, issuing public equity from time to time and guaranteeing certain debt of CyrusOne 
LP and certain of its subsidiaries. CyrusOne Inc., directly or indirectly, owns all the operating partnership units of CyrusOne LP 
as  of  December  31,  2020  and  has  the  full,  exclusive  and  complete  responsibility  for  the  operating  partnership's  day-to-day 
management and control. Effective February 1, 2021, the Company reorganized CyrusOne LP to classify the partnership as a 
regarded entity under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). See Part I, Item 1A "Risk 
Factors-Risks  Related  to  Our  Organization  Structure"  of  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  ("Form  10-K")  for  more 
information. CyrusOne Inc. itself does not issue any indebtedness but guarantees the debt of CyrusOne LP and certain of its 
subsidiaries,  as  disclosed  in  this  report.  CyrusOne  LP  and  its  subsidiaries  hold  substantially  all  the  assets  of  the  Company. 
CyrusOne  LP  conducts  the  operations  of  the  business,  along  with  its  subsidiaries,  and  is  structured  as  a  partnership  with  no 
publicly traded equity. Except for net proceeds from public equity issuances by CyrusOne Inc., which are generally contributed 
to  CyrusOne  LP  in  exchange  for  operating  partnership  units,  CyrusOne  LP  generates  the  capital  required  for  the  Company's 
business through CyrusOne LP's operations and incurrence of indebtedness.

As of December 31, 2020, the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock was approximately 120.4 million.

On November 19, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted amendments to Regulation S-K Items 301, 
302 and 303, which became effective on February 10, 2021. Although mandatory compliance is not required until our fiscal 
year ending December 31, 2021, early adoption is permitted, and we have elected to early adopt amended Regulation S-K Items 
301, 302 and 303 in this Form 10-K.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

PART II

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

ITEM 8.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND 
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND 
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

SIGNATURES

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This  Form  10-K,  together  with  other  statements  and  information  publicly  disseminated  by  our  company,  contains  certain 
forward-looking  statements  within  the  meaning  of  Section  27A  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended  (the  "Securities 
Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). We intend such forward-
looking  statements  to  be  covered  by  the  safe  harbor  provisions  for  forward-looking  statements  contained  in  the  Private 
Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995  and  include  this  statement  for  purposes  of  complying  with  these  safe  harbor 
provisions.

In particular, statements pertaining to our capital resources, portfolio performance, financial condition and results of operations 
contain  certain  forward-looking  statements.  Likewise,  all  of  our  statements  regarding  anticipated  growth  in  our  funds  from 
operations and anticipated market conditions, demographics and results of operations are forward-looking statements. You can 
identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” 
“should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” or “anticipates” or the negative of these words and phrases 
or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical 
matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and you should not rely on them as predictions of future 
events. Forward-looking statements depend on assumptions, data or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise and we may not 
be able to realize them. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected.

The  following  factors,  among  others,  could  cause  actual  results  and  future  events  to  differ  materially  from  those  set  forth  or 
contemplated in the forward-looking statements:

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the potential widespread and highly uncertain impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, such as the 
COVID-19 pandemic;

loss of key customers;

indemnification and liability provisions as well as service level commitments in our contracts with customers imposing  
significant costs on us in the event of losses;

economic downturn, natural disaster or oversupply of data centers in the limited geographic areas that we serve;

risks  related  to  the  development  of  our  properties  including,  without  limitation,  obtaining  applicable  permits,  power 
and connectivity, and our ability to successfully lease those properties;

weakening in the fundamentals for data center real estate, including but not limited to increased competition, falling 
market rents, decreases in or slowed growth of global data, e-commerce and demand for outsourcing of data storage 
and cloud-based applications;

loss of access to key third-party service providers and suppliers;

risks of loss of power or cooling which may interrupt our services to our customers;

inability to identify and complete acquisitions and operate acquired properties;

our failure to obtain necessary outside financing on favorable terms, or at all;

restrictions in the instruments governing our indebtedness;

risks related to environmental, social and governance matters;

unknown or contingent liabilities related to our acquisitions;

significant competition in our industry;

recent turnover, or the further loss of, any of our key personnel;

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risks associated with real estate assets and the industry;

failure to maintain our status as a REIT or to comply with the highly technical and complex REIT provisions of the 
Code;

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan;

insufficient cash available for distribution to stockholders;

future offerings of debt may adversely affect the market price of our common stock;

increases in market interest rates will increase our borrowing costs and may drive potential investors to seek higher 
dividend yields and reduce demand for our common stock;

market price and volume of stock could be volatile;

risks related to regulatory changes impacting our customers and demand for colocation space in particular geographies;

our international activities, including those conducted as a result of land acquisitions and with respect to leased land 
and buildings, are subject to special risks different from those faced by us in the United States;

the  continuing  uncertainty  about  the  future  relationship  between  the  United  Kingdom  and  the  European  Union 
following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union;

expanded and widened price increases in certain selective materials for data center development capital expenditures 
due to international trade negotiations;

failure to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations;

legislative or other actions relating to taxes;

any significant security breach or cyber-attack on us or our key partners or customers;

the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and the People's Republic of China ("PRC");

increased operating costs and capital expenditures at our facilities, including those resulting from higher utilization by 
our customers, general market conditions and inflation, exceeding revenue growth; and

other factors affecting the real estate and technology industries generally.

While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. For a further 
discussion of these and other factors that could impact our future results, performance or transactions, see Part I, Item 1A “Risk 
Factors” of this Form 10-K. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking 
statements  as  a  prediction  of  actual  results.  We  disclaim  any  obligation  other  than  as  required  by  law  to  publicly  update  or 
revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors or for new information, data or 
methods, future events or other changes.

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ITEM 1. 

BUSINESS

The Company

PART I

We  are  a  fully  integrated,  self-managed  data  center  real  estate  investment  trust  ("REIT")  that  owns,  operates  and  develops 
enterprise-class,  carrier-neutral,  multi-tenant  and  single-tenant  data  center  properties.  Founded  in  2001,  CyrusOne  Inc. 
successfully completed an initial public offering and began trading on the NASDAQ Exchange on January 18, 2013. Our data 
centers  are  generally  purpose-built  facilities  with  redundant  power  and  cooling.  They  are  not  network  specific  and  enable 
customer  connectivity  to  a  range  of  telecommunication  carriers.  We  design,  build,  and  operate  facilities  across  the  United 
States, Europe and Asia that give customers the flexibility and scale to match their specific growth needs. CyrusOne specializes 
in highly reliable enterprise data center colocation, engineering facilities with the highest power redundancy (i.e., "distributed 
redundant"  architecture  and  in  some  cases  "2N  architecture")  and  power-density  infrastructure  required  to  deliver  excellent 
availability. For a discussion of the steps we have taken to mitigate the potential risks to us posed by COVID-19 as well as its 
effects on our business, see Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

Our  strategy  is  focused  on  hyperscale  cloud  based  providers  and  enterprises,  including  existing  customers  we  believe  have 
significant data center infrastructure needs that have not yet been outsourced or will require additional data center space and 
power  to  support  their  growth  and  their  increasing  reliance  on  technology  infrastructure  in  their  operations.  We  believe  our 
capabilities  and  reputation  for  serving  the  needs  of  large  hyperscale  providers  and  enterprises  will  continue  to  enable  us  to 
capitalize on the growing demand for outsourced data center facilities in our markets and in new markets where our customers 
are located or plan to be located in the future.

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The following diagram depicts our ownership structure as of December 31, 2020:

Our Business

We  provide  mission-critical  data  center  real  estate  assets  that  protect  and  ensure  the  continued  operation  of  information 
technology  ("IT")  infrastructure  for  our  customers.  We  provide  twenty-four  hours-a-day,  seven-days-a-week  security  guard 
monitoring with customizable security features. Our goal is to be the preferred global data center provider to hyperscale cloud 
companies  and  to  the  global  Fortune  1000  enterprises.  Currently,  CyrusOne  customers  include  191  of  the  Fortune  1000 
companies  as  well  as  nine  of  the  Fortune  20  or  private  or  foreign  enterprises  of  equivalent  size,  together  representing 
approximately  79%  of  our  annualized  rent  as  of  December  31,  2020.  See  Our  Portfolio  discussion  for  the  definition  of 
annualized rent. CyrusOne's growth over the past 16 years has made it the third-largest data center provider in the U.S. based on 
the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") REITWatch report as of November 30, 2020.

Data centers are highly specialized and secure real estate assets that serve as centralized deployments of server, storage and 
network equipment. They are designed to provide the space, power, cooling and network connectivity necessary to efficiently 
operate mission-critical IT equipment. Telecommunications carriers typically provide network access into a data center through 
optical fiber. The demand for data center infrastructure is being driven by many factors, but most importantly by significant 
growth  in  data  and  increased  demand  for  data  processing  and  storage  infrastructure.  The  market  for  data  center  facilities 
includes cloud-centric companies with sophisticated technology requirements, as well as established “traditional” enterprises 
that are web-enabling their applications and business processes.

8

We cultivate long-term strategic relationships with our customers and provide them with solutions for their data center facilities 
and IT infrastructure challenges. The Company provides high-quality colocation with robust connectivity and the flexibility for 
customers  to  scale  for  future  growth.  Our  offerings  provide  flexibility,  reliability  and  security  delivered  through  a  tailored, 
customer service-focused platform that is designed to foster long-term relationships. We focus on technology and large cloud 
computing customers that are expanding their data needs rapidly in the public and private cloud environments to provide them 
with solutions that address their current and future needs. Our facilities and construction design allow us to offer flexibility in 
density and power resiliency, and the opportunity for expansion as our customers' needs grow. The Company's network of 55 
owned  or  leased  data  centers  and  investments  with  other  colocation  providers,  enable  us  to  provide  our  customers  with 
solutions in the United States, Europe and Asia. The platform enables high-performance, low-cost data transfer and accessibility 
for customers.

As  a  full-service  provider  of  data  center  solutions,  our  primary  revenue  sources  consist  of  colocation  rent  and  power 
reimbursements  from  the  lease  of  our  data  centers  and  services  or  products  we  provide  to  our  customers  including  managed 
services, equipment sales, installation and other services. Colocation leases may include all or portions of a data center, where 
customers  may  also  lease  office  space  to  support  their  colocation  operations.  Revenue  is  primarily  based  on  power  usage  as 
well as square footage. Managed services are provided in certain contracts pursuant to terms ranging from one to five years and 
include  monitoring  computer  equipment,  managing  backups  and  storage,  utilization  reporting  and  other  related  ancillary 
information technology services using our equipment. Equipment sales, where title transfers to the customer, typically consist 
of servers, switches, networking equipment, cable infrastructure, cabinets and other miscellaneous technology communication 
equipment typically installed in our colocation facilities. Other services are generally one-time services and include installation 
of customer equipment, including products we sell to our tenants, performing customer system reboots, server cabinet and cage 
management, power monitoring, shipping and receiving, resolving technical issues, and other hands-on service requested by the 
customer. 

Our Competitive Strengths

Our  ability  to  attract  and  retain  the  world’s  largest  customers  is  attributed  to  the  following  competitive  strengths,  which 
distinguish us from other data center operators and enable us to continue to grow our operations. 

High  Quality  Customer  Base.  The  high  quality  of  our  assets,  combined  with  our  reputation  for  serving  the  needs  of  large 
enterprises and cloud companies, has enabled us to focus on the Fortune 1000, or other companies of equivalent size, to build a 
quality customer base. We currently have approximately 1,000 customers from a broad spectrum of industries. Our revenue is 
generated by an enterprise customer base, as evidenced by the fact that as of December 31, 2020, 79% of our annualized rent 
comes from 191 of the Fortune 1000 companies as well as nine of the Fortune 20 or private or foreign enterprises of equivalent 
size.  We  serve  a  diversity  of  industries,  including  information  technology,  financial  services,  energy,  oil  and  gas,  mining, 
medical, research and consulting services, and consumer goods and services.

Microsoft Corporation represented 19% of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 20% of our annualized 
rent as of December 31, 2020.

Strategically  Located  Portfolio.  Our  portfolio  is  located  in  several  domestic  and  international  markets  possessing  attractive 
characteristics for enterprise-focused data center operations. We have domestic properties in seven of the largest metropolitan 
areas in the U.S. (Northern Virginia, New York, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio and Dallas) and five of the largest 
metropolitan  areas  for  Fortune  500  headquarters  (New  York,  Houston,  Dallas,  Chicago  and  Santa  Clara).  We  also  have  ten 
properties in international markets including four in London, United Kingdom, three in Frankfurt, Germany, one in Singapore, 
one in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and one in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland. We have data centers under construction in 
Santa Clara, California, Dublin, the Republic of Ireland, Frankfurt, Germany, London, United Kingdom and Paris, France. We 
believe cities with large populations or a large number of corporate headquarters are likely to produce incremental demand for 
IT  infrastructure.  In  addition,  being  located  close  to  our  current  and  potential  customers  provides  chief  information  officers 
("CIOs") with additional confidence when outsourcing their data center infrastructure to us.

Modern, High Quality, Flexible Facilities. Our portfolio includes highly efficient, reliable facilities with flexibility to customize 
customer solutions and accessibility to hundreds of connectivity providers. To optimize the delivery of power, our properties 
include modern engineering technologies designed to minimize unnecessary power usage and, in our newest facilities, we are 
able to provide power utilization efficiency ratios that we believe to be among the best in the multi-tenant data center industry. 
Fortune  1000  CIOs  are  frequently  dividing  their  application  stacks  into  various  groups  as  some  applications  require  100% 
availability,  while  others  may  require  significant  power  to  support  complex  computing,  or  robust  connectivity.  Our  facility 
design  enables  us  to  deliver  different  power  densities  and  resiliencies  to  the  same  customer  footprint,  allowing  customers  to 
tailor solutions to meet their application needs. In addition, the National IX Platform and other connectivity solutions, discussed 
below, provide access to hundreds of telecommunication and Internet carriers.

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Massively Modular® Construction Methods. Our Massively Modular® data center design principles allow us to efficiently stage 
construction on a large scale and deliver critical power and colocation square feet (CSF) in a timeframe that we believe is one 
of  the  best  in  the  industry.  We  acquire  or  build  a  large  powered  shell  capable  of  scaling  with  our  customers’  power  and 
colocation space needs. Once the building shell is ready, we can build individual data center halls in portions of the building 
space to meet the needs of customers on a modular basis. This modular data center hall construction typically can be completed 
in 12 to 16 weeks to meet our customers’ immediate needs. This short construction timeframe ensures a very high utilization of 
the assets and minimizes the time between our capital investment and the recognition of customer revenue, favorably impacting 
our return on investment while also translating into lower costs for our customers. Our design principles also allow us to add 
incremental equipment to increase power densities as our customers’ power needs increase, which provides our customers with 
a  significant  amount  of  flexibility  to  manage  their  IT  demands.  We  believe  this  Massively  Modular®  approach  allows  us  to 
respond to rapidly evolving customer needs and to commit capital toward the highest return projects.

Significant Leasing Capability. Our focus on the customer, our ability to scale with their needs, and our operational excellence 
provide  us  with  embedded  future  growth  from  our  customer  base.  During  2020,  we  signed  new  leases  representing  $156.8 
million  in  annualized  revenue,  with  previously  existing  customers  accounting  for  approximately  94%  of  this  amount.  Since 
December  31,  2019,  we  have  increased  our  CSF  by  approximately  500,000  square  feet  or  12%,  while  maintaining  a  high 
percentage of CSF utilized of 84% and 85% as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Significant,  Attractive  Expansion  Opportunities.  As  of  December  31,  2020,  we  had  2.3  million  gross  square  feet  (GSF)  of 
powered  shell  available  for  future  development  and  approximately  534  acres  of  land  that  are  available  for  future  data  center 
facility development, consisting of 476 acres in U.S. markets and 58 acres in Europe. The powered shell available for future 
development  in  locations  that  are  part  of  our  portfolio  consist  of  approximately  768,000  GSF  in  the  Northeast  (Raleigh-
Durham, Northern Virginia and New York Metro), 830,000 GSF in the Southwest (Texas and Phoenix), 478,000 GSF in the 
Midwest  (Chicago,  Cincinnati  and  Iowa)  and  230,000  GSF  in  our  international  markets  (London,  Frankfurt,  Amsterdam  and 
Singapore). Our current development properties and available acreage were selected based on extensive site selection criteria 
and the collective industry knowledge and experience of our management team, with a focus on markets with a strong presence 
of and high demand by Fortune 1000 companies and providers of cloud services. As a result, we believe that our development 
portfolio contains properties that are located in markets with attractive supply and demand conditions and that possess suitable 
physical characteristics to support data center infrastructure.

Differentiated Reputation for Service. We believe that the decision CIOs make to outsource their data center infrastructure has 
material implications for their businesses and, as such, CIOs look to third-party data center providers that have a reputation for 
serving  similar  organizations  and  that  are  able  to  deliver  a  customized  solution.  We  take  a  consultative  approach  to 
understanding the unique requirements of our customers, and our design principles allow us to deliver a customized data center 
solution to match their needs. We believe that this approach has helped fuel our growth. Our current customers are also often 
the source of new contracts, with referrals being an important source of new customers.

Experienced Management Team. Our management team is comprised of individuals drawing on diverse knowledge and skill 
sets  acquired  through  extensive  experiences  in  the  real  estate,  REITs,  telecommunications,  technology  and  mission-critical 
infrastructure industries.

Balance  Sheet  Positioned  to  Fund  Continued  Growth.  As  of  December  31,  2020,  we  had  $1,712.4  million  in  available 
liquidity,  including  $956.3  million  in  borrowing  capacity  under  our  Amended  Credit  Agreement.  The  Amended  Credit 
Agreement  consists  of  a  $1.4  billion  revolving  credit  facility  ("Revolving  Credit  Facility"),  which  includes  a  $750.0  million 
multicurrency borrowing sublimit, a 3-year term loan with commitments totaling $400.0 million ("2023 Term Loan Facility") 
and  a  $700.0  million  5-year  term  loan  ("2025  Term  Loan  Facility")  (collectively,  the  "Amended  Credit  Agreement").  The 
Amended Credit Agreement also includes an accordion feature providing for an aggregate increase in the revolving and term 
loan components to $4.0 billion, subject to certain conditions. We believe that we are appropriately capitalized with sufficient 
financial flexibility and capacity to fund our anticipated growth. See Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K for a discussion of our 
short-term liquidity.

Experienced Sales Force with Partner Channel. We have an experienced sales force with a particular expertise in selling to 
large enterprises and providers of cloud services, which can require extensive consultation and drive long sales cycles as these 
enterprises make the initial outsourcing decision. As of December 31, 2020, we had 61 sales-related employees. We believe the 
depth,  knowledge,  and  experience  of  our  sales  team  differentiates  us  from  other  data  center  companies,  and  we  are  not  as 
dependent on brokers to identify and acquire customers as some other companies in the industry. To complement our direct 
sales efforts, we have developed a robust network of partners, including value added resellers, systems integrators and hosting 
providers.

10

Business and Growth Strategies

Our objective is to grow our revenue and earnings, and maximize stockholder returns and cash flow, by continuing to expand 
our data center infrastructure outsourcing business.

Increasing  Revenue  from  Existing  Customers  and  Properties.  We  have  historically  generated  a  significant  portion  of  our 
revenue growth from our existing customers, with previously existing customers accounting for approximately 94%, 75% and 
86% of annualized revenue from new leases during 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We will continue to target our existing 
customers because we believe that many have significant data center infrastructure needs that have not yet been outsourced, and 
many will require additional data center space and power to support their growth and their increasing reliance on technology 
infrastructure in their operations. To address new demand, as of December 31, 2020, we have approximately 2.2 million GSF 
currently available for lease. We also have approximately 0.8 million GSF under development, as well as 2.3 million GSF of 
additional  powered  shell  space  under  roof  available  for  future  development  and  approximately  534  acres  of  land  that  are 
available for future data center facility development.

Attracting  and  Retaining  New  Customers.  Increasingly,  enterprises  are  beginning  to  recognize  the  complexities  of  managing 
data  center  infrastructure  in  the  midst  of  digitalization  and  rapid  technological  development  and  innovation.  We  believe  that 
these complexities, brought about by the rapidly increasing levels of Internet traffic and data, private and public cloud adoption, 
obsolete  existing  corporate  data  center  infrastructure,  increased  power  and  cooling  requirements  and  increased  regulatory 
requirements, are all driving the need for companies to outsource their data center facility requirements. Consequently, this will 
significantly  increase  the  percentage  of  companies  that  use  third-party  data  center  colocation  services  over  the  next  several 
years. We believe that our high-quality assets and reputation for serving cloud providers and large enterprises have been, and 
will be, key differentiators for us in attracting customers that are outsourcing their data center infrastructure needs. 

We acquire customers through a variety of channels. We have historically managed our sales process through a direct-to-the-
customer model but also utilize third-party leasing agents and indirect leasing channels to expand our universe of potential new 
customers. Over the past few years, we have developed a network of partners in our indirect leasing channels, including value 
added resellers, systems integrators and hosting providers. These channels, in combination with our marketing strategies, have 
enabled us to build both a strong brand and outreach program to new customers. Throughout the life cycle of a customer’s lease 
with  us,  we  maintain  a  disciplined  approach  to  monitoring  their  experience,  with  the  goal  of  providing  the  highest  level  of 
customer service. This personal attention fosters a strong relationship and trust with our customers, which lead to future growth 
and leasing renewals. 

Expanding into New Markets. Our expansion strategy focuses on acquiring and developing new data centers, both domestically 
and internationally, in markets where our customers are located and in markets with a strong presence of and high demand by 
Fortune 1000 customers and providers of cloud services. We conduct extensive analysis to ensure an identified market displays 
strong  data  center  fundamentals,  independent  of  the  demand  presented  by  any  particular  customer.  In  addition,  we  consider 
markets where our existing customers want us to be located. We regularly communicate with our customers to understand their 
business  strategies  and  potential  data  center  needs.  We  believe  that  this  approach,  combined  with  our  Massively  Modular® 
construction design, reduces the risk associated with expansion into new markets because it provides strong visibility into our 
leasing  opportunities  and  helps  to  ensure  targeted  returns  on  new  developments.  When  considering  a  new  market,  we  take  a 
disciplined  approach  in  evaluating  potential  business,  property  and  site  acquisitions,  including  a  site’s  geographic  attributes, 
availability of telecommunications and connectivity providers, access to power, and expected costs for development.

Growing  Interconnection  Business.  Our  National  IX  Platform  and  other  connectivity  solutions  deliver  interconnection  across 
states and between metro-enabled sites within the CyrusOne facility footprint and beyond. The National IX Platform enables 
high-performance, low-cost data transfer and accessibility for our customers seeking to connect between CyrusOne facilities, 
from CyrusOne to their own private data center facility, or with one another via private peering, cross connects and/or public 
switching environments. Interconnection within a facility or on the National IX Platform and other connectivity solutions allow 
our customers to share information and conduct commerce in a highly efficient manner not requiring a third-party intermediary, 
and  at  a  fraction  of  the  cost  normally  required  to  establish  such  a  connection  between  two  enterprises.  The  demand  for 
interconnection creates additional rental and revenue growth opportunities for us, and we believe that customer interconnections 
increase  our  likelihood  of  customer  retention  by  providing  an  environment  not  easily  replicated  by  competitors.  We  act  as  a 
trusted neutral party that enterprises, carriers and content companies utilize to connect to each other.

Our Portfolio

We operate 55 data centers, including two recovery centers, totaling 8.0 million GSF, of which 84% of the CSF is leased and 
has  874  megawatts  ("MW")  of  power  capacity.  This  includes  13  buildings  where  we  lease  such  facilities.  We  are  lessee  of 
approximately 11% of our total GSF as of December 31, 2020. Also included in our total GSF, CSF and MW are pre-stabilized 

11

assets  (which  include  data  halls  that  have  been  in  service  for  less  than  24  months  and  are  less  than  85%  leased)  that  have 
approximately 404,187 GSF and 39% of the CSF is leased with capacity of 41 MW of power. 

In addition, we have properties under development comprising approximately 0.8 million GSF and 73 MW of power capacity. 
The estimated remaining total costs to develop these properties is projected to be between $321.0 million and $396.0 million. 
The  final  costs  to  develop  are  likely  to  change  depending  on  several  factors  including  the  customer  capital  improvements 
required based on the future lease contracts executed on such properties. We also have 534 acres of land available for future 
data  center  development.  The  following  tables  provide  an  overview  of  our  operating  and  development  properties  as  of 
December 31, 2020.

12

CyrusOne Inc.
Data Center Portfolio
As of December 31, 2020
(unaudited)

Gross Square Feet (GSF)(a)

Annualized 
Rent(c)
($000)

Colocation 
Space 
(CSF)(d) 
(000)

CSF 
Occupied(e)

CSF 
Leased(f)

Office & 
Other(g) 
(000)

Office & 
Other 
Occupied(h)

Supporting
Infrastructure(i)  
(000)

Total(j) 
(000)

$  95,690 

428 

 77  %  79  %  

83 

 45  %  

133 

  644 

68,889 

383 

 99  %  99  %  

11 

 100  %  

145 

  539 

Powered
Shell 
Available
for Future 
Development
(GSF)(k)  
(000)

Available
 Critical 
Load 
Capacity
 (MW)(l)

— 

231 

— 

10 

28 

— 

— 

27 

3 

— 

279 

46 

— 

— 

62 

67 

11 

31 

— 

— 

235 

— 

11 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

13 

4 

9 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

209 

272 
1 

— 

— 

87 

— 

204 

29 

60 

69 

57 

35 

23 

30 

24 

52 

32 

21 

24 

17 

12 

18 

12 

11 

12 

12 

12 

12 

14 

12 

12 

15 

7 

15 

12 
7 

12 

21 

12 

12 

12 

9 

11 

9 

6 

16 
6 

1 

5 

3 

4 

6 

2 

272 

90 

153 

159 

132 

113 

112 

114 

148 

197 

51 

53 

65 

62 

80 

74 

78 

74 

94 

68 

44 

79 

37 

81 

64 
44 

72 

64 

30 

73 

60 

53 

63 

47 

53 

77 
20 

10 

20 

13 

34 

79 

14 

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 86  %  86  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 98  %  98  %  

 76  %  76  %  

 75  %  75  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 52  %  52  %  

 87  %  87  %  

 97  %  97  %  

 99  %  99  %  

 68  %  68  %  

 71  %  71  %  

 99  %  99  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  

35 

9 

27 

9 

9 

34 

11 

11 

6 

6 

22 

8 

45 

15 

4 

35 

6 

6 

 88  %  94  %  

16 

 100  %  100  %  

 99  %  99  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 62  %  62  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  
 88  %  88  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 99  %  99  %  

 39  %  39  %  

 65  %  65  %  

 45  %  48  %  

 53  %  53  %  
 100  %  100  %  

2 

6 

7 

20 

7 

11 
2 

1 

10 

12 

3 

12 

47 

23 

1 

10 

45 
2 

 91  %  91  %   — 

 23  %  23  %   — 

 99  %  99  %  

 100  %  100  %  

4 

26 

 16  %  16  %   — 

 62  %  62  %  

4 

13

 —  %  

 100  %  

 99  %  

 100  %  

 100  %  

 100  %  

 100  %  

 59  %  

 100  %  

 61  %  

 86  %  

 91  %  

 79  %  

 81  %  

 97  %  

 12  %  

 69  %  

 53  %  

 95  %  

 —  %  

 83  %  

 100  %  

 86  %  

 100  %  

 100  %  
 100  %  

 95  %  

 100  %  

 56  %  

 100  %  

 100  %  

 87  %  

 24  %  

 100  %  

 13  %  

 1  %  
 100  %  

 —  %  

 —  %  

 67  %  

 98  %  

 —  %  

 45  %  

— 

  307 

72 

  171 

149 

  329 

55 

  223 

43 

  184 

223 

  371 

37 

  161 

54 

  180 

32 

  187 

175 

  378 

59 

  133 

57 

  118 

53 

  163 

21 

  98 

55 

  139 

39 

  147 

49 

  132 

26 

  105 

82 

  192 

30 

  101 

46 

  96 

34 

  120 

15 

  72 

34 

  122 

41 
22 

  117 
  68 

16 

  89 

93 

  166 

58 

  100 

27 

  103 

27 

  99 

40 

  140 

25 

  112 

35 

  83 

32 

  95 

14 
45 

1 

8 

  136 
  67 

  11 

  28 

41 

  58 

17 

  78 

58 

  137 

12 

  30 

57,786 

40,140 

Stabilized Properties(b)
Dallas - Carrollton

Northern Virginia - Sterling V

Northern Virginia - Sterling VI

Frankfurt II

Somerset I

Metro
Area

Dallas

Northern 
Virginia

Northern 
Virginia

Frankfurt

New York Metro  

34,594 

Northern Virginia - Sterling II

San Antonio III

Chicago - Aurora I

Houston - Houston West I

Dallas - Lewisville*

Phoenix - Chandler VI

Northern 
Virginia

San Antonio

Chicago

Houston

Dallas

Phoenix

Cincinnati - 7th Street***

Cincinnati

34,575 

32,727 

32,686 

28,789 

28,272 

27,460 

26,252 

Totowa - Madison*

New York Metro  

26,023 

Frankfurt I

Frankfurt

Cincinnati - North Cincinnati

Cincinnati

Austin

Houston

Phoenix

Northern 
Virginia

Phoenix

Austin III

Houston - Houston West II

Phoenix - Chandler I

Northern Virginia - Sterling I

Phoenix - Chandler II

Raleigh-Durham I

Phoenix - Chandler III

San Antonio I

Northern Virginia - Sterling III

Raleigh-Durham  

19,907 

Phoenix

San Antonio

Northern 
Virginia

19,684 

19,498 

19,234 

25,390 

22,914 

22,889 

21,461 

20,918 

20,533 

20,389 

Wappingers Falls I*

New York Metro  

18,591 

Northern Virginia - Sterling IV

San Antonio II
Austin II

Phoenix - Chandler V

London II*

London I*

Phoenix - Chandler IV

San Antonio IV

Florence

Houston - Galleria

Cincinnati - Hamilton*

Houston - Houston West III

Chicago - Aurora II (DH #1)
London III*

Northern 
Virginia

San Antonio
Austin

Phoenix

London

London

Phoenix

San Antonio

Cincinnati

Houston

Cincinnati

Houston

Chicago
London

London - Great Bridgewater** London

Stamford - Riverbend*

Norwalk I*

Cincinnati - Mason

Dallas - Allen (DH #1)

Chicago - Lombard

New York Metro  

New York Metro  

Cincinnati

Dallas

Chicago

17,743 

15,917 
15,719 

15,629 

13,658 

13,615 

12,245 

12,014 

10,822 

9,835 

9,082 

7,271 

6,678 
6,522 

5,917 

5,514 

5,157 

4,932 

3,294 

2,538 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CyrusOne Inc.
Data Center Portfolio
As of December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)

Metro
Area

Annualized 
Rent(c)
($000)

Colocation 
Space 
(CSF)(d) 
(000)

CSF 
Occupied(e)

CSF 
Leased(f)

Office & 
Other(g) 
(000)

Office & 
Other 
Occupied(h)

Supporting
Infrastructure(i)  
(000)

Total(j) 
(000)

Gross Square Feet (GSF)(a)

Stabilized Properties(b)
Amsterdam I

Frankfurt III

San Antonio V

Amsterdam

$ 

Frankfurt

San Antonio

Totowa - Commerce*

New York Metro  

Cincinnati - Blue Ash*

Cincinnati

Singapore - Inter Business 
Park**

Singapore

Stamford - Omega*

New York Metro  

Somerset I (DH #14)

New York Metro  

Stabilized Properties - Total

Pre-Stabilized Properties(b)

Northern Virginia - Sterling 
VIII

Northern 
Virginia

Phoenix - Chandler V (DH #2) Phoenix

Northern Virginia - Sterling IX

Council Bluffs I

London II* (DH #3)

London I* (DH #1)

All Properties - Total

Northern 
Virginia

Iowa

London

London

2,338 

1,606 

892 

728 

557 

388 

321 

39 

85 

134 

— 

6 

3 

— 

 100  %  100  %  

 100  %  100  %  

 40  %  89  %  

 —  %  —  %  

 36  %  36  %  

15 

13 

7 

20 

7 

 20  %  20  %   — 

 —  %  —  %  

19 

$  986,224 

  4,398 

 85 %  87 %  

745 

 100  %  

 100  %  

 100  %  

 44  %  

 100  %  

 —  %  

 23  %  

 63 %  

8,587 

2,344 

1,634 

1,049 

263 

— 

— 

61 

71 

16 

53 

42 

17 

8 

 37  %  37  %  

 35  %  56  %  

4 

1 

 —  %  

 100  %  

 82  %  82  %   — 

 —  %  

 27  %  40  %  

 9  %  15  %  

1 

14 

 —  %  —  %   — 

 —  %  —  %   — 

 —  %  

 —  %  

 —  %  

 —  %  

 61 %  

$ 1,000,101    4,665 

 82 %  84 %  

766 

Powered
Shell 
Available
for Future 
Development
(GSF)(k)  
(000)

Available
 Critical 
Load 
Capacity
 (MW)(l)

207 

— 

1 

4 

31 

15 

— 

  — 

— 

— 

1 

1 

— 

  — 

40 

  94 

72 

  170 

38 

  179 

6 

2 

  26 

  15 

— 

3 

4 

  22 

2,491 

 7,634   

2,077 

833 

25 

  90 

8 

  81 

— 

  16 

66 

  120 

18 

  73 

— 

  17 

— 

8 

— 

— 

— 

187 

42 

— 

— 

6 

12 

2 

6 

5 

7 

3 

2,607 

 8,038   

2,305 

874 

* 

Indicates properties in which we hold a leasehold interest in the building shell and land. All data center infrastructure has been constructed by us and is 
owned by us.
Indicates properties in which we hold a leasehold interest in the building shell, land, and all data center infrastructure.

** 
***   The information provided for the Cincinnati - 7th Street property includes data for two facilities, one of which we lease and one of which we own. 

(a) Represents the total square feet of a building under lease or available for lease based on engineers' drawings and estimates but does not include space 

held for development or space used by CyrusOne.

(b) Stabilized properties include data halls that have been in service for at least 24 months or are at least 85% leased. Pre-stabilized properties include data 

halls that have been in service for less than 24 months and are less than 85% leased.

(c) Represents monthly contractual rent (defined as cash rent including customer reimbursements for metered power) under existing customer leases as of 
December 31, 2020 multiplied by 12. For the month of December 2020, customer reimbursements were $173.6 million annualized and consisted of 
reimbursements by customers across all facilities with separately metered power. Customer reimbursements under leases with separately metered power 
vary  from  month-to-month  based  on  factors  such  as  our  customers'  utilization  of  power  and  the  suppliers'  pricing  of  power.  From  January  1,  2019 
through December 31, 2020, customer reimbursements under leases with separately metered power constituted between 13.5% and 19.4% of annualized 
rent. After giving effect to abatements, free rent and other straight-line adjustments, our annualized effective rent as of December 31, 2020 was $1,000.7 
million.  Our  annualized  effective  rent  was  lower  than  our  annualized  rent  as  of  December  31,  2020  because  our  negative  straight-line  and  other 
adjustments and amortization of deferred revenue exceeded our positive straight-line adjustments due to factors such as the timing of contractual rent 
escalations and customer payments for services.

(d) CSF represents the GSF at an operating facility that is currently leased or readily available for lease as colocation space, where customers locate their 

(e)

servers and other IT equipment.
Percent occupied is determined based on CSF billed to customers under signed leases as of December 31, 2020 divided by total CSF. Leases signed but 
that have not commenced billing as of December 31, 2020 are not included.
(f)
Percent leased is calculated by dividing CSF under signed leases for colocation space (whether or not the lease has commenced billing) by total CSF.
(g) Represents the GSF at an operating facility that is currently leased or readily available for lease as space other than CSF, which is typically office and 

other space.

(h) Percent occupied is determined based on Office & Other space being billed to customers under signed leases as of December 31, 2020 divided by total 

Office & Other space. Leases signed but not commenced as of December 31, 2020 are not included.

(i) Represents infrastructure support space, including mechanical, telecommunications and utility rooms, as well as building common areas.
(j) Represents  the  GSF  at  an  operating  facility  that  is  currently  leased  or  readily  available  for  lease.  This  excludes  existing  vacant  space  held  for 

development.

(k) Represents space that is under roof that could be developed in the future for GSF, rounded to the nearest 1,000.
(l) Critical  power  capacity  represents  the  gross  aggregate  of  UPS  power  installed  and  available  to  provide  multiple  redundancy  levels  for  lease  and 
exclusive use by customers. Capacity is stated in megawatts  as represented by UPS manufacturer nameplate ratings and does not include ancillary UPS 
capacity not configured for the direct support of leased customer critical IT load (e.g. dedicated office power, office disaster recovery UPS, or UPS 
utilized  by  CyrusOne  for  infrastructure  control  circuits).  The  available  critical  load  capacity  was  restated  for  certain  properties  as  compared  to  our 
September 30, 2020 disclosure based on a reconciliation performed for each property. Does not sum to total due to rounding.

14

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CyrusOne Inc.
GSF Under Development
As of December 31, 2020
(Dollars in millions)
(unaudited)

Facilities

Metro Area

San Antonio V

San Antonio

Somerset I (DH #15 and 
#16)

New York

Cincinnati - North 
Cincinnati

Dublin I

London III

Northern Virginia - 
Sterling VIII

Frankfurt III (DH #2 and 
#3)

Paris I(g)

Frankfurt III (DH #4)

Frankfurt IV

Total

Cincinnati

Dublin

London

Northern 
Virginia

Frankfurt

Paris

Frankfurt

Frankfurt

GSF Under Development(a)

Under Development Costs(b)

Estimated 
Completion 
Date

Colocation
 Space
(CSF) 
(000)

Office &
 Other 
(000)

Supporting
Infrastructure 
(000)

Powered
  Shell(c)
(000)

Total 
(000)

Critical 
Load MW 
Capacity(d)

Actual
 to
Date(e)

Estimated  
Costs to
Completion(f)

Total

1Q'21  

1Q'21  

2Q'21  

2Q'21  

2Q'21  

2Q'21  

2Q'21  

2Q'21  

3Q'21  

4Q'22  

— 

54 

3 

76 

19 

— 

23 

26 

15 

73 

289 

8 

— 

— 

19 

— 

— 

3 

4 

3 

11 

47 

— 

9 

— 

32 

— 

— 

29 

15 

15 

39 

— 

— 

— 

8 

63 

3 

78 

  204 

— 

19 

6.0 

$0

$25-27

$25-27

5.0 

11 

25-30

36-41

2.0 

  — 

12.0 

6.0 

64 

12 

9-12

47-64

19-24

9-12

111-128

31-36

— 

  — 

6.0 

  — 

20-23

20-23

— 

55 

201 

  246 

— 

33 

— 

  122 

9.0 

6.0 

4.0 

14 

21 

5 

9-13

34-47

8-11

23-27

55-68

13-16

17.0 

  — 

125-145

125-145

137 

279 

  753 

73.0 

$127

$321-396 $448-523

(a) Represents GSF at a facility for which, as of December 31, 2020, activities have commenced or are expected to commence in the next 2 quarters to 

prepare the space for its intended use. Estimates and timing are subject to change. May not sum to total due to rounding.

(b) London development costs are GBP-denominated and shown as USD-equivalent based on an exchange rate of 1.37 as of December 31, 2020. Dublin, 
Frankfurt  and  Paris  development  costs  are  EUR-denominated  and  shown  as  USD-equivalent  based  on  an  exchange  rate  of  1.23  as  of December  31, 
2020.

(c) Represents GSF under construction that, upon completion, will be powered shell available for future development into GSF.
(d) Critical  power  capacity  represents  the  gross  aggregate  of  UPS  power  installed  and  available  to  provide  multiple  redundancy  levels  for  lease  and 
exclusive use by customers. Capacity is stated in megawatts as represented by UPS manufacturer nameplate ratings and does not include ancillary UPS 
capacity not configured for the direct support of leased customer critical IT load.

(e) Actual to date is the cash investment as of December 31, 2020. There may be accruals above this amount for work completed, for which cash has not 

yet been paid.

(f) Represents management’s estimate of the total costs required  to  complete the current GSF under development. There  may be an increase  in costs  if 

customers require greater power density.

(g) Paris I is 100% pre-leased, with development planned in phases through mid-2026 to align with customer commitments.

15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer Diversification

Our portfolio is currently leased to approximately 1,000 customers, many of which are leading global companies. The following 
table sets forth information regarding the 20 largest customers, including their affiliates, in our portfolio based on annualized 
rent as of December 31, 2020:

CyrusOne Inc.
Customer Sector Diversification(a)
As of December 31, 2020
(unaudited)

Principal Customer Industry

Number of
Locations

Annualized
Rent(b) (000)

Percentage of
Portfolio
Annualized
Rent(c)

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Lease Term in
Months(d)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Information Technology

Information Technology

Information Technology

Information Technology

Information Technology

Information Technology

Information Technology

Financial Services

Information Technology

Healthcare

Research and Consulting Services

Financial Services

Telecommunication Services

Telecommunication Services

Information Technology

Consumer Staples

Telecommunication Services

Industrials

Information Technology

Telecommunication Services

11  $ 

195,581 

 19.6 %  

11 

5 

5 

6 

9 

7 

1 

3 

2 

3 

4 

2 

2 

1 

3 

1 

5 

1 

8 

70,461 

56,062 

46,222 

41,633 

25,394 

19,781 

19,462 

17,092 

15,852 

13,258 

11,019 

10,191 

9,991 

9,734 

9,235 

8,330 

8,033 

7,657 

7,589 

 7.0 %  

 5.6 %  

 4.6 %  

 4.2 %  

 2.5 %  

 2.0 %  

 1.9 %  

 1.7 %  

 1.6 %  

 1.3 %  

 1.1 %  

 1.0 %  

 1.0 %  

 1.0 %  

 0.9 %  

 0.8 %  

 0.8 %  

 0.8 %  

 0.8 %  

$ 

602,578 

 60.3 %  

90.1 

22.3 

43.3 

30.5 

41.4 

41.1 

27.0 

123.0 

35.9 

84.0 

22.0 

87.2 

10.5 

39.4 

38.6 

2.5 

82.4 

26.2 

7.2 

25.0 

56.4 

(a) Customers and their affiliates are consolidated.
(b) Represents monthly contractual rent (defined as cash rent including customer reimbursements for metered power) under existing customer leases as of 
December 31, 2020, multiplied by 12. For the month of December 2020, customer reimbursements were $173.6 million annualized and consisted of 
reimbursements by customers across all facilities with separately metered power. Customer reimbursements under leases with separately metered power 
vary  from  month-to-month  based  on  factors  such  as  our  customers'  utilization  of  power  and  the  suppliers'  pricing  of  power.  From  January  1,  2019  
through December 31, 2020, customer reimbursements under leases with separately metered power constituted between 13.5% and 19.4% of annualized 
rent. After giving effect to abatements, free rent and other straight-line adjustments, our annualized effective rent as of December 31, 2020 was $1,000.7 
million.  Our  annualized  effective  rent  was  lower  than  our  annualized  rent  as  of  December  31,  2020  because  our  negative  straight-line  and  other 
adjustments and amortization of deferred revenue exceeded our positive straight-line adjustments due to factors such as the timing of contractual rent 
escalations and customer payments for services.

(c) Represents the customer’s total annualized rent divided by the total annualized rent in the portfolio as of December 31, 2020, which was approximately 

$1,000.1 million.

(d) Weighted average based on customer’s percentage of total annualized rent expiring and is as of December 31, 2020, assuming that customers exercise 
no renewal options and exercise all early termination rights that require payment of less than 50% of the remaining rents. Early termination rights that 
require payment of 50% or more of the remaining lease payments are not assumed to be exercised because such payments approximate the profitability 
margin of leasing that space to the customer, such that we do not consider early termination to be economically detrimental to us.

16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lease Distribution

The following table sets forth information relating to the distribution of customer leases in the properties in our portfolio, based 
on GSF under lease as of December 31, 2020:

CyrusOne Inc.
Lease Distribution
As of December 31, 2020
(unaudited)

GSF Under Lease(a)

0-999

1000-2499

2500-4999

5000-9999

10000+

Total

Number of
Customers(b)

Percentage of
All Customers

Total  Leased
GSF(c) (000)

Percentage of
Portfolio
Leased GSF

Annualized
Rent(d) (000)

Percentage of
Annualized Rent

632 

115 

67 

43 

87 

944 

 67  %  

 12  %  

 7  %  

 5  %  

 9  %  

 100 %  

127 

179 

236 

302 

5,012 

5,856 

 2  % $ 

 3  %  

 4  %  

 5  %  

96,007 

46,517 

47,217 

49,128 

 86  %  

761,232 

 100 % $ 

1,000,101 

 10  %

 4  %

 5  %

 5  %

 76  %

 100 %

(a) Represents all leases in our portfolio, including colocation, office and other leases.
(b) Represents the number of customers occupying data center, office and other space as of December 31, 2020. This may vary from total customer count 

as some customers may be under contract but have yet to occupy space.

(c) Represents  the  total  square  feet  at  a  facility  under  lease  and  that  has  commenced  billing,  excluding  space  held  for  development  or  space  used  by 
CyrusOne. A customer’s leased GSF is estimated based on such customer’s direct CSF or office and light-industrial space plus management’s estimate 
of infrastructure support space, including mechanical, telecommunications and utility rooms, as well as building common areas.

(d) Represents monthly contractual rent (defined as cash rent including customer reimbursements for metered power) under existing customer leases as of 
December 31, 2020, multiplied by 12. For the month of December 2020, customer reimbursements were $173.6 million annualized and consisted of 
reimbursements by customers across all facilities with separately metered power. Customer reimbursements under leases with separately metered power 
vary  from  month-to-month  based  on  factors  such  as  our  customers'  utilization  of  power  and  the  suppliers'  pricing  of  power.  From  January  1,  2019 
through December 31, 2020, customer reimbursements under leases with separately metered power constituted between 13.5% and 19.4% of annualized 
rent. After giving effect to abatements, free rent and other straight-line adjustments, our annualized effective rent as of December 31, 2020 was $1,000.7 
million.  Our  annualized  effective  rent  was  lower  than  our  annualized  rent  as  of  December  31,  2020  because  our  negative  straight-line  and  other 
adjustments and amortization of deferred revenue exceeded our positive straight-line adjustments due to factors such as the timing of contractual rent 
escalations and customer payments for services.

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
Lease Expiration

The  following  table  sets  forth  a  summary  schedule  of  the  customer  lease  expirations  for  leases  in  place  as  of  December  31, 
2020, plus available space, for each of the 10 full calendar years beginning January 1, 2021, at the properties in our portfolio. 

CyrusOne Inc.
Lease Expirations
As of December 31, 2020
(unaudited)

Year(a)

Available

Month-to-Month

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031 - Thereafter

Total

Number of
Leases
Expiring(b)

Total GSF  
Expiring (000)

Percentage of
Total GSF

Annualized
Rent(c) (000)

Percentage of
Annualized Rent

Annualized 
Rent
at Expiration
(d) (000)

Percentage of
Annualized 
Rent at 
Expiration

1,484 

3,225 

2,062 

1,497 

351 

170 

64 

42 

18 

8 

8 

23 

2,178 

 27  %

208 

728 

830 

 3  % $ 

39,394 

 4  % $ 

42,355 

 9  %  

175,710 

 18  %  

182,041 

 10  %  

148,330 

 15  %  

155,371 

1,023 

 13  %  

163,263 

 16  %  

176,342 

501 

284 

670 

552 

278 

83 

160 

542 

 6  %  

 4  %  

 8  %  

 7  %  

 3  %  

 1  %  

 2  %  

 7  %  

111,226 

43,477 

104,585 

93,866 

35,779 

6,863 

7,432 

70,173 

 11  %  

123,231 

 4  %  

55,275 

 10  %  

111,564 

 9  %  

108,449 

 4  %  

 1  %  

 1  %  

 7  %  

40,340 

8,832 

20,003 

83,180 

 4  %

 16  %

 14  %

 16  %

 11  %

 5  %

 10  %

 10  %

 4  %

 1  %

 2  %

 7  %

8,952 

8,038 

 100 % $ 

1,000,101 

 100 % $  1,106,982 

 100 %

(a) Leases that were auto-renewed prior to December 31, 2020 are shown in the calendar year in which their current auto-renewed term expires. Unless 
otherwise  stated  in  the  footnotes,  the  information  set  forth  in  the  table  assumes  that  customers  exercise  no  renewal  options  and  exercise  all  early 
termination rights that require payment of less than 50% of the remaining rents. Early termination rights that require payment of 50% or more of the 
remaining lease payments are not assumed to be exercised.

(b) Number  of  leases  represents  each  agreement  with  a  customer.  A  lease  agreement  could  include  multiple  spaces  and  a  customer  could  have  multiple 

leases.

(c) Represents monthly contractual rent (defined as cash rent including customer reimbursements for metered power) under existing customer leases as of 
December 31, 2020, multiplied by 12. For the month of December 2020, customer reimbursements were $173.6 million annualized and consisted of 
reimbursements by customers across all facilities with separately metered power. Customer reimbursements under leases with separately metered power 
vary  from  month-to-month  based  on  factors  such  as  our  customers'  utilization  of  power  and  the  suppliers'  pricing  of  power.  From  January  1,  2019 
through December 31, 2020, customer reimbursements under leases with separately metered power constituted between 13.5% and 19.4% of annualized 
rent. After giving effect to abatements, free rent and other straight-line adjustments, our annualized effective rent as of December 31, 2020 was $1,000.7 
million.  Our  annualized  effective  rent  was  lower  than  our  annualized  rent  as  of  December  31,  2020  because  our  negative  straight-line  and  other 
adjustments and amortization of deferred revenue exceeded our positive straight-line adjustments due to factors such as the timing of contractual rent 
escalations and customer payments for services.

(d) Represents the final monthly contractual rent under existing customer leases that had commenced as of December 31, 2020, multiplied by 12.

18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regulation

General

Properties  in  our  markets  are  subject  to  various  laws,  ordinances  and  regulations,  including  regulations  relating  to  common 
areas. In addition to the regulations described below, we are subject to various federal, state and local regulations, such as state 
and local fire and life safety and environmental regulations. We believe that each of our properties has, or is expected to have 
when required, the necessary permits and approvals for us to operate our business.

Americans With Disabilities Act 

Our properties must comply with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or the ADA, to the extent that such 
properties are “public accommodations” as defined by the ADA. The ADA may require removal of structural barriers to access 
by persons with disabilities in certain public areas of our properties where such removal is readily achievable. We believe that 
our  properties  are  in  substantial  compliance  with  the  ADA  and  that  we  will  not  be  required  to  make  substantial  capital 
expenditures  to  address  the  requirements  of  the  ADA.  However,  noncompliance  with  the  ADA  could  result  in  imposition  of 
fines or an award of damages to private litigants. The obligation to make readily achievable accommodations is an ongoing one, 
and we will continue to assess our properties and to make alterations as appropriate in this respect. 

Environmental Matters

We are subject to laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, the storage, management and disposal of 
hazardous materials, emissions to air and discharges to water, the cleanup of contaminated sites, noise ordinances and health 
and safety matters. These include various regulations promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal, 
state,  and  local  regulatory  agencies  and  legislative  bodies  relating  to  our  operations,  including  those  involving  power 
generators,  batteries,  and  fuel  storage  to  support  co-location  infrastructure.  While  we  believe  that  our  operations  are  in 
substantial compliance with environmental, health, and human safety laws and regulations, as an owner or operator of property 
and  in  connection  with  the  current  and  historical  use  of  hazardous  materials  and  other  operations  at  its  sites,  we  could  incur 
significant costs, including fines, penalties and other sanctions, cleanup costs and third-party claims for property damages or 
personal  injuries,  as  a  result  of  violations  of  or  liabilities  under  environmental  laws  and  regulations.  Fuel  storage  tanks  are 
present  at  many  of  our  properties,  and  if  releases  were  to  occur,  we  may  be  liable  for  the  costs  of  cleaning  up  resulting 
contamination.  Some  of  our  sites  also  have  a  history  of  previous  commercial  operations,  including  past  underground  storage 
tanks.  

Some  of  the  properties  may  contain  asbestos-containing  building  materials.  Environmental  laws  require  that  asbestos-
containing building materials be properly managed and maintained and may impose fines and penalties on building owners or 
operators for failure to comply with these requirements.   

Environmental consultants have conducted Phase I or similar non-intrusive environmental site assessments on recently acquired 
properties  and,  if  appropriate,  additional  environmental  inquiries  and  assessments.  Nonetheless,  we  may  acquire  or  develop 
sites in the future with unknown environmental conditions from historical operations. Although we are not aware of any sites at 
which  we  currently  have  material  remedial  obligations,  the  imposition  of  remedial  obligations  as  a  result  of  spill  or  the 
discovery of contaminants in the future could result in significant additional costs to us.

Our  operations  also  require  us  to  obtain  permits  and/or  other  governmental  approvals  and  to  develop  response  plans  in 
connection  with  the  use  of  our  generators  or  other  operations.  These  requirements  could  restrict  our  operations  or  delay  the 
development of data centers in the future. In addition, from time to time, federal, state or local government regulators enact new 
or  revise  existing  legislation  or  regulations  that  could  affect  us,  either  beneficially  or  adversely.  As  a  result,  we  could  incur 
significant costs in complying with environmental laws or regulations that are promulgated in the future.

Insurance

We carry comprehensive liability, fire,  extended  coverage, business interruption and rental loss insurance  covering all of the 
properties  in  our  portfolio  under  a  blanket  policy.  In  the  opinion  of  our  management,  our  policy  specifications,  limits  and 
insurance carriers are appropriate given the relative risk of loss, the cost of coverage and industry practice. We cannot provide 
any assurance that the business interruption or property insurance we have will cover all losses that we may experience, that the 
insurance  carrier  will  be  solvent,  that  rates  will  remain  commercially  reasonable,  that  insurance  carriers  will  not  cancel  our 
policies, or that the insurance carriers will pay all claims made by us. Certain circumstances, such as acts of war, are generally 
uninsurable  under  our  policies.  See  also  “Risk  Factors-Risks  Related  to  Our  Business  and  Operations."  Any  losses  to  our 
properties  that  are  not  covered  by  insurance,  or  that  exceed  our  policy  coverage  limits,  could  adversely  affect  our  business, 
financial condition and results of operations.

19

Competition

We compete with numerous public and private companies, developers, owners and operators of technology-related real estate 
and data centers, many of which own properties similar to ours in the same markets in which our properties are located, as well 
as  various  other  public  and  privately  held  companies  that  may  provide  data  center  colocation  as  part  of  a  more  expansive 
managed services offering. If our competitors offer space at rental rates below current market rates or below the rental rates we 
currently  charge  our  customers  or  otherwise  adopt  aggressive  pricing  policies,  or  if  our  competitors  offer  space  that  tenants 
perceive  to  be  superior  to  ours  (based  on  numerous  factors  including  power,  security  considerations,  location  or  network 
connectivity), we may lose existing or potential customers and we may be pressured to reduce our rental rates below those we 
currently  charge  in  order  to  retain  customers  when  our  customers’  leases  expire  or  incur  costs  to  improve  our  properties.  In 
addition,  our  customers  have  the  option  of  building  their  own  data  center  space  which  can  also  place  pressure  on  our  rental 
rates.

As a developer of data center space and provider of interconnection services, we also compete for the services of key third-party 
providers  of  services,  including  engineers  and  contractors  with  expertise  in  the  development  of  data  centers.  There  is 
competition  for  the  services  of  specialized  contractors  and  other  third-party  providers  required  for  the  development  of  data 
centers, increasing the cost of engaging such providers and the risk of delays in completing our development projects. 

In addition, we face competition from real estate developers in our sector and in other industries for the acquisition of additional 
properties  suitable  for  the  development  of  data  centers.  Such  competition  may  reduce  the  number  of  properties  available  for 
acquisition, increase the price of these properties and reduce the demand for data center space in the markets we seek to serve.

Human Capital

As of December 31, 2020, we have 441 team members employed by the Company, including 88 employees located in European 
countries.  This  includes  approximately  209  in  data  center  operations,  61  in  sales  and  marketing,  29  in  construction  and 
engineering and 142 in corporate operations. None of our employees have chosen to be represented by a labor union.

Our employees focus on taking care of our customers which we believe drives value creation for our shareholders. We offer 
competitive  benefits  and  training  programs  to  develop  employees’  expertise  and  performance  and  have  corporate  policies  to 
strive  to  provide  a  safe,  harassment-free  work  environment  guided  by  principles  of  fair  and  equal  treatment  and  prioritize 
effective communication and employee engagement. The Company maintains an Ethics and Compliance Hotline designed for 
employees or other stakeholders to report any violation of our policies, including our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or 
other  concerns  you  may  have  regarding  unethical  or  illegal  business  conduct.  See  Part  III,  Item  10  "Directors,  Executive 
Officers and Corporate Governance” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K") for more information.

We track key human capital metrics including demographics, talent pipeline, diversity, and employee engagement. We have a 
stable  workforce  with  an  average  tenure  of  4.5  years  and  voluntary  employee  turnover  of  approximately  7%  during  the  year 
ended December 31, 2020. To attract diversity in our applicant pools, we post our openings to a wide variety of job boards and 
deploy  appropriate  language  in  our  postings.  As  of  December  31,  2020,  our  U.S.  workforce  is  approximately  67%  non-
minority, 31% minority and 2% have chosen not to identify. As of December 31, 2020, our employee base self-identified as 
78% male and 22% female, and our senior leadership team consists of 17% executives identifying as female. As of February 
19, 2021, our board of directors consists of 25% directors identifying as female or minority.

Financial Information

For financial information related to our operations, please refer to the financial statements including the notes thereto, included 
in this Form 10-K.

How to Obtain Our SEC Filings

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. All reports we file with the 
SEC  will  be  available  free  of  charge  via  EDGAR  through  the  SEC  website  at  http://www.sec.gov.  We  make  available  our 
reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K (as well as all amendments to these reports), and other information, free of charge, at the 
"Investors" section of our website at http://www.cyrusone.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our 
website is not incorporated by reference into, nor does it form a part of, this report or any other document that we file with the 
SEC.

20

ITEM 1A. 

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider all the risks described below, as well as the other information contained in this document when 
evaluating  your  investment  in  our  securities.  Any  of  the  following  risks  could  materially  and  adversely  affect  our  business, 
financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common 
stock.  The  risks  and  uncertainties  described  below  are  those  that  we  currently  believe  may  materially  affect  our  Company. 
Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are unaware or that we currently deem immaterial also may become important 
factors  that  affect  our  Company.  The  occurrence  of  any  of  the  following  risks  might  cause  you  to  lose  all  or  a  part  of  your 
investment. Some statements in this Form 10-K, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking 
statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Summary Risk Factors

The following is a summary of some of the risks and uncertainties that could materially adversely affect our business, financial 
condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock. You 
should read this summary together with the more detailed description of each risk factor contained below.

Risks Related to Our Business and Operations

• A small number of customers account for a significant portion of our revenue.

• A significant percentage of our customer leases expire each year or are on a month-to-month basis, and many of our 

leases contain early termination provisions.

• Our contracts with our customers typically contain indemnification and liability provisions, in addition to service level 

commitments, which could potentially impose a significant cost on us in the event of losses.

• Our  customers  may  choose  to  develop  or  relocate  into  new  data  centers  or  expand  their  own  existing  data  centers, 

which could result in the loss of one or more key customers or reduce demand for our data centers.

• A decrease in the demand for data center space, or an increase in supply driving down market prices, could adversely 
affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  ability  to  pay  dividends  as  well  as  the 
market price of our common stock.

• We face significant competition and may be unable to lease vacant space, renew existing leases or re-lease space as 

leases expire.

• We do not own all of the land or buildings in which our data centers are located but lease or sublease certain of our 

data center spaces.

• Our real estate development strategies may not be successful, and our growth depends on our data center development 

activities and our ability to successfully lease our developed properties.

• Any failure of our physical infrastructure or services could lead to significant costs and disruptions that could reduce 

our revenues and harm our brand and reputation.

• Our  data  center  infrastructure  may  become  obsolete,  and  we  may  not  be  able  to  operate  or  upgrade  our  power  and 

cooling systems cost-effectively, or at all.

• We have been and may continue to be vulnerable to security breaches or cyber-attacks which have disrupted and could 

disrupt our operations and harm our brand and reputation.

• We may be subject to unknown or contingent liabilities related to properties or businesses that we acquire for which 

we may have limited or no recourse against the sellers.

21

 
•

Recent  turnover,  or  the  further  loss,  of  any  of  our  key  personnel,  including  our  executive  officers  or  key  sales 
associates.

• Any failure of our connectivity solutions could lead to significant costs and disruptions that could reduce our revenue 

and harm our business reputation and financial results.

Risks Related to the Real Estate Industry

• Our performance and value are subject to risks associated with real estate assets and with the real estate industry.

•

Illiquidity of real estate investments, particularly our data centers, could significantly impede our ability to respond to 
adverse changes in the performance of our properties, which could harm our financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Debt and Capital Structure

•

To fund our growth strategy and refinance our indebtedness, we depend on external sources of capital, which may not 
be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

• We have significant outstanding indebtedness that involves significant debt service obligations, limits our operational 
and financial  flexibility, exposes us to interest rate  fluctuations and exposes us  to the  risk  of  default  under our debt 
obligations.

•

Failure to hedge effectively against interest rate changes and our increased exposure to foreign currency fluctuations as 
a result of our foreign currency hedging activities may adversely affect our results of operations.

Risks Related to Our General Business

•

The  recent  novel  coronavirus  (COVID-19)  pandemic  and  measures  to  prevent  its  spread  could  materially  adversely 
impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the 
market price of our common stock.

• Our international activities are subject to special risks different from those faced by us in the United States, including 
compliance with anti-corruption laws and regulations, and we may not be able to effectively manage our international 
business.

•

The  continuing  uncertainty  following  the  United  Kingdom’s  withdrawal  from  the  European  Union  may  have  a 
negative effect on global economic conditions, financial markets and our business, which could adversely affect our 
business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure

• Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action against our directors and officers are limited.

• Our charter and bylaws, the partnership agreement of our operating partnership and certain provisions of Maryland law 

contain provisions that may delay, defer or prevent an acquisition of our common stock or a change in control.

Risks Related to Status as a REIT

•

If we fail to remain qualified as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as a regular corporation and 
could face a substantial tax liability and even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that 
reduce our cash flow.

• Qualifying as a REIT involves highly technical and complex Code provisions. Our continued qualification as a REIT 
will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, stockholder ownership and other 
requirements on a continuing basis.

•

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.

22

•

REIT requirements may limit opportunities.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

• Our cash available for distribution to stockholders may not be sufficient to make distributions at expected levels, and 
we  may  need  to  borrow  in  order  to  make  such  distributions;  consequently,  we  may  not  be  able  to  make  such 
distributions in full.

Risks Related to Our Business and Operations

A  small  number  of  customers  account  for  a  significant  portion  of  our  revenue.  The  loss  or  significant  reduction  in 
business from one or more of our large customers could significantly harm our business, financial condition, results of 
operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

We  currently  depend,  and  expect  to  continue  to  depend,  upon  a  relatively  small  number  of  customers  for  a  significant 
percentage of our revenue. Our top 10 customers collectively accounted for approximately 51% of our total annualized rent as 
of December 31, 2020. We have one customer which represented 19% of our total revenue as of December 31, 2020 and 20% 
of our annualized rent as of December 31, 2020. As a result of this customer concentration, our business, financial condition, 
results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  ability  to  pay  dividends  as  well  as  the  market  price  of  our  common  stock  could  be 
adversely affected if we lose one or more of our larger customers, if one or more of such customers significantly reduce their 
business with us or if we choose not to enforce, or to enforce less vigorously, any rights that we may have now or in the future 
against these significant customers because of our desire to maintain our relationship with them.

A significant percentage of our customer base is also concentrated in two industry sectors: information technology and financial 
services.  Enterprises  in  the  information  technology  and  financial  services  sectors  comprised  approximately  61%  and  14% 
respectively, of our annualized rent as of December 31, 2020. A downturn in one of these industries could negatively impact the 
financial condition of one or more of our information technology or financial services customers, including several of our larger 
customers. In addition, instability in financial markets and economies generally may adversely affect our customers’ ability to 
replace  or  renew  maturing  liabilities  on  a  timely  basis,  access  the  capital  markets  to  meet  liquidity  and  capital  expenditure 
requirements and may result in adverse effects on our customers’ financial condition and results of operations. As a result of 
these factors, customers could default on their obligations to us, delay the purchase of new services from us or decline to renew 
expiring leases, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows 
and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

Additionally,  if  any  customer  becomes  a  debtor  in  a  case  under  the  U.S.  Bankruptcy  Code,  applicable  bankruptcy  laws  may 
limit our ability to terminate our contract with such customer solely because of the bankruptcy or recover any amounts owed to 
us under our agreements with such customer. In addition, applicable bankruptcy laws could allow the customer to reject and 
terminate its agreement with us, with limited ability for us to collect the full amount of our damages. Our business, including 
our  revenue  and  cash  available  for  distribution  to  our  stockholders,  could  be  adversely  affected  if  any  of  our  significant 
customers were to become bankrupt or insolvent.

A significant percentage of our customer leases expire each year or are on a month-to-month basis, and many of our 
leases contain early termination provisions. If leases with our customers are not renewed on the same or more favorable 
terms or are terminated early by our customers, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and 
ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock could be substantially harmed.

Our customers may not renew their leases upon expiration. This risk is increased by the significant percentage of our customer 
leases that expire every year. As of December 31, 2020, leases representing 18%, 15% and 16% of the annualized rent for our 
portfolio  will  expire  during  2021,  2022  and  2023,  respectively,  and  an  additional  4%  of  the  2020  annualized  rent  for  our 
portfolio  was  from  month-to-month  leases.  While  historically  we  have  retained  a  significant  number  of  our  customers, 
including those leasing from us on a month-to-month basis, upon expiration our customers may elect not to renew their leases 
or renew their leases at lower rates, for less space, for fewer services or for shorter terms. If we are unable to successfully renew 
or continue our customer leases on the same or more favorable terms or subsequently re-lease available data center space when 
such leases expire, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the 
market price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

In addition, many of our leases contain early termination provisions that allow our customers to reduce the term of their leases 
subject to payment of an early termination charge that is often a specified portion of the remaining rent payable on such leases. 
The exercise by customers of early termination options could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results 
of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

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Our  contracts  with  our  customers  may  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  cash 
flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

In  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  we  enter  into  agreements  with  our  customers  pursuant  to  which  our  customers  lease  or 
otherwise  contract  for  the  use  of  data  center  space  from  us.  These  contracts  typically  contain  indemnification  and  liability 
provisions, in addition to service level commitments, which could potentially impose a significant cost on us in the event of 
losses  arising  out  of  certain  breaches  of  such  agreements,  services  to  be  provided  by  us  or  our  subcontractors  or  from  third-
party  claims.  Customers  increasingly  are  looking  to  pass  through  their  regulatory  obligations  and  other  liabilities  to  their 
outsourced data center providers and we may not be able to limit our liability or damages in an event of loss suffered by such 
customers,  whether  as  a  result  of  our  breach  of  agreement  or  otherwise.  Further,  liabilities  and  standards  for  damages  and 
enforcement  actions,  including  the  regulatory  framework  applicable  to  different  types  of  losses,  vary  by  jurisdiction,  and  we 
may be subject to greater liability for certain losses in certain jurisdictions. Additionally, in connection with our acquisitions, 
we have assumed and expect to assume existing agreements with customers that may subject us to greater liability for such an 
event of loss. If such an event of loss occurred, we could be liable for material monetary damages and could incur significant 
legal  fees  in  defending  against  such  an  action,  which  could  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

Our customers may choose to develop or relocate into new data centers or expand their own existing data centers, which 
could result in the loss of one or more key customers or reduce demand for our data centers.

In the future, our customers may choose to develop or relocate to new data centers or expand or consolidate into their existing 
data centers that we do not own. In the event that any of our key customers were to do so, it could result in a loss of business to 
us  or  put  pressure  on  our  pricing.  If  we  lose  a  customer,  we  cannot  provide  assurance  that  we  would  be  able  to  replace  that 
customer  at  a  competitive  rate  or  at  all,  which  could  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations, 
cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

A decrease in the demand for data center space, or an increase in supply driving down market prices, could adversely 
affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  ability  to  pay  dividends  as  well  as  the 
market price of our common stock.

Substantially all of our properties consist of data center space. The adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of 
operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock from a decreased demand 
for  data  center  space  would  likely  be  greater  than  if  we  owned  a  portfolio  with  a  more  diversified  customer  base  or  less 
specialized use. Adverse developments in the outsourced data center space industry could lead to reduced corporate IT spending 
or reduced demand for outsourced data center space. Changes in industry practice or in technology, such as server virtualization 
technology,  more  efficient  or  miniaturization  of  computing  or  networking  devices,  or  devices  that  require  higher  power 
densities than today’s devices, could also reduce demand for the physical data center space we provide or make the customer 
improvements in our facilities obsolete or in need of significant upgrades to remain viable.

We face significant competition and may be unable to lease vacant space, renew existing leases or re-lease space as leases 
expire, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay 
dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

We compete with numerous public and private companies, developers, owners and operators of technology-related real estate 
and data centers, many of which own properties similar to ours in the same markets in which our properties are located, as well 
as  various  other  public  and  privately  held  companies  that  may  provide  data  center  colocation  as  part  of  a  more  expansive 
managed services offering. In addition, we may face competition from new entrants into the data center market. Some of our 
competitors  may  have  significant  advantages  over  us,  including  greater  name  recognition,  longer  operating  histories,  lower 
operating costs, pre-existing relationships with current or potential customers, greater financial, marketing and other resources 
and flexibility, access to less expensive power and access to attractive land for development. These advantages could allow our 
competitors to respond more quickly to strategic opportunities or changes in our industries or markets. If our competitors offer 
data center space that our existing or potential customers perceive to be superior to ours based on numerous factors, including 
power, security considerations, location or network connectivity, access to renewable resources for energy, water conservation, 
or  if  they  offer  rental  rates  below  our  or  current  market  rates  or  otherwise  adopt  aggressive  pricing  policies,  we  may  lose 
existing or potential customers, incur costs to improve our properties or be forced to reduce our rental rates or provide more 
favorable lease terms.

As a result, we may suffer from pricing pressure that would adversely affect our ability to generate revenues. Some of these 
competitors may also provide our target customers with additional benefits, including bundled communication services or cloud 
services, and may do so in a manner that is more attractive to our potential customers than obtaining space in our data centers. 
Competitors could also operate more successfully or form alliances to acquire significant market share.

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Finally,  as  our  customers  evolve  their  IT  strategies,  we  must  remain  flexible  and  evolve  to  remain  competitive  within  the 
industry and as the market shifts. Ineffective planning and execution in our cloud strategy and product development lifecycle 
and carbon neutral commitment may cause difficulty in sustaining competitive advantage in our products and services.

We do not own all of the land or buildings in which our data centers are located. Instead, we lease or sublease certain of 
our  data  center  spaces  and  the  ability  to  retain  these  leases  or  subleases  could  be  a  significant  risk  to  our  ongoing 
operations.

We do not own all of the land on, and buildings in, which we operate our data centers. Our portfolio includes 13 buildings that 
are leased from third parties and account for approximately 921,221 GSF, or approximately 11% of our total GSF. These leases 
(including ground leases, leased land and leased buildings) accounted for 13% of our total annualized rent as of December 31, 
2020. In addition, future properties that we acquire, particularly outside of the U. S., may be on leased land or facilities that we 
do not own.

Additionally, in several of our smaller facilities we sublease our space, and our rights under these subleases are dependent on 
our sublandlord retaining its rights under the prime lease. When the primary terms of our existing leases and subleases expire, 
we generally have the right to extend the terms of our leases and subleases for one or more renewal periods, subject to, in the 
case of several of our subleases, our sublandlord renewing its term under the prime lease. For four of these leases and subleases, 
the renewal rent will be determined based on the fair market value of rental rates for the property, and the then prevailing rental 
rates may be higher than the current rental rates under the applicable lease. The rent for the remaining leases and subleases will 
be based on a fixed percentage increase over the base rent during the year immediately prior to expiration. Several of our data 
centers are leased or subleased from other data center companies, which may increase our risk of non-renewal or renewal on 
less  than  favorable  terms.  If  renewal  rates  are  less  favorable  than  those  we  currently  have,  we  may  be  required  to  increase 
revenues within existing data centers to offset such increase in lease payments. Failure to increase revenues to sufficiently offset 
these  projected  higher  costs  would  adversely  impact  our  operating  income.  Upon  the  end  of  our  renewal  options,  we  would 
have to renegotiate our lease terms with the applicable landlords.

Potential  customers  may  choose  not  lease  space  in  our  leased  or  subleased  data  centers  due  to  the  risks  associated  with  our 
ability to control the terms of the underlying land or land and building lease. Additionally, if we are unable to renew the lease or 
sublease at any of our data centers, we could lose customers due to the disruptions in their operations caused by the relocation. 
We could also lose those customers that choose our data centers based on their locations. In addition, it is not typical for us to 
relocate data center infrastructure equipment, such as generators, power distribution units and cooling units, from their initial 
installation. The costs of relocating such equipment to different data centers could be prohibitive and, as such, we could lose the 
value of this equipment. For these reasons, any lease or sublease that cannot be renewed could adversely affect our business, 
financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common 
stock.

Our real estate development strategies may not be successful, and our growth depends on our data center development 
activities and our ability to successfully lease our developed properties, and any delays or unexpected costs associated 
with  such  activities  or  the  ability  to  lease  such  properties  may  harm  our  growth  prospects,  future  business,  financial 
condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

We  are  involved  in  the  development,  construction,  and  renovation  of  data  centers  and  we  intend  to  continue  to  pursue 
development activities as opportunities arise. As a result, we are and will continue to be subject to risks associated with our data 
center development activities that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and 
ability  to  pay  dividends  as  well  as  the  market  price  of  our  common  stock.  For  example,  current  and  future  development 
activities have involved and will involve substantial planning, allocation of significant company resources prior to such projects 
generating  revenue.  Such  activities  have  entailed  and  will  entail  certain  risks,  including  risks  related  to  zoning,  regulatory 
approvals, construction costs and delays, as well as our ability to raise capital, including both debt and equity, to finance such 
projects. These development activities also have required and will require us to carefully select and rely on the experience of 
one or more general contractors and associated subcontractors during the construction process. Should a general contractor or 
significant  subcontractor  experience  financial  or  other  problems  during  the  construction  process,  we  could  experience 
significant delays, increased costs to complete the project and other negative impacts to our expected returns on the project, as 
well as reputational risk. Site selection is also a critical factor in our expansion plans, and there may not be suitable properties 
available in our markets at a location that is attractive to our customers and has the necessary combination of access to multiple 
network  providers,  a  significant  supply  of  electrical  power,  high  ceilings  and  the  ability  to  sustain  heavy  floor  loading. 
Furthermore, while we may prefer to locate new data centers adjacent to our existing data centers, we may be limited by land 
held for future development as well as the inventory and location of suitable properties.

In addition, in developing new properties and expanding existing properties, we have been and will be required to secure an 
adequate  supply  of  power  from  local  utilities,  which  has  included  and  may  in  the  future  include  unanticipated  costs.  For 

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example, we have incurred and could incur in the future increased costs to develop utility substations on our properties in order 
to  accommodate  our  power  needs.  Any  inability  to  secure  an  appropriate  power  supply  on  a  timely  basis  or  on  acceptable 
financial terms could adversely affect our ability to develop the property on an economically feasible basis, or at all.

We regularly monitor commodity and labor pricing trends related to our data center development capital expenditures, where a 
large  proportion  of  our  current  development  project  costs  are  under  firm  price  commitments.  Should  the  proportion  of  such 
project  costs  that  are  firm  price  commitments  decline  and  prices  for  certain  selective  materials  increase,  including  due  to 
changes  in  trade  policy,  including  recent  international  trade  negotiations  as  well  as  the  imposition  of  tariffs,  our  overall 
development costs could increase significantly.

These  and  other  risks  could  result  in  delays  or  increased  costs  or  prevent  the  completion  of  our  development  activities  and 
related  projects  and  growth  of  our  business,  which  could  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

In addition, we have in the past undertaken development projects prior to obtaining commitments from customers to lease the 
related  data  center  space.  We  will  likely  choose  to  undertake  future  development  projects  prior  to  obtaining  customer 
commitments. Such development involves the risk that we will make significant investments and be unable to attract customers 
to the relevant properties on a timely basis or at all. If we are unable to attract customers and our properties remain vacant or 
underutilized for a significant amount of time, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to 
pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

Any failure of our physical infrastructure or services could lead to significant costs and disruptions that could reduce 
our revenues and harm our brand and reputation.

Our  business  depends  on  providing  customers  with  a  highly  reliable  data  center  environment.  We  may  fail  to  provide  such 
service as a result of numerous factors, including:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

pandemics, epidemics, and other health crises such as COVID-19;
human error;
failure to timely deploy adequate infrastructure to meet customer requirements, whether for new or existing customers;
unexpected equipment failure;
power loss or telecommunications failures;
improper building maintenance by us, our vendors, or by our landlords in the buildings that we lease;
physical or electronic security breaches;
fire, tropical storm, hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake and other natural disasters;
water damage;
war, terrorism and any related conflicts or similar events worldwide; and
sabotage and vandalism.

Problems  at  one  or  more  of  our  data  centers,  whether  or  not  within  our  control,  could  result  in  service  interruptions  or 
equipment damage. Substantially all of our leases with our customers include terms requiring us to meet certain service level 
commitments primarily in terms of timely delivery of data center space, electrical output to, and maintenance of environmental 
conditions  in,  the  data  center  raised  floor  space  leased  by  such  customers.  Any  failure  to  meet  these  commitments  or  any 
equipment damage in our data centers, including as a result of mechanical failure, power outage, human error on our part or 
other reasons, could subject us to liability under our lease terms, including service level credits against customer rent payments, 
or, in certain cases of repeated failures, the right by the customer to terminate the lease. For example, although our data center 
facilities  are  engineered  to  reliably  power  and  cool  our  customers’  computing  equipment,  it  is  possible  that  an  outage  could 
adversely  affect  a  facility’s  power  and  cooling  capabilities,  and,  in  the  past,  certain  of  our  facilities  have  experienced  minor 
outages. Depending on the frequency and duration of these outages, the affected customers may have the right to terminate their 
lease, which could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to 
pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock. As discussed, we may also be required to expend significant 
financial resources to upgrade or add to existing infrastructure to meet customer requirements for power and cooling, and we 
may not be financially or operationally able to do so in a timely manner.

Our  data  center  infrastructure  may  become  obsolete,  and  we  may  not  be  able  to  operate  or  upgrade  our  power  and 
cooling systems cost-effectively, or at all.

The markets for the data centers we own and operate, as well as the industries in which our customers operate, are characterized 
by  rapidly  changing  technology,  evolving  industry  and  regulatory  standards,  frequent  new  service  introductions,  shifting 
distribution  channels  and  changing  customer  demands.  Our  data  center  infrastructure  may  become  obsolete  due  to  the 
development of new systems to deliver power to or eliminate heat from the servers that we house and evolving environment 

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sustainability objectives. Additionally, our data center infrastructure could become obsolete as a result of data center topology 
changes or the development of new server technology that does not require the levels of critical load and heat removal that our 
facilities are designed to provide and could be run less expensively on a different platform. In addition, our power and cooling 
systems are difficult and expensive to upgrade or reposition. Accordingly, we may not be able to efficiently upgrade or change 
these systems to meet new demands, including noise mitigation and emission upgrades, without incurring significant costs that 
we  may not be able to pass on to our customers. The  obsolescence of  our power and cooling systems could  have a material 
negative  impact  on  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.  Furthermore,  potential  future  regulations  that 
apply to industries we serve may require customers in those industries to seek specific requirements from their data centers that 
we are unable to provide. These may include physical security requirements applicable to the defense industry and government 
contractors and privacy and security regulations applicable to social media, SAS cloud companies, financial services and health 
care industries. If such regulations were adopted, we could lose some customers or be unable to attract new customers in certain 
industries, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and 
ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

We have been and may continue to be vulnerable to security breaches, cyber-attacks or terrorism which have disrupted 
and could disrupt our operations, harm our brand and reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, 
financial condition and results of operations.

Security  breaches,  cyber-attacks,  or  disruption,  of  our  or  our  partners'  or  customers'  physical  or  information  technology 
infrastructure,  networks  and  related  management  systems  could  result  in,  among  other  things,  unauthorized  access  to  our 
facilities, a breach of our and our customers’ networks and information technology infrastructure, the misappropriation of our 
or  our  customers’  or  their  customers’  proprietary  or  confidential  information,  interruptions  or  malfunctions  in  our  or  our 
customers’  operations,  delays  or  interruptions  to  our  ability  to  meet  customer  needs,  breach  of  our  legal,  regulatory  or 
contractual  obligations,  inability  to  access  or  rely  upon  critical  business  records  or  other  disruptions  in  our  operations. 
Numerous sources can cause these types of incidents, including but not limited to: physical or electronic security breaches; acts 
of  terrorism  at  or  upon  our  facilities;  viruses,  ransomware,  backdoor  trojans  and  other  malware  or  software  vulnerabilities; 
hardware vulnerabilities such as Meltdown and Spectre; accident or human error by our own personnel or third parties; criminal 
activity or malfeasance (including by our own personnel); fraud or impersonation scams perpetrated against us or our partners 
or  customers;  or  security  events  impacting  our  third-party  service  providers  or  our  partners  or  customers.  Our  exposure  to 
cybersecurity threats and negative consequences of cybersecurity breaches will likely increase as we store increasing amounts 
of  customer  data.  Additionally,  as  we  increasingly  market  the  security  features  in  our  data  centers,  our  data  centers  may  be 
targeted  by  computer  hackers  seeking  to  compromise  data  security.  For  instance,  in  December  2019,  we  discovered  a 
ransomware  program  encrypting  certain  devices,  which  resulted  in  availability  issues  affecting  certain  managed  service 
customers.  Upon  discovery  of  the  incident,  we  initiated  our  response  and  continuity  protocols  to  determine  what  occurred, 
restore  systems  and  notify  the  appropriate  legal  authorities.  We  continue  to  investigate  and  work  closely  with  third-party 
experts  on  this  matter.  In  addition,  while  one  of  our  SolarWinds  platforms  was  affected  in  the  recent  supply  chain  hack,  the 
impact was immediately mitigated and there has been no evidence of compromised or suspicious activities.

We  recognize  the  increasing  volume  of  cyber-attacks  and  employ  commercially  practical  efforts  to  provide  reasonable 
assurance such attacks are appropriately mitigated. Each year, we evaluate the threat profile of our industry to stay abreast of 
trends and to provide reasonable assurance our existing countermeasures will address any new threats identified. We may be 
required  to  expend  significant  financial  resources  to  protect  against  or  respond  to  such  breaches.  Cyber  criminals  are 
increasingly  using  powerful  tactics  including  evasive  applications,  proxies,  tunneling,  encryption  techniques,  vulnerability 
exploits,  buffer  overflows,  distributed  denial-of-service  or  DDoS  attacks,  botnets,  supply  chain  attacks  and  port  scans. 
Techniques used to breach security change frequently, and are generally not recognized until launched against a target, so we 
may  not  be  able  to  promptly  detect  that  a  security  breach  or  unauthorized  access  has  occurred.  We  also  may  not  be  able  to 
implement security measures in a timely manner or, if and when implemented, we may not be able to determine the extent to 
which  these  measures  could  be  circumvented.  As  we  provide  assurances  to  our  customers  that  we  provide  a  high  level  of 
security, if an actual or perceived security breach occurs, the market’s perception of our security measures could be harmed and 
we  could  lose  sales  and  current  and  potential  customers,  and  such  a  breach  could  be  particularly  harmful  to  our  brand  and 
reputation.  Any  breaches  that  may  occur  could  also  expose  us  to  increased  risk  of  lawsuits,  material  monetary  damages, 
potential violations of applicable privacy and other laws, penalties and fines, loss of existing or potential customers, harm to our 
reputation  and  increases  in  our  security  and  insurance  costs,  which  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business, 
financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common 
stock. In the event of a breach resulting in loss of data, such as personally identifiable information or other such data protected 
by data privacy or other laws, we may be liable for damages, fines and penalties for such losses under applicable regulatory 
frameworks (as discussed in “The regulatory framework around data custody, data privacy and breaches varies by jurisdiction 
and  involves  complex  and  rigorous  regulatory  standards  enacted  to  protect  business  and  personal  data  in  the  U.S.  and 
elsewhere.”  below)  despite  not  handling  the  data.  Furthermore,  if  a  high  profile  security  breach  or  cyber-attack  occurs  with 

27

respect to another provider of mission-critical data center facilities, our customers and potential customers may lose trust in the 
security of these business models generally, which could harm our ability to retain existing customers or attract new ones. We 
cannot guarantee that any backup systems, regular data backups, security protocols, network protection mechanisms and other 
procedures currently in place, or that may be in place in the future, will be adequate to prevent network and service interruption, 
system failure, damage to one or more of our systems or data loss in the event of a security breach or attack on our facilities.  

We may be subject to unknown or contingent liabilities related to properties or businesses that we acquire for which we 
may have limited or no recourse against the sellers.

Assets and entities that we have acquired or may acquire in the future may be subject to unknown or contingent liabilities for 
which  we  may  have  limited  or  no  recourse  against  the  sellers.  Unknown  or  contingent  liabilities  might  include  liabilities  for 
clean-up or remediation of environmental conditions, claims of customers, vendors or other persons dealing with the acquired 
entities, tax liabilities and other liabilities whether incurred in the ordinary course of business or otherwise. In the future, we 
may  enter  into  transactions  with  limited  representations  and  warranties  or  with  representations  and  warranties  that  do  not 
survive  the  closing  of  the  transactions,  in  which  event  we  would  have  no  or  limited  recourse  against  the  sellers  of  such 
properties.  While  we  usually  require  the  sellers  to  indemnify  us  and  they  obtain  representation  and  warranty  insurance,  with 
respect to breaches of representations and warranties that survive the closing, such indemnification, if obtained, is often limited 
and subject to various materiality thresholds, a significant deductible, an aggregate cap on losses or a survival period. 

As a result, there is no guarantee that we will recover any amounts with respect to losses due to breaches by the sellers of their 
representations and warranties. In addition, the total amount of costs and expenses that we may incur with respect to liabilities 
associated  with  acquired  properties  and  entities  may  exceed  our  expectations,  which  may  adversely  affect  our  business, 
financial condition and results of operations. Finally, indemnification agreements between us and the sellers typically provide 
that  the  sellers  will  retain  certain  specified  liabilities  relating  to  the  assets  and  entities  acquired  by  us.  While  the  sellers  are 
generally  contractually  obligated  to  pay  all  losses  and  other  expenses  relating  to  such  retained  liabilities,  there  can  be  no 
guarantee that such arrangements will not require us to incur losses or other expenses as well.

Recent turnover, or the further loss, of any of our key personnel, including our executive officers or key sales associates, 
could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as 
well as the market price of our common stock.

As  previously  disclosed,  we  experienced  significant  turnover  in  our  executive  officers  in  2020,  including  the  departure  or 
retirement of our CEO, President of Europe, CFO and Chief Technology Officer and the appointment of a new Chief Operating 
Officer. Our success will depend to a significant extent on our executive officers, including those appointed in 2020, and key 
sales  associates.  Each  of  our  executive  officers  has  a  national  or  regional  industry  reputation  that  attracts  business  and 
investment  opportunities  and  assists  us  in  negotiations  with  existing  and  potential  customers,  investors,  lenders  and  industry 
personnel.  The  loss  of  key  sales  associates  could  also  hinder  our  ability  to  continue  to  benefit  from  existing  and  potential 
customers. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to retain our current executive officers or key sales associates. 
The loss of any of these individuals or the recent turnover of executive officers could adversely affect our business, financial 
condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

Any failure of our connectivity solutions could lead to significant costs and disruptions that could reduce our revenue 
and harm our business reputation and financial results.

As  described  in  Part  I,  Item  1  "Business",  we  have  deployed  connectivity  solutions  including  the  National  IX  Platform 
throughout  several  of  our  properties,  and  expect  that  we  will  further  deploy  these  solutions  throughout  our  portfolio  to  meet 
customer  demand.  The  National  IX  Platform  and  other  connectivity  solutions  allow  our  customers  to  connect  to  third-party 
carriers and other customers. We may be required to incur substantial additional costs to operate and expand the National IX 
Platform. The National IX Platform is subject to failure resulting from numerous factors, including but not limited to:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

human error;
equipment failure;
physical, electronic, and cyber-security breaches;
fire, earthquake, hurricane, flood, tornado and other natural disasters in our facilities;
failure to properly connect to third-party carriers or other customers;
fiber cuts;
power loss;
terrorist acts;
sabotage and vandalism; and

28

 
•

failure of business partners who provide components of the National IX Platform or third-party connectivity from the 
National IX Platform.

Problems  with  the  National  IX  Platform  or  other  connectivity  solutions,  whether  or  not  within  our  control,  could  result  in 
service  interruptions  or  significant  equipment  damage.  We  have  service  level  commitment  obligations  to  certain  of  our 
customers,  including  our  significant  customers.  As  a  result,  service  interruptions  in  the  National  IX  Platform  or  in  other 
connectivity  solutions  could  result  in  difficulty  maintaining  service  level  commitments  to  these  customers  and  in  potential 
claims  related  to  such  failures.  In  addition,  any  loss  of  service,  equipment  damage  or  inability  to  meet  our  service  level 
commitment obligations could reduce the confidence of our customers and could consequently impair our ability to obtain and 
retain customers, which would adversely affect both our ability to generate revenues and our operating results.

Even if we have additional space available for lease at any one of our data centers, our ability to meet existing customer 
requirements or lease this space to existing or new customers could be constrained by our ability to provide sufficient 
electrical power and cooling capacity.

Customers are increasing their deployment of high-density IT equipment in our data centers, which has increased the demand 
for power and cooling capacity. As current and future customers increase their power footprint in our facilities over time, we 
may be required to upgrade our existing infrastructure or add additional infrastructure to meet customer requirements. Power 
and  cooling  systems  are  difficult  and  expensive  to  upgrade  or  install,  and  such  changes  may  be  required  at  a  time  or  on  a 
timeline during which we lack the financial or operational ability to make such changes. Further, our ability to add additional 
power could be limited by third party factors such as utility providers, as well as obtaining required permits or approvals. Our 
failure  to  timely  upgrade  or  add  additional  infrastructure  could  result  in  a  failure  to  meet  the  requirements  of  our  existing 
customers, or limit our ability to increase occupancy rates or density within our existing facilities, whether for new or existing 
customers. Similarly, even when successful in implementing such changes, we may not be able to pass on any additional costs 
to our customers.

Any losses to our properties that are not covered by insurance, or that exceed our coverage limits, could adversely affect 
our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  ability  to  pay  dividends  as  well  as  the  market 
price of our common stock.

The properties  in  our portfolio are subject  to risks,  including from causes related to riots, war, terrorism or acts of God. For 
example, our properties located in Texas are generally subject to risks related to tropical storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods 
and other severe weather or natural events and our properties located in the Midwest are generally subject to risks related to 
earthquakes,  tornadoes  and  other  severe  weather.  Our  property  in  Santa  Clara,  California  is  subject  to  risks  related  to 
earthquakes and severe weather or natural events. All our properties could have unknown title defects or encumbrances. While 
we  carry  commercial  property  insurance  including  business  interruption,  flood  and  earth  movement  covering  all  of  the 
properties in our portfolio, and title insurance on a substantial number of our properties, the amount of insurance coverage may 
not be sufficient to fully cover losses we may incur. 

If  we  experience  a  loss  that  is  uninsured  or  exceeds  our  policy  coverage  limits,  we  could  lose  the  capital  invested  in  the 
damaged properties as well as the anticipated future cash flows from those properties. In addition, if the damaged properties 
were  subject  to  recourse  indebtedness,  we  could  continue  to  be  liable  for  the  indebtedness  even  if  these  properties  were 
irreparably damaged or subject of a loss.

In addition, even if a title defect or damage to our properties is covered by insurance, a disruption of our business caused by a 
casualty  event  may  result  in  the  loss  of  business  or  customers.  The  business  interruption  insurance  we  carry  may  not  fully 
compensate us for the loss of business or customers due to an interruption caused by a title defect or casualty event.

A  failure  of  an  insurance  company  to  make  payments  to  us  upon  an  event  of  loss  covered  by  an  insurance  policy  could 
adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the 
market price of our common stock. We monitor our insurance carrier's financial strength rating and financial size category by 
only placing insurance with carriers who have an A.M. Best Rating of A- XII or better. However, it can be difficult to evaluate 
the  stability  and  net  assets  or  capitalization  of  insurance  companies,  and  any  insurance  company's  ability  to  meet  its  claim 
payment obligations.

We generate a substantial portion of our revenue from a small number of metropolitan markets, which makes us more 
susceptible to regional economic downturns.

Our  properties  are  located  in  17  distinct  metropolitan  markets  (11  in  the  U.S.;  European  markets  including  Amsterdam,  The 
Netherlands,  Dublin,  The  Republic  of  Ireland,  Frankfurt,  Germany,  London,  U.K.  and  Paris,  France;  and  Asian  markets 
including Singapore). Seven of these U.S. markets - Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, New York Metro, Northern Virginia, Phoenix 

29

and  San  Antonio  -  accounted  for  approximately  79%  of  our  annualized  rent  as  of  December  31,  2020.  As  such,  we  are 
potentially susceptible to local economic conditions and the supply of, and demand for, data center space in these markets. If 
there  is  a  downturn  in  the  economy,  a  natural  disaster  or  an  oversupply  of,  or  decrease  in  demand  for,  data  centers  in  these 
markets,  our  business  could  be  adversely  affected  to  a  greater  extent  than  if  we  owned  a  real  estate  portfolio  that  was  more 
diversified in terms of both geography and industry focus.

We  are  dependent  upon  third-party  suppliers  for  power  and  certain  other  services,  and  we  are  vulnerable  to  service 
failures of our third-party suppliers and to price increases by such suppliers.

We generally rely on third-party local utilities to provide power to our data centers. We are therefore subject to an inherent risk 
that such local utilities may fail to deliver such power in adequate quantities or on a consistent basis, and our recourse against 
the local utility and ability to control such failures may be limited. If power delivered from the local utility is insufficient or 
interrupted, we would be required to provide power through the operation of our on-site generators, generally at a significantly 
higher operating cost than we would pay for an equivalent amount of power from the local utility. We may not be able to pass 
on the higher cost to our customers. In addition, if the generator power were to fail, we would generally be subject to paying 
service level credits to our customers, who may in certain instances of repeated failures also have the right to terminate their 
leases.  Furthermore,  any  sustained  loss  of  power  could  reduce  the  confidence  of  our  customers  in  our  services  thereby 
impairing our ability to attract and retain customers, which would adversely affect both our ability to generate revenues and our 
results of operations.

In addition, even when power supplies are adequate, we may be subject to pricing risks and unanticipated costs associated with 
obtaining power from various utility companies. While we actively seek to lock-in utility rates, many factors beyond our control 
may increase the rate charged by the local utility. For instance, municipal utilities in areas experiencing financial distress may 
increase  rates  to  compensate  for  financial  shortfalls  unrelated  to  either  the  cost  of  production  or  the  demand  for  electricity. 
Utilities are and may be subject to increasing regulation that could increase the costs of electricity, including wildfire mitigation 
plans. Utilities may be dependent on, and be sensitive to price increases for, a particular type of fuel, such as coal, oil or natural 
gas. In addition, the price of these fuels and the electricity generated from them could increase as a result of proposed legislative 
measures related to climate change or efforts to regulate carbon emissions. In any of these cases, increases in the cost of power 
at any of our data centers could put those locations at a competitive disadvantage relative to data centers served by utilities that 
can  provide  less  expensive  power.  These  pricing  risks  are  particularly  acute  with  respect  to  our  customer  leases  that  are 
structured  on  a  full-service  gross  basis,  where  the  customer  pays  a  fixed  amount  for  both  colocation  rental  and  power.  Our 
business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our 
common  stock  could  be  adversely  affected  in  the  event  of  an  increase  in  utility  rates  under  these  leases,  which,  as  of 
December 31, 2020, accounted for approximately 22% of our leased GSF, because we may be limited in our ability to pass on 
such costs to these customers.

We  depend  on  third  parties  to  provide  network  connectivity  to  the  customers  in  our  data  centers,  and  any  delays  or 
disruptions in connectivity may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and 
ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

Our customers require internet connectivity and connectivity to the fiber networks of multiple third-party telecommunications 
carriers.  In  order  for  us  to  attract  and  retain  customers,  our  data  centers  need  to  provide  sufficient  access  for  customers  to 
connect to those carriers. While we provide space and facilities in our data centers for carriers to locate their equipment and 
connect  customers  to  their  networks,  any  carrier  may  elect  not  to  offer  its  services  within  our  data  centers  or  may  elect  to 
discontinue its service. Furthermore, carriers may periodically experience business difficulties which could affect their ability to 
provide telecommunications services, or the service provided by a carrier may be inadequate or of poor quality. If carriers were 
to  terminate  connectivity  within  our  data  centers  or  if  connectivity  were  to  be  degraded  or  interrupted,  it  could  put  that  data 
center at a competitive disadvantage versus a competitor’s data center that does provide adequate connectivity. A material loss 
of adequate third-party connectivity could have an adverse effect on the businesses of our customers and, in turn, our business, 
financial condition,  results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as  the market price of our common 
stock.

Furthermore,  each  new  data  center  that  we  develop  requires  significant  amounts  of  capital  to  be  expended  by  third-party 
telecommunications  carriers  for  the  construction  and  operation  of  a  sophisticated  redundant  fiber  network.  The  construction 
required  to  connect  multiple  carrier  facilities  to  our  data  centers  is  complex  and  involves  factors  outside  of  our  control, 
including 
third-party 
telecommunications  carriers  and  the  sufficiency  of  such  carriers’  financial  resources  to  fund  the  construction.  Additionally, 
hardware  or  fiber  failures  could  cause  significant  loss  of  connectivity.  If  we  are  unable  to  establish  highly  diverse  network 
connectivity to our data centers, or if such network connectivity is materially delayed, is discontinued or is subject to failure, 
our  ability  to  attract  new  customers  or  retain  existing  customers  may  be  negatively  affected  and,  as  a  result,  our  business, 

resources  and  willing  and  able 

the  availability  of  construction 

requirements, 

regulatory 

30

financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends, as well as the market price of our common 
stock, may be adversely affected. 

The  loss  of  access  to  key  third-party  technical  service  providers  and  suppliers  could  adversely  affect  our  current  and 
any future development projects.

Our success depends, to a significant degree, on having timely access to certain key third-party technical providers who are in 
limited supply and great demand, such as engineering firms and construction contractors capable of developing our properties, 
and to key suppliers of electrical and mechanical equipment that complement the design of our data center facilities. For any 
future development projects, we will continue to rely on these providers and suppliers to develop and equip our data centers. 
Competition  for  such  technical  expertise  is  intense,  and  there  are  a  limited  number  of  electrical  and  mechanical  equipment 
suppliers that design and produce the equipment that we require. We may not always have or retain access to such key service 
providers and equipment suppliers, which could adversely affect our current and any future development projects.

The long sales cycle for data center services may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, 
cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

A customer’s decision to lease space in one of our data centers and to purchase additional services from us typically involves a 
significant commitment of resources, significant contract negotiations, and significant due diligence on the part of the customer 
regarding the adequacy of our facilities, including the adequacy of carrier connections. As a result, the sale of data center space 
has a long sales cycle. Furthermore, we may expend significant time and resources, and incur significant costs, in pursuing a 
particular sale or customer that may not result in revenue. Our inability to adequately manage the risks associated with the data 
center  sales  cycle  may  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  ability  to  pay 
dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

We may be unable to identify and complete acquisitions and successfully operate acquired properties.

We continually evaluate the market for available properties and may acquire data centers or properties suited for data center 
development when opportunities exist. Our ability to complete acquisitions on favorable terms and to successfully develop and 
operate acquired properties involves significant risks, including:

•

•

•

•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

we may be unable to acquire a desired property because of competition from other data center companies or real estate 
investors;
even if we are able to acquire a desired property, competition from other potential acquirers may significantly increase 
the purchase price of such property;
we  may  be  unable  to  realize  the  intended  benefits  from  acquisitions  or  achieve  anticipated  operating  or  financial 
results;
we may be unable to finance the acquisition on favorable terms or at all;
we may underestimate the costs to make necessary improvements to acquired properties;
we  may  be  unable  to  quickly  and  efficiently  integrate  new  acquisitions  into  our  existing  operations  resulting  in 
disruptions to our operations or the diversion of our management’s attention;
acquired properties may be subject to reassessment, which may result in higher than expected tax payments;
we may not be able to access sufficient power on favorable terms or at all;
market conditions may result in higher than expected vacancy rates and lower than expected rental rates;
we may incur impairment losses or other charges related to acquired assets or properties;
we may face challenges in retaining the customers of acquired properties; and
we may incur significant costs associated with unrealized transactions.

Many of these risks will be outside of our control and any one of them could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount 
of expected revenue, and diversion of our management's time and energy, which could adversely affect our business, financial 
condition and results of operations. In addition, even if we successfully operate acquired properties, we may not realize the full 
benefits of the acquisition, including the synergies, operating efficiencies, or sales or growth opportunities that are expected. If 
we are unable to successfully acquire, develop and operate data center properties, our ability to grow our business and compete 
will be significantly impaired, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows 
and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

We face risks with our international acquisitions associated with investing in unfamiliar metropolitan areas.

We have acquired and may continue to acquire properties on a strategic and selective basis in international metropolitan areas 
that are new to us. For example, since 2018 we have entered new European markets, including Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt 
and Paris. When we acquire properties located in new markets, we may face risks associated with a lack of market knowledge 

31

or understanding of the local economy and culture, forging new business relationships in the area and unfamiliarity with local 
government and permitting procedures. In addition, due diligence, transaction and structuring costs may be higher than those 
we may face in the United States. We work to mitigate such risks through extensive diligence and research and associations 
with experienced partners; however, we cannot assure you that such risks can be reduced or eliminated.

We  have  been  and  may  become  subject  to  or  involved  in  litigation,  threatened  litigation,  or  investigations  which  may 
divert management time and attention, require us to pay damages, penalties and expenses or may restrict the operation 
of our business or interfere with existing agreements or permits.

We have been and may become subject to disputes with commercial and other parties with whom we maintain relationships or 
other parties with whom we do business, including as a result of any breach in our security systems or downtime in our critical 
electrical and cooling systems. Any such dispute could result in litigation between us and the other parties. Whether or not any 
dispute actually proceeds to litigation, we may be required to devote significant management time and attention to its resolution 
(through litigation, settlement or otherwise), which would detract from our management’s ability to focus on our business. Any 
such  resolution  could  involve  the  payment  of  damages  or  expenses  by  us,  which  may  be  significant,  and  could  involve  our 
agreement with terms that restrict the operation of our business. In addition, internal and external investigations could require 
significant management time and attention and result in fines and penalties, which may be significant, as well as reputational 
harm.

Joint venture investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority, our reliance on co-
venturers’ financial condition and disputes between us and our co-venturers.

We have and may in the future co-invest with third parties through partnerships, joint ventures or other entities, acquiring non-
controlling interests in or sharing responsibility for managing the affairs of a property, partnership, joint venture or other entity. 
In  these  events,  we  are  not  or  would  not  be  in  a  position  to  exercise  sole  decision-making  authority  regarding  the  property, 
partnership,  joint  venture  or  other  entity.  Investments  in  partnerships,  joint  ventures,  or  other  entities  may,  under  certain 
circumstances,  involve  risks  not  present  when  a  third  party  is  not  involved,  including  the  possibility  that  partners  or  co-
venturers might become bankrupt or fail to fund their share of required capital contributions. Partners or co-venturers may have 
economic, tax or other business interests or goals which are inconsistent with our business interests or goals, and may be in a 
position to take actions contrary to our policies or objectives. Our current and future joint venture partners may take actions that 
are not within our control, which could require us to dispose of the joint venture asset or transfer it to a taxable REIT subsidiary 
in order for CyrusOne Inc. to maintain its status as a REIT. Such investments may also lead to impasses, for example, as to 
whether to sell a property, because neither we nor the partner or co-venturer would have full control over the partnership or 
joint venture. Disputes between us and partners or co-venturers may result in litigation or arbitration that would increase our 
expenses  and  prevent  our  officers  and/or  directors  from  focusing  their  time  and  effort  on  our  day-to-day  business. 
Consequently,  actions  by  or  disputes  with  partners  or  co-venturers  may  subject  properties  owned  by  the  partnership  or  joint 
venture to additional risk. In addition, we may in certain circumstances be liable for the actions of third-party partners or co-
venturers.  Each  of  these  factors  may  result  in  returns  on  these  investments  being  less  than  we  expect  or  in  losses  and  our 
financial and operating results may be adversely affected.

Our properties are not suitable for use other than as data centers, which could make it difficult to sell or reposition them 
if we are not able to lease available space.

Our data centers are designed solely to house and support computer servers and related information technology equipment and, 
therefore,  contain  extensive  electrical  and  mechanical  systems  and  infrastructure.  As  a  result,  they  are  not  suited  for  use  by 
customers as anything other than as data centers and major renovations and expenditures would be required in order for us to 
re-lease vacant space for more traditional commercial or industrial uses, or for us to sell a property to a buyer for use other than 
as a data center, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, cash flows, 
our ability to pay dividends, and/or the market price of our common stock.

Declining real estate valuations and impairment charges could adversely affect our earnings and financial condition.

We  review  the  carrying  value  of  each  of  our  properties  when  events  or  circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying  value  of  the 
property may not be recoverable. Examples of such indicators may include a significant decrease in market price, a significant 
adverse change in the extent to or manner in which the property is being used or in its physical condition, an accumulation of 
costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or development, or a history of operating or 
cash flow losses. When such impairment indicators exist, we review an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows expected 
to result from the use of the real estate investment and proceeds from its eventual disposition and compare such amount to the 
carrying value of the property. We consider factors such as future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects 
of  leasing  demand,  rental  rates,  competition  and  other  factors.  If  our  undiscounted  cash  flows  indicate  that  we  are  unable  to 

32

recover  the  carrying  value  of  a  real  estate  investment,  an  impairment  loss  is  recorded  to  the  extent  that  the  carrying  value 
exceeds the estimated fair value of the property. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded an impairment charge of 
$11.2  million,  which  includes  an  $8.8  million  impairment  loss  based  on  our  estimate  of  the  decrease  in  the  fair  value  of  the 
equipment  held  for  use  in  inventory  at  our  U.S.  data  centers  and  a  $2.4  million  impairment  loss  based  on  the  estimated  fair 
value  for  our  investment  in  land  held  in  Atlanta  for  future  development  as  the  Company  sold  this  land  to  a  third-party  in 
February 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we recorded an impairment charge of $0.7 million related primarily to 
an  impairment  on  our  South  Bend  -  Monroe  facility,  which  was  being  actively  marketed  for  sale.  These  losses  had  a  direct 
impact on our net income because recording an impairment loss results in an immediate negative adjustment to net income. The 
evaluation of anticipated cash flows is highly subjective and is based in part on assumptions regarding future occupancy, rental 
rates and capital requirements that could differ materially from actual results in future periods. A worsening real estate market 
may cause us to re-evaluate the assumptions used in our impairment analysis. Impairment charges could adversely affect our 
business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our 
common stock.

Risks Related to the Real Estate Industry

Our performance and value are subject to risks associated with real estate assets and with the real estate industry.

Our  ability  to  make  expected  distributions  to  our  stockholders  depends  on  our  ability  to  generate  revenues  in  excess  of 
expenses,  scheduled  principal  payments  on  debt  and  capital  expenditure  requirements.  Events  and  conditions  generally 
applicable  to  owners  and  operators  of  real  property  that  are  beyond  our  control,  such  as  adverse  effects  of  the  COVID-19 
pandemic, may decrease cash available for distribution to our stockholders and the value of our properties. These events and 
conditions include:

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•

local oversupply, increased competition or reduction in demand for technology-related space;
inability to collect rent from customers;
vacancies or our inability to lease space on favorable terms;
inability to finance property development and acquisitions on favorable terms;
increased operating costs to the extent not paid for by our customers;
costs of complying with changes in governmental regulations;
the relative illiquidity of real estate investments, especially the specialized real estate properties that we hold and seek 
to acquire and develop; and
changing market demographics.

Illiquidity of real estate investments, particularly our data centers, could significantly impede our ability to respond to 
adverse changes in the performance of our properties, which could harm our financial condition.

Because  real  estate  investments  are  relatively  illiquid,  our  ability  to  promptly  sell  one  or  more  properties  in  our  portfolio  in 
response to adverse changes in the real estate market or in the performance of such properties may be limited, thus harming our 
financial condition. The real estate market is affected by many factors that are beyond our control, including:

•

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•

adverse  changes  in  national  and  local  economic  and  market  conditions,  including  as  a  result  of  the  COVID-19 
pandemic;
changes in interest rates and in the availability, cost and terms of debt financing;
changes  in  governmental  laws  and  regulations,  fiscal  policies  and  zoning  ordinances  and  costs  of  compliance 
therewith;
the ongoing cost of capital improvements that are not passed on to our customers, particularly in older structures;
changes in operating expenses; and
civil unrest, acts of war, terrorism and natural disasters, including fires, earthquakes, tropical storms, hurricanes, and 
floods, which may result in uninsured and underinsured losses.

In addition, as described above in “Our properties are not suitable for use other than as data centers, which could make it 
difficult to sell or reposition them if we are not able to lease available space”, the risks associated with the illiquidity of real 
estate  investments  are  even  greater  for  our  data  center  properties.  Further,  we  operate  a  managed  services  platform-based 
business that would not easily be separated on an asset by asset basis.

We could incur significant costs related to environmental matters.

We are subject to laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing, as it permits, 
the management and disposal of hazardous materials, the cleanup of contaminated sites and health and safety matters. We could 
incur significant costs, including fines, penalties and other sanctions, cleanup costs and third-party claims for property damages 

33

or  personal  injuries,  as  a  result  of  violations  of  or  liabilities  under  environmental  laws  and  regulations.  Some  environmental 
laws impose liability on current owners or operators of property regardless of fault or the lawfulness of past disposal activities. 
For  example,  many  of  our  sites  contain  above  ground  fuel  storage  tanks  and,  in  some  cases,  currently  contain  or  formerly 
contained  underground  fuel  storage  tanks,  for  back-up  generator  use.  Some  of  our  sites  also  have  a  history  of  previous 
commercial  operations.  We  also  may  acquire  or  develop  sites  in  the  future  with  unknown  environmental  conditions  from 
historical  operations.  Although  we  are  not  aware  of  any  sites  at  which  we  currently  have  material  remedial  obligations,  the 
imposition of remedial obligations as a result of spills or the discovery of contaminants in the future could result in significant 
additional costs. We also could incur significant costs complying with current environmental laws or regulations or those that 
are promulgated in the future.

Risks Related to Our Debt and Capital Structure

To fund our growth strategy and refinance our indebtedness, we depend on external sources of capital, which may not 
be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required under the Code, among other things, to distribute at least 90% 
of our REIT taxable income annually, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital 
gains. Even if we maintain our qualification as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates 
to the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid 
deduction  and  including  any  net  capital  gains,  as  well  as  U.S.  federal  income  tax  at  regular  corporate  rates  for  income 
recognized by our taxable REIT subsidiaries (each, a TRS). Because of these distribution requirements, we will likely not be 
able to fund future capital needs, including any necessary acquisition financing, from net cash provided by operating activities. 
Consequently, we intend to rely on third-party capital markets sources for debt or equity financing to fund our growth strategy. 
In  addition,  we  may  need  third-party  capital  markets  sources  to  refinance  our  indebtedness  at  or  before  maturity.  Increased 
turbulence in the U.S., European and other international financial markets and economies, loss of our investment grade credit 
rating,  tighter  credit  conditions  and  increasing  interest  rates  may  adversely  affect  our  ability  to  replace  or  renew  maturing 
liabilities on a timely basis, access the capital markets to meet liquidity and capital expenditure requirements and may result in 
adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the 
market price of our common stock. As such, we may not be able to obtain the debt or equity financing on favorable terms or at 
all. Our access to third-party sources of capital also depends, in part, on:

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our investment grade credit rating;
the market’s perception of our growth potential;
our then-current debt levels;
market demand for REIT assets;
our historical and expected future earnings, cash flow and cash distributions;
the market price per share of our common stock; and
our lenders' ability to meet their financing commitments.

In addition, our ability to access additional capital may be limited by the terms of our then-existing indebtedness which may 
restrict our incurrence of additional debt. If we cannot obtain capital when needed, we may not be able to acquire or develop 
properties  when  strategic  opportunities  arise  or  refinance  our  debt  at  or  before  maturity,  and  we  may  need  to  increase  our 
liquidity  by  disposing  of  properties  possibly  on  disadvantageous  terms  or  renewing  leases  on  less  favorable  terms  than  we 
otherwise would, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to 
pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

We  have  significant  outstanding  indebtedness  that  involves  significant  debt  service  obligations,  limits  our  operational 
and  financial  flexibility,  exposes  us  to  interest  rate  fluctuations  and  exposes  us  to  the  risk  of  default  under  our  debt 
obligations.

As  of  December  31,  2020,  we  had  a  total  combined  indebtedness,  including  finance  lease  liabilities  and  operating  lease 
liabilities,  of  approximately  $3.7  billion.  As  of  December  31,  2020,  we  have  the  ability  to  borrow  up  to  an  additional 
approximately $1.0 billion under our Amended Credit Agreement, net of outstanding letters of credit of approximately $10.8 
million, subject to satisfying certain financial tests. Our Amended Credit Agreement also contains an accordion feature that, as 
of December 31, 2020, allows the operating partnership to request an increase in the total commitment by up to $1.5 billion. 
There are no limits on the amount of indebtedness we may incur other than limits contained in the indentures governing our 
2024 Notes, 2029 Notes, 2027 Notes and 2030 Notes (each as defined in Note 11, Debt), our Amended Credit Agreement or 
future agreements that we may enter into or as may be set forth in any policy limiting the amount of indebtedness we may incur 
adopted  by  CyrusOne’s  board  of  directors.  A  substantial  level  of  indebtedness  could  have  adverse  consequences  for  our 

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business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our 
common stock because it could, among other things:
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require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make principal and interest payments 
on  our  indebtedness,  thereby  reducing  our  cash  flow  available  to  fund  working  capital,  capital  expenditures, 
acquisitions, investments and other general corporate purposes, including to make distributions on our common stock 
as currently contemplated or as necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT;
require  us  to  maintain  certain  debt  coverage  and  other  financial  metrics  at  specified  levels,  thereby  reducing  our 
financial  flexibility  and,  in  the  event  of  a  failure  to  comply  with  such  requirements,  creating  the  risk  of  a  material 
adverse effect on our ability to fulfill our obligations under our debt and on our business and prospects generally;
make  it  more  difficult  for  us  to  satisfy  our  financial  obligations,  including  borrowings  under  the  Amended  Credit 
Agreement;
increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
expose us to increases in interest rates for our variable rate debt;
limit  our  ability  to  borrow  additional  funds  on  favorable  terms  or  at  all  to  expand  our  business  or  ease  liquidity 
constraints;
limit our ability to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity on the same or more favorable 
terms or at all;
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry;
place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to competitors that have less indebtedness;
increase our risk of property losses as the result of foreclosure actions initiated by lenders in the event we should incur 
mortgage or other secured debt obligations; and
require  us  to  dispose  of  one  or  more  of  our  properties  at  disadvantageous  prices  or  raise  equity  that  may  dilute  the 
value of our common stock in order to service our indebtedness or to raise additional funds to pay such indebtedness at 
or before maturity.

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Failure to hedge effectively against interest rate changes and our increased exposure to foreign currency fluctuations as 
a result of our foreign currency hedging activities may adversely affect our results of operations. 

We seek to manage our exposure to interest rate volatility by using interest rate hedging arrangements, such as floating-fixed 
interest rate swaps. These arrangements involve risks, such  as the risk  that counterparties  may fail to honor their obligations 
under these arrangements and that these arrangements may not be effective in reducing our exposure to interest rate changes. 
Approximately 27% of our total indebtedness as of December 31, 2020 was subject to variable interest rates but not subject to 
interest  rate  swaps.  Failure  to  hedge  effectively  against  interest  rate  changes  may  materially  adversely  affect  our  results  of 
operations. 

We also currently have and may decide in the future to further undertake foreign exchange hedging transactions. As a result of 
investments  denominated  in  foreign  currencies,  including  Euros  and  British  pounds  sterling  from  our  increased  presence  in 
Europe and the United Kingdom, as well as our €500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 1.450% Senior Notes due 2027, 
our exposure to foreign currency has increased. We could mitigate future investment and operational foreign currency exposure 
by borrowing under our Amended Credit Agreement in the particular  foreign currency,  subject to availability and applicable 
borrowing conditions. However, we would expect to incur foreign currency transaction gains and losses, which would impact 
our consolidated net income, and translation of financial statements from the foreign functional currency to U.S. dollars, which 
would  be  included  in  other  comprehensive  income  or  loss  and  stockholders’  equity.  In  addition,  we  have  entered  into  cross-
currency  swaps  to  synthetically  convert  certain  USD  outstanding  debt  amounts  to  the  EUR  equivalent,  which  has  further 
increased our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates. We have exposure to other foreign currencies, such as British pound 
sterling, but we have not hedged against those currencies. As a result, any changes in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to 
the Euro or the other currencies of the foreign countries in which we operate may have an impact on our consolidated results of 
operations, including but not limited to the fact that the fair value of our cross-currency swap liabilities may increase and we 
may incur losses that would be immediately recognized in earnings since those hedges are not designated. See "Quantitative 
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for a further discussion of our interest rate and foreign currency risks.

Discontinuation, reform or replacement of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other benchmark rates, 
or uncertainty related to the potential for any of the foregoing, may adversely affect our business.

Certain of our variable rate debt, including our Amended Credit Agreement, uses LIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the 
interest rate. See Note 11, Debt, to our audited consolidated financial statements. While the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority 
(the "FCA") announced in 2017 that it intended to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021, the administrator of LIBOR announced 
in November 2020 its intention to consult on ceasing publication of one-week and two-month USD LIBOR settings at the end 
of 2021 and ceasing publication of the remaining overnight and one-, three-, six- and 12-month USD LIBOR settings at the end 

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of  June  2023.  While  the  proposal  is  not  yet  final,  the  FCA  and  other  similar  entities  have  supported  this  announcement  and 
issued additional guidance. U.S. federal banking agencies also issued a joint statement in November 2020 encouraging banks to 
stop using LIBOR for new contracts as soon as possible but in any event by the end of the year. In addition, other regulators 
have suggested reforming or replacing other benchmark rates. Discontinuation, reform or replacement of LIBOR or any other 
benchmark rates may have an unpredictable impact on contractual mechanics in the credit markets or cause disruption to the 
broader financial markets. Uncertainty as to the nature of such potential discontinuation, reform or replacement may negatively 
impact the cost of our variable rate debt.

Our  credit  facility  was  amended  in  March  2020  to  provide  that,  among  other  things,  upon  the  occurrence  of  a  Benchmark 
Transition Event (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement and which includes that the Eurodollar rate with respect to any 
applicable  currency  has  ceased  or  will  cease  to  be  provided  or  is  no  longer  representative)  or  an  Early  Opt-in  Election  (as 
defined in the Amended Credit Agreement and which includes a determination by the administrative agent or a notification by 
the required lenders to the administrative agent that the required lenders have determined that syndicated credit facilities in such 
currency being executed at such time, or that include language similar to the benchmark transition provisions in the Amended 
Credit  Agreement  are  being  executed  or  amended  to  incorporate  or  adopt  a  new  benchmark  interest  rate  to  replace  the 
Eurodollar rate loans denominated in for such currency), as applicable, with respect to any currency, the administrative agent 
and  the  Company  may  amend  the  Amended  Credit  Agreement  to  replace  the  Eurodollar  rate  for  loans  denominated  in  such 
currency (which, for loans denominated in USD (our term loans and United States dollar revolver) and British pounds sterling 
(Great  Britain  pound  revolver)  is  LIBOR)  with  a  benchmark  replacement  (with  respect  to  any  currency,  the  sum  of:  (a)  the 
alternate benchmark rate (which, with respect to USD, may be a rate based on the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”)) 
selected  by  the  administrative  agent  and  the  Company  giving  due  consideration  to  (i)  any  selection  or  recommendation  of  a 
replacement rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the relevant governmental body and/or (ii) any evolving or 
then-prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest as a replacement to the Eurodollar rate for syndicated credit 
facilities in such currency and (b) the benchmark replacement adjustment for such currency). Any such amendment with respect 
to a Benchmark Transition Event becomes effective at the specified time in such agreement so long as the administrative agent 
has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such proposed amendment from lenders comprising the required 
lenders; provided that, with respect to any proposed amendment containing any SOFR-based rate, the lenders are only entitled 
to  object  to  the  benchmark  replacement  adjustment  contained  therein.  Any  such  amendment  with  respect  to  an  Early  Opt-in 
Election becomes effective on the date that lenders comprising the required lenders have delivered to the administrative agent 
written  notice  that  such  required  lenders  accept  such  amendment.  Although  no  Benchmark  Transition  Event  or  Early  Opt-in 
Election  has  occurred  as  of  February  19,  2021,  we  may  not  be  able  to  reach  agreement  with  our  lenders  on  any  such 
amendments once it has. As a result, additional financing to replace our LIBOR-based debt may be unavailable, more expensive 
or restricted by the terms of our outstanding indebtedness. In addition, any benchmark replacement may not be the economic 
equivalent  of  LIBOR  or  not  achieve  market  acceptance  similar  to  LIBOR,  which  could  negatively  impact  the  cost  of  our 
variable rate debt. In particular, if the benchmark replacement is a SOFR-based rate, risks related to SOFR include, but are not 
limited  to,  that  SOFR  differs  fundamentally  from,  and  may  not  be  a  comparable  substitute  for,  USD  LIBOR;  SOFR  may  be 
discontinued  or  fundamentally  altered  in  a  manner  that  is  materially  adverse  to  us;  and  any  failure  of  SOFR  to  gain  market 
acceptance could adversely affect us. 

The agreements governing our indebtedness place significant operational and financial restrictions on us, reducing our 
operational flexibility and creating default risks.

The agreements governing our indebtedness contain covenants, and the terms of any future agreements may contain covenants, 
that place restrictions on us and our subsidiaries. These covenants restrict, among other things, our and our subsidiaries’ ability 
to:

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merge, consolidate or transfer all, or substantially all, of our or our subsidiaries’ assets;
incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
create liens on our or our subsidiaries’ assets;
pay dividends and make other distributions on our stock;
enter into transactions with affiliates;
issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; and
change the nature of our business.

These  covenants  could  impair  our  ability  to  grow  our  business,  take  advantage  of  attractive  business  opportunities  or 
successfully compete. These covenants could also impair our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or meet capital 
needs, or our ability to finance our operations, strategic acquisitions, investments or alliances or other capital needs or to engage 
in  other  business  activities  that  would  be  in  our  interest.  In  addition,  the  indentures  governing  our  2024  Notes,  2029  Notes, 
2027  Notes,  2030  Notes  and  our  Amended  Credit  Agreement  require  us  to  maintain  specified  financial  ratios  and  satisfy 

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financial condition tests. The indentures governing our 2024 Notes, 2029 Notes, 2027 Notes and 2030 Notes also require our 
operating  partnership  and  its  subsidiaries  to  maintain  total  unencumbered  assets  of  at  least  150%  of  the  aggregate  principal 
amount of their outstanding unsecured indebtedness on a consolidated basis. Our ability to comply with these metrics or tests 
may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. A breach of 
any of these covenants or covenants under any other agreements governing our indebtedness could result in an event of default. 
Cross-default provisions in our debt agreements could cause an event of default under one debt agreement to trigger an event of 
default  under  our  other  debt  agreements.  Upon  the  occurrence  of  an  event  of  default  under  any  of  our  debt  agreements,  the 
lenders or holders thereof could elect to declare all outstanding debt under such agreements to be immediately due and payable. 
If we were unable to repay or refinance the accelerated debt, the lenders or holders, as applicable, could proceed against any 
assets pledged to secure that debt, including foreclosing on or requiring the sale of our data centers, and our assets may not be 
sufficient to repay such debt in full.

Risks Related to Our General Business

The  recent  novel  coronavirus  (COVID-19)  pandemic  and  measures  to  prevent  its  spread  could  materially  adversely 
impact  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  ability  to  pay  dividends  as  well  as  the 
market price of our common stock.

The novel strain of the coronavirus identified in China in late 2019 has spread globally and resulted in authorities implementing 
numerous measures to attempt to contain the virus, including travel bans, shelter in place regulations and other restrictions and 
shutdowns. There has been and continues to be considerable uncertainty about the effects of these measures and how long they 
will  remain  in  effect,  which  could  adversely  impact  our  employees,  customers,  vendors  and  suppliers  resulting  in  a  material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the 
market price of our common stock.

As  a  result  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  while  our  data  centers  have  remained  operational,  we  have  modified  our  business 
practices  by  temporarily  closing  our  corporate  headquarters  and  regional  locations,  transitioned  non-essential  employees  to 
working remotely from their homes, implemented restrictions on the physical participation in meetings and significantly limited 
business travel, all of which have disrupted how we operate our business and may remain in place for an indeterminate amount 
of  time.  We  cannot  assure  you,  however,  that  our  workforce  will  be  able  to  continue  to  work  effectively  as  a  result  of  such 
practices, or that our technological systems or infrastructure will continue to be equipped to facilitate effective remote working 
arrangements  for  our  employees.  To  date,  our  technology  systems  and  infrastructure  have  effectively  supported  our  remote 
working activities.

The effect of the pandemic and measures implemented by authorities could disrupt our supply chain, including the provision of 
services  to  us  by  our  vendors  and  could  result  in  restrictions  on  construction  activities.  Such  disruptions  could  impact  the 
operations  of  our  data  centers,  our  ability  to  meet  delivery  timelines,  including  contracted  delivery  schedules  with  our 
customers, and could lead to the closing of facilities, delays in the commencement of leases, penalties for delay, potential lease 
terminations and legal proceedings being brought against us. To date our costs of operation have not significantly increased, 
however,  we  may  incur  additional  operating  costs  as  a  result  of  the  pandemic,  the  timing  of  which  is  uncertain  and 
unpredictable, which could materially increase our costs of operations.

The conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including recent increases in cases in certain markets in the U.S. in which 
we do business, also affect our customers and has both lengthened payment terms and increased rent abatements, which has not 
had a significant impact to date but may increasingly impact the timing and amount of rent we collect in the future. In addition, 
these  conditions  may  negatively  impact  the  demand  for  colocation  and  our  services,  delay  the  decision  making  of  our 
customers, result in defaults or otherwise impair our customers' ability to timely pay us, as well as potentially impairing our 
ability to attract new customers, all of which could adversely affect our future sales, operating results, cash flows and overall 
financial  performance.  More  generally,  in  response  to  the  pandemic,  government  economic  support  to  businesses  and 
individuals  impacted  by  the  pandemic  may  not  continue  or  be  effective  at  alleviating  the  abrupt  economic  deterioration 
experienced to date and both the short-term and long-term impact of these actions on economic growth is uncertain.

The  effects  of  the  pandemic  have  affected  (and  may  continue  to  adversely  affect)  the  economies  of  countries  where  we  do 
business,  including  the  United  States  and  countries  in  Europe,  and  have  also  caused  (and  may  continue  to  cause)  severe 
disruption  and  volatility  in  the  global  capital  markets,  foreign  exchange  and  interest  rates.  The  resulting  economic  downturn 
could adversely affect our and our customers’ and suppliers’ businesses, financial conditions, results of operations and growth 
prospects,  and  may  adversely  impact  our  ability  to  issue  equity,  borrow  or  refinance  debt  and  otherwise  access  the  capital 
markets  to  fund  our  business.  If  we  cannot  obtain  capital  when  needed  on  acceptable  terms  or  at  all,  we  may  not  be  able  to 
develop or acquire properties when strategic opportunities arise or refinance our debt at or before maturity, and we may need to 
increase our liquidity by disposing of properties possibly on disadvantageous terms or renewing leases on less favorable terms 

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than we otherwise would, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and 
ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock. Moreover, our continued access to external sources of 
liquidity also depends on our maintaining  strong credit ratings. If  rating agencies lower our credit ratings, it could adversely 
affect our ability to access the debt markets, our cost of funds and other terms for new debt.

The duration and extent of the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to depend on future developments that cannot 
be  accurately  predicted  at  this  time,  such  as  the  severity  and  transmission  rate  of  the  virus,  the  extent  and  effectiveness  of 
containment actions, the distribution and effectiveness of vaccines and the impact of these and other factors on our employees, 
customers,  suppliers  and  vendors.  If  we  are  not  able  to  respond  to  and  manage  the  impact  of  such  events  effectively,  our 
business will be harmed. Moreover, to the extent any of these risks and uncertainties adversely impact us in the ways described 
above or otherwise, they may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks set forth in this Part I, Item 1A.

Our international activities are subject to special risks different from those faced by us in the United States, and we may 
not be able to effectively manage our international business.

While our activities are primarily based in the United States, since 2018 we have increased our presence in Europe, including in 
Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt, London and Paris. Expanding our international activities involves risks not generally associated 
with activities or investments in the United States, including:

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compliance with evolving and varied regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
our  limited  knowledge  of  and  relationships  with  sellers,  customers,  contractors,  suppliers  or  other  parties  in  these 
markets;
complexity and costs associated with staffing and managing international development and operations;
difficulty in hiring qualified management, sales and construction personnel and service providers in a timely fashion;
problems securing and maintaining the necessary physical and telecommunications infrastructure;
multiple, conflicting and changing legal, regulatory, entitlement and permitting, and tax and treaty environments with 
which we have limited familiarity;
exposure to increased taxation, confiscation or expropriation;
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, currency transfer restrictions and limitations on our ability to distribute 
cash earned in foreign jurisdictions to the United States;
longer payment cycles and problems collecting accounts receivable;
laws and regulations on content distributed over the Internet that are more restrictive than those in the United States;
evolving  and  uncertain  local  laws,  policies,  regulations  and  licenses,  including  the  implementation  and  enforcement 
thereof;
difficulty  in  enforcing  agreements  in  non-U.S.  jurisdictions,  including  those  entered  into  in  connection  with  our 
acquisitions, or in the event of a default by one or more of our customers, suppliers or contractors;
political and economic instability, including sovereign credit risk, in certain geographic regions;
the  continuing  uncertainty  about  the  future  relationship  between  the  United  Kingdom  and  the  European  Union 
following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union (commonly known as "Brexit") as discussed in 
“The  continuing  uncertainty  following  the  United  Kingdom’s  withdrawal  from  the  European  Union  may  have  a 
negative effect on global economic conditions, financial markets and our business, which could adversely affect our 
business, financial condition and results of operations” below;
exposure to restrictive foreign labor law practices;
import and export restrictions and other trade barriers, including imposition of tariffs; and
increased trade tensions between countries or political and economic unions.

Our  inability  to  overcome  these  risks  could  adversely  affect  our  foreign  operations,  partnerships  and  growth  prospects  and 
could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market 
price of our common stock.

Any failure to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations could have adverse effects on our business, financial 
condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

We  are  subject  to  laws  and  regulations  concerning  our  business  operations,  sales  and  marketing  activities  in  the  U.S.  and 
foreign  countries  where  we  conduct  business.  For  example,  we  are  subject  to  the  U.S.  Foreign  Corrupt  Practices  Act,  or  the 
FCPA,  which  generally  prohibits  companies  and  any  individuals  or  entities  acting  on  their  behalf  from  offering  or  making 
improper  payments  or  providing  benefits  to  foreign  officials  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  or  keeping  business.  We  are  also 
subject to various other anti-bribery, anti-corruption and international trade laws in the U.S. and certain foreign countries, such 
as the U.K. Bribery Act. There is a risk that our employees, business partners and other third parties could violate these laws, 
and  we  could  be  sanctioned  or  held  liable  for  actions  taken  by  our  employees,  business  partners  and  other  third  parties  with 

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respect  to  our  business.  We  could  incur  significant  expenses  in  investigating  any  potential  violation  and  could  incur  severe 
criminal or civil sanctions and/or fines as a result of violations or settlements regarding such laws. In addition, any allegations, 
settlements  or  violations  could  materially  and  adversely  impact  our  reputation  and  our  relationships  with  current  and  future 
customers,  suppliers,  employees  and  business  partners.  Any  such  expenses,  sanctions,  fines,  allegations,  settlements  or 
violations could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends 
as well as the market price of our common stock.

The continuing uncertainty following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union may have a negative 
effect  on  global  economic  conditions,  financial  markets  and  our  business,  which  could  adversely  affect  our  business, 
financial condition and results of operations.

We are developing and operate data centers in Europe, including in Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt, and Paris as well as in the 
United Kingdom. In June 2016, a majority of voters in the United Kingdom elected to withdraw from the European Union in a 
national  referendum.  After  years  of  negotiations  to  establish  the  framework  for  the  future  relationship  between  the  United 
Kingdom and the European Union, the United Kingdom formally left the European Union on January 31, 2020. A transition 
period began on February 1, 2020, which lasted until December 31, 2020.

On January 1, 2021, the United Kingdom left the European Union Single Market and Customs Union, as well as all European 
Union policies and international agreements. As a result, the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital between the 
United  Kingdom  and  the  European  Union  ended,  and  the  European  Union  and  the  United  Kingdom  formed  two  separate 
markets  and  two  distinct  regulatory  and  legal  spaces.  Prior  to  the  United  Kingdom’s  departure,  a  trade  and  cooperation 
agreement (the “Trade Agreement”) was reached between the United Kingdom and the European Union on December 24, 2020, 
avoiding  a  no-deal  separation.  The  Trade  Agreement  was  approved  by  the  European  Union’s  member  states  and  the  United 
Kingdom Parliament, and is expected to be formally ratified by the European Parliament. The Trade Agreement offers United 
Kingdom and European Union companies preferential access to each other’s markets, ensuring imported goods will be free of 
tariffs and quotas; however, economic relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union will now be on more 
restricted  terms  than  existed  previously.  While  the  Trade  Agreement  provides  clarity  for  the  future  relationship  between  the 
United Kingdom and the European Union, uncertainties remain and further negotiations are expected. For instance, the Trade 
Agreement does not incorporate the full scope of the services sector, and businesses such as banking and finance face a more 
uncertain  future.  The  United  Kingdom  and  European  Union  plan  to  put  in  place  a  regulatory  dialogue  on  financial  services 
based on a separate memorandum of understanding by March 2021. At this time, we cannot predict the impact that the Trade 
Agreement and any future agreements on services will have on our business and our customers, and it is possible that new terms 
may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The original referendum has also given rise to calls for the governments of other European Union member states to consider 
withdrawal.  If  other  European  Union  member  states  pursue  withdrawal,  barrier-free  access  between  other  European  Union 
member states or among the European economic area overall could be diminished or eliminated. Withdrawal from the European 
Union, or the perception that additional withdrawals could occur, have had and may continue to have a material adverse effect 
on  global  economic  conditions  and  the  stability  of  global  financial  markets,  and  could  significantly  reduce  global  market 
liquidity  and  restrict  the  ability  of  key  market  participants  to  operate  in  certain  financial  markets.  Asset  valuations,  currency 
exchange rates (primarily the British pound sterling and Euro) and credit ratings may be especially subject to increased market 
volatility.  Lack  of  clarity  about  United  Kingdom  laws  and  regulations  as  the  United  Kingdom  continues  to  determine  which 
European  Union  laws  to  replace  or  replicate  could  depress  economic  activity  and  restrict  our  access  to  capital  in  the  United 
Kingdom.  For  example,  this  lack  of  clarity  could  result  in  canceled  contracts,  changes  in  exchange  rates  or  less  favorable 
payment terms. 

In  particular,  changes  resulting  from  Brexit,  including  those  related  to  additional  trade  agreements,  tariffs  and  customs 
regulations and currency fluctuations, may cause us to lose customers, suppliers and employees and any of these factors may 
adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, especially with respect to our European operations. 
In  addition,  the  value  of  the  Euro  and  British  pound  sterling  as  compared  to  the  U.S.  dollar;  potential  price  increases  or 
unavailability of supplies purchased from companies located in the European Union or elsewhere; potential disruptions in the 
markets we serve; and changes in tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate could have adverse effects on our business, 
financial condition and results of operations.

The  ongoing  trade  conflict  between  the  United  States  and  the  PRC  may  negatively  impact  certain  of  our  customers, 
which in turn could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The  United  States  has  recently  advocated  for  and  taken  steps  toward  restricting  trade  in  certain  goods,  particularly  from  the 
PRC. The PRC and certain other countries have retaliated and may further retaliate in response to new trade policies, treaties 
and tariffs implemented by the United States. Any further actions to increase existing tariffs or impose additional tariffs could 

39

result in an escalation of the trade conflict and may have a material negative impact on the economies of not just the United 
States  and  the  PRC,  but  the  global  economy  as  a  whole.  While  the  U.S.  had  recently  announced  prohibitions  on  certain 
“transactions”,  including  without  limitation  “any  acquisition,  importation,  transfer,  installation,  dealing  in,  or  use  of  any 
information  and  communications  technology  or  service”,  by  any  person,  or  with  respect  to  any  property,  subject  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  with  a  certain  mobile  application  that  involves,  among  other  things,  (a)  any  provision  of 
services  to  distribute  or  maintain  such  mobile  application  within  the  United  States  and  (b)  any  provision  of  internet  hosting 
services, content delivery network services or directly contracted or arranged internet transit or peering services, in each case 
that  enable  the  functioning  or  optimization  of  such  mobile  application  within  the  United  States,  such  prohibitions  have  been 
enjoined and will not take effect, pending legal developments. The President has also issued an executive order with respect to 
another  mobile  application,  although  similar  rules  proposed  by  the  U.S.  Department  of  Commerce  that  identified  the 
transactions  prohibited  by  such  order  were  subsequently  withdrawn.  In  early  January  2021,  the  President  signed  another 
executive  order  prohibiting  transactions  using  certain  PRC  payment  applications.  While  we  are  currently  unable  to  predict 
whether these restrictions will take effect, whether the U.S. or other governments will impose any further restrictions or extend 
these  restrictions  to  other  industries,  or  the  eventual  impact  of  any  such  restrictions,  the  aforementioned  prohibitions  create 
uncertainty  around  our  customers  that  are  controlled  by  PRC  entities  and  our  customers’  ability  to  do  business  with  PRC 
entities.  If  these  measures,  tariffs  and  prohibitions  affect  any  of  our  customers  and  their  business  results  and  prospects,  their 
demand for, or ability to pay for, our data center services may decrease, which may materially and adversely affect our financial 
condition and results of operations.

The regulatory framework around data custody, data privacy and breaches varies by jurisdiction and involves complex 
and rigorous regulatory standards enacted to protect business and personal data in the U.S. and elsewhere. 

Data custody and privacy laws and regulations are complex and vary by jurisdiction. We may not be able to limit our liability or 
damages  in  the  event  of  a  loss  of  business  or  personal  data.  For  example,  the  European  Union's  General  Data  Protection 
Regulation  (the  "GDPR")  became  effective  in  2018.  The  GDPR  imposes  additional  obligations  on  companies  regarding  the 
handling  of  personal  data  and  provides  certain  individual  privacy  rights  to  persons  whose  data  is  stored.  Data  protection 
legislation  is  also  becoming  common  in  the  United  States  at  both  the  federal  and  state  level  and  may  require  us  to  further 
modify our data processing practices and policies. For example, the state of California, where we expect to open a data center in 
2022 and have other property for future development, adopted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, which took effect 
on  January  1,  2020,  and  California  voters  approved  the  California  Privacy  Rights  Act  in  November  2020,  which  will  be 
effective January 1, 2023. These laws provide California residents with increased privacy rights and protections with respect to 
their personal information. Compliance with existing, proposed and recently enacted data privacy laws and regulations can be 
costly;  any  failure  to  comply  with  these  regulatory  standards  could  subject  us  to  legal  and  reputational  risks.  Misuse  of,  or 
failure to secure, personal information could also result in violation of data privacy laws and regulations, proceedings against 
the Company by governmental entities or others, fines and penalties, damage to our reputation and credibility and could have a 
negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

We  may  incur  significant  costs  complying  with  the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act,  or  ADA,  and  similar  laws,  which 
could materially adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

Under  the  ADA,  all  places  of  public  accommodation  must  meet  federal  requirements  related  to  access  and  use  by  disabled 
persons. We have not conducted an audit or investigation of all of our U.S. properties to determine our compliance with the 
ADA. If one of our U.S. properties is not in compliance with the ADA, we would be required to incur additional costs to bring 
the property into compliance. Additional federal, state and local laws may require modifications to our properties, or restrict our 
ability  to  renovate  our  properties.  We  cannot  predict  the  ultimate  amount  of  the  cost  of  compliance  with  the  ADA  or  other 
legislation.  If  we  incur  substantial  costs  to  comply  with  the  ADA  and  any  other  similar  legislation,  our  financial  condition, 
results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  ability  to  pay  dividends  as  well  as  the  market  price  of  our  common  stock  could  be 
materially adversely affected.

We may be adversely affected by regulations or standards related to climate change.

If we, or other companies with which we do business, become subject to existing or future laws and regulations or standards 
related to climate change, our business could be impacted adversely. For example, in the normal course of business, we enter 
into  agreements  with  providers  of  electric  power  for  our  data  centers,  and  the  costs  of  electric  power  comprise  a  significant 
component of our operating expenses. In addition, we may be required to incur additional costs to acquire or upgrade our back-
up generators to obtain or continue to qualify for applicable permits. Changes in regulations that affect electric power providers, 
such as regulations related to the control of greenhouse gas emissions, wildfire mitigation plans or other climate change related 
matters, could adversely affect the costs of electric power and increase our operating costs and may adversely affect our or our 
customers'  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and  cash  flows  as  well  as  our  ability  to  pay  dividends  and  the 
market price of our common stock.

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We may incur significant costs complying with other regulations.

Our properties are subject to various federal, state and local regulations, such as state and local fire and life safety regulations, 
as  well  as  similar  foreign  regulations.  For  instance,  as  discussed  in  “We  have  been  and  may  continue  to  be  vulnerable  to 
security breaches or cyber-attacks which have disrupted and could disrupt our operations, harm our brand and reputation 
and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations” above, regulations such as 
the GDPR and CCPA may have significant impact on our operations. If we fail to comply with these various regulations, we 
may be required to pay fines or private damage awards. We do not know whether existing regulations will change or whether 
future  regulations  will  require  us  to  make  significant  unanticipated  expenditures  that  may  adversely  affect  our  business, 
financial condition and results of operations. With respect to foreign regulations, we also face the risks described above in “We 
face risks with our international acquisitions associated with investing in unfamiliar metropolitan areas”. 

The failure to successfully implement changes to our information technology system could adversely affect our business.

From time to time, we make changes to our information technology system to meet our business and financial reporting needs. 
Transitioning to new or upgraded systems can create difficulties, including potential disruption to our financial reporting data, 
security  vulnerabilities  and  decreases  in  productivity  until  personnel  become  familiar  with  new  systems.  In  addition,  our 
management  information  systems  will  require  modification  and  refinement  as  we  grow  and  as  our  business  needs  change, 
which  could  prolong  difficulties  we  experience  with  systems  transitions,  and  we  may  not  always  employ  the  most  effective 
systems  for  our  purposes.  If  we  experience  difficulties  in  implementing  new  or  upgraded  information  systems  or  experience 
significant  system  failures,  or  if  we  are  unable  to  successfully  modify  our  management  information  systems  and  respond  to 
changes in our business needs, our operating results could be harmed or we may fail to meet our reporting obligations.

Violations of our prohibition on harassment, sexual or otherwise, could result in liabilities and/or litigation.

We prohibit harassment or discrimination in the workplace, whether sexual harassment or any other form. This policy applies to 
all aspects of employment. Notwithstanding our conducting training and taking disciplinary action against alleged violations, 
we  may  encounter  additional  costs  from  claims  made  and/or  legal  proceedings  brought  against  us.  Any  such  claims  or 
allegations, or even just stories or rumors about such misconduct at the Company, could also harm our reputation and therefore 
our business, including our ability to recruit future employees or secure contracts with new and existing customers, even if such 
allegations do not result in any legal liability or direct financial losses.

The expansion of social media platforms presents new risks and challenges.

The inappropriate use of certain social media vehicles could cause brand damage or information leakage or could lead to legal 
implications  from  the  improper  collection  and/or  dissemination  of  personally  identifiable  information  or  the  improper 
dissemination of material non-public information. In addition, negative posts or comments about us on any social networking 
web site could seriously damage our reputation. Further, the disclosure of non-public company sensitive information through 
external media channels could lead to information loss as there might not be structured processes in place to secure and protect 
information. If our non-public sensitive information is disclosed or if our reputation is seriously damaged through social media, 
it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and/or ordinary 
share price.

Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure

Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action against our directors and officers are limited.

Maryland law provides that a director has no liability in the capacity as a director if he or she performs his or her duties in good 
faith,  in  a  manner  he  or  she  reasonably  believes  to  be  in  the  company’s  best  interests  and  with  the  care  that  an  ordinarily 
prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. As permitted by the Maryland General Corporation 
Law  (MGCL),  our  charter  limits  the  liability  of  our  directors  and  officers  to  the  company  and  our  stockholders  for  money 
damages, except for liability resulting from:

•
•

actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or
a final judgment based upon a finding of active and deliberate dishonesty by the director or officer that was material to 
the cause of action adjudicated.

In  addition,  our  charter  authorizes  us  to  obligate  the  company,  and  our  bylaws  require  us,  to  indemnify  our  directors  and 
officers  for  actions  taken  by  them  in  those  capacities  and  to  pay  or  reimburse  their  reasonable  expenses  in  advance  of  final 
disposition  of  a  proceeding  to  the  maximum  extent  permitted  by  Maryland  law,  and  we  have  entered  into  indemnification 
agreements with our directors and executive officers. As a result, we and our stockholders may have more limited rights against 

41

our directors and officers than might otherwise exist under common law. Accordingly, in the event that any of our directors or 
officers  are  exculpated  from,  or  indemnified  against,  liability  but  whose  actions  impede  our  performance,  our  stockholders’ 
ability to recover damages from that director or officer will be limited.

Our charter and bylaws and the partnership agreement of our operating partnership contain provisions that may delay, 
defer or prevent an acquisition of our common stock or a change in control.

Our charter and bylaws and the partnership agreement contain a number of provisions, the exercise or existence of which could 
delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our stockholders or otherwise 
be in their best interests, including the following:

•

•

Our  Charter  Contains  Restrictions  on  the  Ownership  and  Transfer  of  Our  Stock.  In  order  for  us  to  qualify  as  a 
REIT, no more than 50% of the value of outstanding shares of our stock may be owned, beneficially or constructively, 
by five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of each taxable year other than the first year for which we 
elect  to  be  taxed  as  a  REIT.  Subject  to  certain  exceptions,  our  charter  prohibits  any  stockholder  from  owning 
beneficially or constructively more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the 
outstanding shares of our common stock, or 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of all classes or 
series of our stock. We refer to these restrictions collectively as the “ownership limits.” The constructive ownership 
rules  under  the  Code  are  complex  and  may  cause  the  outstanding  stock  owned  by  a  group  of  related  individuals  or 
entities to be deemed to be constructively owned by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 
9.8% of our outstanding common stock or the outstanding shares of all classes or series of our stock by an individual 
or  entity  could  cause  that  individual  or  entity  or  another  individual  or  entity  to  own  constructively  in  excess  of  the 
relevant ownership limits. Our charter also prohibits any person from owning shares of our stock that would result in 
our  being  “closely  held”  under  Section  856(h)  of  the  Code  or  otherwise  cause  us  to  fail  to  qualify  as  a  REIT.  Any 
attempt  to  own  or  transfer  shares  of  our  common  stock  or  of  any  of  our  other  capital  stock  in  violation  of  these 
restrictions  may  result  in  the  shares  being  automatically  transferred  to  a  charitable  trust  or  may  be  void.  These 
ownership  limits  may  prevent  a  third-party  from  acquiring  control  of  us  if  our  board  of  directors  does  not  grant  an 
exemption from the ownership limits, even if our stockholders believe the change in control is in their best interests. 
Although  it  is  under  no  continuing  obligation  to  do  so,  our  board  of  directors  has  granted  some  limited  exemptions 
from  the  ownership  limits  applicable  to  certain  holders  of  our  common  stock,  subject  to  certain  initial  and  ongoing 
conditions designed to protect our status as a REIT, including, if deemed advisable, the receipt of an Internal Revenue 
Service (IRS) private letter ruling or an opinion of counsel.

Our Board of Directors Has the Power to Cause Us to Issue Additional Shares of Our Stock Without Stockholder 
Approval. Our charter authorizes us to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of common or preferred stock. 
In  addition,  our  board  of  directors  may,  without  stockholder  approval,  amend  our  charter  to  increase  the  aggregate 
number of our shares of common stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to 
issue and classify or reclassify any unissued shares of common or preferred stock and set the preferences, rights and 
other terms of the classified or reclassified shares. As a result, our board of directors may establish a series of shares of 
common  or  preferred  stock  that  could  delay  or  prevent  a  transaction  or  a  change  in  control  that  might  involve  a 
premium price for our shares of common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

Conflicts of interest exist or could arise in the future with our operating partnership or its partners.

Conflicts of interest exist or could arise in the future as a result of the relationships between us and our affiliates, on the one 
hand, and our operating partnership or any partner thereof, on the other. Our directors and officers have duties to our company 
under applicable Maryland law in connection with their direction of the management of our company. At the same time, we, as 
trustee, have duties to CyrusOne GP, which, in turn, as general partner of our operating partnership, has duties to our operating 
partnership and to the limited partners under Maryland law in connection with the management of our operating partnership. 
Under  Maryland  law,  the  general  partner  of  a  Maryland  limited  partnership  has  fiduciary  duties  of  care  and  loyalty,  and  an 
obligation of good faith, to the partnership and its partners. While these duties and obligations cannot be eliminated entirely in 
the limited partnership agreement, Maryland law permits the parties to a limited partnership agreement to specify certain types 
or categories of activities that do not violate the general partner’s duty of loyalty and to modify the duty of care and obligation 
of good faith, so long as such modifications are not unreasonable. These duties as general partner of our operating partnership 
to the partnership and its partners may come into conflict with the interests of our company. Under the partnership agreement of 
our  operating  partnership,  the  limited  partners  of  our  operating  partnership  expressly  agree  that  the  general  partner  of  our 
operating partnership is acting for the benefit of the operating partnership, the limited partners of our operating partnership and 
our stockholders, collectively. The general partner is under no obligation to give priority to the separate interests of the limited 
partners  in  deciding  whether  to  cause  our  operating  partnership  to  take  or  decline  to  take  any  actions.  If  there  is  a  conflict 
between  the  interests  of  us  or  our  stockholders,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  interests  of  the  limited  partners  of  our  operating 

42

partnership, on the other, the partnership agreement of our operating partnership provides that any action or failure to act by the 
general  partner  that  gives  priority  to  the  separate  interests  of  us  or  our  stockholders  that  does  not  result  in  a  violation  of  the 
contractual rights of the limited partners of our operating partnership under the partnership agreement will not violate the duties 
that the general partner owes to our operating partnership and its partners.

Additionally, the partnership agreement of our operating partnership expressly limits our liability by providing that we and our 
directors, officers, agents and employees will not be liable or accountable to our operating partnership or its partners for money 
damages. In addition, our operating partnership is required to indemnify us, our directors, officers and employees, the general 
partner  and  its  trustees,  officers  and  employees,  employees  of  our  operating  partnership  and  any  other  persons  whom  the 
general partner may designate from and against any and all claims arising from operations of our operating partnership in which 
any  indemnitee  may  be  involved,  or  is  threatened  to  be  involved,  as  a  party  or  otherwise  unless  it  is  established  by  a  final 
judgment that the act or omission of the indemnitee constituted fraud, intentional harm or gross negligence on the part of the 
indemnitee, the claim is brought by the indemnitee (other than to enforce the indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advance 
of expenses) or the indemnitee is found to be liable to our operating partnership, and then only with respect to each such claim.

No  reported  decision  of  a  Maryland  appellate  court  has  interpreted  provisions  that  are  similar  to  the  provisions  of  the 
partnership  agreement  of  our  operating  partnership  that  modify  the  fiduciary  duties  of  the  general  partner  of  our  operating 
partnership, and we have not obtained an opinion of counsel regarding the enforceability of the provisions of the partnership 
agreement  that  purport  to  waive  or  modify  the  fiduciary  duties  and  obligations  of  the  general  partner  of  our  operating 
partnership.

In  addition,  the  limited  partnership  agreement  of  our  operating  partnership  provides  for  the  issuance  of  partnership  units 
designated as LTIP Units. While all of the issued and outstanding operating partnership units were owned, directly or indirectly, 
by  the  Company  as  of  December  31,  2020,  as  a  result  of  the  restructuring  of  our  operating  partnership,  which  was  effective 
February 1, 2021, 0.2% of the operating partnership units are now held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the 
Compensation Committee of the Company may now grant awards to participants in our Restated 2012 Long Term Incentive 
Plan  (“LTIP”)  that  allows  recipients  to  elect  to  receive  their  award  in  the  form  of  LTIP  Units  or  restricted  stock  of  the 
Company.  LTIP  Units  will  dilute  the  Company’s  interest  (and  therefore  the  interest  of  our  stockholders)  in  the  assets  of  our 
operating partnership. LTIP Units will have the right to vote on certain amendments to the limited partnership agreement of our 
operating partnership, as well as on certain other matters. Persons holding such voting rights may exercise them in a manner 
that  conflicts  with  the  interests  of  our  stockholders.  Furthermore,  circumstances  may  arise  in  the  future  when  the  interest  of 
limited  partners  in  our  operating  partnership  may  conflict  with  the  interest  of  our  stockholders.  For  example,  the  timing  and 
terms of dispositions of properties held by our operating partnership may result in tax consequences to certain limited partners 
and not to our stockholders.

Certain provisions of Maryland law may limit the ability of a third-party to acquire control of us.

Certain provisions of the MGCL may have the effect of inhibiting a third-party from acquiring us or of impeding a change of 
control under circumstances that otherwise could provide our common stockholders with the opportunity to realize a premium 
over the then-prevailing market price of such shares, including:

•

•

“business  combination”  provisions  that,  subject  to  limitations,  prohibit  certain  business  combinations  between  an 
“interested stockholder” (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of 
our outstanding shares of voting stock or an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-
year period immediately prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of 
the then outstanding stock of the corporation) or an affiliate of any interested stockholder and us for five years after the 
most  recent  date  on  which  the  stockholder  becomes  an  interested  stockholder,  and  thereafter  imposes  two  super-
majority stockholder voting requirements on these combinations; and
“control share” provisions that provide that holders of “control shares” of our company (defined as voting shares of 
stock that, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned or controlled by the acquirer, would entitle the acquirer to 
exercise  one  of  three  increasing  ranges  of  voting  power  in  electing  directors)  acquired  in  a  “control  share 
acquisition” (defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of issued and outstanding “control shares”) have no voting 
rights except to the extent approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all of the votes 
entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding all interested shares.

Pursuant to the Maryland Business Combination Act, our board of directors has by resolution exempted from the provisions of 
the Maryland Business Combination Act business combinations between any other person and us, provided that such business 
combination is first approved by our board of directors (including a majority of our directors who are not affiliates or associates 
of  such  person).  Our  bylaws  contain  a  provision  exempting  from  the  Maryland  Control  Share  Acquisition  Act  any  and  all 

43

acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. There can be no assurance that these exemptions or resolutions will not be 
amended or eliminated at any time in the future.

Additionally, Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL permits our board of directors, without stockholder approval and regardless of 
what is currently provided in our charter or bylaws, to implement certain takeover defenses, such as a classified board, some of 
which we do not have.

Our bylaws designate the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types 
of  actions  and  proceedings  that  may  be  initiated  by  our  stockholders,  which  could  limit  our  stockholders’  ability  to 
bring a claim in a judicial forum that the stockholders believe is a more favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or 
our directors, officers or other employees.

Our bylaws provide that, subject to limited exceptions, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, is the sole and exclusive
forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty 
owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim against us 
or any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, our charter or our bylaws or 
(d) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal 
affairs  doctrine.  This  provision  may  limit  a  stockholder’s  ability  to  bring  a  claim  in  a  judicial  forum  that  it  believes  is  more 
favorable for disputes against us or our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our 
directors, officers and other employees.

Risks Related to Status as a REIT

If we fail to remain qualified as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as a regular corporation and could 
face a substantial tax liability, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

CyrusOne Inc. has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code commencing with our initial taxable year ending December 31, 
2013.  We  intend  to  continue  to  operate  in  a  manner  that  will  allow  us  to  remain  qualified  as  a  REIT.  Our  qualification  as  a 
REIT  depends  on  our  satisfaction  of  certain  asset,  income,  organizational,  distribution,  stockholder  ownership  and  other 
requirements on a continuing basis. Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends upon our analysis of the characterization and 
fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we do not obtain 
independent appraisals.

We have received a private letter ruling from the IRS with respect to certain issues relevant to our qualification as a REIT. In 
general,  the  ruling  provides,  subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  contained  therein,  that  certain  structural  components  of  our 
properties (e.g., relating to the provision of electricity, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, regulation of humidity, security 
and fire protection, and telecommunications services) and intangible assets, and certain services that we may provide, directly 
or through subsidiaries, to our tenants, will not adversely affect our qualification as a REIT. Although we may generally rely 
upon  the  ruling,  no  assurance  can  be  given  that  the  IRS  will  not  challenge  our  qualification  as  a  REIT  on  the  basis  of  other 
issues or facts outside the scope of the ruling.

If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax, and could be subject 
to U.S. Federal income tax for any open taxable years on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, and dividends paid to 
our stockholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. Any resulting corporate tax liability could be 
substantial  and  would  reduce  the  amount  of  cash  available  for  distribution  to  our  stockholders,  which  in  turn  could  have  an 
adverse impact on the value of our common stock. Unless we were entitled to relief under certain Code provisions, we would 
also be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we failed to 
qualify as a REIT.

Qualifying as a REIT involves highly technical and complex provisions of the Code.

Qualification  as  a  REIT  involves  the  application  of  highly  technical  and  complex  Code  provisions  for  which  only  limited 
judicial and administrative authorities exist. Even a technical or inadvertent violation could jeopardize our REIT qualification. 
Our  continued  qualification  as  a  REIT  will  depend  on  our  satisfaction  of  certain  asset,  income,  organizational,  distribution, 
stockholder  ownership  and  other  requirements  on  a  continuing  basis.  In  addition,  our  ability  to  satisfy  the  requirements  to 
qualify as a REIT may depend in part on the actions of third parties over which we have no control or only limited influence, 
including in cases where we own an equity interest in an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax 
purposes.

44

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.

We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends 
paid  deduction  and  excluding  any  net  capital  gains,  in  order  for  us  to  qualify  as  a  REIT  (assuming  that  certain  other 
requirements are also satisfied) so that U.S. federal corporate income tax does not apply to earnings that we distribute. To the 
extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement and qualify for taxation as a REIT but distribute less than 100% of our REIT 
taxable  income,  determined  without  regard  to  the  dividends  paid  deduction  and  including  any  net  capital  gains,  we  will  be 
subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our undistributed net taxable income and on income recognized by our TRSs. In 
addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we distribute to our stockholders in a 
calendar  year  is  less  than  a  minimum  amount  specified  under  U.S.  federal  tax  laws.  We  intend  to  make  distributions  to  our 
stockholders to comply with the REIT requirements of the Code.

From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our cash flow as a result of differences in timing between the 
recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash or the effect of nondeductible capital expenditures, the creation of 
reserves  or  required  debt  or  amortization  payments.  If  we  do  not  have  other  funds  available  in  these  situations,  we  could  be 
required to borrow funds on unfavorable terms, sell assets at disadvantageous prices or distribute amounts that would otherwise 
be invested in future acquisitions to make distributions sufficient to enable us to pay out enough of our taxable income to satisfy 
the  REIT  distribution  requirement  and  to  avoid  corporate  income  tax  and  the  4%  excise  tax  in  a  particular  year.  These 
alternatives could increase our costs or reduce our equity. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability 
to grow, which could adversely affect the value of our common stock.

Dividends payable by REITs generally do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for some dividends, but certain 
stockholders may be entitled to deduct up to 20% of dividends payable by REITs.

"Qualified  dividend  income"  payable  to  U.S.  stockholders  that  are  individuals,  trusts  or  estates  is  generally  subject  to  tax  at 
preferential rates, but dividends payable by REITs generally do not constitute “qualified dividend income”. For taxable years 
beginning  after  December  31,  2017  and  before  January  1,  2026,  however,  U.S.  stockholders  that  are  individuals,  trusts  or 
estates  generally  will  be  entitled  to  deduct  up  to  20%  of  “qualified  REIT  dividends”.  A  “qualified  REIT  dividend”  is  any 
dividend from a REIT received during the taxable year that is not designated by the REIT as a “capital gain dividend” or as 
“qualified dividend income”.

Even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow.

Even if we remain qualified for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. taxes 
on  our  income  and  assets,  including  taxes  on  any  undistributed  net  taxable  income  and  state,  local,  or  non-U.S.  income, 
property and transfer taxes. For example, in order to meet the REIT qualification requirements, we may hold some of our assets 
or conduct certain of our activities through one or more TRS or other subsidiary corporations that will be subject to federal, 
state,  and  local  corporate-level  income  taxes  as  regular  C  corporations.  In  addition,  we  may  incur  a  100%  excise  tax  on 
transactions with a TRS if they are not conducted on an arm’s length basis. Moreover, we are subject to income, withholding 
and other taxes in numerous non-U.S. jurisdictions with respect to our income and operations related to those jurisdictions. Our 
after-tax  profitability  could  be  affected  by  numerous  factors,  including  the  availability  of  tax  credits,  exemptions  and  other 
benefits to reduce our tax liabilities, changes in the relative amount of our earnings subject to tax in the various jurisdictions in 
which we operate, the potential expansion of our business into or otherwise becoming subject to tax in additional jurisdictions, 
changes to our existing businesses and operations, the extent of our intercompany transactions and the extent to which taxing 
authorities  in  the  relevant  jurisdictions  respect  those  intercompany  transactions.  Any  of  these  taxes  would  decrease  cash 
available for distribution to our stockholders.

Changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws and regulations, including changes to tax rates, legislation and other actions may 
adversely affect our results of operations.

We  are  headquartered  in  the  United  States  with  subsidiaries  and  operations  in  Europe  and  Asia  which  are  subject  to  income 
taxes  in  these  jurisdictions.  Significant  judgment  is  required  in  determining  our  provision  for  income  taxes  and  there  is  no 
assurance that additional taxes will not be due upon audit of our tax returns or as a result of changes to applicable tax laws. The 
governments  of  many  of  the  countries  in  which  we  operate  may  enact  changes  to  the  tax  laws  of  such  countries,  including 
changes  to  the  corporate  recognition  and  taxation  of  worldwide  income.  The  nature  and  timing  of  any  changes  to  each 
jurisdiction’s tax laws and the impact on our future tax liabilities cannot be predicted and, as a result, our business, financial 
condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends, as well as the market price of our common stock, may 
be adversely affected.

45

Certain property transfers may generate prohibited transaction income, resulting in a penalty tax on gain attributable 
to the transaction.

From time to time, we may transfer or otherwise dispose of some of our properties, including the contribution of properties to 
our joint venture funds. Even if we remain qualified for taxation as a REIT, any gain resulting from transfers of properties that 
we hold as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business would be treated as income from a 
prohibited  transaction  subject  to  a  100%  penalty  tax,  unless  a  safe  harbor  exception  applies.  Since  we  acquire  properties  for 
investment purposes, we do not believe that our occasional transfers or disposals of property or our contributions of properties 
into  our  joint  ventures,  are  properly  treated  as  prohibited  transactions.  However,  whether  property  is  held  for  investment 
purposes is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. The IRS 
may  contend  that  certain  transfers  or  disposals  of  properties  by  us  or  contributions  of  properties  into  our  joint  ventures  are 
prohibited transactions if they do not meet the safe harbor requirements. While we believe that the IRS would not prevail in any 
such  dispute,  if  the  IRS  were  to  argue  successfully  that  a  transfer  or  disposition  or  contribution  of  property  constituted  a 
prohibited  transaction,  we  would  be  required  to  pay  a  100%  penalty  tax  on  any  gain  allocable  to  us  from  the  prohibited 
transaction. In addition, income from a prohibited transaction might adversely affect our ability to satisfy the income tests for 
qualification as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes.

Complying with REIT requirements may cause us to forgo otherwise attractive opportunities.

To qualify as a REIT, we must ensure that, at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of 
cash, cash items, government securities and “real estate assets” (as defined in the Code), including certain mortgage loans and 
securities. The remainder of our investments (other than government securities, qualified real estate assets and securities issued 
by a TRS) generally cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of 
the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our total 
assets (other than government securities, qualified real estate assets and securities issued by a TRS) can consist of the securities 
of any one issuer, and no more than 20% of the value of our total assets can be represented by securities of one or more TRS. If 
we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct the failure within 30 days after 
the  end  of  the  calendar  quarter  or  qualify  for  certain  statutory  relief  provisions  to  avoid  losing  our  REIT  qualification  and 
suffering  adverse  tax  consequences.  As  a  result,  we  may  be  required  to  liquidate  or  forgo  otherwise  attractive  investments. 
These actions could have the effect of reducing our income and amounts available for distribution to our stockholders.

In  addition  to  the  asset  tests  set  forth  above,  to  continue  to  qualify  as  a  REIT  we  must  continually  satisfy  tests  concerning, 
among other things, the sources of our income, the amounts we distribute to our stockholders and the ownership of our stock. 
We may be unable to pursue investments that would be otherwise advantageous to us in order to satisfy the source-of-income or 
asset-diversification  requirements  for  qualifying  as  a  REIT.  Thus,  compliance  with  the  REIT  requirements  may  hinder  our 
ability to make certain attractive investments.

Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively and may cause us to incur tax liabilities.

The REIT provisions of the Code substantially limit our ability to hedge our assets and liabilities. Any income from a hedging 
transaction that we enter into to manage risk of interest rate changes with respect to borrowings made or to be made to acquire 
or carry real estate assets does not constitute “gross income” for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests that apply to 
REITs,  provided  that  certain  identification  requirements  are  met.  To  the  extent  that  we  enter  into  other  types  of  hedging 
transactions or fail to properly identify such transaction as a hedge, the income is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income 
for purposes of both of the gross income tests. As a result of these rules, we may be required to limit our use of advantageous 
hedging techniques or implement those hedges through a TRS. This could increase the cost of our hedging activities because 
our TRS may be subject to tax on gains or expose us to greater risks associated with changes in interest rates than we would 
otherwise want to bear. In addition, losses in our TRS will generally not provide any tax benefit, except that such losses may be 
carried forward to offset future taxable income of the TRS.

Changes to U.S. federal income tax laws could materially and adversely affect us and our stockholders.

The  present  U.S.  federal  income  tax  treatment  of  REITs  and  their  shareholders  may  be  modified,  possibly  with  retroactive 
effect, by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time, which could affect the U.S. federal income tax treatment of 
an investment in our shares. The U.S. federal income tax rules, including those dealing with REITs, are constantly under review 
by persons involved in the legislative process, the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department, which results in statutory changes as 
well as frequent revisions to regulations and interpretations.

46

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

Our cash available for distribution to stockholders may not be sufficient to make distributions at expected levels, and we 
may need to borrow in order to make such distributions; consequently, we may not be able to make such distributions in 
full.

If  cash  available  for  distribution  generated  by  our  assets  is  less  than  our  estimate  or  if  such  cash  available  for  distribution 
decreases in future periods from expected levels, our inability to make the expected distributions could result in a decrease in 
the market price of our common stock. Distributions made by us will be authorized and determined by our board of directors in 
its sole discretion out of funds legally available therefor and will be dependent upon a number of factors, including restrictions 
under applicable law and our capital requirements. We may not be able to make or sustain distributions in the future. To the 
extent that we decide to make distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such distributions 
would generally be considered a return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of the holder’s adjusted tax 
basis  in  its  shares.  A  return  of  capital  is  not  taxable,  but  it  has  the  effect  of  reducing  the  holder’s  adjusted  tax  basis  in  its 
investment. To the extent that distributions exceed the adjusted tax basis of a holder’s shares, they will be treated as gain from 
the sale or exchange of such stock. If we borrow to fund distributions, our future interest costs would increase, thereby reducing 
our earnings and cash available for distribution from what they otherwise would have been.

Future  offerings  of  debt,  which  would  be  senior  to  our  common  stock  upon  liquidation,  and/or  preferred  equity 
securities, which may be senior to our common stock for purposes of distributions or upon liquidation, may adversely 
affect the market price of our common stock.

In  the  future,  we  may  attempt  to  increase  our  capital  resources  by  making  additional  offerings  of  debt  or  preferred  equity 
securities,  including  medium-term  notes,  trust  preferred  securities,  senior  or  subordinated  notes  and  preferred  stock.  Upon 
liquidation, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive 
distributions  of  our  available  assets  prior  to  the  holders  of  our  common  stock.  Additional  equity  offerings  may  dilute  the 
holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the market price of our common stock, or both. Holders of our common stock 
are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution. Our preferred stock, if issued, could have a preference 
on liquidating distributions or a preference on distribution payments that could limit our ability to make a distribution to the 
holders of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions 
and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, 
our stockholders bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting their stock 
holdings in us.

Increases  in  market  interest  rates  may  cause  potential  investors  to  seek  higher  dividend  yields  and  therefore  reduce 
demand for our common stock and result in a decline in our stock price.

One of the factors that may influence the price of our common stock is the dividend yield on our common stock (the amount of 
dividends  as  a  percentage  of  the  price  of  our  common  stock)  relative  to  market  interest  rates.  An  increase  in  market  interest 
rates,  which  are  currently  at  low  levels  relative  to  historical  rates,  may  lead  prospective  purchasers  of  our  common  stock  to 
expect a higher dividend yield, which we may be unable or choose not to provide. Higher interest rates would likely increase 
our borrowing costs and potentially decrease the cash available for distribution. Thus, higher market interest rates could cause 
the market price of our common stock to decline.

The number of shares available for future sale could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We cannot predict whether future issuances of shares of our common stock or the availability of shares of our common stock 
for resale in the open market will decrease the market price per share of our common stock. Sales of a substantial number of 
shares  of  our  common  stock  in  the  public  market,  or  the  perception  that  such  sales  might  occur,  could  adversely  affect  the 
market  price  of  the  shares  of  our  common  stock.  Physical  settlement  of  these  forward  sale  agreements  or  other  forward  sale 
agreements  in  the  future  have  resulted  or  will  result  in  dilution  to  our  earnings  per  share.  In  2020,  we  entered  into  forward 
equity  sale  agreements  with  financial  institutions  acting  as  forward  purchasers  under  the  New  2018  ATM  Stock  Offering 
Program and the 2020 ATM Stock Offering Program (each as defined in Item 7 under "Liquidity  and Capital Resources"), as 
applicable, with respect to approximately 10.2 million shares of our common stock; and in 2019, we sold approximately 6.5 
million shares of our common stock under the New 2018 ATM Stock Offering Program. In addition, we have registered shares 
of  common  stock  that  were  reserved  for  issuance  under  our  Restated  2012  Long  Term  Incentive  Plan  and  under  our  2014 
Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan,  and  these  shares  can  generally  be  freely  sold  in  the  public  market,  assuming  any  applicable 
restrictions and vesting requirements are satisfied. If any or all of these holders cause a large number of their shares to be sold 
in the public market, the sales could reduce the trading price of our common stock and could impede our ability to raise future 
capital on terms acceptable to us or at all.

47

The market price and trading volume of our common stock may be volatile.

The market price of our common stock may be volatile. In addition, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate and 
cause  significant  price  variations  to  occur.  If  the  market  price  of  our  common  stock  declines  significantly,  a  holder  may  be 
unable to resell shares at a profit or at all. We cannot provide any assurance that the market price of our common stock will not 
fluctuate or decline significantly in the future.

Some of the factors that could negatively affect the market price of our common stock or result in fluctuations in the price or 
trading volume of our common stock include:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly results of operations or distributions;
changes in our funds from operations or earnings estimates;
publication of research reports about us or the real estate, technology or data center industries;
increases in market interest rates that may cause purchasers of our shares to demand a higher yield;
changes in market valuations of similar companies;
adverse market reaction to any additional debt we may incur in the future;
additions or departures of key personnel;
actions by institutional stockholders;
speculation in the press or investment community about our company or industry or the economy in general;
the occurrence of any of the other risk factors presented in this Form 10-K; and
general market and economic conditions, including economic conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our earnings and cash distributions will affect the market price of shares of our common stock.

To  the  extent  that  the  market  value  of  a  REIT’s  equity  securities  is  based  primarily  upon  market  perception  of  the  REIT’s 
growth  potential  and  its  current  and  potential  future  cash  distributions,  whether  from  operations,  sales,  acquisitions, 
development or refinancing and is secondarily based upon the value of the underlying assets, shares of our common stock may 
trade  at  prices  that  are  higher  or  lower  than  the  net  asset  value  per  share.  To  the  extent  we  retain  operating  cash  flow  for 
investment  purposes,  working  capital  reserves  or  other  purposes  rather  than  distributing  the  cash  flow  to  stockholders,  these 
retained  funds,  while  increasing  the  value  of  our  underlying  assets,  may  negatively  impact  the  market  price  of  our  common 
stock.  Our  failure  to  meet  market  expectations  with  regard  to  future  earnings  and  cash  distributions  would  likely  adversely 
affect the market price of our common stock.

48

ITEM 1B. 

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. 

PROPERTIES

The information set forth under the caption “Our Portfolio” in Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by 
reference herein.

ITEM 3. 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In the ordinary course of our business, from time to time, we are subject to claims and administrative proceedings. We do not 
believe  any  currently  outstanding  matters  would  have,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  a  material  effect  on  our  business, 
financial condition and results of operations or liquidity and cash flows.

ITEM 4. 

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

49

ITEM  5. 
AND ISSUER PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

MARKET  FOR  REGISTRANT’S  COMMON  EQUITY,  RELATED  STOCKHOLDER  MATTERS 

PART II

A)

Market Information

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CONE”. 

B)

Holders

As of February 12, 2021, CyrusOne Inc. had 121 shareholders of record and 120,460,690 outstanding shares.

C)

Distribution Policy

We have made distributions in the form of dividends each quarter since the completion of our initial public offering ("IPO"). In 
order to comply with the REIT requirements of the Code, we are required to make quarterly distributions to our shareholders of 
at least 90% of our taxable income. Distributions made by the Company are determined by our board of directors in its sole 
discretion. If we have underestimated our cash available for distribution, we may need to increase our borrowings in order to 
fund  our  intended  distributions.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  our  Amended  Credit  Agreement  and  indentures  restrict 
CyrusOne LP from making distributions to holders of its operating partnership units, or redeeming or otherwise repurchasing 
shares of its operating partnership units, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, except in limited 
circumstances  including  as  necessary  to  enable  CyrusOne  Inc.  to  maintain  its  qualification  as  a  REIT  and  to  minimize  the 
payment of income taxes. 

D)

Issuer Purchases of Unregistered Securities 

Period

January 1, 2020 - January 31, 2020

February 1, 2020 - February 29, 2020

April 1, 2020 - April 30, 2020

May 1, 2020 - May 31, 2020

June 1, 2020 - June 30, 2020

July 1, 2020 - July 31, 2020

August 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020

September 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020

November 1, 2020 - November 30, 2020

December 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020

(a) Total Number of 
Shares of Common 
Stock Purchased(1)

(b) Average Price 
Paid per Common 
Share

(c) Total Number of 
Shares Purchased as 
Part of Publicly 
Announced Plans or 
Programs

(c) Maximum 
Number (or 
Approximate Dollar 
Value) of Shares that 
May Yet be 
Purchased

2,531  $ 

94,842   

1,255   

1,049   

67   

1,268   

21,365   

3,647   

873   

338   
127,235  $ 

66.99 

63.70 

74.25 

71.47 

73.82 

83.25 

83.32 

81.29 

73.01 

70.30 
68.01 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
N/A

(1) - Represents the common stock surrendered by employees to CyrusOne to satisfy such employee's tax withholding obligations in connection with the 
vesting of restricted stock.

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
E) 

Stock Performance

The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on CyrusOne Inc.’s common stock for the year ended 
December 31, 2020, with the cumulative total return on the S&P 500 Market Index and the MSCI US REIT Index (RMZ). The 
comparison  assumes  that  $100  was  invested  on  December  31,  2015  in  CyrusOne  Inc.’s  common  stock  and  in  each  of  these 
indices and assumes reinvestment of dividends, if any.

Stock Performance Chart

e
u
l
a
V
x
e
d
n
I

300

280

260

240

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

D ece m ber 31, 2015

D ece m ber 31, 2016

D ece m ber 31, 2017

D ece m ber 31, 2018

D ece m ber 31, 2019

D ece m ber 31, 2020

CONE

S&P 500

MSCI US REIT

Pricing Date

CONE

S&P 500

MSCI US REIT

December 31, 2015

December 31, 2016

December 31, 2017

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2019

December 31, 2020

F) 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

100.00   

123.40   

169.22   

155.35   

198.24   

228.30   

100.00   

111.96   

136.40   

130.42   

171.49   

203.04   

100.00 

108.60 

114.11 

108.89 

137.03 

126.65 

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 6. 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

We early adopted the new amendment to Regulation S-K Item 301, which eliminates Selected Financial Data.

52

ITEM 7. 
OF OPERATIONS

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS 

You  should  read  the  following  discussion  and  analysis  of  our  results  of  operations,  financial  condition  and  liquidity  in 
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 
10-K ("Form 10-K"). Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this report, 
including information with respect to our plans and strategies for our business, statements regarding the industry outlook, our 
expectations  regarding  the  future  performance  of  our  business  and  the  other  non-historical  statements  contained  herein  are 
forward-looking  statements.  See  “Special  Note  Regarding  Forward-Looking  Statements.”  You  should  also  review  the  “Risk 
Factors” section of this report for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the 
results described herein or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K reflect the historical financial position, results of operations 
and cash flows of CyrusOne Inc. (the "Company") for all periods presented. 

Overview

Our Company. We are a fully integrated, self-managed data center real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns, operates and 
develops enterprise-class, carrier-neutral, multi-tenant and single-tenant data center properties. Our data centers are generally 
purpose-built facilities with redundant power and cooling. They are not network specific and enable customer connectivity to a 
range  of  telecommunication  carriers.  We  provide  mission-critical  data  center  real  estate  assets  that  protect  and  ensure  the 
continued  operation  of  information  technology  ("IT")  infrastructure  for  approximately  1,000  customers  in  55  data  centers, 
including  two  recovery  centers,  in  16  markets  (11  cities  in  the  U.S.;  London,  U.K.;  Singapore;  Frankfurt,  Germany; 
Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Dublin, The Republic of Ireland).

We continue to monitor the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and to take steps to mitigate the potential 
risks to us posed by the pandemic. We provide a critical service to our customers and are considered an essential business by 
most  governments,  and  our  employees  are  continuing  to  operate  our  data  centers.  To  date,  our  data  center  portfolio  remains 
fully operational and we have experienced minimal disruptions in our business, including construction projects. Currently, our 
supply  chain  remains  fully  functional,  with  redundancy  of  supply  for  key  operational  and  construction-related  products.  We 
have not been notified by customers of any significant delays in expected implementation timelines. We have taken precautions 
with regard to employees and facility hygiene, imposed  travel restrictions on employees and transitioned employees to  work 
from  home  when  that  is  possible.  We  have  also  implemented  additional  protocols  such  as  social  distancing  and  limiting  the 
number of people at our facilities to protect those required to work on-site at our facilities including employees, customers and 
vendors  and  suppliers.  Also  we  have  not  experienced  any  significant  delays  in  the  collection  of  revenue  and  customers 
requesting relief or other rent concessions have not been significant in number or amount as of this filing. However, the recent 
increases in COVID-19  cases in  the  U.S.  demonstrate that the effects  of the pandemic continue  to  evolve rapidly. While the 
impact on our business has not been significant to date and vaccines have begun to be distributed, the length and severity of the 
effects of the pandemic remain uncertain and unpredictable and could be materially adverse to our business, financial condition, 
results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock as discussed in 
the  risk  factors  set  forth  in  Part  I,  Item  1A  of  this  Form  10-K.  We  will  continue  to  monitor  developments  that  impact  our 
business and respond as we believe is warranted.

Our Portfolio

Our  55  data  centers,  including  two  recovery  centers,  total  8.0  million  Gross  Square  Feet  ("GSF"),  of  which  84%  of  the 
Colocation Square Feet ("CSF") is leased and has 874 megawatts ("MW") of power capacity. This includes 13 buildings where 
we lease such facilities comprising approximately 11% of our total GSF as of December 31, 2020. Also included in our total 
GSF, CSF and MW are pre-stabilized assets (which include data halls that have been in service for less than 24 months and are 
less than 85% leased) with approximately 404,187 GSF and 39% of the CSF is leased with capacity of 41 MW of power. 

In addition, we have properties under development comprising approximately 752,952 GSF and 73 MW of power capacity. The 
estimated remaining total costs to develop these properties is projected to be between $321.0 million and $396.0 million. The 
final costs to develop are likely to change depending on several factors including the customer capital improvements required 
based on the future lease contracts executed on such properties. We also have 534 acres of land available for future data center 
development.

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Operational Overview

The following discussion provides an overview of our capital and financing activity, operations and transactions for the year 
ended  December  31,  2020  and  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  full  discussion  of  our  operating  results,  liquidity  and 
capital resources included in this Form 10-K, as well as the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A.

Outlook

We  seek  to  maximize  long-term  earnings  growth  and  shareholder  value  primarily  through  increasing  cash  flow  at  existing 
properties and developing high-quality data center assets and campuses at attractive cash yields with long-term, stable operating 
income. In addition, the Company will, from time to time, acquire existing properties which meet our strategic criteria, offer in-
place cash flow and have strong growth prospects.  

Fundamental secular trends for data center real estate have remained strong, including the exponential growth in global data, the 
growth of e-commerce and demand for outsourcing of data storage and cloud-based applications. Large cloud-based demand, in 
particular, is strong in the U.S. and Europe. The favorable trends have attracted new capital funding for multiple data center 
platforms,  including  both  public  and  private  companies,  leading  to  significant  increases  in  supply  in  most  major  markets  in 
which we operate. While demand remains robust, the supply outlook has led to pricing pressure in some markets, particularly 
with large hyperscale customers which are driving an increase in demand which we expect to continue in 2021. The COVID-19 
pandemic  continues  to  create  uncertainty  surrounding  general  economic  growth  in  the  U.S.  and  Europe  in  2021.  More 
generally, in response to the pandemic, government economic support to businesses and individuals impacted by the pandemic 
may not continue or be effective at alleviating the abrupt economic deterioration experienced to date, and both the short-term 
and long-term impact of these actions on economic growth remains uncertain. As a result, the impact of the current state of the 
economies where we do business on our company is unknown.

In  terms  of  capital  investment,  we  will  continue  to  pursue  selective  development  of  new  data  centers  in  markets  where  we 
project demand and market rental rates will provide attractive financial returns.

We  may,  from  time  to  time,  selectively  dispose  of  non-strategic  assets  to  recycle  capital  and  enhance  long-term  growth  in 
earnings and cash flows, as well as to improve the overall quality of our portfolio.

While the debt capital markets continue to provide liquidity, many lenders are tightening their credit standards and cautiously 
allocating  capital;  however  with  our  access  to  the  investment  grade  debt  capital  markets,  we  completed  several  senior  debt 
issuances and amended our credit facility in 2020 at favorable terms to extend our near-term maturities and reduce our overall 
borrowing rates. We are committed to maintaining our investment grade ratings and have a strong balance sheet. We anticipate 
having  sufficient  liquidity  to  fund  our  capital  and  operating  expenses,  including  costs  to  maintain  our  properties  and 
distributions, though we may finance investments, including acquisitions and developments, with the issuance of new shares of 
our common stock, proceeds from asset sales or through additional borrowings. Please see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” 
for additional discussion.

Inflation

The  U.S.  and  European  economies  where  we  operate  have  experienced  low  inflation  over  the  last  several  years,  as  a  result, 
inflation has not had a significant impact on our business. Our customer leases generally do not provide for annual increases in 
rent  based  on  inflation.  As  a  result,  we  bear  the  risk  of  increases  in  the  costs  of  operating  and  maintaining  our  data  center 
facilities. Most of our leases have rent escalators, typically ranging from 1-3% per annum, in addition most of our leases are 
structured to pass-through the cost of sub-metered utilities. In the future, we expect more of our leases to be structured to pass-
through  utility  costs.  In  addition,  approximately  75%  of  our  leases,  based  on  annualized  rent,  expire  within  six  years  which 
enables us to replace existing leases with new leases at then existing market rates.

Summary of Significant Transactions and Activities for the Year Ended December 31, 2020 

Real Estate Acquisitions, Development and Other Activities

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  the  Company  purchased  land  for  future  development  in  Frankfurt,  Germany  and 
London,  United  Kingdom  totaling  35  acres  for  $58.0  million.  In  March  2020,  the  Company  entered  into  a  25-year  lease 
comprising  a  45,000  square  feet  building  and  commenced  development  of  a  27  MW  data  center  in  Paris,  France  which  was 
preleased to a customer. 

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During the year ended December 31, 2020, cash capital expenditures were $910.5 million, of which $896.7 million related to 
the  development  and  construction  of  data  centers.  We  continue  to  make  a  significant  investment  to  build  and  develop  data 
centers  which  will  require  additional  capital  investment.  The  expansion  and  development  of  additional  power  capacity  and 
building square feet contributed to our year-over-year revenue increase in 2020.

Capital and Financing Activity

Financing Activity

As of December 31, 2020, we had $1,232.9 million outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined below) and 
$2.2 billion of senior notes. For more information, see Note 11, Debt.

On  March  31,  2020,  CyrusOne  LP,  a  Maryland  limited  partnership  (the  “Operating  Partnership”),  and  subsidiary  of  the 
Company, entered into an amendment to its credit agreement, dated as of March 29, 2018 (as so amended, the “Amended Credit 
Agreement”),  among  the  Operating  Partnership,  as  borrower,  the  lenders  party  thereto  (the  “Lenders”)  and  JPMorgan  Chase 
Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders. Proceeds from the Amended Credit Agreement were used, among other 
things, to refinance and replace the credit facilities under the Company's prior credit agreement. 

The  Amended  Credit  Agreement  provides  for  (i)  a  $1.4  billion  senior  unsecured  multi-currency  revolving  credit  facility  (the 
“Revolving  Credit  Facility”),  (ii)  senior  unsecured  term  loans  due  2023  in  a  dollar  equivalent  principal  amount  of  $400.0 
million (the “2023 Term Loan Facility”), and (iii) senior unsecured term loans due 2025 in a principal amount of $700.0 million 
(the  “2025  Term  Loan  Facility”).  The  Amended  Credit  Agreement  also  includes  an  accordion  feature  pursuant  to  which  the 
Operating Partnership is permitted to obtain additional revolving or term loan commitments so long as the aggregate principal 
amount of commitments and/or term loans under the Amended Credit Agreement does not exceed $4.0 billion. The Revolving 
Credit Facility provides for borrowings in U.S. Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, Japanese 
Yen,  Hong  Kong  Dollars,  Singapore  Dollars  and  Swiss  Francs  (subject  to  a  sublimit  of  $750.0  million  on  borrowings  in 
currencies other than U.S. Dollars). The Revolving Credit Facility matures on March 29, 2024 with one 12-month extension 
option. The 2023 Term Loan Facility matures on March 29, 2023 with two 1-year extension options, and the 2025 Term Loan 
Facility matures on March 28, 2025.

On January 22, 2020, CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp. closed their offering of €500.0 million aggregate principal 
amount of 1.450% senior notes due January 2027 (the “2027 Notes”).

On September 21, 2020, CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp. closed their offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal 
amount of 2.150% senior notes due November 2030 (the “2030 Notes”). 

Capital Activity

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company entered into sales agreements pursuant to which we may issue and sell from 
time to time shares of our common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $750.0 million (the "New 2018 ATM Stock 
Offering  Program").  During  the  second  quarter  of  2020,  the  Company  entered  into  sales  agreements  pursuant  to  which  the 
Company  may  issue  and  sell  from  time  to  time  shares  of  its  common  stock  having  an  aggregate  sales  price  of  up  to  $750.0 
million  (the  "2020  ATM  Stock  Offering  Program").  The  2020  ATM  Stock  Offering  Program  replaced  the  New  2018  ATM 
Stock Offering Program.

In November 2019, CyrusOne Inc. entered into a forward equity sale agreement with a financial institution acting as forward 
purchaser under the New 2018 ATM Stock Offering Program with respect to 1.6 million shares of its common stock at an initial 
forward price of $61.67 per share. The Company fully physically settled this forward equity sale agreement in June 2020. Upon 
settlement, the Company issued all such shares to such financial institution in its capacity as forward purchaser, in exchange for 
proceeds of approximately $96.5 million, in accordance with the provisions of the forward equity sale agreement.

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  CyrusOne  Inc.  entered  into  forward  equity  sale  agreements  with  financial 
institutions acting as forward purchasers under the New 2018 ATM Stock Offering Program and the 2020 ATM Stock Offering 
Program, as applicable, with respect to approximately 10.2 million shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of 
$68.98  per  share,  net  of  expenses.  The  Company  received  proceeds  of  $219.1  million  from  the  sale  of  3.4  million  of  its 
common  shares  by  the  forward  purchasers  in  respect  of  forward  equity  sale  agreements  entered  during  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2020. The Company currently expects to fully physically settle the remaining forward equity sale agreements by 
November 2021 and receive cash proceeds upon one or more settlement dates at the Company’s discretion, prior to the final 
settlement dates under the forward equity sale agreements, in which case we expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at 

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settlement equal to the number of shares specified in such forward equity sale agreements multiplied by the relevant forward 
price per share. The weighted average forward sale price that we expect to receive upon physical settlement of the agreements 
will be subject to adjustment for (i) a floating interest rate factor equal to a specified daily rate less a spread, (ii) the forward 
purchasers’ stock borrowing costs and (iii) scheduled dividends during the terms of the agreements. 

As  of  December  31,  2020,  there  was  $150.8  million  under  the  2020  ATM  Stock  Offering  Program  available  for  future 
offerings.

Concentration of Revenue

We  define  our  annualized  backlog  as  the  twelve-month  recurring  revenue  (calculated  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted 
accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP")) for executed lease contracts achieved upon full occupancy 
which  have  not  commenced  as  of  the  end  of  a  period.  Our  backlog  as  of  December  31,  2020  and  2019  was  approximately 
$101.0 million and $51.7 million, respectively. During 2020, one customer represented 19% of our revenue. We expect 56% of 
our backlog lease contracts to commence in 2021 and 44% in 2022 and thereafter. Because GAAP revenue for any period is 
generally a function of straight line revenue recognized from lease contracts in existence at the beginning of a period, as well as 
lease  contract  renewals  and  new  customer  lease  contracts  commencing  during  the  period,  backlog  as  of  any  period  is  not 
necessarily indicative of near-term performance. Our definition of backlog may differ from other companies in our industry.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to use judgment in the application of 
accounting  policies,  including  making  estimates  and  assumptions.  If  our  judgment  or  interpretation  of  the  facts  and 
circumstances relating to various transactions had been different or different assumptions were made, it is possible that different 
accounting policies would have been applied, resulting in different financial results or a different presentation of our financial 
statements. Estimates, judgments and assumptions are based on historical experiences that we believe to be reasonable under 
the circumstances. From time to time we re-evaluate those estimates and assumptions. Our discussion and analysis of financial 
condition  and  results  of  operations  are  based  upon  our  consolidated  financial  statements,  which  have  been  prepared  in 
accordance  with  GAAP.  Our  management  evaluates  these  estimates  on  an  ongoing  basis,  based  upon  information  currently 
available and on various assumptions management believes are reasonable as of the date of the financial statements.

Our actual results may differ from these estimates. We have provided a summary of our significant accounting policies in Note 
3, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K. 

Revenue Recognition

Our revenue consists of lease revenue and revenue from contracts with customers. The revenues from colocation rent revenue, 
metered power reimbursements and interconnection revenue are recognized under the lease accounting standard and revenues 
from managed services, equipment sales, installations and other services (generally revenue from contracts with customers) are 
recognized  under  the  revenue  accounting  standard.  An  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  is  recognized  when  the  collection  of 
rent receivables is deemed to be unlikely. We adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), 
the new accounting standard for leases, effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and prior periods 
were not restated. In addition, we adopted Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), the new accounting standard 
for revenue from contracts with customers, effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. See Note 4, 
Recently  Issued  Accounting  Standards,  Note  5,  Revenue  Recognition  and  Note  6,  Leases  -  As  a  Lessee,  in  our  audited 
consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for additional information related to the adoption.

Lease Revenue:

Our leasing revenue primarily consists of colocation rent, metered power reimbursements and interconnection revenue and is 
accounted for under ASC 842, Leases. We generally are not entitled to reimbursements for rental expenses including real estate 
taxes, insurance or other common area operating expenses. The accounting for leases is highly dependent on the classification 
of  the  lease  as  an  operating  or  finance  lease  and  requires  judgment  and  estimates  in  evaluating  the  principles  of  the  new 
accounting standard for leases, including whether an arrangement is a lease, the fair value of the identified asset, expected lease 
term and economic life of the asset.

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a. Colocation Rent Revenue

Colocation  rent  revenues,  including  interconnection  revenue,  are  fixed  minimum  lease  payments  generally  billed  monthly  in 
advance  based  on  the  contracted  power  or  leased  space.  Some  contracts  may  provide  initial  free  rent  periods  and  rents  that 
escalate  over  the  term  of  the  contract.  If  rents  escalate  without  the  lessee  gaining  access  to  or  control  over  additional  leased 
power or space at the beginning of the lease term, the rental payments are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the 
term  of  the  lease.  If  rents  escalate  because  the  lessee  gains  access  to  and  control  over  additional  power  and  or  leased  space, 
revenue is recognized in proportion to the additional power or space in the periods that the lessee has control over the use of the 
additional  power  or  space.  The  excess  of  revenue  recognized  over  amounts  contractually  due  is  recognized  as  a  straight-line 
receivable,  which  is  included  in  Rent  and  other  receivables  in  our  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet.  Some  of  our  leases  are 
structured on a gross basis in which the customer pays a fixed amount for colocation space and power. The revenue for these 
types of leases is recorded in colocation rent revenue. 

b. Metered Power Reimbursements Revenue

Some of our leases provide that the customer is separately billed for power based upon actual or estimated metered usage at 
rates then in effect. Metered power reimbursement revenue is variable lease payments generally billed one month in arrears, and 
an  estimate  of  this  revenue  is  accrued  in  the  month  that  the  associated  power  is  provided  and  recorded  in  metered  power 
reimbursements revenue.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Revenue from our managed services, equipment sales, installations and other services are recognized under ASC 606. 

Equipment sold by us generally consists of servers, switches, networking equipment, cable infrastructure and cabinets. Revenue 
is recognized at a point-in-time when control of the equipment transfers to the customer from the Company, which generally 
occurs upon delivery to the customer.

Managed services include providing a full-service managed data center, monitoring customer computer equipment, managing 
backups  and  storage,  utilization  reporting  and  other  related  ancillary  information  technology  services.  Management  service 
contracts generally range from one to five years. 

Installation  services  include  mounting,  wiring,  and  testing  of  customer  owned  equipment.  The  installation  period  is  typically 
short term in duration, and accordingly, revenue from the installation of customer equipment is recognized at a point-in-time 
once  the  installation  is  complete  and  the  performance  obligation  is  satisfied.  Other  services  generally  include  installation  of 
customer equipment, performing customer system re-boots, server cabinet and cage management, power monitoring, shipping 
and  receiving,  resolving  technical  issues,  and  other  services  requested  by  the  customer.  Other  service  revenue  is  measured 
based on the consideration specified in the contract and recognized over time as we satisfy the performance obligation. 

Capitalization of Costs

We  capitalize  costs  directly  related  to  the  development,  pre-development  or  improvement  of  our  investment  in  real  estate, 
referred to as capital projects and other activities included within this paragraph. Costs associated with our capital projects are 
capitalized  as  incurred.  If  the  project  is  abandoned,  these  costs  are  expensed  during  the  period  in  which  the  project  is 
abandoned. The accounting for capitalization of costs requires judgment and estimates to evaluate each project, including the 
timing and activities necessary to prepare an asset for its intended use, evaluation of direct and indirect project costs, and the 
allocation  of  costs  to  specific  projects.  Costs  considered  for  capitalization  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  construction  costs, 
interest,  real  estate  taxes,  insurance  and  utilities,  if  appropriate.  We  capitalize  indirect  costs  such  as  personnel,  office  and 
administrative  expenses  that  are  directly  related  to  our  development  projects  based  on  an  estimate  of  the  time  spent  on  the 
construction  and  development  activities.  These  costs  are  capitalized  only  during  the  period  in  which  activities  necessary  to 
ready an asset for its intended use are in progress and such costs are incremental and identifiable to a specific activity to get the 
asset  ready  for  its  intended  use.  We  determine  when  the  capitalization  period  begins  and  ends  through  communication  with 
project and other managers responsible for the tracking and oversight of individual projects. In the event that the activities to 
ready  the  asset  for  its  intended  use  are  suspended,  the  capitalization  period  will  cease  until  such  activities  are  resumed.  In 
addition, we capitalize incremental initial direct costs incurred for successful origination of new leases which include internal 
and  external  leasing  commissions.  Interest  expense  is  capitalized  based  on  actual  qualifying  capital  expenditures  from  the 
period  when  development  commences  until  the  asset  is  ready  for  its  intended  use,  at  the  weighted  average  borrowing  rate 
during  the  period.  These  costs  are  included  in  investment  in  real  estate  and  depreciated  over  the  estimated  useful  life  of  the 
related assets.

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Costs incurred for maintaining and repairing our properties, which do not extend their useful lives, are expensed as incurred.

Impairment Losses

Management  reviews  the  carrying  value  of  long-lived  assets,  including  intangible  assets  with  finite  lives,  when  events  or 
circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. When such impairment indicators exist, we 
review an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset (or group of assets) and 
proceeds from its eventual disposition and compare such amount to its carrying value. To determine the cash flows we consider 
factors such as future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of leasing demand, rental rates, competition 
and  other  factors.  The  estimate  of  expected  future  cash  flows  is  inherently  uncertain  and  relies  to  a  considerable  extent  on 
management estimates and assumptions, including current and future market conditions, projected growth in our CSF, projected 
recurring rent churn (as described below), lease renewal rates and our ability to generate new leases on favorable terms. If our 
undiscounted cash flows indicate that we are unable to recover the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized. 
An  impairment  loss  is  measured  as  the  amount  by  which  the  asset’s  carrying  value  exceeds  its  estimated  fair  value.  The 
evaluation whether assets may not be recoverable and the estimates and assumptions used to determine undiscounted cash flows 
and fair value requires significant judgment by management.

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  we  recognized  an  impairment  loss  of  $11.2  million,  which  includes  an  $8.8  million 
impairment loss based on our estimate of the decrease in the fair value of the equipment held for use in inventory at our U.S. 
data centers and a $2.4 million impairment loss based on the estimated fair value for our investment in land held in Atlanta for 
future development as the Company sold this land to a third-party in February 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we 
recognized an impairment loss of $0.7 million, primarily due to an impairment loss on the South Bend-Monroe facility, which 
was being actively marketed for sale. These fair values were based on unobservable inputs and the determination of fair value 
of real estate assets to be held for use is derived using the discounted cash flow method and involves a number of management 
assumptions relating to future economic events that could materially affect the determination of the ultimate fair value. Such 
assumptions  are  Level  3  inputs  and  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  projected  vacancy  rates,  rental  rates,  property  operating 
expenses and required capital expenditures. These factors require management's judgment of factors such as market knowledge, 
historical  experience,  lease  terms,  tenant  financial  strength,  economy,  demographics,  environment,  property  location,  age, 
physical condition and expected return requirements, among other things. The aforementioned factors are taken as a whole by 
management in the determination of fair value. See Fair Value Measurements below for further information on fair value. The 
impairment  losses  are  included  in  Impairment  losses  and  (gain)  loss  on  asset  disposals  in  our  Consolidated  Statements  of 
Operations. 

Key Operating Metrics

Annualized  Rent.  We  calculate  annualized  rent  as  monthly  contractual  rent  (defined  as  cash  rent  including  customer 
reimbursements  for  metered  power)  under  existing  customer  leases  as  of  December  31,  2020,  multiplied  by  12.  Monthly 
contractual rent is primarily for data center space, power and connectivity; however, it includes rent for office space and other 
ancillary services. For the month of December 2020, customer reimbursements were $173.6 million annualized and consisted of 
reimbursements by customers across all facilities with separately metered power. Other companies may not define annualized 
rent in the same manner. Accordingly, our annualized rent may not be comparable to others. Management believes annualized 
rent provides a useful measure of our in-place lease revenue.

Colocation  Square  Feet  ("CSF").  We  calculate  leased  total  CSF  as  the  GSF  at  an  operating  facility  that  is  leased  or  readily 
available for lease as colocation space, where customers locate their servers and other IT equipment.

Leased Rate. We calculate leased rate by dividing leased total CSF by total CSF. Percent occupied differs from Percent leased. 
Percent occupied is determined based on occupied CSF billed to customers under signed leases divided by total CSF. Leases 
signed but that have not commenced are not included.

Recurring  Rent  Churn  Percentage.  We  calculate  recurring  rent  churn  percentage  as  any  reduction  in  recurring  rent  due  to 
customer  terminations,  service  reductions  or  net  pricing  decreases  as  a  percentage  of  rent  at  the  beginning  of  the  period, 
excluding any impact from metered power reimbursements or other usage-based billing.

Capital Expenditures. Expenditures that expand, improve or extend the life of real estate and non-real estate property are capital 
expenditures. Management views its capital expenditures as comprised of acquisitions of real estate, development of real estate, 
recurring  capital  expenditures  and  all  other  non-real  estate  capital  expenditures.  Purchases  of  land  or  buildings  from  third 
parties represent acquisitions of real estate. Capital spending that expands or improves our data centers is deemed development 
of  real  estate.  Replacements  of  data  center  equipment  are  considered  recurring  capital  expenditures.  Purchases  of  software, 
computer equipment and furniture and fixtures are included in non-real estate capital expenditures.

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Factors That May Influence Future Results of Operations

Rental Income. Our revenue growth depends on our ability to maintain our existing revenue base and to sell new capacity that 
becomes available as a result of our development activities. As of December 31, 2020, we have leased approximately 84% of 
our CSF. Our ability to grow revenue with our existing customers will also be affected by our ability to maintain or increase 
rental rates at our properties. Rates contracted with our customers that renewed in 2020 were lower than the rates previously in 
effect, a trend that we expect to continue and to be driven by increases in data center supply and cloud company offerings. As 
such, we anticipate decreases in rates as contracts renew which could continue to affect our revenue in future periods. Future 
economic  downturns,  regional  downturns  affecting  our  markets,  or  oversupply  of  or  decrease  in  demand  for  data  center 
colocation services could impair our ability to attract new customers or renew existing customers’ leases on favorable terms, 
and this could adversely affect our ability to maintain or increase revenues.

Leasing Arrangements. As of December 31, 2020, 22% of our leased GSF was to customers on a gross basis. Under a gross 
lease, the customer pays a fixed monthly rent amount, and we are responsible for all data center facility electricity, maintenance 
and repair costs, property taxes, insurance and other utilities associated with that customer’s space. For leases under this model, 
fluctuations  in  our  customers’  monthly  utilization  of  power  and  the  prices  our  utility  providers  charge  us  impact  our 
profitability. As of December 31, 2020, 78% of our leased GSF was to customers with separately billed metered power. Under 
the metered power model, the customer pays us a fixed monthly rent amount, plus its actual costs of sub-metered electricity 
used to power its data center equipment, plus an estimate of costs for electricity used to power supporting infrastructure for the 
data center, expressed as a factor of the customer’s actual electricity usage. We are responsible for all other costs listed in the 
description of the gross lease above. Fluctuations in a customer’s utilization of power and the supplier pricing of power do not 
impact  our  profitability  as  much  under  the  metered  power  model.  In  future  periods,  we  expect  more  of  our  contracts  to  be 
structured to bill power on a metered power basis.

Growth and Expansion Activities. Our ability to grow our revenue and profitability will depend on our ability to acquire and 
develop data center space globally at an appropriate cost and to lease the data center space to customers on favorable terms. 
During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  we  increased  our  operational  GSF  by  12.7%,  bringing  our  total  GSF  to 
approximately  8.0  million  at  December  31,  2020.  Our  portfolio,  as  of  December  31,  2020,  also  included  approximately  0.8 
million  GSF  under  development,  as  well  as  2.3  million  GSF  of  additional  powered  shell  space  under  roof  available  for 
development. In addition, we have approximately 534 acres of land that are available for future data center shell development. 
We expect that the eventual construction of this future development space will enable us to accommodate a portion of the future 
demand of our existing and future customers and increase our future revenue, profitability and cash flows.

Scheduled Lease Expirations. Our ability to maintain low recurring rent churn and renew expiring customer leases on favorable 
terms will impact our results of operations. Our data center uncommitted capacity as of December 31, 2020, was approximately  
2.2 million GSF. Excluding month-to-month leases, leases representing 9% and 10% of our total GSF are scheduled to expire in 
2021  and  2022,  respectively.  These  leases  represented  approximately  18%  and  15%  of  our  total  annualized  rent  as  of 
December 31, 2020. Month-to-month leases represented 4% of our total annualized rent as of December 31, 2020. Recurring 
rent churn was 3.6% for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to 4.9% for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our 
recurring rent churn for each quarter in 2020 ranged from 0.6% to 1.1%, in comparison to a range of 0.6% to 2.1% in 2019.

Conditions  in  Significant  Markets.  Our  properties  are  located  in  17  distinct  markets  (11  cities  in  the  U.S.;  London,  U.K.; 
Singapore; Frankfurt, Germany; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dublin, The Republic of Ireland and Paris, France). Cincinnati, 
Dallas,  Houston,  New  York  Metro,  Northern  Virginia,  Phoenix  and  San  Antonio  accounted  for  approximately  79%  of  our 
annualized rent as of December 31, 2020. We have recently expanded into development in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and 
Dublin,  the  Republic  of  Ireland.  General  economic  conditions  and  regulations  in  these  markets  could  impact  our  overall 
profitability.

59

Results of Operations

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

IN MILLIONS, except per share data

For the Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

$ Change
2020 vs. 2019

% Change
2020 vs. 2019

Revenue:

Colocation rent

Metered power reimbursements

Equipment sales

Other revenue

Total revenue

Operating expenses:

Property operating expenses

Sales and marketing

General and administrative

Depreciation and amortization
Transaction, acquisition, integration and other 
related expenses

Impairment losses and (gain) loss on asset disposals  

Total operating expenses

Operating income

Interest expense, net

Gain on marketable equity investment

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

Foreign currency and derivative losses, net

Other expense

Net income before income taxes

Income tax benefit (expense)

Net income

Operating gross margin

Capital expenditures *:

Investment in real estate

Recurring capital expenditures

Total

Metrics information:

CSF*

Leased rate*

Income per share - basic and diluted

Dividends declared per share

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

842.1 

$ 

793.5 

$ 

161.4 

10.6 

19.4 

1,033.5 

411.6 

18.3 

99.3 

449.4 

3.7 

11.1 

993.4 

40.1 

(57.7) 

89.5 

(6.5) 

(27.6) 

— 

37.8 

3.6 

138.8 

29.7 

19.3 

981.3 

383.4 

20.2 

83.5 

417.7 

8.4 

1.1 

914.3 

67.0 

(82.0) 

132.3 

(71.8) 

(7.5) 

(0.3) 

37.7 

3.7 

41.4 

$ 

41.4 

$ 

 3.9 %

 6.8 %

896.7 

$ 

866.5 

$ 

13.8 

9.9 

910.5 

$ 

876.4 

$ 

48.6 

22.6 

(19.1) 

0.1 

52.2 

28.2 

(1.9) 

15.8 

31.7 

(4.7) 

10.0 

79.1 

(26.9) 

24.3 

(42.8) 

65.3 

(20.1) 

0.3 

0.1 

(0.1) 

— 

30.2 

3.9 

34.1 

 6.1 %

 16.3 %

 (64.3) %

 0.5 %

 5.3 %

 7.4 %

 (9.4) %

 18.9 %

 7.6 %

 (56.0) %

n/m

 8.7 %

 (40.1) %

 (29.6) %

 (32.4) %

n/m

n/m

n/m

 0.3 %

 (2.7) 

n/m

 3.5 %

 39.4 %

 3.9 %

4,665,000 

4,165,000 

500,000 

 12.0 %

 84 %

0.35 

2.02 

$ 

$ 

 85 %

0.36 

1.92 

*

See “Key Operating Metrics” above for a definition of capital expenditures, CSF and leased rate.

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operations

As  of  December  31,  2020,  we  had  approximately  1,000  customers,  many  of  which  have  leases  at  multiple  locations.  Our 
recurring  revenues  consist  of  rental  revenue  for  colocation  space  and    metered  power  reimbursements  based  upon  customers 
with  leases,  and  our  nonrecurring  revenues  consist  of  equipment  sales  and  installation  services  based  on  contracts  with 
customers. We provide customers with data center services pursuant to leases with initial terms ranging from three to ten years. 
As of December 31, 2020, the weighted average remaining term was 3.8 years based upon annualized rent. Lease expirations 
through 2023, excluding month-to-month leases, represent 32% of our total GSF, or 49% of our aggregate annualized rent as of 
December 31, 2020. At the end of the lease term, customers may allow the contract to expire, sign a new lease or automatically 
renew pursuant to the terms of their lease. The automatic renewal period could be for varying lengths, depending on the terms 
of the contract, such as, for the original lease term, one year or month-to-month. As of December 31, 2020, 3% of our GSF was 
subject to month-to-month leases.

Revenue

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  revenue  was  $1,033.5  million,  an  increase  of  $52.2  million,  or  5.3%  compared  to 
$981.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Fluctuations in revenue are dependent upon our ability to maintain our 
existing revenue base, sell new capacity, and maintain or increase rental rates at our properties. Recurring rent churn percentage 
of 3.6% for the year ended December 31, 2020 decreased by 1.4% as compared to the 4.9% for the year ended December 31, 
2019.   

The  revenue  increase  of  $52.2  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  as  compared  to  the  year  ended  December  31, 
2019 is primarily due to the following:

•

•
•
•

$42.2 million increase in colocation rent, primarily due to a $61.7 million increase for new leasing, partially offset by 
$11.0 million of rent churn related to expired leases and $8.5 million of lower termination fees primarily in the U.S. 
markets;
$22.6 million increase in metered power reimbursements, and
$6.4 million increase in interconnection revenue; partially offset by
$19.0 million decrease in equipment sales and other services.

Operating Expenses

Property operating expenses

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  Property  operating  expenses  were  $411.6  million,  an  increase  of  $28.2  million,  or 
7.4%, compared to $383.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 primarily due to the following:

•

•
•

$45.1  million  increase  in  property  operating  expenses  primarily  due  to  expansion  at  our  properties  and  newly 
developed  properties  placed  in  service  including  increases  in  utilities,  repairs  and  maintenance,  property  taxes  and 
other operating expenses; and
$0.8 million increase in personnel costs including severance; partially offset by
$17.7  million  decrease  in  equipment  cost  of  sales  due  to  higher  sales  volume  during  the  year  ended  December  31, 
2019.

Sales and marketing expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2020, Sales and marketing expenses were $18.3 million, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 9.4%, 
compared to $20.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to lower personnel costs as a result of changes 
in the organization structure.

61

General and administrative expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2020, General and administrative expenses were $99.3 million, an increase of $15.8 million, 
or 18.9%, compared to $83.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to the following: 

•

•

•
•

$7.8 million increase primarily due to $14.8 million increase in severance related to the separation of certain senior 
executives from the Company and a general reduction in force, partially offset by $7.0 million of lower amortization of 
stock-based compensation for senior executives;
$6.9 million increase in legal and professional fees primarily due to increased costs related to higher tax fees and costs 
related to legal and tax planning, customer lease contract negotiations and security; and
$2.4 million increase in rent and other facilities costs; partially offset by
$1.3 million decrease in other general and administrative expenses.

Depreciation and amortization expense

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  Depreciation  and  amortization  expense  was  $449.4  million,  an  increase  of  $31.7 
million,  or  7.6%,  compared  to  $417.7  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019.  This  increase  was  primarily  driven  by 
asset additions that were placed in service after  the  fourth quarter  of 2019. Since  December 31, 2019, approximately $818.3 
million of new data center assets have been placed in service. Depreciation and amortization expense is expected to increase in 
future  periods  as  we  complete  the  development  of  properties  and  installation  of  equipment  and  facilities  to  support  our 
operations.

Impairment losses and (gain) loss on asset disposals

For the year ended December 31, 2020, Impairment losses and (gain) loss on asset disposals were $11.1 million as the result of 
our planned disposition of land held for future development in Atlanta, GA to a third-party and impairment related to equipment 
held for use in inventory at our U.S. data centers. For the year ended December 31, 2019, Impairment losses and (gain) loss on 
asset disposals were $1.1 million primarily due to an impairment loss on the South Bend - Monroe facility, which was being 
actively marketed for sale and subsequently disposed of in May 2020.

Non-Operating Income and Expenses

Interest expense, net

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  Interest  expense,  net  was  $57.7  million,  a  decrease  of  $24.3  million,  or  29.6%,  as 
compared  to  $82.0  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  primarily  due  to  lower  borrowing  costs  associated  with 
refinancing of our credit agreement in March 2020 and the issuance of senior notes following our obtaining investment grade 
ratings in October 2019 and: 

•

•
•
•

$43.8  million  decrease  due  to  lower  interest  rates  partially  offset  by  an  increase  in  average  debt  outstanding  of 
$388.1 million; partially offset by
$10.1 million increase due to lower capitalized interest as a result of the Company's lower overall average interest rate;
$8.3 million increase related to cross-currency and interest rate swap hedging instruments; and
$1.1 million increase related to a decline in interest income.

We anticipate drawing on our Revolving Credit Facility to fund, in part, our capital requirements for investments in data centers 
and potential land acquisitions. Accordingly, we anticipate our interest expense to increase in future periods. 

Gain on marketable equity investment

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Gain on our marketable equity investment in GDS Holdings Limited ("GDS") was 
$89.5 million, a decrease of $42.8 million, as compared to a gain of $132.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The 
decrease was primarily the result of the Company holding fewer American depository shares (“ADS”s) in the current year as 
compared to the prior year due to the sale of ADSs. In January 2021, we fully disposed of our investment in GDS. See Note 8, 
Equity Investments, for information related to our accounting for our equity investment in GDS.

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

For the year ended December 31, 2020, Loss on early extinguishment of debt was $6.5 million, primarily due to repayment of 
borrowings under the $3.0 Billion Credit Facility (as defined in Note 11, Debt) and the repayment of $300.0 million of the 2023 
Term  Loan  under  the  Amended  Credit  Agreement.  For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  Loss  on  early  extinguishment  of 

62

debt was $71.8 million, primarily due to the Company's repayment of the $1.2 billion aggregate outstanding principal balance 
of existing senior notes upon the completion of a new senior notes offering in December 2019.

Foreign currency and derivative losses, net

For the year ended December 31, 2020, Foreign currency and derivative losses, net were a loss of $27.6 million which was a 
result  of  a  $32.1  million  loss  associated  with  the  translation  adjustment  on  undesignated  Euro  denominated  borrowings  in 
excess  of  our  net  investment,  partially  offset  by  a  $4.5  million  gain  on  cross-currency  swaps  from  the  settlement  of  certain 
undesignated Euro/USD cross-currency swaps. For the year ended December 31, 2019, Foreign currency and derivative losses, 
net  were  a  loss  of  $7.5  million,  which  was  the  result  of  a  decrease  in  the  fair  value  of  the  portion  of  our  Euro/USD  cross-
currency swap that were not designated as hedges and changes in the fair value were immediately recognized in earnings. We 
currently have Euro denominated debt that is not hedged, and the translation impact from changes in Euro/USD exchanges rates 
will impact future earnings.

Income tax expense

For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2020  and  2019,  the  Company  had  income  tax  benefits  of  $3.6  million  and  $3.7  million, 
respectively.

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018

For a discussion comparing the Company’s financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 
compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 refer to subsection “Results of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2019 
Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018” of Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which is incorporated by 
reference herein.

63

Significant Balance Sheet Fluctuations

The table below relates to significant fluctuations in certain line items of our Consolidated Balance Sheets from December 31, 
2019 to December 31, 2020 (in millions):

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

Difference

Total investment in real estate, net

$ 

5,265.5  $ 

4,710.3  $ 

Equity investments

Revolving Credit Facility

Term Loans

Senior Notes

Additional paid in capital

67.1   

432.9   

800.0   

2,213.2   

3,537.3   

135.1   

615.0   

1,100.0   

1,200.0   

3,202.0   

555.2 

(68.0) 

(182.1) 

(300.0) 

1,013.2 

335.3 

The increase in Total investment in real estate, net was primarily due to the continued development of data centers in Dallas, 
Dublin,  Frankfurt,  Iowa,  London,  the  New  York  Metro  area,  Northern  Virginia,  Phoenix,  San  Antonio  and  Santa  Clara,  less 
depreciation expense of $387.9 million. Land purchases for future development were made in Frankfurt, Germany and London, 
United Kingdom.

The decrease in Equity investments was primarily due to the sale of 1.8 million GDS ADSs in 2020. This equity investment had 
a fair value of $44.2 million as of December 31, 2020. We did not receive any distributions related to our equity investment 
during the years ended December 31, 2020 or 2019. In January 2021, we fully disposed of our investment in GDS.

The decrease in borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility was primarily due to the proceeds of the 2027 Notes and 2030 
Notes used to pay down borrowings on the US Revolver and EUR Revolver under the Revolving Credit Facility.

The  decrease  in  Term  Loans  was  primarily  due  to  the  proceeds  of  the  2030  Notes  used  to  repay  $300.0  million  of  the 
outstanding indebtedness under the 2023 Term Loan Facility.

The  increase  in  the  Senior  Notes  was  primarily  due  to  the  2027  Notes  offering  and  the  2030  Notes  offering.  For  more 
information, see Note 11, Debt.

The increase in Additional paid in capital was primarily due to proceeds from sales of the Company's common stock pursuant to 
the 2020 ATM Stock Offering Program.

Investing Activities

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  our  capital  expenditures  of  $910.5  million  primarily  related  to  the  continued 
development  in  key  markets,  primarily  in  Dublin,  Iowa,  Frankfurt,  London,  the  New  York  Metro  area,  Northern  Virginia, 
Phoenix, San Antonio, Santa Clara and Dallas. In addition, included in capital expenditures are land purchases of $58.0 million
in Frankfurt and London for future development.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, capital expenditures were $876.4 million primarily related to the acquisition of land for 
future  development  and  continued  development  in  key  markets,  primarily  in  Amsterdam,  Austin,  Dallas,  Frankfurt,  London, 
Northern Virginia, Phoenix and Raleigh-Durham. Included in capital expenditures are land purchases of $54.7 million in Santa 
Clara, San Antonio, Dublin and Council Bluffs for future development. We also made a capital contribution of approximately 
$3.8 million to our investment in ODATA Brasil S.A. and ODATA Colombia S.A.S (collectively "ODATA").

For the year ended December 31, 2018, capital expenditures were $1,328.5 million. Our capital expenditures for 2018 included 
the acquisition of Zenium for $462.8 million. In addition, 2018 capital expenditures included $865.7 million related primarily to 
the continued development in key markets, primarily Chicago, Dallas, Northern Virginia and Somerset. We also made an equity 
investment in ODATA for $12.6 million.

Key Performance Indicators - Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In  addition  to  amounts  presented  in  accordance  with  GAAP,  we  also  present  certain  supplemental  non-GAAP  financial 
measures related to our performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as being more important 
than, or a substitute for, comparable GAAP financial measures. In compliance with SEC requirements, our non-GAAP financial 

64

 
 
 
 
 
measures  presented  herein  are  reconciled  to  net  income,  the  most  directly  comparable  GAAP  financial  measure.  Neither  the 
SEC nor any regulatory body has passed judgment on these non-GAAP measurements. 

Funds from Operations and Normalized Funds from Operations

We  use  funds  from  operations  ("FFO")  and  normalized  funds  from  operations  ("Normalized  FFO"),  which  are  non-GAAP 
financial measures commonly used in the REIT industry, as supplemental performance measures. We use FFO and Normalized 
FFO  as  supplemental  performance  measures  because,  when  compared  period  over  period,  they  capture  trends  in  occupancy 
rates, rental rates and operating costs. We also believe that, as widely recognized measures of the performance of REITs, FFO 
and Normalized FFO are used by investors as a basis to evaluate REITs.

We  calculate  FFO  as  Net  income  computed  in  accordance  with  GAAP  before  Real  estate  depreciation  and  amortization  and 
Impairment losses and (gain) loss on asset disposals. While it is consistent with the definition of FFO promulgated by NAREIT, 
our  computation  of  FFO  may  differ  from  the  methodology  for  calculating  FFO  used  by  other  REITs.  Accordingly,  our  FFO 
may not be comparable to others.

We  calculate  Normalized  FFO  as  FFO  adjusted  for  Loss  on  early  extinguishment  of  debt;  Gain  on  marketable  equity 
investment; Foreign currency and derivative losses, net; New accounting standards and regulatory compliance and the related 
system  implementation  costs;  Amortization  of  tradenames;  Transaction,  acquisition,  integration  and  other  related  expenses; 
Cash  severance  and  management  transition  costs;  Severance-related  stock  compensation  costs;  Legal  claim  costs;  and  other 
items as appropriate. We believe our Normalized FFO calculation provides a comparable measure between different periods. 
Other  REITs  may  not  calculate  Normalized  FFO  in  the  same  manner.  Accordingly,  our  Normalized  FFO  may  not  be 
comparable to others.

In  addition,  because  FFO  and  Normalized  FFO  exclude  Real  estate  depreciation  and  amortization,  and  capture  neither  the 
changes in the value of our properties that result from use or from market conditions, nor the level of capital expenditures and 
leasing commissions necessary to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effect 
and  could  materially  impact  our  results  from  operations,  the  utility  of  FFO  and  Normalized  FFO  as  measures  of  our 
performance  is  limited.  Therefore,  FFO  and  Normalized  FFO  should  be  considered  only  as  supplements  to  Net  income 
presented  in  accordance  with  GAAP  as  measures  of  our  performance.  FFO  and  Normalized  FFO  should  not  be  used  as 
measures of our liquidity or as indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions. 
FFO  and  Normalized  FFO  also  should  not  be  used  as  supplements  to  or  substitutes  for  cash  flow  from  operating  activities 
computed in accordance with GAAP.

On  January  1,  2019,  we  adopted  the  new  accounting  standard  with  respect  to  leases,  see  Note  3,  Summary  of  Significant 
Accounting  Policies  and  Note  6,  Leases  -  As  a  Lessee,  to  our  audited  consolidated  financial  statements  for  additional 
information. We have adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective transition method, where financial statement 
presentations prior to the date of adoption are not restated. Accordingly, all information related to periods prior to 2019 have 
not been adjusted, including non-GAAP measurements.

65

The  following  table  reflects  the  reconciliation  of  GAAP  net  income  to  FFO  and  Normalized  FFO  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (amounts in millions):

Net income

Real estate depreciation and amortization

Impairment losses and (gain) loss on asset disposals

Year Ended

December 31,

2020

2019

2018

$ 

41.4  $ 

41.4  $ 

440.1 

11.1 

408.5 

1.1 

1.2 

325.5 

— 

Funds from Operations ("FFO") - NAREIT defined

$ 

492.6  $ 

451.0  $ 

326.7 

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

Gain on marketable equity investment

Foreign currency and derivative losses, net

New accounting standards and regulatory compliance and the related system implementation costs

Amortization of tradenames

Transaction, acquisition, integration and other related expenses

Cash severance and management transition costs

Severance-related stock compensation costs

Legal claim costs

6.5 

71.8 

(89.5)   

(132.3)   

27.6 

— 

1.2 

3.7 

14.1 

2.9 

0.3 

7.5 

0.8 

1.3 

8.4 

(0.6)   

— 

1.1 

3.1 

(9.9) 

— 

3.0 

1.7 

4.8 

2.3 

— 

0.6 

Normalized Funds from Operations ("Normalized FFO")

$ 

459.4  $ 

409.0  $ 

332.3 

Net Operating Income

We use Net Operating Income ("NOI"), which is a non-GAAP financial measure commonly used in the REIT industry, as a 
supplemental performance measure. We use NOI as a supplemental performance measure because, when compared period over 
period, it captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating expenses. We also believe that, as a widely recognized 
measure of the performance of REITs, NOI is used by investors as a basis to evaluate REITs.

We  calculate  NOI  as  Net  income,  adjusted  for  Sales  and  marketing  expenses,  General  and  administrative  expenses, 
Depreciation and amortization expenses, Transaction, acquisition, integration and other related expenses, Interest expense, net, 
Gain  on  marketable  equity  investment,  Loss  on  early  extinguishment  of  debt,  Impairment  losses  and  (gain)  loss  on  asset 
disposals,  Foreign  currency  and  derivative  losses,  net,  Other  expense,  Income  tax  (benefit)  expense  and  other  items  as 
appropriate. Amortization of deferred leasing costs is presented in Depreciation and amortization expenses, which is excluded 
from  NOI.  Sales  and  marketing  expenses  are  not  property-specific,  rather  these  expenses  support  our  entire  portfolio.  As  a 
result,  we  have  excluded  these  Sales  and  marketing  expenses  from  our  NOI  calculation,  consistent  with  the  treatment  of 
General and administrative expenses, which also support our entire portfolio. Because the calculation of NOI excludes various 
expenses,  the  utility  of  NOI  as  a  measure  of  our  performance  is  limited.  Other  REITs  may  not  calculate  NOI  in  the  same 
manner. Accordingly, our NOI may not be comparable to others. Therefore, NOI should be considered only as a supplement to 
Net income presented in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance. NOI should not be used as a measure of our 
liquidity or as indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions. NOI also should 
not be used as a supplement to or substitute for cash flow from operating activities computed in accordance with GAAP.

66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table reflects the reconciliation of Net Income to NOI for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

Net income

Sales and marketing expenses

General and administrative expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses

Transaction, acquisition, integration and other related expenses

Interest expense, net

Gain on marketable equity investment

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

Impairment losses and (gain) loss on asset disposals

Foreign currency and derivative losses, net

Other expense

Income tax (benefit) expense

Net Operating Income

Year Ended

December 31,

2020

2019

2018

$ 

41.4  $ 

41.4  $ 

18.3 

99.3 

449.4 

3.7 

57.7 

20.2 

83.5 

417.7 

8.4 

82.0 

(89.5)   

(132.3)   

6.5 

11.1 

27.6 

— 

71.8 

1.1 

7.5 

0.3 

(3.6)   

(3.7)   

1.2 

19.6 

80.6 

334.1 

5.0 

94.7 

(9.9) 

3.1 

— 

— 

— 

0.6 

$ 

621.9  $ 

597.9  $ 

529.0 

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources and Material Terms of Our Indebtedness

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We  are  required  to  distribute  at  least  90%  of  our  REIT  taxable  income,  determined  without  regard  to  the  dividends  paid 
deduction and excluding any net capital gains, to our stockholders on an annual basis in order to maintain our status as a REIT 
for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, we intend to make, but are not contractually bound to make, regular quarterly 
distributions to common stockholders from cash flows from operating activities. All such distributions are at the discretion of 
our board of directors.

We  have  an  effective  shelf  registration  statement  that  allows  us  to  offer  for  sale  unspecified  amounts  of  various  classes  of 
equity and debt securities and warrants. As circumstances arise, we may issue debt, equity and/or warrants from time to time on 
an opportunistic basis, dependent upon market conditions and available pricing.

Short-term Liquidity

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve rapidly. While the impact of COVID-19 on certain operating and 
administrative  costs  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020  was  not  material,  we  have  incurred  additional  general  and 
administrative and maintenance costs  to operate our data centers and offices.  We  expect  these costs  will continue  into 2021, 
however, the extent to which these costs continue or increase will depend on factors that are uncertain and unpredictable at this 
time, including federal, state, and local regulations as well as the duration and severity of the pandemic. While the pandemic 
may impact our cash flows from customers, the extent and duration of that impact is also uncertain and unpredictable at this 
time.  Some  of  our  customers  have  communicated  that  the  COVID-19  pandemic  has  disrupted  their  businesses,  which  is 
impacting  their  ability  to  pay  rent  on  time  and  they  have  requested  extended  payment  terms  and  rent  abatement,  which  may 
impact  the  timing  and  amount  of  rent  we  collect  in  the  future.  For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  the  impact  of  the 
pandemic on rent concessions and collections of rent has not been significant. 

Our  short-term  liquidity  requirements  primarily  consist  of  Operating,  Sales  and  marketing,  and  General  and  administrative 
expenses,  dividend  payments  and  recurring  capital  expenditures  for  our  data  center  properties.  We  generally  expect  to  meet 
these  requirements  from  our  cash  flow  from  operations,  cash  balances,  availability  under  our  Revolving  Credit  Facility  and 
settlement of the ATM forward equity sale agreements. For the year ended December 31, 2020, our cash provided by operating 
activities was $456.3 million which was $220.1 million more than dividends paid during the year ended December 31, 2020 of 
$236.2 million.

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We  have  contractual  interest  obligations  which  include  interest  payments  on  the  2024  Notes,  2027  Notes,  2029  Notes,  2030 
Notes, the Amended Credit Agreement, finance lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities. Assuming no early payment of 
debt in future years, our current interest obligations are as follows:

IN MILLIONS

Total

< 1 Year

1-3 Years

3-5 years

Thereafter

Interest payments on senior notes, credit 
agreement, finance lease liabilities and operating 
lease liabilities(1)

$ 

662.7  $ 

95.8  $ 

188.2  $ 

149.2  $ 

229.5 

1.

Includes  contractual  interest  payments  on  the  2024  Notes,  2027  Notes,  2029  Notes,  2030  Notes,  the  Amended  Credit  Agreement,  finance  lease 
liabilities and operating lease liabilities assuming no early payment of debt in future periods and the exercise of the one-year extension option on the 
Revolving Credit Facility. Our contractual interest obligations were $573.6 million at December 31, 2019. See Note 6, Leased - As a Lessee, for further 
discussion of our finance lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities.

Available capacity under the Amended Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2020 was $956.3 million related to the Revolving 
Credit Facility. Total liquidity as of December 31, 2020 was approximately $1,712.4 million, which included the $956.3 million
available  under  the  Revolving  Credit  Facility,  cash  and  cash  equivalents  of  $271.4  million  and  the  pro  forma  impact  of  the 
settlement  of  the  forward  sale  agreements  of  $484.7  million.  At  December  31,  2020,  we  had  borrowings  of  $432.9  million
under  the  Revolving  Credit  Facility.  At  December  31,  2019,  we  had  borrowings  of  $615.0  million  under  the  $1.7  Billion 
Revolving Credit Facility.

In January 2020, CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp. closed their offering of €500.0 million aggregate principal amount 
of 1.450% senior notes due January 2027 for net proceeds of $569.8 million. In September 2020, CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne 
Finance Corp. closed their offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.150% senior notes due November 2030 
for net proceeds of $395.2 million.

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  CyrusOne  Inc.  entered  into  forward  sale  agreements  with  financial  institutions 
acting as forward purchasers under the New 2018 ATM Stock Offering Program and the 2020 ATM Stock Offering Program, 
as applicable, with respect to approximately 10.2 million shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $68.98 per 
share, net of expenses. The Company received proceeds of $219.1 million from the sale of 3.4 million of its common shares by 
the  forward  purchasers  in  respect  of  forward  equity  sale  agreements  entered  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020.  The 
Company  currently  expects  to  fully  physically  settle  the  remaining  forward  equity  sale  agreements  by  November  2021  and 
receive cash proceeds upon one or more settlement dates at the Company’s discretion, prior to the final settlement dates under 
the forward equity sale agreements, in which case we expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at settlement equal to the 
number  of  shares  specified  in  such  forward  equity  sale  agreements  multiplied  by  the  relevant  forward  price  per  share.  The 
weighted  average  forward  sale  price  that  we  expect  to  receive  upon  physical  settlement  of  the  agreements  will  be  subject  to 
adjustment for (i) a floating interest rate factor equal to a specified daily rate less a spread, (ii) the forward purchasers’ stock 
borrowing costs and (iii) scheduled dividends during the terms of the agreements. During the year ended December 31, 2020, 
the Company fully physically settled the forward equity sale agreements entered into in November 2019, March 2020 and May 
2020. See Note 15, Stockholders' Equity for more information about our settlement.

68

The  following  table  represents  a  summary  of  forward  sale  of  equity  of  our  common  stock  for  the  year  ended  December  31, 
2020 (in millions):

Offering Program

Total as of December 31, 2019

March 9, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

May 13, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

May 26, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

May 29, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

November 29, 2019 Forward Offering settlement

March 9, 2020 Forward Offering settlement

May 13, 2020 Forward Offering settlement

September 15, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

September 30, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

November 6, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

Total as of December 31, 2020

Forward Shares Sold/
(Settled)

Net Proceeds Received

Remaining Proceeds 
Available(1)

1.6  $ 

2.0   

1.4   

1.4   

1.3   

(1.6)  

(2.0)  

(1.4)  

1.4   

1.6   

1.1   

—  $ 

—   

—   

—   

—   

96.5   

121.2   

97.9   

—   

—   

—   

6.8  $ 

315.6  $ 

96.5 

121.2 

97.9 

96.2 

96.4 

(96.5) 

(121.2) 

(97.9) 

102.3 

114.5 

75.3 

484.7 

(1) As of December 31, 2020, the total estimated proceeds, net of adjustments for (i) a floating interest rate factor equal to a 
specified  daily  rate  less  a  spread,  (ii)  the  forward  purchasers’  stock  borrowing  costs  and  (iii)  scheduled  dividends 
adjustments is $484.7 million subject to further adjustment when the forward offerings are settled as described above.

Our total common stock issuance for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $325.7 million primarily related to proceeds from 
forward equity settlement, shares vesting and options exercised. As of December 31, 2020, there was $150.8 million under the 
2020 ATM Stock Offering Program available for future offerings.

During the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we sold a portion of our investment in GDS for net proceeds of $144.1 
million and $199.0 million, respectively. In January 2021, we fully liquidated our investment in GDS.

As of December 31, 2020, the total number of outstanding shares of common stock was approximately 120.4 million.

Long-term Liquidity

Our long-term liquidity requirements primarily consist of our capital expenditures for the development and acquisition of our 
data  centers.  For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  our  cash  capital  expenditures  were  $910.5  million.  Our  capital 
expenditures are primarily discretionary, excluding leases under contract, to expand our existing data center properties, acquire 
or construct new facilities. We intend to continue to develop and expand properties, where we believe there is sufficient demand 
or  have  contracted  to  lease,  and  are  prepared  to  commit  additional  resources  to  support  this  growth.  We  expect  our  total 
estimated capital expenditures for 2021 to be between $925.0 million and $1,025.0 million. We expect to meet our long-term 
liquidity  requirements,  including  potential  acquisitions,  from  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  cash  flows  from  our  operations, 
issuances of debt and equity securities, and borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. 

While we regularly monitor commodity and labor pricing trends related to our data center development capital expenditures, a 
large  proportion  of  our  current  development  project  costs  are  under  firm  price  commitments.  Accordingly,  while  we  have 
experienced price increases in certain selective materials due to recent international trade negotiations and actions, we currently 
do not anticipate any material adverse effect on our overall development costs. 

As of December 31, 2020, all of our outstanding debt matures from March 2023 to November 2030, with a weighted average of 
6.0  years  to  maturity.  We  expect  to  refinance  these  debts  at  or  before  their  maturities,  or  retire  the  debt  from  the  sources 
described in this section. Our interest rate mix was 73% fixed and 27% floating.

In addition to the sources of capital described herein, we have access to other potential sources of capital including mortgage 
financing, property dispositions and proceeds from contributions and partial sale of properties into joint ventures.

69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Indemnification

During  the  normal  course  of  business,  we  make  certain  indemnities,  commitments  and  guarantees  under  which  we  may  be 
required to make payments in relation to certain transactions. These include (i) intellectual property indemnities to customers in 
connection  with  the  use,  sale  and/or  license  of  products  and  services,  (ii)  indemnities  to  vendors  and  service  providers 
pertaining  to  claims  based  on  our  negligence  or  willful  misconduct  and  (iii)  indemnities  involving  the  representations  and 
warranties  in  certain  contracts.  In  addition,  we  have  made  contractual  commitments  to  several  employees  providing  for 
payments upon the occurrence of certain prescribed events. The majority of these indemnities, commitments and guarantees do 
not provide for any limitation on the maximum potential for future payments that we could be obligated to make.

Also  as  a  part  of  our  normal  course  of  business  we  procure  certain  data  center  equipment  (generally  generators  and  power 
distribution  units)  and  electricity  power  under  purchase  commitments,  where  we  would  be  required  to  purchase  certain 
minimum  volumes.  In  general,  we  expect  to  manage  these  contracts  such  that  the  committed  volume  levels  are  below  our 
current requirements and at prices that are below current spot market prices. However, if our requirements were to decrease or 
the  spot  market  prices  were  to  decrease,  we  could  be  obligated  to  complete  the  remaining  minimum  purchase  commitments, 
holding  the  excess  equipment  for  future  development  or  disposing  at  then  current  prices.  As  of  December  31,  2020,  our 
aggregate commitments under these contracts is approximately $84.2 million. 

Material Terms of Our Indebtedness

See Note 11, Debt, for the material terms of our indebtedness under the Amended Credit Agreement and our 2024 Notes, 2027 
Notes, 2029 Notes and 2030 Notes.

70

Cash Flows

Our  primary  sources  of  cash  during  2020  were  earnings  from  our  operations,  net  proceeds  from  our  Amended  Credit 
Agreement,  and  net  proceeds  from  the  issuances  of  common  stock,  2027  Notes  and  2030  Notes.  Our  primary  uses  of  cash 
during 2020 were capital expenditures for the development of real estate, funding our operations and payment of dividends.

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

IN MILLIONS

For the year ended December 31,

Cash provided by operating activities

Cash used in investing activities

Cash provided by financing activities

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

2020

2019

2018

$ 

456.3  $ 

(772.4)  

507.2   

365.7  $ 

(679.9)  

324.8   

309.3 

(1,341.1) 

944.7 

Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $456.3 million compared to $365.7 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase of $90.6 million was due to the following:

•

Increases in net cash provided by operating activities of $132.5 million was primarily due to the following:

◦

$24.0 million increase due to a $52.2 million increase in revenue offset in part by a $28.2 million increase in 
property operating expenses;
$60.6 million decrease in interest payments due to overall lower rates;
$47.9 million net increase due to changes in operating assets and liabilities; partially offset by
Decreases in net cash provided by operating activities of $41.9 million primarily due to the following:

◦
◦

•

◦
◦

$22.8 million decrease in other cash outflows over the corresponding prior year period; and
$19.1 million increase in severance and bonus payments.

Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $772.4 million compared to $679.9 million for the 
year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 of $92.4 
million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 is primarily due to lower proceeds from the sale of our GDS ADSs and 
increased investments in real estate in 2020 compared to 2019.

Investments in real estate

For the year ended December 31, 2020, our capital expenditures were $910.5 million, as shown on the statement of cash flows. 
Substantially all of our investing activity is related to our development activities. Our capital expenditures for 2020 primarily 
related  to  the  acquisition  of  land  for  future  development  and  continued  development  in  key  markets,  primarily  in  Dallas, 
Dublin, Frankfurt, Iowa, London, the New York Metro area, Northern Virginia, Paris, Phoenix, San Antonio and Santa Clara. 
Included in capital expenditures are land purchases of $58.0 million in Frankfurt, Germany and London, United Kingdom for 
future development. 

For the year ended December 31, 2019, our capital expenditures were $876.4 million, as shown on the statement of cash flows. 
Substantially  all  of  our  investing  activity  related  to  our  development  activities.  Our  capital  expenditures  for  2019  primarily 
related to the acquisition of land for future development and continued development in key markets, primarily in Amsterdam, 
Austin, Dallas, Frankfurt, London, Northern Virginia, Phoenix and Raleigh-Durham. Included in capital expenditures are land 
purchases of $54.7 million in Santa Clara, San Antonio, Dublin and Council Bluffs for future development.

Equity Investments

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company made capital contributions of approximately $6.5 million to our four 
unconsolidated  ventures  in  Brazil,  Chile,  Colombia  and  Mexico,  with  ODATA,  a  Brazilian  headquartered  company.  These 
investment  outflows  were  partially  offset  by  total  net  proceeds  of  $144.1  million  from  the  sale  of  approximately  1.8  million 
ADSs from our GDS investment. 

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we also made a capital contribution of approximately $3.8 million to our ODATA 
investment. This investment outflow was partially offset by proceeds of $199.0 million from the sale of 5.7 million ADSs from 
our GDS investment and proceeds from the sale of real estate assets of $1.3 million.

71

 
 
Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $507.2 million compared to $324.8 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase of $182.4 million was due to the following:

•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

•

•

•

$1,200.0 million increase related to the repayment of senior notes in 2019 with no comparable repayment in 2020; 
$553.5 million increase in proceeds from the issuance of the 2027 Notes, which were our first Euro bonds issued. See 
Note 11, Debt for additional information on the 2027 Notes;
$107.0 million increase in proceeds from borrowings on our revolving credit facility;
$72.0 million decrease in the payment of early debt extinguishment costs; and
$0.6 million decrease in tax payments upon the exercise of equity awards; offset in part by,
$802.2 million decrease in proceeds from the issuance of senior notes;
$783.6 million increase in payments on our revolving credit facility;
$100.0 million increase in repayments of the unsecured term loan primarily due to the repayment of $1,200.0 million 
of  the  term  loans  under  the  prior  credit  facility,  partially  offset  by  $1,100.0  million  in  proceeds  from  the  Amended 
Credit Agreement; 
$31.5 million decrease in proceeds from the issuance of common stock. The Company issued 5.6 million shares in the 
current period and 6.5 million shares issued in the prior year period;
$25.8  million  increase  in  dividend  payments  due  to  the  increase  in  the  dividend  and  the  number  of  common  shares 
outstanding; and
$7.6  million  increase  in  payments  for  deferred  financing  costs  related  to  the  refinancing  of  the  Revolving  Credit 
Facility and issuance of the 2027 Notes and 2030 Notes.

Issuer and guarantor subsidiary summarized financial information

The  2024  Notes,  the  2027  Notes,  the  2029  Notes  and  the  2030  Notes  issued  by  CyrusOne  LP  (the  "LP  Co-Issuer")  and 
CyrusOne  Finance  Corp.  (the  "Finance  Co-Issuer"  and,  together  with  the  LP  Co-Issuer,  the  "Co-Issuers")  are  fully  and 
unconditionally and jointly and severally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by CyrusOne Inc. (the "Parent Guarantor"). 

The indentures governing the 2024 Notes, 2027 Notes, 2029 Notes and 2030 Notes contain affirmative and negative covenants 
customarily found in indebtedness of this type, including covenants that restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the Company's 
ability  to  incur  secured  or  unsecured  indebtedness.  The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  are  also  required  to  maintain  total 
unencumbered assets of at least 150% of their unsecured debt on a consolidated basis, subject to certain qualifications set forth 
in  the  indentures.  The  covenants  contained  in  the  indentures  do  not  restrict  the  Company’s  ability  to  pay  dividends  or 
distributions to stockholders.

Only the Parent Guarantor guarantees the 2024 Notes, 2027 Notes, 2029 Notes and 2030 Notes. The 2024 Notes, 2027 Notes, 
2029 Notes and 2030 Notes are structurally junior in right of payment to the indebtedness and other liabilities of the Co-Issuers’ 
subsidiaries (the “Non-Guarantors”), and the guarantee is structurally junior in right of payment to the liabilities of any of the 
Parent Guarantor's subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuers). These Non-Guarantors are separate and distinct legal entities and 
have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the 2024 Notes, 2027 Notes, 2029 Notes and 
2030 Notes, or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans, distributions or other payments. Any right 
that  the  Co-Issuers  or  Parent  Guarantor  have  to  receive  any  assets  of  any  of  the  Non-Guarantors  upon  the  bankruptcy, 
liquidation  or  reorganization  of  those  Non-Guarantors,  and  the  consequent  rights  of  holders  of  the  2024  Notes,  2027  Notes, 
2029  Notes  and  2030  Notes  to  realize  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  any  of  such  Non-Guarantors’  assets,  will  be  structurally 
subordinated  to  the  claims  of  such  Non-Guarantors’  creditors,  including  trade  creditors,  mortgage  holders  and  holders  of 
preferred equity interests of those Non-Guarantors. Accordingly, in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or 
any  of  the  Non-Guarantors,  the  Non-Guarantors  will  pay  the  holders  of  their  debts,  holders  of  preferred  equity  interests  and 
their trade creditors before distributing any of their assets to us. The Non-Guarantors conduct substantially all of our operations 
and hold substantially all of our assets.

The  guarantee  obligations  of  the  Parent  Guarantor  under  the  2024  Notes,  2027  Notes,  2029  Notes  and  2030  Notes  will 
terminate under the customary circumstances of legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, each as described in the applicable 
indenture, or if the Co-Issuers’ obligations under the applicable indenture are discharged.  

The guarantee obligations of the Parent Guarantor under the 2024 Notes, 2027 Notes, 2029 Notes and 2030 Notes are subject to 
certain limitations necessary to prevent the guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable laws. Under 
these laws, the guarantee could be voided, or claims in respect of the guarantee could be subordinated to certain obligations of 
the Parent Guarantor if, among other things, the Parent Guarantor, at the time it entered into the guarantee, received less than 
reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for entering into the guarantee and was one of the following: 

•

insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of entering into a guarantee;

72

•

•

engaged in a business or transaction for which the guarantor’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; 
or
intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts or contingent liabilities beyond its ability to pay them as they 
became due.

The Parent Guarantor is a REIT whose only material asset is its ownership of operating partnership units of the LP Co-Issuer. 
The  LP  Co-Issuer  and  its  subsidiaries  hold  substantially  all  the  assets  of  the  Company.  The  LP  Co-Issuer  conducts  the 
operations of the business, along with its subsidiaries. The Finance Co-Issuer does not have any operations or revenues. 

Pursuant to amended Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X, the following aggregate summarized financial information is provided for 
CyrusOne Inc., CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp. This aggregate summarized financial information has been prepared 
from the books and records maintained by CyrusOne, CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp. The aggregate summarized 
financial  information  does  not  include  the  investments  in  non-guarantor  subsidiaries  nor  the  earnings  from  non-guarantor 
subsidiaries and therefore is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations or financial position had CyrusOne LP and 
CyrusOne Finance Corp. operated as independent entities. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The  Issuers  and  Guarantors  had  Intercompany  receivables  from  non-guarantors  of  $1.8  billion  for  each  of  the  periods  ended 
December  31,  2020  and  December  31,  2019.  The  Issuers  and  Guarantors  had  Debt  of  $3.4  billion  and  $2.9  billion  for  the 
periods ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Issuers 
and  Guarantors  had  Interest  expense,  net  of  $79.0  million,  Foreign  currency  and  derivative  losses,  net  of  $27.6  million,  and 
Loss on early extinguishment of debt of $6.5 million. More detailed financial information for the Issuers and Guarantors was 
not material.

73

ITEM 7A. 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We  have  exposure  to  interest  rate  risk,  arising  from  variable-rate  borrowings  under  our  Amended  Credit  Agreement  and  our 
fixed-rate long-term debt. 

Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to 
lower overall borrowing costs. To achieve the financing objectives, we borrow primarily at fixed rates or variable rates with 
what we believe are the lowest margins available. With regard to variable rate financing, we manage interest rate cash flow risk 
by  continually  identifying  and  monitoring  changes  in  interest  rate  exposures  that  may  adversely  impact  expected  future  cash 
flows. We have not entered into, and do not plan to enter into, financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

As  of  December  31,  2020,  we  had  approximately  $2.2  billion  of  contractually  outstanding  consolidated  debt  at  a  weighted 
average  fixed  interest  rate  of  approximately  2.51%  and  $1.2  billion  of  amounts  outstanding  under  credit  facilities  with  a 
weighted average variable interest rate of monthly LIBOR plus 1.08%. As of December 31, 2019, we had approximately $1.2 
billion of contractually outstanding consolidated debt at a weighted average fixed interest rate of approximately 2.66% and $1.7 
billion  of  amounts  outstanding  under  credit  facilities  with  a  weighted  average  variable  interest  rate  of  monthly  LIBOR  plus 
1.29%. Monthly LIBOR as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 was 0.15% and 1.80%, respectively.

Interest  rate  fluctuations  will  generally  not  affect  our  future  earnings  or  cash  flows  on  our  fixed  rate  debt  unless  such 
instruments are traded or are otherwise terminated prior to maturity. However, interest rate changes will affect the fair value of 
our fixed rate instruments. 

Conversely,  movements  in  interest  rates  on  variable  rate  debt  would  change  our  future  earnings  and  cash  flows,  but  not 
significantly  affect  the  fair  value  of  those  instruments.  We  are  exposed  to  interest  rate  changes  primarily  as  a  result  of  our 
variable  rate  debt  we  incur  on  our  Amended  Credit  Agreement  and  our  consolidated  cash  investments.  As  of  December  31, 
2020  and  2019,  our  floating  rate  debt  outstanding  was  $1,232.9  million  and  $1,715.0  million,  respectively.  We  quantify  our 
exposure to interest rate risk based on how changes in interest rates affect our net income. We consider changes in the 30-day 
LIBOR rate to be most indicative of our interest rate exposure as it is a function of the base rate for our credit facilities. We 
consider increases of 0.5% to 2.0% in the 30-day LIBOR rate to be reflective of reasonable changes we may experience in the 
current interest rate environment. The table below reflects the annual consolidated effect of an increase in the 30-day LIBOR to 
our  net  income  related  to  our  significant  variable  interest  rate  exposures  as  of  December  31,  2020  and  2019  (amounts  in 
millions, where positive amounts reflect an increase in net income and bracketed amounts reflect a decrease in net income): 

Variable rate credit facilities expense:

As of December 31, 2020

As of December 31, 2019

2.0%

1.5%

1.0%

0.5%

$ 

$ 

(24.7) 

(34.3) 

$ 

$ 

(18.5) 

(25.7) 

$ 

$ 

(12.3) 

(17.2) 

$ 

$ 

(6.2) 

(8.6) 

Floating rate interest income was $0.2 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

There is no assurance that we would realize such income or expense as such changes in interest rates could alter our asset or 
liability  positions  or  strategies  in  response  to  such  changes.  Also,  where  variable  rate  debt  is  used  to  finance  development 
projects, the cost of the development is also impacted. If these costs exceed budgeted interest reserves, we may be required to 
fund the excess out of other capital sources. The table above reflects interest expense prior to any adjustments for capitalized 
interest related to developments.

74

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  carrying  value  and  fair  value  face  amounts,  maturity  date  and  average  interest  rates  at 
December 31, 2020, for our fixed-rate and variable-rate debt, excluding capital leases and other financing arrangements:  

IN MILLIONS

Fixed-rate debt (2024 Notes)

Average interest rate on fixed-rate debt

Fixed-rate debt (2027 Notes)

Average interest rate on fixed-rate debt

Fixed-rate debt (2029 Notes)

Average interest rate on fixed-rate debt

Fixed-rate debt (2030 Notes)

Average interest rate on fixed-rate debt

Variable-rate debt (2023 Term Loan Facility)

Average interest rate on variable-rate debt

Variable-rate debt (2025 Term Loan Facility)

Average interest rate on variable-rate debt

Euro loan (Revolving Credit Facility)

Average interest rate on variable-rate debt

GBP loan (Revolving Credit Facility)

Average interest rate on variable-rate debt

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Thereafter

—    — 

$ 599.3 

  — 

—    — 

 2.900 %   — 

— 

— 

Total Carrying
Value

Total Fair
Value

$ 

599.3  $  640.7 

—    — 

  — 

  — 

$  612.6 

$ 

612.6  $  619.9 

—    — 

  — 

  — 

 1.450 %

—    — 

  — 

  — 

$  598.4 

$ 

598.4  $  644.1 

—    — 

  — 

  — 

 3.450 %

—    — 

  — 

—    — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

$  395.3 

$ 

395.3  $  388.6 

 2.150 %

—  $ 100.0 

  — 

  — 

— 

$ 

100.0  $  100.0 

— 

 1.350 %   — 

  — 

—    — 

  — 

$ 700.0 

 — 
  — 

—    — 

 — 

 1.350 %  

—  $ 275.9 

  — 

  — 

— 

 1.000 %   — 

  — 

—  $ 157.0 

  — 

  — 

— 

 1.030 %

 — 

 — 

— 

— 

— 

— 

 — 

$ 

$ 

$ 

700.0  $  700.0 

275.9  $  275.9 

157.0  $  157.0 

The fair values of our 2024 Notes, 2027 Notes, 2029 Notes and 2030 Notes as of December 31, 2020, and 2024 Notes and 2029 
Notes as of December 31, 2019 were based on the quoted market prices for these notes, which is considered Level 1 of the fair 
value  hierarchy.  The  carrying  value  of  the  Revolving  Credit  Facility,  the  2023  Term  Loan  Facility  and  the  2025  Term  Loan 
Facility approximates estimated fair value as of December 31, 2020, due to the floating rate nature of the interest rates and the 
stability of our credit ratings. These fair value measurements are considered Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value 
of the GDS equity investment as of December 31, 2020 was based on the quoted market price for the stock which is considered 
Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. 

Interest Rate Swaps

On  September  3,  2019,  the  Company  entered  into  a  floating-fixed  interest  rate  swap  agreement  to  convert  $300.0  million
outstanding  of  term  loan  to  1.19%  fixed  rate  debt.  On  September  21,  2020,  the  Company  paid  down  $300.0  million  of  term 
loans under the 2023 Term Loan Facility. The $300.0 million floating-fixed interest rate swap remains in place and continues to 
provide an effective hedge of the risk of changes in cash flows attributable to USD-LIBOR term loans through March 2023. 
The Company recognized a loss of $10.5 million and a gain of $3.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, 
respectively, related to the changes in fair value of the interest rate swap which were recognized in OCI. As of December 31, 
2020, interest rate swaps were a liability of $7.0 million reported in Other liabilities. As of December 31, 2019, interest rate 
swaps  were  an  asset  of  $3.5  million  reported  in  Other  assets.  The  hedge  is  designed  to  reduce  the  Company's  exposure  to 
fluctuations in interest rates.

Foreign Currency Risk

As a result of our expansion outside of the United States, we have foreign operations in France, Germany, The Netherlands, 
United Kingdom, Singapore and The Republic of Ireland that expose us to risk from the effects of exchange rate movements of 
respective  foreign  currencies,  which  may  affect  future  costs  and  cash  flows.  Foreign  currency  risk  is  the  possibility  that  our 
results  of  operations  or  financial  position  could  be  affected  by  changes  in  exchange  rates.  Our  exposure  to  foreign  currency 
primarily relates to our foreign currency denominated in British pound sterling and Euro, included within Total investment in 
real estate, net, which was $1.5 billion and $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the years ended 
December  31,  2020  and  2019,  our  Foreign  currency  translation  adjustment  included  within  Stockholders’  equity  was  an 
increase  of  $40.5  million  and  $11.8  million,  respectively.  The  Foreign  currency  translation  adjustment  of  $28.7  million  was 
primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  the  forward  spot  rate  on  two  cross-currency  EUR/USD  contracts  to  sell  $500.0  million  and 
purchase €450.7 million that mature in March 2023. 

75

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As  a  result  of  our  expansion  into  foreign  countries,  primarily  in  Europe,  our  exposure  to  foreign  currency  is  expected  to 
increase,  primarily  related  to  British  pound  sterling  and  Euro.  We  could  mitigate  future  investment  and  operational  foreign 
currency exposure by borrowing under our Amended Credit Agreement in the particular foreign currency, subject to availability 
and applicable borrowing conditions. However, we would expect to incur foreign currency transaction gains and losses, which 
would impact our consolidated net income, and translation of financial statements from the foreign functional currency to U.S. 
dollars, which would be included in Other comprehensive income or loss and Stockholders’ equity. As of December 31, 2020, 
we have outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility of $157.0 million which is denominated in British pound 
sterling and $275.9 million which is denominated in Euros. As of December 31, 2020, we had $612.6 million outstanding under 
the 2027 Notes, which are denominated in Euros. See Note 11, Debt, for further information.

The  Company  has  entered  into  cross-currency  swaps  whereby  the  Company  pays  floating  interest  rate  and  receives  floating 
interest  rate  to  hedge  the  variability  of  future  cash  flows  attributable  to  changes  in  the  1-month  USD  LIBOR  versus  EUR 
LIBOR rates (a pay-floating, receive-floating interest rate swap). The pay-floating, receive-floating interest rate swap payments 
are recognized in Interest expense, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

As  of  December  31,  2020,  the  Company  has  two  cross-currency  EUR/USD  contracts  to  sell  $500.0  million  and  purchase 
€450.7 million maturing in March 2023 representing a fair value liability of $52.2 million reported in Other Liabilities. As of 
December 31, 2019, our cross-currency swaps were a liability of $11.4 million reported in Other Liabilities. 

The  Company  recognized  losses  of  $42.5  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020  on  cross-currency  swaps  that  were 
designated as net investment hedges which were recognized in OCI. The Company recognized gains of $4.5 million for the year 
ended December 31, 2020 on undesignated cross-currency contracts which were recognized in Foreign currency and derivative 
losses,  net  in  the  Condensed  Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations.  The  Company  recognized  losses  of  $7.5  million  on 
undesignated cross-currency contracts for the year ended December 31, 2019, which were recognized in Foreign currency and 
derivative losses, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Commodity Price Risk

Certain  of  our  operating  costs  are  subject  to  price  fluctuations  caused  by  the  volatility  of  the  underlying  commodity  prices, 
including  electricity  used  in  our  data  center  operations,  and  building  materials,  such  as  steel  and  copper,  used  in  the 
construction  of  our  data  centers.  In  addition,  the  lead  time  to  purchase  certain  equipment  for  our  data  centers  is  substantial 
which  could  result  in  increased  costs  for  these  construction  projects.  In  addition,  we  have  entered  into  several  contracts  to 
purchase electricity. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, these contracts represented less than our forecasted usage.

76

ITEM 8. 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

INDEX TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Page No.

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Financial Statements of CyrusOne Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     Note 1 - Description of Business

     Note 2 - Basis of Presentation

     Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     Note 4 - Recently Issued Accounting Standards

     Note 5 - Revenue Recognition

     Note 6 - Leases - As a Lessee

     Note 7 - Investment in Real Estate

     Note 8 - Equity Investments

     Note 9 - Goodwill, Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets

     Note 10 - Other Assets

     Note 11 - Debt

     Note 12 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

     Note 13 - Employee Benefit Plans

     Note 14 - Income Per Share

     Note 15 - Stockholders' Equity

     Note 16 - Stock-Based Compensation

     Note 17 - Income Taxes

     Note 18 - Commitments and Contingencies

     Note 19 - Subsequent Event

78

81

82

83

84

85

86

86

86

86

92

94

96

98

99

99

100

101

104

107

107

108

109

115

117

117

We early adopted the new amendment to Regulation S-K Item 302, which eliminates Supplementary Financial Information.

77

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of CyrusOne Inc. 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CyrusOne Inc. (the "Company") as of December 31, 2020 
and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity, and cash flows, for each of 
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and the schedules listed in the Index at Item 15 
(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all 
material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and 
its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles 
generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in 
Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission and our report dated February 19, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over 
financial reporting.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 4 to the financial statements, effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted FASB Accounting 
Standards Update 2016-02, Leases, using the modified retrospective approach. 

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on 
the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are 
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable 
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to 
error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial 
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included 
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included 
evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall 
presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that 
was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that 
are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The 
communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and 
we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the 
accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Impairment Losses and Investment in Real Estate - Refer to Note 3 and Note 7 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company’s evaluation of its Investment in Real Estate for impairment involves an initial assessment of each real estate 
asset to determine whether events or changes in circumstances exist that may indicate that the carrying amounts of real estate 
assets are no longer recoverable.  

The Company makes significant assumptions to evaluate real estate assets for possible indications of impairment. Changes in 
these assumptions could have a significant impact on the real estate assets identified for further analysis. For the year ended 
December 31, 2020, the company recognized approximately $11.2 million of impairment loss on real estate assets.

We identified the determination of impairment indicators for real estate assets as a critical audit matter because of the 
significant assumptions management makes when determining whether events or changes in circumstances have occurred 

78

indicating that the carrying amounts of real estate assets may not be recoverable. This required a high degree of auditor 
judgment when performing audit procedures to evaluate whether management appropriately identified impairment indicators.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the Company’s evaluation of Investment in Real Estate for indicators of impairment included 
the following, among others: 

• We tested the effectiveness of controls related to the identification of impairment indicators for Investments in Real 

Estate.

• We evaluated management’s assumptions regarding the identification of events or circumstances indicating the 
carrying amount of a real estate investment may not be recoverable and compared the assumptions to Company 
documentation and external sources.

• We inquired with the accounting and facilities management personnel regarding the occurrence of any events that may 
have significantly affected the property’s value and inquired of the overall condition of the premises based on the 
property managers’ observations of any signs of deterioration or other indicators of impairment.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas
February 19, 2021
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2011.

79

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of CyrusOne Inc.     

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of CyrusOne Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, 
based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, 
effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — 
Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, of the Company and our 
report dated February 19, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's 
Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are 
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable 
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all 
material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk 
that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the 
assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit 
provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the 
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures 
that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and 
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit 
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and 
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the 
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or 
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas 

February 19, 2021

80

CYRUSONE INC.
 Consolidated Balance Sheets

IN MILLIONS, except share and per share amounts
As of December 31,
Assets
Investment in real estate:

Land
Buildings and improvements
Equipment

Gross operating real estate
Less accumulated depreciation

Net operating real estate

Construction in progress, including land under development
Land held for future development

Total investment in real estate, net

Cash and cash equivalents
Rent and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3.5 and $1.8
as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
Restricted cash
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
Equity investments
Goodwill
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $249.3 and $207.5 as of 
December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
Other assets

Total assets
Liabilities and equity
Debt
Finance lease liabilities
Operating lease liabilities
Construction costs payable
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Dividends payable
Deferred revenue and prepaid rents
Deferred tax liability
Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitment and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 authorized; no shares issued or 
outstanding
Common stock, $.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized and 120,442,521 and 
114,808,898 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019, 
respectively
Additional paid in capital
Accumulated deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Total stockholders’ equity
Total liabilities and equity

2020

2019

208.8  $ 
2,035.2   
3,538.9   
5,782.9   
(1,767.9)  
4,015.0   
982.2   
268.3   
5,265.5   
271.4   

334.2   
1.5   
211.4   
67.1   
455.1   

157.8   
133.4   
6,897.4  $ 

3,409.0  $ 
29.1   
249.1   
133.0   
151.3   
63.3   
174.1   
53.0   
77.3   
4,339.2   

147.6 
1,761.4 
3,028.2 
4,937.2 
(1,379.2) 
3,558.0 
946.3 
206.0 
4,710.3 
76.4 

291.9 
1.3 
161.9 
135.1 
455.1 

196.1 
113.9 
6,142.0 

2,886.6 
31.8 
195.8 
176.3 
122.7 
58.6 
163.7 
60.5 
11.4 
3,707.4 

—   

— 

1.2   
3,537.3   
(966.6)  
(13.7)  
2,558.2   
6,897.4  $ 

1.1 
3,202.0 
(767.3) 
(1.2) 
2,434.6 
6,142.0 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

81

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations

IN MILLIONS, except per share data

For the Year Ended December 31,

Revenue

Operating expenses:

Property operating expenses

Sales and marketing

General and administrative

Depreciation and amortization

Transaction, acquisition, integration and other related expenses

Impairment losses and (gain) loss on asset disposals

Total operating expenses

Operating income

Interest expense, net

Gain on marketable equity investment

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

Foreign currency and derivative losses, net

Other expense

Net income before income taxes

Income tax benefit (expense)

Net income

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

Income per share - basic

Income per share - diluted

2020

2019

2018

$ 

1,033.5  $ 

981.3  $ 

821.4 

411.6   

18.3   

99.3   

449.4   

3.7   

11.1   

993.4   

40.1   

(57.7)  

89.5   

(6.5)  

(27.6)  

—   

37.8   

3.6   

41.4  $ 

117.3   

117.6   

0.35  $ 

0.35  $ 

383.4   

20.2   

83.5   

417.7   

8.4   

1.1   

914.3   

67.0   

(82.0)  

132.3   

(71.8)  

(7.5)  

(0.3)  

37.7   

3.7   

41.4  $ 

112.1   

112.5   

0.36  $ 

0.36  $ 

292.4 

19.6 

80.6 

334.1 

5.0 

— 

731.7 

89.7 

(94.7) 

9.9 

(3.1) 

— 

— 

1.8 

(0.6) 

1.2 

99.8 

100.4 

— 

— 

$ 

$ 

$ 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

82

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

IN MILLIONS

For the Year Ended December 31,

Net income

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Foreign currency translation adjustment

Net loss on cash flow hedging instruments

Comprehensive income (loss)

2020

2019

2018

$ 

41.4  $ 

41.4  $ 

1.2 

40.5   

(53.0)  

28.9  $ 

11.8   

(0.7)  

52.5  $ 

(10.9) 

— 

(9.7) 

$ 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

83

 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Consolidated Statements of Equity

IN MILLIONS

Balance as of January 1, 2018

Adoption of accounting standards:

Revenue recognition, cumulative modified retrospective

Financial instruments (equity investment), cumulative adjustment

Net income

Issuance of common stock, net

Stock-based compensation expense

Tax payment upon exercise of equity awards

Foreign currency translation adjustment

Dividends declared, $1.84 per share

Balance as of December 31, 2018

Adoption of accounting standards:

Impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 related to leases

Net income

Issuance of common stock, net

Stock-based compensation expense

Tax payment upon exercise of equity awards

Foreign currency translation adjustment

Net loss on cash flow hedging instruments

Dividends declared, $1.92 per share

Balance as of December 31, 2019

Net income

Issuance of common stock, net

Stock-based compensation expense

Tax payment upon exercise of equity awards

Foreign currency translation adjustment

Net loss on cash flow hedging instruments

Dividends declared, $2.02 per share

Balance at December 31, 2020

Shares of 
Common 
Stock 
Outstanding

Common 
Stock

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Accumulated 
Deficit

Accumulated 
Other 
Comprehensive 
Income (Loss)

Total 
Stockholders' 
Equity

96.1  $ 

1.0  $ 

2,125.6  $ 

(486.9)  $ 

74.2  $ 

1,713.9 

— 

— 

— 

12.3 

— 

(0.1)   

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

0.1 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

699.5 

17.5 

(5.2)   

— 

— 

0.3 

75.6 

1.2 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(190.4)   

— 

(75.6)   

— 

— 

— 

— 

(10.9)   

— 

0.3 

— 

1.2 

699.6 

17.5 

(5.2) 

(10.9) 

(190.4) 

108.3  $ 

1.1  $ 

2,837.4  $ 

(600.2)  $ 

(12.3)  $ 

2,226.0 

— 

— 

6.5 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

357.2 

16.7 

(9.3)   

— 

— 

— 

9.5 

41.4 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(218.0)   

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

11.8 

(0.7)   

— 

9.5 

41.4 

357.2 

16.7 

(9.3) 

11.8 

(0.7) 

(218.0) 

114.8  $ 

1.1  $ 

3,202.0  $ 

(767.3)  $ 

(1.2)  $ 

2,434.6 

— 

5.6 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

0.1 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

325.6 

18.4 

(8.7)   

— 

— 

— 

41.4 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(240.7)   

— 

— 

— 

— 

40.5 

(53.0)   

— 

41.4 

325.7 

18.4 

(8.7) 

40.5 

(53.0) 

(240.7) 

120.4  $ 

1.2  $ 

3,537.3  $ 

(966.6)  $ 

(13.7)  $ 

2,558.2 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

84

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

IN MILLIONS
For the Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Provision for bad debt expense
Gain on marketable equity investment
Foreign currency and derivative losses, net
Proceeds from swap terminations
(Gain) loss on asset disposals
Impairment losses
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Interest expense amortization, net
Stock-based compensation expense
Deferred income tax benefit
Operating lease cost
Other expense (income)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Rent and other receivables, net and other assets
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Deferred revenue and prepaid rents
Operating lease liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate
Asset acquisitions, primarily real estate, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from sale of equity investments
Equity investments
Proceeds from the sale of real estate assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, net
Dividends paid
Proceeds from revolving credit facility
Repayments of revolving credit facility
Proceeds from Euro bond
Proceeds from unsecured term loan
Repayments of unsecured term loan
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes
Repayments of senior notes
Payment of debt extinguishment costs
Payment of deferred financing costs
Payments on finance lease liabilities
Tax payment upon exercise of equity awards
Net cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized of $22.6 million, $32.9 million and $24.4 
million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively
Cash paid for income taxes
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Construction costs payable
Dividends payable

2020

2019

2018

$ 

41.4  $ 

41.4  $ 

1.2 

449.4 
1.7 
(89.5)   
27.6 
2.9 
(0.1)   
11.2 
6.5 
6.8 
18.4 
(6.9)   
20.4 
0.1 

(58.0)   
39.0 
8.8 
(23.4)   
456.3 

(910.5)   
— 
144.1 

(6.5)   
0.5 
(772.4)   

325.7 
(236.2)   
763.7 
(966.1)   
553.5 
1,100.0 
(1,400.0)   
395.2 
— 
— 
(16.4)   
(3.5)   
(8.7)   

507.2 
4.1 
195.2 
77.7 
272.9  $ 

62.4  $ 
3.7 

133.0 
63.3 

417.7 
1.7 
(132.3)   
7.5 
3.6 
0.4 
0.7 
71.8 
5.0 
16.7 
(7.5)   
20.3 
0.2 

(74.2)   
(0.8)   
15.6 
(22.1)   
365.7 

(876.4)   
— 
199.0 

(3.8)   
1.3 
(679.9)   

357.2 
(210.4)   
656.7 
(182.5)   
— 
— 
(200.0)   
1,197.4 
(1,200.0)   
(72.0)   
(9.4)   
(2.9)   
(9.3)   

324.8 
2.7 
13.3 
64.4 
77.7  $ 

123.0  $ 
3.5 

176.3 
58.6 

334.1 
2.6 
(9.9) 
— 
— 
— 
— 
3.1 
4.0 
17.5 
— 
— 
(0.6) 

(80.2) 
3.0 
34.5 
— 
309.3 

(865.7) 
(462.8) 
— 
(12.6) 
— 
(1,341.1) 

699.6 
(181.1) 
688.3 
(647.4) 
— 
1,300.0 
(900.0) 
— 
— 
— 
— 
(9.5) 
(5.2) 
944.7 
(0.4) 
(87.5) 
151.9 
64.4 

115.4 
3.4 

195.3 
51.0 

$ 

$ 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

85

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Description of Business

CyrusOne  Inc.,  together  with  CyrusOne  GP  (the  "General  Partner"),  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  CyrusOne  Inc.,  through 
which  CyrusOne  Inc.  wholly  owns  CyrusOne  LP  (the  "Operating  Partnership")  and  the  subsidiaries  of  the  Operating 
Partnership  (collectively,  “CyrusOne”,  “we”,  “us”,  “our”,  and  the  “Company”)  is  an  owner,  operator  and  developer  of 
enterprise-class,  carrier-neutral,  multi-tenant  and  single-tenant  data  center  properties.  As  of  December  31,  2020,  all  of  the 
issued  and  outstanding  Operating  Partnership  units  of  CyrusOne  LP  are  owned,  directly  or  indirectly,  by  the  Company.  Our 
customers operate in a number of industries, including information technology, financial services, energy, oil and gas, mining, 
medical, research and consulting services, and consumer goods and services. We currently operate 55 data centers, including 
two recovery centers, located in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands and Singapore.

On January 24, 2013, the Company completed its initial public offering (the "IPO") of common stock and its common stock 
currently trades on the NASDAQ Exchange under the ticker symbol "CONE". 

2. Basis of Presentation

The  accompanying  financial  statements  are  prepared  on  a  consolidated  basis.  In  addition,  the  accompanying  financial 
statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (GAAP) and include the 
accounts  of  the  Company,  as  well  as  all  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  and  any  consolidated  variable  interest  entities.  All 
intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Risks and Uncertainties

The novel strain of the coronavirus (COVID-19) identified in China in late 2019 has globally spread throughout Asia, Europe, 
the Middle East and the Americas and has resulted in authorities implementing numerous measures to attempt to contain the 
virus. This includes travel bans, shelter in place regulations and other restrictions and shutdowns. We continue to monitor the 
global outbreak and to take steps to mitigate the potential risks to us posed by the pandemic. To date, our data center portfolio 
remains  fully  operational  and  we  have  experienced  minimal  disruptions  in  our  business,  including  construction  projects, 
however,  we  have  modified  our  business  practices  by  temporarily  closing  our  corporate  headquarters  and  regional  locations, 
transitioned  non-essential  employees  to  working  remotely  from  their  homes,  implemented  restrictions  on  the  physical 
participation in meetings and significantly limited business travel, all of which have disrupted how we operate our business and 
may remain in place for an indeterminate amount of time. The duration and extent of the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic 
depends on future developments that cannot be accurately predicted at this time, such as the severity and transmission rate of 
the virus, the extent and effectiveness of containment actions, the distribution and effectiveness of vaccines and the impact of 
these  and  other  factors  on  our  employees,  customers,  suppliers  and  vendors.  The  effect  of  the  pandemic  and  measures 
implemented by authorities could disrupt our supply chain, which currently remains fully functional, including the provision of 
services  to  us  by  our  vendors  and  could  result  in  restrictions  on  construction  activities.  There  has  been  and  continues  to  be 
considerable uncertainty about the impact of these measures and restrictions on our Company and customers and the effects of 
these measures and how long they will remain in effect, which could adversely impact our employees, customers, vendors and 
suppliers resulting in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability 
to pay dividends as well as the market price of our common stock.

Investment in Real Estate

Acquisition of Properties

Investment in real estate consist of land, buildings, improvements and integral equipment utilized in our data center operations. 
We expect most acquisitions to be an acquisition of assets rather than a business combination as our typical acquisitions consist 
of properties whereby substantially all the fair value of gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single asset set (land, building 
and in-place leases), which are treated as asset acquisitions. See Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions herein.

Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions

We evaluate whether an acquisition is a business combination or an asset acquisition by determining whether the set of assets is 
a business. 

Asset Acquisitions

When  substantially  all  of  the  fair  value  of  gross  assets  acquired  is  concentrated  in  a  single  identifiable  asset  or  a  group  of 
similar  identifiable  assets,  the  transaction  is  accounted  for  as  an  asset  acquisition.  Asset  acquisitions  are  recorded  at  the 

86

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

cumulative  acquisition  costs  and  allocated  to  the  assets  acquired  and  liabilities  assumed  on  a  relative  fair  value  basis.  The 
Company allocates the purchase price of real estate to identifiable tangible assets such as land, building, land improvements and 
tenant improvements acquired based on their fair value. In estimating the fair value of each component, management considers 
appraisals, replacement cost, its own analysis of recently acquired and existing comparable properties, market rental data and 
other related information. Transaction costs associated with asset acquisitions are capitalized.

Business Combinations

When  substantially  all  of  the  fair  value  is  not  concentrated  in  a  group  of  similar  identifiable  assets,  the  set  of  assets  will 
generally be considered a business and the Company applies the purchase method for business combinations, where all tangible 
and identifiable intangible assets acquired and all liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value. Any excess purchase price is 
recorded as goodwill. Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred.

The  following  discussion  applies  to  our  initial  determination  of  fair  value  and  the  resulting  subsequent  accounting  which  is 
generally applicable to both asset acquisitions and business combinations.

The fair value of any tangible real estate assets acquired is determined by valuing the building as if it were vacant, and the fair 
value is then allocated to land, buildings, equipment and improvements based on available information including replacement 
cost, appraisal or using net operating income capitalization rates, discounted cash flow analysis or similar fair value models.

We determine in-place lease values based on our evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease agreement and 
by applying a fair value model. The estimates of fair value of in-place leases include an estimate of carrying costs during the 
expected lease up periods considering current market conditions. In estimating fair value of in-place leases, we consider items 
such as real estate taxes, insurance, leasing commissions, tenant improvements and other operating expenses to execute similar 
leases as well as projected rental revenue and carrying costs during the expected lease up period. We amortize the value of in-
place leases acquired to expense over the approximate weighted average remaining term of the leases, adjusted for projected 
tenant turnover, on a composite basis.

We determine the value of above-market and below-market in-place leases for acquired properties based on the present value 
(using an interest rate that reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between (1) the contractual 
amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases and (2) estimates of current market lease rates for the corresponding in-place 
leases,  measured  over  a  period  equal  to  (i)  the  remaining  non-cancellable  lease  term  for  above-market  leases,  or  (ii)  the 
remaining non-cancellable lease term plus any renewal options that we consider are reasonably certain that a lessee will execute 
such renewal option when a lease commences. We record the fair value of above-market and below-market leases as intangible 
assets or liabilities, and amortize them as an adjustment to revenue over the lease term. 

We determine the fair value of assumed debt by calculating the net present value of the scheduled debt service payments using 
current market-based terms for interest rates for debt with similar terms that management believes we could obtain on similar 
structures and maturities. Any difference between the fair value and stated value of the assumed debt is recorded as a discount 
or premium and amortized over the remaining term of the loan.

In a business combination, we retain the previous lease classification unless there is a lease modification and that modification 
is not accounted for as a separate new lease. We elected to apply the short-term lease measurement and recognition exemption 
available under the new accounting standard for leases (discussed below in Note 4, Recently Issued Accounting Standards) to 
leases  that  have  a  remaining  lease  term  of  12  months  or  less  at  the  acquisition  date,  and  accordingly,  do  not  recognize  an 
intangible  asset  if  the  terms  of  an  operating  lease  are  favorable  relative  to  market  terms,  or  a  liability  if  the  terms  are 
unfavorable relative to market terms. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the assets and 
the remaining lease term at the date of acquisition.

Capitalization of Costs

We  capitalize  costs  directly  related  to  the  development,  pre-development  or  improvement  of  our  investment  in  real  estate, 
referred to as capital projects and other activities included within this paragraph. Costs associated with our capital projects are 
capitalized  as  incurred.  If  the  project  is  abandoned,  these  costs  are  expensed  during  the  period  in  which  the  project  is 
abandoned.  Costs  considered  for  capitalization  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  construction  costs,  interest,  real  estate  taxes, 
insurance and utilities, if appropriate. We capitalize indirect costs such as personnel, office and administrative expenses that are 
directly  related  to  our  development  projects  based  on  an  estimate  of  the  time  spent  on  the  construction  and  development 
activities. These costs are capitalized only during the period in which activities necessary to ready an asset for its intended use 
are in progress and such costs are incremental and identifiable to a specific activity to get the asset ready for its intended use. 
We  determine  when  the  capitalization  period  begins  and  ends  through  communication  with  project  and  other  managers 

87

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

responsible for the tracking and oversight of individual projects. In the event that the activities to ready the asset for its intended 
use are suspended, the capitalization period will cease until such activities are resumed. In addition, we capitalize incremental 
initial direct costs incurred for successful origination of new leases which include internal and external leasing commissions. 
Interest expense is capitalized based on actual qualifying capital expenditures from the period when development commences 
until the asset is ready for its intended use, at the weighted average borrowing rate during the period. These costs are included 
in Investment in real estate and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the related assets.

Costs incurred for maintaining and repairing our properties, which do not extend their useful lives, are expensed as incurred.

Impairment Losses

When events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a real estate investment may not be recoverable, we review 
the carrying value of the asset. When such impairment indicators exist, we review an estimate of the undiscounted future cash 
flows expected to result from the use of the real estate investment and proceeds from its eventual disposition and compare such 
amount to the carrying value of the real estate investment. If our undiscounted cash flows indicate that we are unable to recover 
the  carrying  value  of  the  real  estate  investment,  an  impairment  loss  is  recognized.  An  impairment  loss  is  measured  as  the 
amount by which the real estate investment's carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. We recognized an impairment loss 
of $11.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 which includes an $8.8 million impairment loss based on our estimate 
of  the  decrease  in  the  fair  value  of  the  equipment  held  for  use  in  inventory  at  our  U.S.  data  centers  and  a  $2.4  million 
impairment  loss  based  on  the  estimated  fair  value  for  our  investment  in  land  held  in  Atlanta  for  future  development  as  the 
Company sold this land to a third-party in February 2021. We recognized an impairment loss of $0.7 million for the year ended 
December  31,  2019,  primarily  due  to  an  impairment  loss  on  our  South  Bend  -  Monroe  facility,  which  was  being  actively 
marketed  for  sale.  We  did  not  record  any  impairment  losses  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018.  These  fair  values  were 
based  on  unobservable  inputs  and  the  determination  of  fair  value  of  real  estate  assets  to  be  held  for  use  is  derived  using  the 
discounted cash flow method and involves a number of management assumptions relating to future economic events that could 
materially  affect  the  determination  of  the  ultimate  fair  value.  Such  assumptions  are  Level  3  inputs  and  include,  but  are  not 
limited to, projected  vacancy rates,  rental  rates, property operating expenses and  required  capital expenditures. These  factors 
require  management's  judgment  of  factors  such  as  market  knowledge,  historical  experience,  lease  terms,  tenant  financial 
strength,  economy,  demographics,  environment,  property  location,  age,  physical  condition  and  expected  return  requirements, 
among other things. The aforementioned factors are taken as a whole by management in the determination of fair value. See 
Fair Value Measurements below for further information on fair value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  include  all  non-restricted  cash  held  in  financial  institutions  and  other  non-restricted  highly  liquid 
short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less. Restricted cash includes cash equivalents restricted by 
contract or regulation, including letters of credit.

Equity Investments

We hold investments in various joint ventures where the Company evaluates its ability to influence the operating or financial 
decisions  of  the  investee  in  applying  the  appropriate  method  of  accounting  for  such  investments.  Influence  tends  to  be  more 
effective as the investor's percent of ownership in the voting rights of the investee increases. Our equity investments represent 
less than 20% of the voting rights of the investees and we do not exercise influence over the investee's operating and financial 
decisions.  Accordingly,  we  do  not  account  for  our  equity  investments  using  the  equity  method  of  accounting.  For  further 
information about our equity investments, see Note 8, Equity Investments.

Our investment in GDS Holdings Limited ("GDS") is classified as "available for sale" and is carried at fair value. Changes in 
the fair value are reported as a component of net income in Gain on marketable equity investment. 

Our other equity investments are carried at cost because we do not exercise influence over the operating and financial decisions 
of the ventures and there is no readily determinable fair value and our investments are recorded at cost less impairment, if any. 
Dividends paid from operating profits are reported as a component of net income, while other dividends are reported as a return 
of capital.  

Goodwill

We evaluate goodwill for possible impairment at least annually or upon the occurrence of events or circumstances that indicate 
that they would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. 

88

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

For  our  annual  impairment  evaluation,  we  have  the  option  of  performing  a  qualitative  or  quantitative  goodwill  impairment 
analysis. A qualitative analysis, step zero, analyzes the macro-economic environment in which we operate for any significant 
changes such as deterioration in the market that the Company operates or overall financial performance such as declining cash 
flows. Also, entity specific changes are analyzed such as change in management, strategy or composition of reporting unit. This 
assessment  of  qualitative  factors  serves  as  a  basis  for  determining  whether  it  is  necessary  to  perform  the  step  one  test.  A 
quantitative analysis, step one, requires the Company to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and compare the fair value 
to the carrying value to identify whether the value of the recorded goodwill is impaired. Changes in certain assumptions could 
have a significant impact on the impairment test for goodwill under step one. The most critical assumptions are projected future 
growth  rates,  operating  margins,  capital  expenditures,  tax  rates,  terminal  values  and  discount  rates.  These  assumptions  are 
subject to change as our long-term plans and strategies are updated each year.

During the fourth quarters of 2020, 2019 and 2018, we performed a qualitative evaluation and determined that the fair value of 
the reporting unit is substantially in excess of the carrying amount and therefore determined that further quantitative impairment 
testing was not necessary.

Rent and Other Receivables

Receivables consist principally of rent receivables including straight-line rent receivables. A general reserve may be recognized 
as  an  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  when  collectibility  is  not  probable,  after  applying  the  overall  collectibility  constraint 
under  the  new  accounting  standard  for  leases.  Straight-line  rent  receivable,  net  was  $172.6  million  and  $156.8  million  at 
December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based upon historic patterns of 
credit losses for aged receivables as well as specific provisions for certain identifiable, potentially uncollectible balances.

Deferred Revenue and Prepaid Rents

Deferred revenue is recorded when a customer makes a contractual payment in excess of revenues recognized in accordance 
with GAAP. Prepaid rent liability is recorded when a customer makes an advance payment or they are contractually obligated 
to pay any amounts in advance of the associated lease or service period.

Revenue Recognition
Our revenue consists of lease revenue and revenue from contracts with customers.

Lease Revenue:

Our leasing revenue primarily consists of colocation rent, metered power reimbursements and interconnection revenue and is 
accounted for under ASC 842, Leases. We generally are not entitled to reimbursements for rental expenses including real estate 
taxes, insurance or other common area operating expenses. 

a. Colocation Rent Revenue

Colocation  rent  revenues,  including  interconnection  revenue,  are  fixed  minimum  lease  payments  generally  billed  monthly  in 
advance  based  on  the  contracted  power  or  leased  space.  Some  contracts  may  provide  initial  free  rent  periods  and  rents  that 
escalate  over  the  term  of  the  contract.  If  rents  escalate  without  the  lessee  gaining  access  to  or  control  over  additional  leased 
power or space at the beginning of the lease term, the rental payments are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the 
term  of  the  lease.  If  rents  escalate  because  the  lessee  gains  access  to  and  control  over  additional  power  and  or  leased  space, 
revenue is recognized in proportion to the additional power or space in the periods that the lessee has control over the use of the 
additional  power  or  space.  The  excess  of  revenue  recognized  over  amounts  contractually  due  is  recognized  as  a  straight-line 
receivable,  which  is  included  in  Rent  and  other  receivables  in  our  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet.  Some  of  our  leases  are 
structured on a gross basis in which the customer pays a fixed amount for colocation space and power. The revenue for these 
types of leases is recorded in colocation rent revenue.

b. Metered Power Reimbursements Revenue 

Some of our leases provide that the customer is separately billed for power based upon actual or estimated metered usage at 
rates then in effect. Metered power reimbursement revenue is variable lease payments generally billed one month in arrears, and 
an  estimate  of  this  revenue  is  accrued  in  the  month  that  the  associated  power  is  provided  and  recorded  in  metered  power 
reimbursements revenue.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Revenue from our managed services, equipment sales, installations and other services are recognized under ASC 606, Revenue 
from Contracts with Customers.

89

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

Equipment sold by us generally consists of servers, switches, networking equipment, cable infrastructure and cabinets. Revenue 
is recognized at a point-in-time when control of the equipment transfers to the customer from the Company, which generally 
occurs upon delivery to the customer.

Managed services include providing a full-service managed data center, monitoring customer computer equipment, managing 
backups  and  storage,  utilization  reporting  and  other  related  ancillary  information  technology  services.  Management  service 
contracts generally range from one to five years. 

Installation  services  include  mounting,  wiring,  and  testing  of  customer  owned  equipment.  The  installation  period  is  typically 
short term in duration, and accordingly, revenue from the installation of customer equipment is recognized at a point-in-time 
once  the  installation  is  complete  and  the  performance  obligation  is  satisfied.  Other  services  generally  include  installation  of 
customer equipment, performing customer system re-boots, server cabinet and cage management, power monitoring, shipping 
and  receiving,  resolving  technical  issues,  and  other  services  requested  by  the  customer.  Other  service  revenue  is  measured 
based on the consideration specified in the contract and recognized over time as we satisfy the performance obligation.

We  adopted  the  practical  expedient  in  ASC  606  that  allows  the  Company  to  not  disclose  information  about  remaining 
performance obligations that have original expected durations of one year or less, the amount of the transaction price allocated 
to the remaining performance obligations and when we expect to recognize that amount as revenue for the year. We have also 
adopted  the  “as  invoiced”  practical  expedient,  whereby  the  Company  recognizes  revenue  in  the  amount  that  directly 
corresponds to the amount of value transferred to the customer.

Contract assets were $0.4 million as of December 31, 2020 and were not material as of December 31, 2019. Contract liabilities 
were not material as of both December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation expense is recognized over the estimated useful lives of real estate applying the straight-line method. The useful 
life  of  leased  real  estate  and  leasehold  improvements  is  the  lesser  of  the  economic  useful  life  of  the  asset  or  the  term  of  the 
lease, including optional renewal periods if renewal is reasonably certain.

Amortization expense is recognized over the estimated useful lives of finite-lived intangibles. Finite-lived intangibles include 
trademarks, customer relationships, favorable leasehold interests, in-place leases, trade names and deferred leasing costs. See 
Note 9, Goodwill, Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets, for details.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The financial position of foreign subsidiaries is translated at the exchange rates in effect at the end of the period, while revenues 
and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the period. Gains or losses from translation of foreign operations 
where the local currency is the functional currency are included as components of Other comprehensive income (loss). Gains or 
losses from foreign currency transactions are included in determining net income.  

Stock-Based Compensation

We  have  a  stock-based  incentive  award  plan  for  our  employees  and  directors.  Stock-based  compensation  expense  associated 
with these awards is recognized in General and administrative expenses, Property operating expenses and Sales and marketing 
expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We measure stock-based compensation at the estimated fair value on 
the grant date and recognize the amortization of stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period. Fair value 
is  determined  based  on  assumptions  related  to  stock  volatility,  risk-free  rate  of  return  and  estimates  of  market  and  company 
performance.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements are utilized in accounting for business combinations, asset acquisitions, testing of goodwill and other 
long-lived assets for impairment, recording unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, derivatives and related disclosures. 
Fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be 
received  to  sell  an  asset  or  paid  to  transfer  a  liability  in  an  orderly  transaction  between  market  participants.  The  three-tier 
hierarchy that prioritizes certain inputs used in the methodologies of measuring fair value for asset and liabilities, is as follows:

Level 1—Observable inputs for identical instruments such as quoted market prices;

Level 2—Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar 
assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability 

90

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

(i.e., interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by 
correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs); and

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that reflect our determination of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the 
asset or liability. These inputs are developed based on the best information available, including our own data.

Derivative Instruments

We  primarily  hedge  our  foreign  currency  risk  by  borrowing  in  the  currencies  in  which  we  invest.  We  may  use  derivative 
financial instruments, such as cross-currency swaps to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk related to both our foreign 
investments and the related earnings. In addition, we occasionally use interest rate swap contracts to manage interest rate risk 
and limit the impact of future interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows, primarily related to variable-rate debt.  

Derivative instruments are measured at fair value and recorded in Other assets and Other liabilities, depending on our rights or 
obligations under the applicable derivative contract. Derivatives that are not designated as hedges must be adjusted to fair value 
through earnings.

Designated Derivatives.  We may choose to designate our derivative financial instruments, generally cross-currency swaps as 
net investment hedges in foreign operations. At inception of the transaction, we designate the derivative financial instrument as 
a hedge of a specific underlying exposure, including the risk management objective and the strategy for undertaking the hedge 
transaction. We formally assess both at inception and at least quarterly thereafter, the effectiveness of our hedging transactions. 
Due to the high degree of effectiveness between the hedging instruments and the underlying exposures hedged, fluctuations in 
the  value  of  the  derivative  financial  instruments  will  generally  be  offset  by  changes  in  the  cash  flows  or  fair  values  of  the 
underlying exposures being hedged. 

In  addition  to  the  net  investment  hedges  described  above,  we  may  issue  debt  in  a  currency  that  is  not  the  same  functional 
currency of the borrowing entity to hedge our international investments. We designate the debt and related accrued interest as a 
net investment hedge to offset the translation and economic exposures related to our international investments. If the debt and 
related accrued interest exceeds the designated amount of our international investment, the foreign currency remeasurement on 
the unhedged portion of the debt during the period is recognized in Foreign currency and derivative losses, net.

For cash flow hedges, such as interest rate swaps, we report the effective portion of the gain or loss as a component of other 
comprehensive  income  (loss)  and  reclassify  it  to  the  applicable  line  item  in  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations, 
generally  Interest  expense,  net  over  the  corresponding  period  of  the  underlying  hedged  item.  The  ineffective  portion  of  a 
derivative financial instrument’s change in fair value is recognized in earnings, generally Interest expense, net at the time the 
ineffectiveness occurred. To the extent the hedged debt related to our interest rate swaps and forwards is paid off early, we write 
off  the  remaining  balance  in  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  and  recognize  the  amount  in  Interest  expense,  net  in  the 
Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Undesignated Derivatives.  Derivative instruments, such as cross-currency swaps, for which hedge accounting is not applied are 
recorded  at  fair  value  in  Other  assets  and  Other  liabilities  and  gains  and  losses  resulting  from  changes  in  the  fair  value  are 
reported in Foreign currency and derivative losses, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.  

In addition, we may choose to not designate our interest rate swap and forward contracts. If a swap or forward contract is not 
designated as a hedge, the changes in fair value of these instruments is immediately recognized in earnings in Interest expense, 
net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Segment Information

Our  data  centers  have  similar  revenues  and  operating  expenses  across  all  geographic  locations.  The  service  offerings  and 
delivery  of  services  are  provided  in  a  similar  manner,  using  the  same  types  of  facilities  and  similar  technologies.  Our  chief 
operating decision maker, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, reviews our financial information on an aggregate basis and 
makes decisions about the allocations of Company resources and as a result, we have one reportable business segment. 

Revenues from properties were $1,033.5 million, $981.3 million and $821.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 
2019 and 2018, respectively. We had Investment in real estate, net of $5.3 billion and $4.7 billion, at December 31, 2020 and 
2019, respectively.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to use judgment in the application of 
accounting  policies,  including  making  estimates  and  assumptions.  If  our  judgment  or  interpretation  of  the  facts  and 

91

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

circumstances relating to various transactions had been different or different assumptions were made, it is possible that different 
accounting policies would have been applied, resulting in different financial results or a different presentation of our financial 
statements. Estimates, judgments and assumptions are based on historical experiences that we believe to be reasonable under 
the circumstances. From time to time we re-evaluate those estimates and assumptions. Our discussion and analysis of financial 
condition  and  results  of  operations  are  based  upon  our  consolidated  financial  statements,  which  have  been  prepared  in 
accordance  with  GAAP.  Our  management  evaluates  these  estimates  on  an  ongoing  basis,  based  upon  information  currently 
available and on various assumptions management believes are reasonable as of the date of the financial statements. Significant 
estimates  include  and  are  related  to  determining  lease  terms  and  revenue  recognition,  the  fair  value  for  purchase  price 
allocations for business combinations and asset acquisitions, capitalization of costs and the useful lives of real estate and other 
long-lived assets. 

Our actual results may differ from these estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain financial information has been revised to conform to the current year presentation due to changes in the significance of 
the particular activity. The following items have been reclassified:

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2019

•

Unrealized gain on marketable equity investment ($65.6 million) and Realized gain on marketable equity investment 
($66.7 million) are combined in the current presentation. These items were previously disclosed on separate lines in 
the comparable prior year period.

4. Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Lease Modification Q&A

Due  to  the  business  disruptions  and  challenges  severely  affecting  the  global  economy  caused  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic, 
lessors may provide rent deferrals and other lease concessions to lessees. While the lease modification guidance in ASC 842, 
Leases, addresses changes to lease terms resulting from negotiations between the lessee and the lessor, this guidance did not 
contemplate  concessions  being  so  rapidly  executed  to  address  the  impact  from  the  COVID-19  pandemic  on  the  lessor's 
business.  In  April  2020,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  ("FASB")  issued  a  question  and  answer  document  (the 
“Lease Modification Q&A”) focused on the application of lease accounting guidance to lease concessions provided as a result 
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the new accounting standard for leases, the Company must determine, on a lease by lease 
basis,  if  a  lease  concession  resulted  in  a  lease  modification.  The  Lease  Modification  Q&A  allows  the  Company,  if  certain 
criteria have been met, to bypass the lease by lease analysis, and instead elect to either apply the lease modification accounting 
framework or not, with such election applied consistently to leases with similar characteristics and circumstances. The adoption 
of this guidance has not had a material impact on our financial statements.

Guarantor Financial Information

In March 2020, the SEC amended Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X to reduce and simplify financial disclosure requirements for 
issuers and guarantors of registered debt offerings. The guidance is effective January 4, 2021, with early adoption permitted. 
This  new  guidance  replaces  the  previous  requirement  to  provide  condensed  consolidating  financial  information  in  the 
registrant’s  financial  statements  with  a  requirement  to  provide  alternative  financial  disclosures  in  Item  7  "Management's 
Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations"  or  its  financial  statements.  We  adopted  these 
amendments  as  of  April  1,  2020,  and  the  alternative  disclosures  are  presented  in  Item  7  "Management's  Discussion  and 
Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations"  and  the  information  previously  included  in  the  Notes  to 
Consolidated Financial Statements has been removed.

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other Internal-Use Software

On January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2018-15, Intangibles Goodwill and Other Internal Use Software on a prospective basis. 
The adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company.

92

Fair Value Measurement

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

On January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement, which changes the fair value measurement disclosure 
requirements of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. The amendments are part of the FASB’s disclosure framework project to 
improve the effectiveness of disclosures important to financial statement users including information about assets and liabilities 
measured at fair value in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The adoption did not have a significant impact on the 
Company.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

On January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (CECL), which requires certain financial 
assets  to  be  presented  at  the  net  amount  expected  to  be  collected.  CECL  and  its  related  amendments  apply  to  our  customer 
contract  trade  receivables,  notes  receivable  and  net  investments  in  leases.  Our  Rent  and  other  receivables  are  primarily 
comprised of rent receivables, which are not within the scope of this sub-topic. The adoption did not have a significant impact 
on the Company because of our limited exposure to financial instruments subject to this standard.

Leases

We  adopted  ASU  2016-02  (codified  in  ASC  842,  Leases)  on  January  1,  2019,  applied  the  package  of  practical  expedients 
included therein and utilized the modified retrospective transition method with the cumulative effect of transition recorded as an 
adjustment to retained earnings on the effective date. By applying the modified retrospective transition method, the presentation 
of financial information for periods prior to January 1, 2019 was not restated.

We elected the package of practical expedients, which permits us to not reassess (1) whether any expired or existing contracts 
are or contain leases, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) the treatment of any initial direct 
costs for any existing leases as of the effective date. We did not elect the hindsight practical expedient, which permits entities to 
use hindsight in determining the lease term and assessing impairment.

As a Lessee

The ASU requires that a liability be recorded on the balance sheet for all leases where the reporting entity is a lessee, based on 
the present value of future lease obligations discounted based on the implicit rate or alternatively our incremental borrowing 
rate.  The  implicit  rate  is  generally  not  determinable  and,  as  a  result,  we  use  our  incremental  borrowing  rate  at  the  lease 
commencement date to determine the present value. We determine our incremental borrowing rate based on an estimate of our 
existing  yield  curve  at  the  lease  commencement.  The  rates  are  then  adjusted  for  various  factors  to  estimate  the  company’s 
secured  rate,  including  the  lease  term  and  collateralization.  The  determination  of  our  incremental  borrowing  rate  requires 
judgment. A corresponding right-of-use ("ROU") asset will also be recorded. Amortization of the lease obligation and the ROU 
asset for leases classified as operating leases are on a straight-line basis. Leases classified as financing leases are required to be 
accounted  for  as  financing  arrangements  similar  to  the  accounting  treatment  for  capital  leases  under  ASC  840,  Leases  (the 
former accounting standard for all leases, ("ASC 840")).

We elected the practical expedient to combine our lease and related non-lease components by asset class for our leases.

We elected the practical expedient to not evaluate land easements not previously accounted for as leases prior to the entity’s 
adoption of the new accounting standard for leases. 

We elected to apply the short-term lease measurement and recognition exemption available for leases under the new accounting 
standard for leases that have an original lease term of 12 months or less.

The adoption of ASC 842 had a significant impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheets due to the recognition of approximately 
$87.0  million  of  ROU  assets  and  $123.2  million  of  lease  liabilities  for  operating  leases.  We  recognized  a  $9.5  million 
cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. The adjustment to retained earnings was driven principally by measurement 
of operating lease liabilities at the present value of the remaining lease payments at the adoption date of January 1, 2019. The 
increase was offset in part by impairment of ROU assets associated with one build-to-suit ("BTS") arrangement recognized as 
an operating lease under the new accounting standard for leases.

Additionally, we de-recognized certain previously recognized BTS lease assets and liabilities which under the new accounting 
standard  for  leases  are  recognized  as  operating  lease  ROU  assets  and  lease  liabilities.  Prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  new 
accounting standard for leases, these leases were accounted as financing arrangements or BTS leases assets and liabilities and 

93

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

recorded as buildings and improvement and lease financing arrangements. Prior to the adoption of the new accounting standard 
for leases, BTS lease assets were amortized over the useful life of the asset and recorded as amortization expense and accretion 
of BTS lease liability was recorded as an interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Upon adoption of the 
new  accounting  standard  for  leases,  BTS  leases  are  accounted  as  operating  leases  and  amortization  and  accretion  of  lease 
liabilities  of  these  operating  leases  are  recorded  as  lease  expenses  in  property  operating  expenses  in  our  Consolidated 
Statements of Operations. 

As a Lessor

The  accounting  for  lessors  remained  largely  unchanged  from  ASC  840.  However,  the  new  accounting  standard  for  leases 
requires that lessors expense certain costs to obtain a lease that are not incremental to origination of a lease. Upon adoption, 
initial direct costs that are not incremental are expensed as general and administrative expense in our Consolidated Statements 
of Operations. Prior to the adoption of the new standard, these costs were capitalizable. As a result of electing the package of 
practical expedients, initial direct costs have not been reassessed prior to the effective date and therefore adoption of the lease 
standard did not have an impact on our previously reported Consolidated Statements of Operations with respect to initial direct 
costs. 

In  addition,  under  the  new  accounting  standard  for  leases,  certain  exceptions  under  the  previous  standard  for  real  estate  no 
longer  are  applicable  in  the  evaluation  of  the  lease  classification  as  an  operating,  sales  type  or  direct  financing  lease.  In  the 
event that a real estate lease is classified as a sales-type lease, subject to certain conditions, a gain or loss is recognized based on 
the present value of the lease payments and residual value.

We elected the practical expedient to combine all of our lease and nonlease revenue components into a single combined lease 
component as nonlease components have the same pattern of transfer as the related predominant operating lease components. 
Our  customer  leases  include  options  to  extend  or  terminate  the  lease  agreements.  We  do  not  generally  include  extension  or 
termination options in a customer’s lease term for lease classification purposes or for recognizing lease revenue unless we are 
reasonably certain the customer will exercise these extension or termination options at lease commencement.

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference 
Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, 
hedging relationships and other transactions that reference the London interbank offered rate ("LIBOR") or another reference 
rate  expected  to  be  discontinued  because  of  reference  rate  reform.  The  expedients  and  exceptions  do  not  apply  to  contract 
modifications  made  and  hedging  relationships  entered  into  or  evaluated  after  December  31,  2022,  except  for  hedging 
relationships existing as of December 31, 2022, that an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained 
through the end of the hedging relationship. The Company is evaluating the impact of this ASU.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, 
which  simplifies  various  aspects  related  to  the  accounting  for  income  taxes,  eliminates  certain  exceptions  within  ASC 
740, Income Taxes, and clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. The 
guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating 
the impact of the new standard.

5.  Revenue Recognition

Lease Revenue

Lease  revenue  primarily  consists  of  colocation  rent  and  metered  power  reimbursements  from  the  lease  of  our  data  centers. 
Colocation  leases  may  include  all  or  portions  of  a  data  center,  where  customers  may  also  lease  office  space  to  support  their 
colocation  operations.  Revenue  is  primarily  based  on  power  usage  as  well  as  square  footage.  Customer  lease  arrangements 
customarily  contain  provisions  that  allow  for  renewal  or  continuation  on  a  month-to-month  arrangement,  and  certain  leases 
contain early termination rights. We do not include any of these extension or termination options in a customer’s lease term for 
lease classification purposes or for recognizing lease revenue unless we are reasonably certain the customer will exercise these 
extension or termination options at lease commencement. At lease commencement, early termination is generally not deemed 
probable due to the significant economic penalty incurred by the lessee to exercise its early termination right and to relocate 
their equipment installed in our facilities. Generally, our customer lease arrangements do not provide any option to purchase 
and are classified as operating leases. We have substantial revenue primarily related to lease revenue from one customer that 

94

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

represented approximately 19%, 21% and 18% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, 
respectively.

At December 31, 2020, the future minimum lease payments to be received under non-cancellable operating leases, excluding 
month-to-month arrangements and metered power reimbursements are shown below (in millions):

As of December 31, 2020

Minimum Lease Payments

2021

2022
2023

2024
2025

Thereafter
Total

$ 

$ 

771.1 

658.5 
527.5 

409.3 
339.1 

922.9 
3,628.4 

At December 31, 2019, the future minimum lease payments to be received under non-cancellable operating leases, excluding 
month-to-month arrangements and metered power reimbursements are shown below (in millions):

As of December 31, 2019

Minimum Lease Payments

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter
Total

$ 

$ 

736.2 
620.2 
528.2 
426.5 
328.7 
973.9 
3,613.7 

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Revenue from equipment sales and the installation of customer equipment is recognized at a point-in-time. Title to such assets 
are  transferred  to  the  customer,  and  the  benefits  of  the  installation  service  are  typically  consumed  at  the  completion  of  the 
service. 

Disaggregation of Revenue

For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2020  and  2019,  lease  revenue  disaggregated  by  primary  revenue  stream  is  as  follows  (in 
millions):

Lease revenue

Colocation (Minimum lease payments)

Metered power reimbursements (Variable lease payments)

Total lease revenue

Year Ended 
December 31, 2020

Year Ended 
December 31, 2019

$ 

$ 

842.1  $ 

161.4   

1,003.5  $ 

793.5 

138.8 

932.3 

For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2020,  2019  and  2018  revenue  from  contracts  with  customers  disaggregated  by  primary 
revenue stream is as follows (in millions):

Revenue from contracts with customers

Equipment sales and services

Other revenue

Total revenue from contracts with customers

Year Ended 
December 31, 2020

Year Ended 
December 31, 2019

Year Ended 
December 31, 2018

$ 

$ 

10.6  $ 

19.4   

30.0  $ 

29.7  $ 

19.3   

49.0  $ 

15.3 

17.4 

32.7 

95

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

Other revenue related to contracts with customers in the table above includes managed services and other services revenue of 
$15.9 million, $15.9 million and $13.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

Total revenues from contracts with customers generated from operations outside of the United States were $4.7 million, $2.9 
million and insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

Accounts  receivable  associated  with  revenue  from  contracts  with  customers  were  $2.3  million  and  $6.4  million  as  of 
December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

6. Leases - As a Lessee

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make 
lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on 
the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. Variable lease payments consisting of non-lease components 
and services are excluded from the ROU assets and lease liabilities and are recognized in the period in which the obligation is 
incurred.

The new accounting standard for leases defines initial direct costs as only the incremental costs of signing a lease. Initial direct 
costs  related  to  leasing  that  are  not  incremental  are  expensed  as  general  and  administrative  expense  in  our  Consolidated 
Statements of Operations. As a result of electing the package of practical expedients, initial direct costs incurred prior to the 
effective date have not been reassessed. 

Our operating lease agreements primarily consist of leased real estate and are included within Operating lease ROU assets and 
Operating  lease  liabilities  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets.  Many  of  our  lease  agreements  include  options  to  extend  the 
lease,  which  are  not  included  in  our  minimum  lease  payments  unless  they  are  reasonably  certain  to  be  exercised  at  lease 
commencement. Rental expense related to operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

We  operate  five  data  center  facilities  and  have  a  data  center  under  development  subject  to  finance  leases.  During  the  third 
quarter of 2019, the Company entered into one ground lease in Dublin, The Republic of Ireland for a term of 999 years (see 
Note  7,  Investment  in  Real  Estate,  for  more  information).  The  Dublin  finance  lease  was  capitalized  as  land  and  included  in 
Construction in progress, including land under development on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The remaining terms of our 
data center finance leases range from one to twenty years with options to extend the initial lease term on all but one lease. As a 
result of electing the package of practical expedients, data center finance leases are included in Buildings and improvements, 
Equipment and Finance lease liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, we lease 13 data centers and 3 offices 
supporting our sales and corporate activities under operating lease agreements. Our operating leases have remaining lease terms 
ranging from less than one year to twenty-four years and one ground lease in Houston has a lease term that expires in 2066. 

The components of lease expense are as follows (in millions):

Operating lease cost

Finance lease cost:

   Amortization of assets

   Interest on lease liabilities

Total net lease cost

Year Ended December 
31, 2020

Year Ended December 
31, 2019

$ 

$ 

20.4  $ 

2.1   

1.5   

24.0  $ 

20.3 

2.3 

1.7 

24.3 

96

 
 
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows (in millions, except lease term and discount rate):

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

Operating leases:
   Operating lease right-of-use assets

   Operating lease liabilities
Finance leases:

   Property and equipment, at cost
   Accumulated amortization

Property and equipment, net
Finance lease liabilities

Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):
Operating leases
Finance leases(a)

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

211.4 

249.1 

34.7 
(7.1) 

27.6 
29.1 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

161.9 

195.8 

34.9 
(5.0) 

29.9 
31.8 

14.3

18.2

15.8

18.1

Weighted average discount rate:
Operating leases
Finance leases(a)
(a)  Excludes a 999-year ground lease in Dublin, The Republic of Ireland entered into during the third quarter of 2019. The Dublin property is under active development 
and the finance lease is included in Construction in progress, including land under development on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 3.9 %
 4.9 %

 3.7 %
 4.7 %

Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases is as follows (in millions):

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases
Operating cash flows from finance leases
Financing cash flows from finance leases

Non-cash right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases
Finance leases

Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in millions):

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Thereafter

Total lease payments

Less: Imputed interest

Total lease obligations

97

Year Ended December 
31, 2020

Year Ended December 
31, 2019

$ 

$ 

23.4  $ 
1.5   
3.5   

65.2  $ 
—   

22.1 
1.7 
2.9 

175.1 
0.8 

As of December 31, 2020

Operating Leases

Finance Leases

$ 

27.8  $ 

27.9 

23.9 

19.4 

17.8 

221.6 

338.4  $ 

(89.3) 

249.1  $ 

$ 

$ 

4.2 

3.0 

2.0 

1.4 

1.5 

30.5 

42.6 

(13.5) 

29.1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in millions):

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

2020

2021
2022

2023
2024

Thereafter
Total lease payments

Less: Imputed interest
Total lease payments

7. Investment in Real Estate

Land for future development

As of December 31, 2019

Operating Leases

Finance Leases

$ 

22.4  $ 

21.0 
22.4 

18.5 
13.9 

165.4 
263.6  $ 

(67.8)   
195.8  $ 

$ 

$ 

5.0 

4.1 
2.9 

1.9 
1.4 

31.1 
46.4 

(14.6) 
31.8 

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  the  Company  purchased  approximately  35  acres  of  land  for  $58.0  million  in 
Frankfurt,  Germany  and  London,  United  Kingdom.  During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  the  Company  purchased 
approximately  74  acres  of  land  for  $54.7  million  in  Dublin,  the  Republic  of  Ireland,  San  Antonio,  Santa  Clara  and  Council 
Bluffs, Iowa.

Leases of real estate

In  March  2020,  the  Company  entered  into  a  25-year  lease  comprising  a  45,000  square  feet  building  and  commenced 
development of a 27 MW data center in Paris, France, which was preleased to a customer. We have one renewal option for 25
years which was not reasonably certain at commencement and the lease was classified as an operating lease.

In September 2019, the Company entered into a 999-year ground lease for 16 acres in Dublin, The Republic of Ireland, and 
purchased 9 acres of land totaling 24 acres for future development of a 6 MW data center. Construction commenced in July 
2019. The Company prepaid $6.3 million of the lease payments and concluded that the present value of lease payments was 
equal to substantially all of the fair value of the land and classified the lease as a finance lease. 

In August 2019, the Company entered into a lease for land comprising 3 acres and a building shell of approximately 51,000
square feet in London, UK for 25 years, including an option to extend for an additional 25 years. The Company immediately 
began  development  and  construction  of  a  6  MW  data  center  in  London.  We  determined  that  the  option  to  renew  was  not 
reasonably  certain  to  be  exercised.  The  fixed  lease  payments  are  £0.9  million  per  year  and  we  classified  the  lease  as  an 
operating lease because the lease term was not for a major part of the remaining economic life of the building shell; nor did the 
lease qualify as a finance lease based on the other criteria under ASC 842.

In  November  2019,  the  Company  entered  into  a  lease  for  land  comprising  6.5  acres  and  a  building  shell  of  approximately 
105,000 square feet in London, UK for 20 years, including an option to extend for an additional 15 years. We determined that 
the  option  to  renew  was  not  reasonably  certain  to  be  exercised.  The  fixed  lease  payments  are  £2.1  million  per  year  and  we 
classified the lease as an operating lease because the lease term was not for a major part of the remaining economic life of the 
building shell; nor did the lease qualify as a finance lease based on the other criteria under ASC 842.

Real estate related capital expenditures

Construction  in  progress  was  $982.2  million  and  $946.3  million,  including  land  which  was  under  active  development  of  
$5.1 million and $61.8 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, our capital expenditures were $910.5 million, as shown on the statement of cash flows. 
Substantially  all  of  our  investing  activity  related  to  our  development  activities.  Our  capital  expenditures  for  2020  primarily 
related  to  the  acquisition  of  land  for  future  development  and  continued  development  in  key  markets,  primarily  in  Dallas, 
Dublin, Frankfurt, Iowa, London, the New York Metro area, Northern Virginia, Paris, Phoenix, San Antonio and Santa Clara. 

98

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

Included in capital expenditures are land purchases of $58.0 million in Frankfurt, Germany and London, United Kingdom for 
future development.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, our capital expenditures were $876.4 million, as shown on the statement of cash flows. 
Substantially  all  of  our  investing  activity  related  to  our  development  activities.  Our  capital  expenditures  for  2019  primarily 
related to the acquisition of land for future development and continued development in key markets, primarily in Amsterdam, 
Austin, Dallas, Frankfurt, London, Northern Virginia, Phoenix and Raleigh-Durham. Included in capital expenditures are land 
purchases of $54.7 million in Santa Clara, San Antonio, Dublin and Council Bluffs for future development.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, impairment charges of $11.2 million were recognized which includes an $8.8 million
impairment loss based on our estimate of the decrease in the fair value of the equipment held for use in inventory at our U.S. 
data centers and a $2.4 million impairment loss based on the estimated fair value for our investment in land held in Atlanta for 
future development as the Company entered into a non-binding contract to sell this land to a third-party. For the year ended 
December 31, 2019, impairment charges of $0.7 million were recognized primarily due to an impairment on the South Bend - 
Monroe facility, which was being actively marketed for sale.

8. Equity Investments

The Company has the following equity investments where it has a noncontrolling interest in the investees (in millions).

Investees

GDS, Class A share equivalent

ODATA investments

Equity investments

Equity Investments as of:

Equity Method

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

Fair value

Cost method

$ 

$ 

44.2  $ 

22.9   

67.1  $ 

118.7 

16.4 

135.1 

The  Company  has  an  equity  investment  in  GDS,  a  developer  and  operator  of  high-performance,  large-scale  data  centers  in 
China.  We  account  for  our  equity  investment  in  GDS  using  the  fair  value  method.  On  October  18,  2017,  the  Company 
purchased newly issued unregistered ordinary shares equivalent to 8.0 million American depository shares (ADS) at a price per 
Class  A  ordinary  share  equivalent  to  $12.45  per  ADS,  a  4%  discount  to  the  October  17,  2017  closing  price,  for  a  total 
investment of $100.0 million. Each ADS is equivalent to eight ordinary shares. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we sold 
approximately 1.8 million GDS ADSs for total net proceeds of approximately $164.1 million with $19.9 million of the proceeds 
settled  after  year  end.  For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  we  sold  approximately  5.7  million  GDS  ADSs  for  total  net 
proceeds of approximately $199.0 million. As of December 31, 2020, our investment includes approximately 0.5 million GDS 
ADSs at the ADS Class A ordinary share equivalent of $93.64 for a total fair value of $44.2 million. During January 2021, we 
disposed of our remaining investment of approximately 0.5 million GDS ADSs for net proceeds of $46.6 million.

The Company recognized Gains on marketable equity investment in GDS ADSs held and sold as follows:

IN MILLIONS

Net gain on marketable equity investment

Less: Net gain recognized on marketable equity investment sold

Unrealized gain on marketable equity investment

Year Ended 
December 31, 2020

Year Ended 
December 31, 2019

Year Ended 
December 31, 2018

$ 

$ 

89.5  $ 

69.6   

19.9  $ 

132.3  $ 

66.7   

65.6  $ 

9.9 

— 

9.9 

The gain on investment is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in Gain on marketable equity investment.

As  of  December 31, 2020  and December 31, 2019, the  Company had  a  total  investment  of $22.9 million and  $16.4  million, 
respectively, in four unconsolidated ventures in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico, with ODATA, a Brazilian headquartered 
company,  specializing  in  providing  colocation  services  to  customers  across  multiple  industries.  In  evaluating  the  appropriate 
accounting  method  for  its  ventures  with  ODATA,  we  considered  our  voting  interests  and  ability  to  exercise  significant 
influence  over  the  operating  and  financial  policies  of  each  venture  and  concluded  that  the  Company  does  not  exercise 
significant influence and our investments are accounted for using the cost method. During the years ended December 31, 2020
and 2019, the Company made additional investments totaling $6.5 million and $3.8 million in ODATA, respectively.

99

 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

9. Goodwill, Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets

The carrying amount of goodwill was $455.1 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Summarized below are the carrying values for the major classes of intangible assets:

IN MILLIONS

For the year ended December 31,

2020

2019

Weighted-
Average
 Remaining 
Life
(in years)

Gross
Carrying
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization

Total

Gross
Carrying
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization

Total

Customer relationships

Trademark/tradename

Favorable leasehold interest

In-place customer leases

Above and below market leases

Total

9 $ 

247.1  $ 

(163.1) $ 

84.0  $ 

247.1  $ 

(151.1) $ 

96.0 

4  

36  

4  

5  

11.6   

5.7   

(9.0)  

(1.6)  

2.6   

4.1   

11.5   

5.6   

(7.8)  

(1.2)  

140.4   

(74.6)  

65.8   

137.1   

(46.7)  

2.3   

(1.0)  

1.3   

2.3   

(0.7)  

3.7 

4.4 

90.4 

1.6 

$ 

407.1  $ 

(249.3) $ 

157.8  $ 

403.6  $ 

(207.5) $ 

196.1 

There were no goodwill or intangible asset impairments for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 or 2018. The fair value 
of goodwill and other intangibles is substantially in excess of carrying value for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 
2018.

Amortization  expense  for  acquired  intangible  assets  was  $38.9  million,  $39.9  million  and  $30.6  million  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The following table presents estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years and thereafter, commencing January 
1, 2021:

IN MILLIONS

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Thereafter

Total

10. Other Assets

Total

$ 

32.6 

29.3 

20.4 

18.6 

17.3 

39.6 

$ 

157.8 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the components of Other assets are as follows (in millions): 

Deferred leasing and other contract costs

Prepaid expenses

Non-real estate assets, net

Derivative assets

Other assets

Total

December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019

$ 

$ 

62.4  $ 

19.1   

13.8   

—   

38.1   

133.4  $ 

53.2 

22.1 

16.3 

3.5 

18.8 

113.9 

Non-real estate assets, net primarily consists of administrative related software and computers and office equipment, which are 
depreciated  or  amortized  over  the  shorter  of  the  assets  useful  life  or  the  lease  term.  Other  assets  primarily  includes  land 
deposits, fuel inventory, other receivables, deferred tax assets, net of allowance and other deferred costs.

100

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

11. Debt

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the components of Debt are as follows (unless otherwise noted, interest rate and maturity 
date information are as of December 31, 2020) (in millions):

December 31, 
2020

December 31, 
2019

Interest Rate Maturity Date

Amended Credit Agreement:

Revolving Credit Facility:

EUR Revolver
GBP Revolver(a)
2023 Term Loan Facility(c)
2025 Term Loan Facility

$3.0 Billion Credit Facility:

$1.7 Billion Revolving Credit Facility:

US Revolver

EUR Revolver

GBP Revolver

2023 Term Loan

2025 Term Loan

2024 Notes, including bond discount of $0.7 million
and $0.8 million, respectively
2029 Notes, including bond discount of $1.6 million
and $1.8 million, respectively
2027 Notes, including bond discount of $0.6 million(d)
2030 Notes, including bond discount of $4.7 million

Deferred financing costs

Total

$ 

275.9  $ 

157.0   

100.0   

700.0   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

599.3   

598.4   

612.6   

395.3   

(29.5)  

— 

— 

— 

— 

Monthly EURIBOR + 
1.00%
Monthly LIBOR + 
1.00%
Monthly LIBOR + 
1.20%
Monthly LIBOR + 
1.20%

Monthly LIBOR + 
1.20%
Monthly EURIBOR + 
1.20%
Monthly LIBOR + 
1.20%
Monthly LIBOR + 
1.35%
Monthly LIBOR + 
1.65%

March 2024(b)

March 2023

March 2025

March 2022

March 2023

March 2025

 2.900 % November 2024

 3.450 % November 2029

 1.450 % January 2027

 2.150 % November 2030

555.0 

33.6 

26.4 

800.0 

300.0 

599.2 

598.2 

— 

— 

$ 

3,409.0  $ 

2,886.6 

(25.8)  

— 

— 

(a) - Monthly USD LIBOR and GBP LIBOR as of December 31, 2020 was 0.15% and 0.03%, respectively.
(b) - The Company has an option to exercise a one-year extension option, subject to certain conditions.
(c) - The Company has an option to exercise two 1-year extension options, subject to certain conditions.
(d) - The 2027 Notes represent €495.3 million, including bond discount of €0.7 million of Euro bonds.

Credit facilities

On March 31, 2020, CyrusOne LP, a Maryland limited partnership and subsidiary of CyrusOne Inc., entered into an amendment 
to its credit agreement, dated as of March 29, 2018 (as so amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), among the Operating 
Partnership, as borrower, the lenders party thereto (the “Lenders”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for 
the Lenders. Proceeds from the Amended Credit Agreement were used, among other things, to refinance and replace the credit 
facilities under the $3.0 Billion Credit Facility (as defined below).

The  Amended  Credit  Agreement  provides  for  (i)  a  $1.4  billion  senior  unsecured  multi-currency  revolving  credit  facility  (the 
“Revolving  Credit  Facility”),  (ii)  senior  unsecured  term  loans  due  2023  in  a  dollar  equivalent  principal  amount  of 
$400.0  million  (the  “2023  Term  Loan  Facility”),  and  (iii)  senior  unsecured  term  loans  due  2025  in  a  principal  amount  of 
$700.0 million (the “2025 Term Loan Facility”). The Amended Credit Agreement also includes an accordion feature pursuant 
to  which  the  Operating  Partnership  is  permitted  to  obtain  additional  revolving  or  term  loan  commitments  so  long  as  the 
aggregate  principal  amount  of  commitments  and/or  term  loans  under  the  Amended  Credit  Agreement  does  not  exceed 
$4.0 billion. The Revolving Credit Facility provides for borrowings in U.S. Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling, Canadian Dollars, 
Australian  Dollars,  Japanese  Yen,  Hong  Kong  Dollars,  Singapore  Dollars  and  Swiss  Francs  (subject  to  a  sublimit  of 
$750.0 million on borrowings in currencies other than U.S. Dollars). The Revolving Credit Facility matures on March 29, 2024 
with  one 12-month  extension  option.  The  2023  Term  Loan  Facility  matures  on  March  29,  2023  with  two 1-year  extension 
options, and the 2025 Term Loan Facility matures on March 28, 2025.

101

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

The interest rates for borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement are, at the option of the borrower, based on a floating 
rate or base rate, plus a margin determined by reference to a pricing grid based on the lower of (i) the rate corresponding to the 
then  applicable  credit  rating  for  the  Operating  Partnership’s  senior  unsecured  debt  or  (ii)  the  rate  corresponding  to  the  then 
applicable  ratio  of  the  Company’s  consolidated  total  indebtedness  to  its  gross  asset  value.  The  Amended  Credit  Agreement 
includes certain restricted covenants, requirements to maintain certain financial ratios, including with respect to unencumbered 
assets, and events of default.

On  March  31,  2020,  borrowings  of  $1.3  billion  under  the  Amended  Credit  Agreement  were  used  to  repay  the  $3.0  Billion 
Credit  Facility,  which  consisted  of  a  $1.7  billion  revolving  credit  facility  ("$1.7  Billion  Revolving  Credit  Facility"),  which 
included a $750.0 million multicurrency borrowing sublimit, a 5-year term loan with commitments totaling $1.0 billion and a 
$300.0 million 7-year term loan (collectively, the "$3.0 Billion Credit Facility"). The aggregate outstanding principal balance 
under  the  Amended  Credit  Agreement  as  of  March  31,  2020,  was  $1.3  billion,  and  the  Company  recognized  a  loss  on  early 
extinguishment of debt of $3.4 million in connection with the repayment of the $3.0 Billion Credit Facility.

On March 29, 2018, the Company entered into a new $3.0 billion unsecured credit facility. The new credit facility consists of a 
$1.7 billion revolving credit facility ("$1.7 Billion Revolving Credit Facility"), which includes a $750.0 million multicurrency 
borrowing sublimit, a 5-year term loan with commitments totaling $1.0 billion ("2023 Term Loan") and a $300.0 million 7-year 
term loan ("2025 Term Loan") (collectively, the "$3.0 Billion Credit Facility"). In April 2019, the Company used the proceeds 
from the sale of GDS shares to pay down $200.0 million of the 2023 Term Loan.

On March 29, 2018, borrowings of $1.0 billion under the $3.0 Billion Credit Facility were used to fully retire a previous $2.0 
billion credit facility. The aggregate outstanding principal balance of the $2.0 billion credit facility at the date of the prepayment 
was $900.0 million and we recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $3.1 million.

It is not known whether the current administrator of LIBOR will continue to publish one-month LIBOR after 2021 or extend the 
cessation until a later date as global regulators have publicly supported. There is a risk that an adverse outcome of the LIBOR 
transition after 2021 could increase our interest and other costs relative to our outstanding subordinated debt. We may not be 
able to refinance those instruments on terms that reduce those costs to the level we would have expected if the administrator of 
LIBOR were to continue publishing indefinitely. Also, a transition from LIBOR could impact or change our hedge accounting 
practices.

Prior  to  obtaining  an  investment  grade  rating  in  September  2019  and  shifting  to  a  ratings-based  pricing  grid  under  the  $1.7 
Billion Revolving Credit Facility, we paid commitment fees for the unused amount of borrowings on the $1.7 Billion Revolving 
Credit Facility and fees on any outstanding letters of credit equal to 0.25% per annum of the actual daily amount by which the 
aggregate revolving commitments exceeded the sum of outstanding revolving loans and letter of credit obligations. Following 
the shift to a ratings-based pricing grid, we pay a facility fee calculated based on the aggregate revolving commitments. The 
facility  fee  rate  varies  based  on  ratings-based  pricing  levels,  and  is  currently  equal  to  0.25%  per  annum  of  the  aggregate 
revolving  commitments.  We  also  paid  commitment  fees  on  the  revolving  credit  facility  under  a  previous  $2.0  billion  credit 
facility through its retirement in March 2018. The facility fee or commitment fee, as applicable, was $2.9 million, $2.6 million 
and $3.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, we had $100.0 million, $700.0 million and $432.9 million outstanding under the 2023 Term Loan 
Facility, the 2025 Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility, respectively, and additional borrowing capacity under 
the Amended Credit Agreement was approximately $1.0 billion, net of $10.8 million of outstanding letters of credit.

Senior notes

Euro bonds

On January 22, 2020, the Operating Partnership and CyrusOne Finance Corp., a single-purpose finance subsidiary, both wholly-
owned subsidiaries of the Company (together, the "Issuers"), completed a public offering of €500.0 million aggregate principal 
amount of 1.450% senior notes due January 2027 (the “2027 Notes”). The Company received proceeds of €495.3 million, net of 
discount,  underwriting  costs  and  other  deferred  financing  costs.  The  Company  used  the  proceeds  to  repay  floating  rate  Euro 
denominated obligations and fund continued development in Europe.

The 2027 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Issuers guaranteed by CyrusOne Inc., which rank equally in right of 
payment with all existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness of the Issuers. The 2027 Notes are effectively subordinated 
in  right  of  payment  to  any  future  secured  indebtedness,  if  any,  to  the  extent  of  the  value  of  the  assets  securing  such 

102

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

indebtedness. The 2027 Notes may be redeemed at our option prior to their scheduled maturity dates at the prices and premiums 
and on the terms set forth in the respective indentures governing the notes.

US bonds

On September 21, 2020, the Issuers completed a public offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.150% senior 
notes due November 2030 (the "2030 Notes"). The Company received proceeds of $392.6 million, net of discount, underwriting 
costs  and  other  deferred  financing  costs.  The  Company  used  the  proceeds  to  repay  $300.0  million  of  the  outstanding 
indebtedness under the Operating Partnership's 2023 Term Loan Facility, to repay the then outstanding balance of $20.0 million
on  the  US  Revolver  balance  under  the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  and  the  remainder  for  general  corporate  purposes.  In 
connection with the repayment of outstanding indebtedness of the senior unsecured term loans due March 2023, the Company 
recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $3.1 million.

On December 5, 2019, the Issuers completed a public offering of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.900% senior 
notes  due  November  2024  (the  "2024  Notes")  and  $600.0  million  aggregate  principal  amount  of  3.450%  senior  notes  due 
November 2029 (the “2029 Notes”). The Company received proceeds of $1,197.4 million, net of discounts, underwriting costs 
and other deferred financing costs. The Company used the proceeds to finance the repurchase of all of its 5.000% senior notes 
due 2024 (the "Old 2024 Notes") and all of its 5.375% senior notes due 2027 (the "Old 2027 Notes" and together with the Old 
2024 Notes, the "Old Notes"), including the payment of consent payments, for the redemption and discharge of Old Notes that 
remained outstanding after the completion of the tender offers and consent solicitations, for the payment of related premiums, 
fees,  discounts  and  expenses  and  for  general  corporate  purposes.  In  connection  with  the  repurchase  of  the  Old  Notes,  the 
Company recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $71.8 million. 

The  2024  Notes,  2029  Notes  and  2030  Notes  are  senior  unsecured  obligations  of  the  Issuers  guaranteed  by  CyrusOne  Inc., 
which  rank  equally  in  right  of  payment  with  all  existing  and  future  unsecured  senior  indebtedness  of  the  Issuers.  The  2024 
Notes, 2029 Notes and 2030 Notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to any future secured indebtedness of the 
Issuers, if any, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The 2024 Notes, 2029 Notes and 2030 Notes 
may be redeemed at our option prior to their scheduled maturity dates at the prices and premiums and on the terms set forth in 
the respective indentures governing the notes.

In September 2019, CyrusOne LP received an investment grade rating and the guarantees of the $3.0 Billion Credit Facility by 
CyrusOne LP’s existing domestic subsidiaries were released. In connection therewith, the guarantees of the Old 2024 Notes and 
the Old 2027 Notes by such guarantors were also released. 

Financial debt covenants

Our  debt  agreements  contain  customary  provisions  with  respect  to  events  of  default,  affirmative  and  negative  covenants  and 
borrowing conditions. The most restrictive covenants are generally included in the Amended Credit Agreement. The Amended 
Credit Agreement requires us to maintain certain financial covenants including the following, in each case on a consolidated 
basis,  a  minimum  fixed  charge  ratio,  maximum  total  and  secured  leverage  ratios,  maximum  net  operating  income  to  debt 
service ratio and a maximum ratio of unsecured indebtedness to unencumbered asset value. In order to continue to have access 
to  amounts  available  under  the  Amended  Credit  Agreement,  the  Company  must  remain  in  compliance  with  all  of  that 
agreement's covenants. As of December 31, 2020, we are in compliance with the financial covenants of our debt agreements.

Debt Maturities

The  following  table  summarizes  aggregate  maturities  of  the  Amended  Credit  Agreement  and  2024  Notes,  2027  Notes,  2029 
Notes and 2030 Notes for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2020, and thereafter:

IN MILLIONS

2021
2022

2023
2024

2025

Thereafter
Total debt

Amended Credit 
Agreement(a)(b)

Senior Notes

Total

$ 

—  $ 

—   

100.0   

432.9   

700.0   

—   

$ 

1,232.9  $ 

—  $ 

—   

—   

— 

— 

100.0 

600.0   

1,032.9 

—   

1,613.2   
2,213.2  $ 

700.0 

1,613.2 
3,446.1 

103

 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

(a) - The Company has an option to exercise a one-year extension option on the Revolving Credit Facility, subject to certain conditions.
(b) - The Company has an option to exercise two one-year extension options on the 2023 Term Loan Facility, subject to certain conditions.

12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

Fair value measurements are based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a 
basis  for  considering  assumptions  in  fair  value  measurements,  a  fair  value  hierarchy  that  distinguishes  between  market 
participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that 
are  classified  within  Levels  1  and  2  of  the  hierarchy)  and  the  reporting  entity's  own  assumptions  about  market  participant 
assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy) has been established. 

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that we have the ability to 
access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either 
directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as 
inputs  that  are  observable  for  the  asset  or  liability  (other  than  quoted  prices),  such  as  interest  rates  and  yield  curves  that  are 
observable  at  commonly  quoted  intervals.  Level  3  inputs  are  unobservable  inputs  for  the  asset  or  liability  that  are  typically 
based on an entity's own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of 
the  fair  value  measurement  is  based  on  inputs  from  different  levels  of  the  fair  value  hierarchy,  the  level  in  the  fair  value 
hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value 
measurement  in  its  entirety.  Our  assessment  of  the  significance  of  a  particular  input  to  the  fair  value  measurement  requires 
judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The  fair  value  of  Cash  and  cash  equivalents,  Rent  and  other  receivables,  Construction  costs  payable,  Dividends  payable  and 
Accounts  payable  and  accrued  expenses  approximate  their  carrying  value  because  of  the  short-term  nature  of  these  financial 
instruments. The carrying value, exclusive of deferred financing costs, for the revolving credit facilities and the floating rate 
term loans approximate estimated fair value as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, due to the floating rate nature of the interest 
rates and the stability of our credit ratings.

We  determine  the  fair  value  of  our  derivative  financial  instruments  using  widely  accepted  valuation  techniques  including 
discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the 
derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves, foreign 
exchange  rates  and  implied  volatilities.  We  determine  the  fair  values  of  our  interest  rate  swaps  using  the  market  standard 
methodology  of  netting  the  discounted  future  fixed  cash  receipts  or  payments  and  the  discounted  expected  variable  cash 
payments.  We  base  the  variable  cash  payments  on  an  expectation  of  future  interest  rates,  or  forward  curves,  derived  from 
observable market interest rate curves. We base the fair values of our net investment hedges on the change in the spot rate at the 
end of the period as compared with the strike price at inception.

We incorporate credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect nonperformance risk for us and the respective counterparty 
in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of our derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, we 
consider the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts and 
guarantees.

We have determined that the majority of the inputs used to value our derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. 
Although the credit valuation adjustments associated with our derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current 
credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by us and our counterparties, we assess the significance of the impact of the 
credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of our derivative positions and have determined that the credit valuation 
adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of our derivatives.

104

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements - (continued)

The carrying value and fair value of other financial instruments are as follows (in millions):

IN MILLIONS 

Debt:

Variable Rate Debt:

Revolving Credit Facility

2023 Term Loan Facility

2025 Term Loan Facility

Fixed Rate Debt:

2024 Notes - 2.900%(1)
2029 Notes - 3.450%(1)
2027 Notes - 1.450%(1)
2030 Notes - 2.150%(1)

Derivative Contracts:

Cross Currency Swaps Liability(2)
Interest Rate Swap Liability(2)
Interest Rate Swap Asset(2)

Equity Investments carried at Fair Value:
GDS equity investment(3)

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

Carrying Value

Fair Value

Carrying Value

Fair Value

$ 

432.9  $ 

100.0   

700.0   

599.3   

598.4   

612.6   

395.3   

—   

—   

—   

432.9  $ 

100.0   

700.0   

640.7   

644.1   

619.9   

388.6   

52.2   

7.0   

—   

615.0  $ 

615.0 

—   

—   

599.2   

598.2   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

— 

— 

602.1 

603.1 

— 

— 

11.4 

— 

3.5 

44.2   

44.2   

118.7   

118.7 

(1) - The fair value of notes are based on quoted market prices for these notes, which is considered Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
(2)  -  The  fair  values  of  our  cross  currency  and  interest  rate  swaps  are  determined  using  the  market  standard  methodology  of  netting  the 
discounted future fixed cash flows and the discounted expected variable cash flows based on an expectation of future interest rates derived 
from Level 2 observable market interest rate curves.
(3) - The fair value is based on quoted market prices for the GDS ADSs, which is considered Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2020  and  2019,  we  recognized  impairment  losses  of  $11.2  million  and  $0.7  million, 
respectfully, included in Impairment losses and (gain) loss on asset disposals in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We 
utilize estimates of the fair value of assets to determine impairment losses. These estimates include Level 3 inputs including 
market rents, expected occupancy and estimates of additional capital expenditures, and cashflows from each investment.

Hedging Activities

When we use derivative instruments, it is generally to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency 
exchange  rate  movements.  We  have  not  entered  into,  and  do  not  plan  to  enter  into,  financial  instruments  for  trading  or 
speculative purposes. To manage foreign currency exposure, we have entered into Euro denominated debt and cross-currency 
swaps to hedge the Company's net investment in its Euro functional currency consolidated subsidiaries and the variability in 
EUR-USD exchange rate.  

Accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and the designation of the 
derivative, including whether we have elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting 
and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and 
qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a 
particular risk, such as foreign currency risk or interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and 
qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are 
considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on 
the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable 
to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge.

For  derivatives  designated  as  "cash  flow"  hedges,  the  change  in  the  fair  value  of  the  derivative  is  initially  reported  in  Other 
comprehensive income ("OCI") in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and subsequently reclassified 
into  Gain  (loss)  when  the  hedged  transaction  affects  earnings,  or  the  hedging  relationship  is  no  longer  highly  effective.  We 

105

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements - (continued)

assess the effectiveness of each hedging relationship whenever financial statements are issued, or earnings are reported and at 
least every three months. We also use derivatives, such as foreign currency swaps, that are not designated as hedges to manage 
foreign currency exchange rate risks. The changes in fair values of these derivatives that were not designated or did not qualify 
as hedging instruments are immediately, recognized in earnings within the line item Foreign currency and derivative losses, net 
in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. 

The following table summarizes the Company's derivative positions as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):

Maturity 
Date

Notional 
Amount

Hedged Risk

Asset

Liability

Asset

Liability

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

Designated derivatives

Cross Currency Swaps

EUR - USD

EUR - USD

EUR - USD

Interest Rate Swaps

3/29/2023

$ 

250.0  Net investment hedge

$ 

—  $ 

26.0  $ 

—  $ 

3/29/2023

1/15/2020

250.0  Net investment hedge

155.9  Net investment hedge

—   

—   

26.2 

— 

—   

—   

3.8 

3.9 

1.4 

USD Libor

3/29/2023

300.0 

Interest rate hedge - Float 
to fixed

—   

7.0 

3.5   

— 

Undesignated derivatives

Cross Currency Swaps

EUR - USD

EUR - USD

1/15/2020

1/15/2020

265.3  Foreign currency exchange

25.6  Foreign currency exchange

—   

—   

— 

— 

—   

—   

2.1 

0.2 

Total

Cross-Currency Swaps

$ 

—  $ 

59.2  $ 

3.5  $ 

11.4 

The  Company  has  entered  into  cross-currency  swaps  whereby  the  Company  pays  floating  interest  rate  and  receives  floating 
interest  rate  to  hedge  the  variability  of  future  cash  flows  attributable  to  changes  in  the  1-month  USD  LIBOR  versus  EUR 
LIBOR rates (a pay-floating, receive-floating interest rate swap). The pay-floating, receive-floating interest rate swap payments 
are recognized in Interest expense, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

As  of  December  31,  2020,  the  Company  has  two  cross-currency  EUR/USD  contracts  to  sell  $500.0  million  and  purchase 
€450.7 million maturing in March 2023 representing a fair value liability of $52.2 million reported in Other liabilities. As of 
December 31, 2019, our cross-currency swaps were a fair value liability of $11.4 million reported in Other liabilities.

The  Company  recognized  losses  of  $42.5  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020  on  cross-currency  swaps  that  were 
designated as net investment hedges which were recognized in OCI. The Company recognized gains of $4.5 million for the year 
ended December 31, 2020 on undesignated cross-currency contracts which were recognized in Foreign currency and derivative 
losses,  net  in  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations.  The  Company  recognized  losses  of  $7.5  million  on  undesignated 
cross-currency  contracts  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  which  were  recognized  in  Foreign  currency  and  derivative 
losses, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Interest Rate Swaps

On  September  3,  2019,  the  Company  entered  into  a  floating-fixed  interest  rate  swap  agreement  to  convert  $300.0  million  of 
variable interest rate debt of the 2023 Term Loan Facility to 1.19% fixed rate debt to hedge the risk of changes in cash flows 
attributable to USD-LIBOR interest payments. On September 21, 2020, the Company paid down $300.0 million of term loans 
under  the  2023  Term  Loan  Facility.  The  $300.0  million  floating-fixed  interest  rate  swap  remains  in  place  and  continues  to 
provide an effective hedge of the risk of changes in cash flows attributable to USD-LIBOR term loans through March 2023. 
The Company recognized a loss of $10.5 million and a gain of $3.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, 
respectively, related to the changes in fair value of the interest rate swap which were recognized in OCI. As of December 31, 
2020, interest rate swaps were a liability of $7.0 million reported in Other liabilities. As of December 31, 2019, interest rate 
swaps were an asset of $3.5 million reported in Other assets.

106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements - (continued)

Net Investment Hedges

Exchange rate variations impact our financial results because the financial results of our foreign subsidiaries are translated to 
U.S. dollars each period, with the effect of exchange rate variations being recorded in OCI as part of the cumulative foreign 
currency translation adjustment. As a result, changes in the value of our borrowings under the foreign currency denominated 
revolver under our Revolving Credit Facility, 2027 Notes and synthetically swapped debt will be reported in the same manner 
as foreign currency translation adjustments, which are recorded in OCI as part of the cumulative foreign currency translation 
adjustment.

The  following  table  presents  the  effect  of  our  derivative  financial  instruments  on  our  accompanying  consolidated  financial
statements (in millions):

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

Cross-Currency and Interest Rate Swaps:

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI for derivatives

Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI for derivatives

December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019

$ 

$ 

(53.0) $ 

(1.7)  $ 

(0.7) 

0.7 

During the next 12 months, we estimate that immaterial amounts will be reclassified from "Accumulated OCI" to Net income 
(loss).

13. Employee Benefit Plans

Currently, our employees participate in health care plans sponsored by CyrusOne, which primarily provide for medical, dental 
and  vision.  We  incurred  $3.3  million,  $3.9  million  and  $3.3  million  of  expenses  related  to  these  plans  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

CyrusOne offers a defined contribution 401(k) retirement savings plan to its employees. CyrusOne's matching contribution to 
its retirement savings plan was $2.0 million, $1.9 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 
2018, respectively.

14. Income per Share

Basic  income  per  share  is  calculated  using  the  weighted  average  number  of  shares  of  common  stock  outstanding  during  the 
period. In addition, Net income applicable to participating securities and the participating securities are both excluded from the 
computation of basic income per share.

Diluted income per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the 
period, including restricted stock outstanding. If there is Net income during the period, the dilutive impact of common stock 
equivalents outstanding are also reflected.

107

The following table reflects the computation of basic and diluted net income per share:

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

IN MILLIONS, except per share amounts

For December 31,

Numerator:
Net income

Less: Restricted stock dividends
Net income available to stockholders

Denominator:

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

2020

2019

2018

Basic

Diluted

Basic

Diluted

Basic

Diluted

$  41.4  $  41.4  $  41.4  $  41.4  $ 

1.2  $ 

1.2 

(0.5)  

(0.7)  
$  40.9  $  40.9  $  40.7  $  40.7  $ 

(0.7)  

(0.5)  

(1.1)  
0.1  $ 

(1.1) 
0.1 

Weighted average common outstanding-basic

  117.3    117.3    112.1    112.1   

99.8   

99.8 

Performance-based restricted stock and units
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted

0.3 
  117.6 

0.4 
  112.5 

0.6 
  100.4 

EPS:
Net income per share-basic
Effect of dilutive shares:

Net income per share-diluted

15. Stockholders' Equity

$  0.35 

$  0.36 

$  — 

$  0.35 

$  0.36 

$  — 

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company entered into sales agreements pursuant to which the Company may issue and 
sell from time to time shares of its common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $750.0 million (the "New 2018 ATM 
Stock Offering Program"). During the second quarter of 2020, the Company entered into sales agreements pursuant to which 
the  Company  may  issue  and  sell  from  time  to  time  shares  of  its  common  stock  having  an  aggregate  sales  price  of  up  to 
$750.0 million (the "2020 ATM Stock Offering Program"). The 2020 ATM Stock Offering Program replaced the New 2018 
ATM Stock Offering Program. 

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company settled forward agreements totaling 5.0 million common shares at an 
average  price  of  $63.61  for  proceeds  of  $315.6  million,  net  of  expenses.  During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  the 
Company sold approximately 6.5 million shares of its common stock under its New 2018 ATM Stock Offering Program at an 
average  price  of  $55.43,  generating  net  proceeds  of  approximately  $355.6  million,  net  of  sales  commissions,  underwriting 
discounts and estimated expenses of $4.3 million. As of December 31, 2020, there was approximately $150.8 million under the 
2020  ATM  Stock  Offering  Program  available  for  future  offerings.  At  December  31,  2020,  the  Company  had  approximately 
120.4 million shares of common stock outstanding.

Forward Sales

In November 2019, CyrusOne Inc. entered into a forward equity sale agreement with a financial institution acting as forward 
purchaser under the New 2018 ATM Stock Offering Program with respect to 1.6 million shares of its common stock at an initial 
forward price of $61.67 per share. The Company fully physically settled this forward equity sale agreement in June 2020. Upon 
settlement, the Company issued all such shares to such financial institution in its capacity as forward purchaser, in exchange for 
proceeds of approximately $96.5 million, in accordance with the provisions of the forward equity sale agreement.  

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  CyrusOne  Inc.  entered  into  forward  equity  sale  agreements  with  financial 
institutions acting as forward purchasers under the New 2018 ATM Stock Offering Program and the 2020 ATM Stock Offering 
Program, as applicable, with respect to approximately 10.2 million shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of 
$68.98  per  share,  net  of  expenses.  The  Company  received  proceeds  of  $219.1  million  from  the  sale  of  3.4  million  of  its 
common  shares  by  the  forward  purchasers  in  respect  of  forward  equity  sale  agreements  entered  during  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2020. The Company currently expects to fully physically settle the remaining forward equity sale agreements by 
November 2021 and receive cash proceeds upon one or more settlement dates at the Company’s discretion, prior to the final 
settlement dates under the forward equity sale agreements, in which case we expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at 
settlement equal to the number of shares specified in such forward equity sale agreements multiplied by the relevant forward 
price per share. The weighted average forward sale price that we expect to receive upon physical settlement of the agreements 
will be subject to adjustment for (i) a floating interest rate factor equal to a specified daily rate less a spread, (ii) the forward 
purchasers’ stock borrowing costs and (iii) scheduled dividends during the terms of the agreements.

108

 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

The following table represents a summary of forward sale of equity of our common stock for the year ended December 31, 
2020 (in millions):

Offering Program

Total as of December 31, 2019

March 9, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

May 13, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

May 26, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

May 29, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

November 29, 2019 Forward Offering settlement

March 9, 2020 Forward Offering settlement

May 13, 2020 Forward Offering settlement

September 15, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

September 30, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

November 6, 2020 Forward Offering - Sales

Total as of December 31, 2020

Forward Shares Sold/
(Settled)

Net Proceeds Received

Remaining Proceeds 
Available(1)

1.6  $ 

2.0   

1.4   

1.4   

1.3   

(1.6)  

(2.0)  

(1.4)  

1.4   

1.6   

1.1   

—  $ 

—   

—   

—   

—   

96.5   

121.2   

97.9   

—   

—   

—   

6.8  $ 

315.6  $ 

96.5 

121.2 

97.9 

96.2 

96.4 

(96.5) 

(121.2) 

(97.9) 

102.3 

114.5 

75.3 

484.7 

(1) As of December 31, 2020, the total estimated proceeds, net of adjustments for (i) a floating interest rate factor equal to a 
specified  daily  rate  less  a  spread,  (ii)  the  forward  purchasers’  stock  borrowing  costs  and  (iii)  scheduled  dividends 
adjustments is $484.7 million subject to further adjustment when the forward offerings are settled as described above.

Dividends

We  have  declared  cash  dividends  on  common  shares  and  distributions  on  operating  partnership  units  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2020 and 2019 as presented in the table below:

Record date

Payment date

Cash dividend per share or operating 
partnership unit

March 29, 2019

June 28, 2019

September 27, 2019

January 2, 2020

March 27, 2020

June 26, 2020

September 25, 2020

January 4, 2021

April 12, 2019

July 12, 2019

October 11, 2019

January 10, 2020

April 9, 2020

July 10, 2020

October 9, 2020

January 8, 2021

$0.46

$0.46

$0.50

$0.50

$0.50

$0.50

$0.51

$0.51

As  of  December  31,  2020  and  2019  we  had  a  dividend  payable  of  $63.3  million  and  $58.6  million,  respectively.  On 
February 17, 2021, we announced a regular cash dividend of $0.51 per common share payable to shareholders of record as of 
the close of business on March 26, 2021, payable on April 9, 2021.

16. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Plans

The board of directors of CyrusOne Inc. adopted the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP"), prior to the IPO, which was 
amended and restated on May 2, 2016 and February 18, 2019. The LTIP is administered by the compensation committee of the 
board of directors. Awards issuable under the LTIP include common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options 
and  other  incentive  awards.  CyrusOne  Inc.  has  reserved  a  total  of  8.9  million  shares  of  CyrusOne  Inc.  common  stock  for 
issuance pursuant to the LTIP, which may be adjusted for changes in capitalization and certain corporate transactions. To the 
extent that an award, if forfeitable, expires, terminates or lapses, or an award is otherwise settled in cash without the delivery of 

109

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

shares  of  common  stock  to  the  participant,  then  any  unpaid  shares  subject  to  the  award  will  be  available  for  future  grant  or 
issuance under the LTIP. The payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding awards will not be 
counted  against  the  shares  available  for  issuance  under  the  LTIP.  The  related  stock  compensation  expense  incurred  by 
CyrusOne  Inc.  is  allocated  to  the  operating  partnership.  Shares  available  under  the  LTIP  as  of  December  31,  2020  were 
approximately 4.3 million. Shares vest according to each agreement and as long as the employee remains employed with the 
Company.  The  Company  has  granted  awards  with  time-based  vesting,  performance-based  vesting  and  market-based  vesting 
features. The performance-based vesting metrics granted have varied and are described in each of the grant years below. 

The market-based metric is total stockholder return (TSR) compared to the MSCI US REIT Index (REIT Index) as defined in 
the award agreements. The market-based restricted stock/units vest annually based upon the achievement of certain criteria for 
each of the three-year measurement periods. In each of the first two years vesting is limited to 100% of the target. If at the end 
of  the  third  year  total  performance  over  the  three-year  period  exceeds  the  REIT  Index  by  2%  or  more,  up  to  200%  of  these 
awards may vest. The market-based awards will vest based on the below scales. The scales are linear between each point and 
awards are interpolated between the points.

- If CyrusOne's TSR is less than the return of the REIT Index equals 0%
-  If  CyrusOne's  TSR  is  equal  to  or  greater  than  the  return  of  the  REIT  Index  equals  100%;  up  to  200%  if  CyrusOne's  TSR 
exceeds the return of the REIT Index by 2%
- If CyrusOne's TSR exceeds the return of the REIT Index, but is negative, any calculated vesting amount will be reduced by 
50%
The  Company  uses  the  Black-Scholes  option-pricing  model  for  time  and  performance-based  options  and  a  Monte  Carlo 
simulation for market-based awards. The fair values of these awards use assumptions such as volatility, risk-free interest rate, 
and expected term of the awards.

The  holders  of  restricted  stock  have  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  shareholders  including  the  right  to  vote.  The  holders  of 
restricted stock units do not have all of the rights and privileges of shareholders and do not have the right to vote. These rights 
will  be  acquired  upon  the  settlement  of  the  restricted  stock  units  and  the  issuance  of  shares.  The  time-based  restricted  stock 
units  have  the  right  to  receive  dividends  that  are  payable  within  ten  days  following  the  date  the  dividends  are  payable  to 
shareholders. Market-based restricted stock units accrue dividends which are paid upon the vesting and settlement of the units. 
Compensation expense is measured based on the estimated grant-date fair value. Expense for time-based grants is recognized 
under a straight-line method. For market-based grants, expense is recognized under a graded expense attribution method. For 
performance-based  grants,  expense  is  recognized  under  a  graded  expense  attribution  method  if  it  is  probable  that  the 
performance targets will be achieved. Any dividends declared with respect to the performance and market-based shares shall be 
accrued by the Company and distributed on the vesting date provided that the applicable performance goal has been attained.

The board of directors of CyrusOne Inc. approved the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") in February 2014, and 
amended  it  effective  January  2019.  The  ESPP  provides  employees  with  an  opportunity  to  purchase  common  stock  of  the 
Company at a discount and on a payroll deduction basis. 

Stock-based compensation expense was as follows:

For the periods ended December 31,
2015 Grants
2016 Grants
2017 Grants
2018 Grants
2019 Grants and ESPP expense
2020 Grants and ESPP expense
Total

2020

2019

2018

$ 

$ 

—  $ 
—   
0.5   
3.9   
5.5   
8.5   
18.4  $ 

—  $ 
1.1   
3.1   
5.4   
7.1   
—   
16.7  $ 

0.4 
5.7 
4.6 
6.8 
— 
— 
17.5 

110

 
 
 
 
 
2015 Grants  

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

On  February  10,  2015,  the  Company  issued  awards  under  the  LTIP  in  the  form  of  options  and  restricted  stock.  The  stock 
options are time-based and vest annually on a pro-rata basis over three years. Twenty percent of the restricted stock awards are 
subject to time-based vesting and eighty percent of the restricted stock awards are equally split between performance-based and 
market-based vesting. The performance-based metric is return on assets, which is a non-GAAP financial measure that is defined 
in  the  award  agreement.  The  time-based  restricted  stock  will  vest  pro-rata  annually  over  three  years.  The  performance  and 
market-based restricted stock will vest annually based upon the achievement of certain criteria for each year of the three-year 
measurement periods. The first two years are capped at 100% of the target with a cumulative true-up to a maximum of 200% 
possible in year three.  

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company also granted from time to time a total of 50,300 shares of 
time-based  restricted  stock  and  67,012  shares  of  performance-based  restricted  stock  for  various  new  employee  hires  with 
vesting schedules ranging from annual to cliff vesting in three years.

Total awards granted in 2015 had a grant date fair value of $13.8 million. As of December 31, 2020, there was no unearned 
compensation related to the awards granted in 2015 as all such awards are fully vested.

2016 Grants  

On February 1, 2016, the Company issued 641,097 shares of time, performance and market-based awards under the LTIP in the 
form of restricted stock. The grant date fair value of time and performance-based restricted shares was $36.99. The grant date 
fair  value  of  market-based  restricted  shares  was  $43.66.  The  Company  issued  stock  options  on  February  1,  2016.  The  stock 
option awards have a contractual life of 10 years from the award date and were granted with an exercise price equal to $36.99. 
The Company issued 222,461 options with a grant date fair value of $6.99. 

The  performance-based  metric  is  return  on  assets,  which  is  a  non-GAAP  financial  measure  and  is  defined  in  the  award 
agreement. The time-based restricted stock awards generally vest pro-rata annually over a three-year period. The performance 
and market-based restricted stock awards vest annually based upon the achievement of certain criteria for each of the three-year 
measurement periods. The first two years are capped at 100% of the target with a cumulative true-up to a maximum of 200% 
possible in year three. Certain employees were also awarded time-based restricted stock that cliff vest at the end of three years. 
The stock options are time-based and vest annually on a pro-rata basis over three years.  

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2016, for various new employee hires, the following grants were made:

•

•

5,894 shares of time-based restricted stock which cliff vest in three years from the date of each grant.

47,667 shares of time-based restricted stock which vest annually on a pro rata basis over a three-year period from the 
date of each grant.

Total awards granted in 2016 had a grant date fair value of $22.6 million. As of December 31, 2020, there was no unearned 
compensation related to the awards granted in 2016 as all such awards are fully vested.

2017 Grants

On February 13, 2017, the Company issued time and market-based awards under the LTIP in the form of restricted stock units 
and restricted stock. The Company granted 119,218 time-based restricted stock units that generally vest annually on a pro-rata 
basis over a three-year period and 18,179 shares of time-based restricted stock that generally vest over a one-year period with a 
grant date fair value of $48.13, and 129,146 market-based restricted stock units, at target, with a grant date fair value of $63.23. 

In  addition,  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  2017  the  Company  granted  from  time  to  time  a  total  of  20,852  time-based 
restricted stock units that vest annually on a pro rata basis over a three-year period. 

Total awards granted in 2017 had a grant date fair value of $15.9 million. As of December 31, 2020, there was no unearned 
compensation related to the awards granted in 2017 as all such awards are fully vested.

2018 Grants

On February 26, 2018, the Company issued time and market-based awards under the LTIP in the form of restricted stock units 
and restricted stock. The Company granted 161,797 time-based restricted stock units that generally vest annually on a pro-rata 
basis over a three-year period and 17,052 shares of time-based restricted stock that generally vest over a one-year period with a 
grant date fair value of $51.31, and 160,266 market-based restricted stock units, at target, with a grant date fair value of $52.53. 

111

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

In  addition,  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018  the  Company  granted  from  time  to  time  a  total  of  40,249  time-based 
restricted stock units that vest annually on a pro rata basis over a three-year period. 

Total awards granted in 2018 had a grant date fair value of $20.2 million. As of December 31, 2020, unearned compensation 
representing the unvested portion of the awards granted in 2018 totaled $0.8 million, with a weighted average vesting period of 
0.1 years.

2019 Grants

On February 21, 2019, the Company issued time and market-based awards under the LTIP in the form of restricted stock units 
and restricted stock. The Company granted 175,073 time-based restricted stock units that generally vest annually on a pro-rata 
basis over a three-year period and 16,681 shares of time-based restricted stock that generally vest over a one-year period with a 
grant date fair value of $52.46, and 184,145 market-based restricted stock units, at target, with a grant date fair value of $43.67.
In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company granted from time to time a total of 42,052 time-based 
restricted stock units that vest annually on a pro rata basis over a three-year period.

Total awards granted in 2019 had a grant date fair value of $20.5 million. As of December 31, 2020, unearned compensation 
representing the unvested portion of the awards granted in 2019 totaled $2.5 million, with a weighted average vesting period of 
0.6 years.

2020 Grants

On February 25, 2020, the Company issued time and market-based awards under the LTIP in the form of restricted stock units. 
The Company granted 118,974 time-based restricted stock units that generally vest annually on a pro-rata basis over a three-
year period and 57,557 market-based restricted stock units, at target, with a grant date fair value of $107.94. On April 30, 2020, 
the Company granted 14,973 time-based restricted stock that generally vest over a one-year period with a grant date fair value 
of $70.15.

In  addition,  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  the  Company  granted  from  time  to  time  a  total  of  1,226  time-based 
restricted stock units that vest annually on a pro rata basis over a three-year period, 45,241 market-based restricted stock units, 
at target, with a grant date fair value of $144.79, and 103,260 shares of time-based restricted stock that generally vest over a 
three-year period with a grant date fair value of $73.98.

Total awards granted in 2020 had a grant date fair value of $30.1 million. As of December 31, 2020, unearned compensation 
representing the unvested portion of the awards granted in 2020 totaled $17.8 million, with a weighted average vesting period 
of 2.0 years.

Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock and Stock Option Activity

The following tables summarize the unvested restricted stock units, restricted stock and stock options activity and the weighted 
average fair value of these shares at the date of grant for the year ended December 31, 2020 (performance-based awards are 
reflected at the target amount of the grant):

Restricted Stock Units ("RSU")

Outstanding January 1,

Granted
TSR and other adjustments(a)
Exercised

Forfeited

Outstanding December 31,

2020

Restricted Stock 
Units

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

646,619  $ 

221,402   

164,076   

(374,443)  

(172,764)  

484,890  $ 

55.80 

93.72 

91.32 

77.78 

60.03 

66.66 

(a) TSR adjustments represent the incremental shares earned for the total stockholder return (TSR) performance metric exceeding target and resulting in 200%
payout for the 2017 LTIP Performance Awards.

112

 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted Stock ("RS")

Outstanding January 1,
Granted

Exercised
Forfeited

Outstanding December 31,

Stock Options

Outstanding January 1,
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Outstanding December 31,
Exercisable at December 31,
Vested and expected to vest

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

2020

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Restricted Stock

52.46 
74.12 

52.46 
— 

74.12 

16,681  $ 
118,233   

(16,681)  
—   

118,233  $ 

2020

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

31.64 
— 
31.92 
— 
30.87 
30.87 
30.87 

Options

375,086  $ 
—   
(277,285)  
—   
97,801   
97,801   
97,801  $ 

The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable is based on the Company's closing stock price on 
the  last  trading  day  of  the  fiscal  year  for  in-the-money  options.  The  aggregate  intrinsic  value  represents  the  cumulative 
difference  between  the  fair  market  value  of  the  underlying  common  stock  and  the  option  exercise  prices.  The  total  intrinsic 
value of options exercised during 2020 was $10.5 million, 2019 was $0.4 million and 2018 was $0.6 million.

The aggregate intrinsic value of both options outstanding and options exercisable at December 31, 2020 was $4.1 million.

113

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock Option Assumptions  

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

The following table summarizes the stock option assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

Options Outstanding
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Terms
(Years)

Number
of
Shares

Options Exercisable
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Terms
(Years)

Number
of
Shares

  53,086 

 143,358 

  12,719 

 192,060 

  51,985 

 143,358 

  12,719 

 167,024 

  16,930 

  43,317 

— 

  37,554 

4.3

6.1

6.6

6.8

3.3

5.1

5.6

6.1

0.9

0.6

0.0

0.6

53,086

143,358

12,719

130,425

51,985

143,358

12,719

167,024

16,930

43,317

—

37,554

4.3

6.1

6.6

6.7

3.3

5.1

5.6

6.1

0.9

0.6

0.0

0.6

Assumption Range

Expected 
Annual 
Dividend 
Yield

Expected
Terms
in Years

3.4%

4.4%

4.4%

4.1%

3.4%

4.4%

4.4%

4.1%

3.4%

4.4%

4.4%

4.1%

6.0

5.5-6.5

5.5-6.5

5.5-6.5

6.0

5.5-6.5

5.5-6.5

5.5-6.5

6.0

5.5-6.5

5.5-6.5

5.5-6.5

Risk-Free
Interest Rate

0.92%

1.6% - 1.75%

1.6% - 1.75%

1.47% - 1.64%

0.92%

1.6% - 1.75%

1.6% - 1.75%

1.47% - 1.64%

0.92%

1.6% - 1.75%

1.6% - 1.75%

1.47% - 1.64%

Expected
Volatility

35%

32.5% - 37.5%

32.5% - 37.5%

27.5% - 35.0%

35%

32.5% - 37.5%

32.5% - 37.5%

27.5% - 35.0%

35%

32.5% - 37.5%

32.5% - 37.5%

27.5% - 35.0%

Exercise Prices

2018

2019

2020

$23.58

$28.42

$30.74

$36.99

$23.58

$28.42

$30.74

$36.99

$23.58

$28.42

$30.74

$36.99

114

 
17. Income Taxes 

CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

CyrusOne Inc. elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2013. To 
remain  qualified  as  a  REIT,  the  Company  is  required  to  distribute  at  least  90%  of  its  taxable  income  to  its  stockholders  and 
meet various other requirements imposed by the Code relating to such matters as operating results, asset holdings, distribution 
levels and diversity of stock ownership. Provided the Company continues to qualify for taxation as a REIT, the Company is 
generally  not  subject  to  corporate  level  federal  income  tax  on  the  earnings  distributed  currently  to  its  stockholders.  It  is  the 
Company's policy and intent, subject to change, to distribute 100% of its taxable income and therefore no provision is required 
in the accompanying financial statements for federal income taxes with regards to activities of CyrusOne Inc. and its subsidiary 
pass-through entities.

CyrusOne  Inc.  and  certain  of  its  subsidiaries  are  subject  to  state  and  local  income  taxes,  franchise  taxes,  and  gross  receipts 
taxes. The Company has elected to treat certain of its subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRSs"). The Company's TRSs 
are subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income taxes. The Company's foreign subsidiaries are subject to corporate 
income taxes in the jurisdictions in which they operate.

Income  tax  (benefit)  expense  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2020,  2019  and  2018  as  reported  in  the  accompanying 
Consolidated Statements of Operations was comprised of the following:

IN MILLIONS
Current

Federal
State
Foreign
     Total current expense

Deferred:

Federal
State
Foreign
     Total deferred (benefit) expense

Total income tax (benefit) expense

Year Ended December 31,
2019

2020

2018

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

1.5  $ 
2.0   
5.0   
8.5  $ 

—  $ 
—   
(12.1)  
(12.1)  
(3.6) $ 

1.7  $ 
1.9   
0.2   
3.8  $ 

—  $ 
—   
(7.5)  
(7.5)  
(3.7) $ 

An income tax expense reconciliation between the U.S. statutory tax rate and the effective tax rate is as follows:

IN MILLIONS

Year Ended December 31,
2019

2020

2018

Income tax at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate
State and local taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
Impact of REIT status
Permanent differences
Foreign tax rate and currency differences
Anti-hybrid disallowances
Deferred tax true ups and other
Unrecognized tax benefits
Valuation allowance
Income tax (benefit) expense

$ 

$ 

3.9  $ 
1.6   
(18.2)  
0.1   
(2.7)  
2.4   
1.0   
5.0   
3.3   
(3.6) $ 

7.9  $ 
1.7   
(13.7)  
(0.7)  
(1.0)  
1.6   
—   
—   
0.5   
(3.7) $ 

1.0 
2.0 
— 
3.0 

— 
— 
(2.4) 
(2.4) 
0.6 

0.4 
2.0 
(2.1) 
(0.1) 
0.2 
0.1 
— 
— 
0.1 
0.6 

115

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

The  effective  tax  rate  on  income  from  continuing  operations  differs  from  tax  at  the  statutory  rate  primarily  due  to  the 
Company's status as a REIT and taxation of its foreign subsidiaries.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between 
the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.

The components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

IN MILLIONS

Deferred tax assets

Net operating loss carryforwards
Accounts receivable/payable and other
Disallowed interest and other expenses
Finance leases
Total gross deferred tax assets
Valuation allowance
Total gross deferred tax assets, net

Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred rent and other
Fixed assets
Intangibles

Total gross deferred tax liabilities
Total net deferred tax assets/(liabilities)

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

19.7  $ 
9.1   
3.4   
1.6   
33.8  $ 
(12.2)  
21.6  $ 

(1.9) $ 
(67.5)  
(5.2)  
(74.6) $ 
(53.0) $ 

16.3 
8.2 
— 
0.9 
25.4 
(7.6) 
17.8 

— 
(67.4) 
(10.9) 
(78.3) 
(60.5) 

As  of  December  31,  2020,  the  Company’s  deferred  tax  assets  were  primarily  attributable  to  foreign  NOL  carryforwards  that 
generally do not expire. A valuation allowance will be recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely 
than  not  to  be  realized.  As  of  each  reporting  date,  the  Company’s  management  considers  new  evidence,  both  positive  and 
negative,  that  could  impact  management’s  view  with  regard  to  future  realization  of  deferred  tax  assets.  The  Company  has 
recorded a valuation allowance of $12.2 million as of December 31, 2020.

The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  file  tax  returns  in  the  U.S.  federal  jurisdiction,  various  state  and  local  jurisdictions,  and 
certain foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to examination of its U.S. federal, state and 
local tax returns for years prior to 2016. 

A reconciliation of the Company’s beginning and ending liability for unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

IN MILLIONS

2020

2019

2018

Balance at January 1
Additions related to acquisitions
Additions for tax positions for the current year
Additions for tax positions of prior years
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
Settlements
Balance at December 31

$ 

$ 

—  $ 
—   
5.0   
—   
—   
—   
5.0  $ 

—  $ 
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—  $ 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

The  Company’s  entire  liability  for  unrecognized  tax  benefit  would  affect  the  annual  effective  tax  rate  if  recognized.  The 
Company  recognizes  accrued  interest  and  penalties  related  to  unrecognized  tax  benefits  as  additional  tax  expense.  The 
Company recorded no interest expense and penalties for the period ending December 31, 2020. 

116

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CYRUSONE INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (continued)

18. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

The Company leases certain data center facilities and equipment from third parties. Certain of these leases provide for renewal 
options with fixed rent escalations beyond the initial lease term.

Standby Letters of Credit

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had outstanding letters of credit of $10.8 million as security for obligations under the 
terms of its lessee agreements.

Performance Guarantees

Customer contracts generally require specified levels of performance related to uninterrupted service and cooling temperatures 
and  delivery  of  data  center  spaces  at  specified  dates.  If  these  performance  standards  are  not  met,  the  Company  could  be 
obligated to issue billing credits to the customer. Management assesses the probability that a performance standard will not be 
achieved. We recognized contingent losses of $3.5 million for performance guarantees for the year ended December 31, 2020. 
No contingent losses were incurred for performance guarantees in 2019 or 2018.

Purchase Commitments 

The Company has entered into non-cancellable contracted commitments for construction of data center facilities and acquisition 
of  equipment.  As  of  December  31,  2020,  these  commitments  were  approximately  $173.4  million  and  are  expected  to  be 
incurred over the next one to two years. In addition, the Company has entered into equipment and electricity power contracts, 
which  require  minimum  purchase  commitments  for  power.  These  agreements  range  from  one  to  two  years  and  provide  for 
payments for early termination or require minimum payments for the remaining term. As of December 31, 2020, the minimum 
commitments for these arrangements were approximately $84.2 million. 

The  Company  has  entered  into  an  Agreement  to  Lease  contract  that  requires  the  Company  to  enter  into  a  lease  upon  shell 
completion of a building in London, UK totaling 70,000 square feet with annual rent totaling £1.4 million for an initial lease 
term of 20 years. We expect construction of the shell building to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

Indemnifications

During  the  normal  course  of  business,  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  have  made  certain  indemnities  and  commitments  to 
customers,  vendors  and  associated  parties  related  to  the  use,  protection  and  security  of  intellectual  property  and  claims  for 
negligence  or  willful  misconduct.  Also,  in  the  normal  course  of  its  business,  the  Company  is  involved  in  legal,  tax  and 
regulatory  proceedings  arising  from  the  conduct  of  its  business  activities.  Management  assesses  the  probability  that  these 
performance standards, credits, claims or indemnities have been incurred and liabilities or asset reserves are established for loss 
contingencies  when  the  losses  associated  are  deemed  to  be  probable  and  the  loss  can  be  reasonably  estimated.  Based  on 
information  currently  available,  the  Company  believes  that  the  outcome  of  such  matters  will  not,  individually  or  in  the 
aggregate, have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

Contingencies

CyrusOne is involved in legal, tax and regulatory proceedings arising from the conduct of its business activities. Liabilities are 
established  for  loss  contingencies  when  losses  associated  with  such  claims  are  deemed  to  be  probable,  and  the  loss  can  be 
reasonably  estimated.  Based  on  information  currently  available  and  consultation  with  legal  counsel,  we  believe  that  the 
outcome of all claims will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on our financial statements.

19. Subsequent Event

In February 2021, the State of Texas, including the Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio metropolitan areas, was and is 
subject  to  an  extensive  winter  storm.  We  have  13  buildings  located  in  Texas,  which  have  experienced  minimal  operational 
disruptions  to  date.  We  are  assessing  the  impact  of  this  storm,  which  we  believe  caused  nominal  damage  to  our  properties, 
however we anticipate an impact on Property operating expense due to higher utility expenses and other costs, some of which 
may be recoverable from customers, as well as potential losses related to service level commitments, the extent of which cannot 
be estimated at this time.		

117

ITEM  9. 

CHANGES  IN  AND  DISAGREEMENTS  WITH  ACCOUNTANTS  ON  ACCOUNTING  AND 
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under  the  supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  our  management,  including  our  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  our  Chief 
Financial  Officer  (our  principal  executive  officer  and  principal  financial  officer,  respectively),  we  have  evaluated  the 
effectiveness  of  our  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  (as  defined  in  Rules  13a-15(e)  and  15d-15(e)  under  the  Securities 
Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"))  as  of  December  31,  2020.  Based  upon  that  evaluation,  the  Chief 
Executive  Officer  and  the  Chief  Financial  Officer  have  concluded  that,  as  of  December  31,  2020,  the  Company’s  disclosure 
controls and procedures were effective in ensuring information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files 
or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the 
rules  and  forms  of  the  SEC  and  is  accumulated  and  communicated  to  the  Company’s  management,  including  the  Chief 
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial  reporting.  Under  the 
supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  management,  including  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer, 
management  assessed  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2020  based  on  the 
Internal  Control-Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission.  Based  on  that  assessment,  management  has  concluded  that  our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  was 
effective  at  December  31,  2020,  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  our  financial  reporting  and  the 
preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. 
Due to its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in this 
Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  and  has  issued  its  attestation  report  on  the  effectiveness  of  our  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting as of December 31, 2020, which report is included under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required 
by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2020 that has 
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. 

OTHER INFORMATION

On February 15, 2021, the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CyrusOne LP, dated as of May 2, 2016, 
by  and  among  CyrusOne  GP,  a  Maryland  statutory  trust,  CyrusOne  Inc.,  a  Maryland  corporation  (the  “Company”),  and  any 
additional partner that is admitted from time to time to the partnership, as amended by the First Amendment to the Amended 
and  Restated  Agreement  of  Limited  Partnership  of  CyrusOne  LP,  dated  February  18,  2019  (the  “Operating  Partnership 
Agreement”), was amended (the “Second Amendment”) to clarify certain language and to update the LTIP Unit Designation 
(Exhibit C of the Operating Partnership Agreement) to clarify certain language and to conform with tax requirements. 

The description of the Second Amendment set forth herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second 
Amendment, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference.

118

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

PART III

The information required by this item can be found in the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is 
incorporated herein by reference.

The  Company  has  a  Code  of  Business  Conduct  and  Ethics  that  applies  to  all  employees,  including  the  Company’s  principal 
executive  officer,  principal  financial  officer,  and  principal  accounting  officer,  as  well  as  to  the  members  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Company.  The  code  is  available  at  investor.cyrusone.com/corporate-governance.  The  Company  intends  to 
disclose  any  changes  in,  or  waivers  from,  this  code  by  posting  such  information  on  the  same  website  or  by  filing  a  Current 
Report on Form 8-K, in each case to the extent such disclosure is required by rules of the SEC or NASDAQ.

Items 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this item can be found in the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is 
incorporated herein by reference.

Items 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by this item can be found in the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is 
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this item can be found in the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is 
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this item can be found in the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is 
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 15. 

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

PART IV

(a)
are included in this report:

Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules. The following consolidated financial statements and schedules 

(1)

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(2)

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Schedule III—Consolidated Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation. The response to this portion of Item 15 is required to 
be filed by Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the 
related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.

(3)

EXHIBITS

See the accompanying Exhibit Index.  

Exhibits may be obtained from us upon request at a charge that reflects the reproduction cost of such Exhibits. Requests should 
be made to the Secretary of CyrusOne Inc., 2850 N. Harwood, Suite 2200, Dallas, Texas 75201. Exhibits are also available, free 
of charge, on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

ITEM 16. 

FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

119

Schedule II.

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

(dollars in millions)

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

2020

2019

2018

Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance

2020

2019

2018

Beginning
of Period

Charge
to Expenses

(Deductions)/
Additions

End
of Period

$ 

$ 

1.8  $ 

1.7   

2.1   

7.6  $ 

6.9   

7.2   

1.7  $ 

1.7   

2.3   

4.6  $ 

0.7   

(0.3)  

—  $ 

(1.6)  

(2.7)  

—  $ 

—   

—   

3.5 

1.8 

1.7 

12.2 

7.6 

6.9 

120

 
 
 
 
Schedule III.                                                         Real Estate Properties and Accumulated Depreciation

CyrusOne Inc.

(dollars in millions)

Initial Costs

As of December 31, 2020

Cost Capitalized Subsequent to
Acquisition

Gross Carrying Amount

Land

Building and
Improvements Equipment

Land

Building and
Improvements Equipment

Land

Building and
Improvements Equipment

Accumulated
Depreciation Acquisition

$ 

9.7  $ 

—  $ 

—  $  —  $ 

14.0  $ 

42.2  $ 

9.7  $ 

14.0  $ 

42.2  $ 

Description

Amsterdam I

Austin II

Austin III

Chicago - Aurora I

Chicago - Aurora II

2.0 

3.3 

2.4 

2.6 

Chicago - Aurora Tower

  — 

Chicago - Lombard

Cincinnati - 7th Street

Cincinnati - Blue Ash*

Cincinnati - Hamilton

Cincinnati - Mason

Cincinnati - North Cincinnati

Council Bluffs I

Dallas - Allen

Dallas - Carrollton

Dallas - Lewisville

Dublin I

Florence

Frankfurt I

Frankfurt II

Frankfurt III

0.7 

0.9 

  — 

  — 

  — 

0.9 

1.4 

6.5 

16.1 

  — 

  — 

2.2 

4.4 

7.6 

24.1 

Houston - Galleria

  — 

1.4 

2.0 

7.1 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

1.6 

3.4 

1.9 

4.6 

14.5 

9.7 

5.9 

9.1 

16.1 

Houston - Houston West I

Houston - Houston West II

Houston - Houston West III

London - Great Bridgewater

London I

London II

London III

Northern Virginia - Sterling I

Northern Virginia - Sterling II

Northern Virginia - Sterling III

Northern Virginia - Sterling IV

Northern Virginia - Sterling V

Northern Virginia - Sterling VI

Northern Virginia - Sterling VII

Northern Virginia - Sterling VIII

Northern Virginia - Sterling IX

Norwalk I*

Phoenix - Chandler I

Phoenix - Chandler II

Phoenix - Chandler III

Phoenix - Chandler IV

Phoenix - Chandler V

Phoenix - Chandler VI

Phoenix - Chandler VII

Raleigh-Durham I

San Antonio I

San Antonio II

San Antonio III

San Antonio IV

— 

— 

— 

— 

26.0 

97.3 

— 

— 

3.2 

42.2 

2.6 

9.5 

— 

12.3 

— 

— 

— 

46.2 

— 

7.7 

31.0 

— 

— 

56.0 

21.4 

— 

— 

16.5 

25.3 

19.9 

— 

— 

— 

— 

9.6 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2.2 

— 

— 

109.7 

47.7 

— 

2.0 

0.1 

— 

— 

— 

20.5 

58.7 

— 

— 

— 

— 

0.1 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

0.7 

0.1 

— 

— 

— 

— 

0.1 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

0.1 

— 

— 

— 

0.3 

— 

— 

2.0 

3.3 

2.4 

2.6 

— 

0.7 

0.9 

— 

— 

— 

0.9 

1.4 

6.5 

16.1 

— 

— 

2.2 

4.4 

7.6 

24.1 

— 

1.4 

2.7 

7.2 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1.7 

3.4 

1.9 

4.6 

14.5 

9.7 

5.9 

9.1 

16.1 

— 

2.5 

2.1 

2.0 

2.0 

1.8 

2.4 

4.2 

2.1 

4.6 

2.6 

2.3 

2.1 

23.5 

12.7 

6.4 

23.1 

6.4 

1.6 

72.0 

(1.9)   

34.2 

20.3 

65.5 

18.1 

15.7 

67.2 

11.9 

— 

36.2 

8.3 

149.1 

63.5 

15.0 

64.0 

22.8 

18.1 

(16.5)   

26.1 

31.3 

11.8 

20.2 

28.8 

22.3 

10.5 

93.8 

68.9 

0.4 

24.9 

20.1 

13.9 

64.4 

39.8 

73.1 

1.2 

8.3 

37.5 

0.2 

7.9 

2.0 

17.3 

18.3 

40.3 

356.0 

39.5 

— 

9.6 

25.5 

59.2 

84.2 

23.0 

53.9 

53.9 

32.4 

1.5 

31.2 

56.8 

30.4 

62.2 

112.5 

62.0 

77.9 

324.3 

220.4 

0.1 

44.9 

22.0 

(17.1)   

(12.0)   

61.9 

16.2 

10.5 

18.4 

17.1 

25.1 

1.1 

10.3 

28.7 

30.3 

40.2 

56.9 

71.9 

39.8 

48.9 

44.7 

87.7 

103.4 

— 

26.5 

38.3 

61.4 

99.6 

51.6 

121

23.5 

12.7 

32.4 

23.1 

6.4 

4.8 

114.2 

0.7 

43.7 

20.3 

77.8 

18.1 

15.7 

67.2 

58.1 

— 

43.9 

39.3 

149.1 

63.5 

71.0 

85.4 

22.8 

18.1 

— 

51.4 

51.2 

11.8 

20.2 

28.8 

22.3 

20.1 

93.8 

68.9 

0.4 

24.9 

20.1 

1.2 

61.9 

16.2 

11.4 

18.4 

17.1 

25.1 

1.1 

83.8 

31.7 

30.3 

40.2 

56.9 

13.9 

64.4 

137.1 

73.1 

1.2 

8.3 

37.5 

0.2 

7.9 

2.0 

17.3 

18.3 

40.3 

356.0 

41.7 

— 

9.6 

135.2 

106.9 

84.2 

25.0 

54.0 

53.9 

32.4 

1.5 

51.7 

115.5 

30.4 

62.2 

112.5 

62.0 

78.0 

324.3 

220.4 

0.1 

44.9 

22.0 

13.3 

71.9 

39.8 

51.4 

44.7 

87.7 

103.4 

— 

97.8 

38.3 

61.4 

99.6 

51.6 

3.0 

22.5 

23.0 

74.0 

22.3 

0.9 

9.1 

106.4 

0.7 

37.9 

16.7 

53.8 

0.8 

7.5 

165.3 

76.1 

— 

39.5 

26.3 

29.1 

1.6 

65.8 

99.5 

44.4 

17.0 

1.1 

13.6 

34.0 

1.3 

36.8 

46.2 

24.7 

27.9 

90.1 

40.7 

— 

6.5 

1.9 

5.1 

62.2 

28.2 

21.6 

16.4 

16.0 

31.3 

0.1 

48.2 

40.3 

31.1 

40.0 

21.6 

2020

2011

2015

2016

2016

2018

2008

1999

2009

2007

2004

2008

2020

2017

2012

2010

2020

2005

2018

2018

2020

2010

2010

2013

2013

2011

2018

2018

2020

2013

2013

2017

2016

2016

2018

2020

2018

2020

2015

2011

2014

2016

2017

2017

2016

2016

2017

2011

2013

2017

2017

  — 

18.3 

25.3 

2.5 

2.1 

2.0 

2.0 

1.8 

2.3 

4.2 

2.1 

4.6 

2.3 

2.3 

2.1 

— 

— 

0.9 

— 

— 

— 

— 

73.5 

3.0 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2.5 

— 

— 

— 

— 

71.3 

— 

— 

— 

— 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars in millions)

Initial Costs

Cost Capitalized Subsequent to
Acquisition

Gross Carrying Amount

Description

San Antonio V

Santa Clara II

Somerset I

Stamford - Omega*

Stamford - Riverbend*

Totowa - Commerce

Totowa - Madison

Wappingers Falls I

Land

Building and
Improvements Equipment

Land

Building and
Improvements Equipment

Land

Building and
Improvements Equipment

Accumulated
Depreciation Acquisition

$ 

2.9  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

0.1  $ 

30.3  $ 

43.3  $ 

3.0  $ 

30.3  $ 

43.3  $ 

  — 

12.1 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

2.7 

124.6 

3.2 

4.3 

4.1 

28.3 

9.9 

— 

83.3 

0.6 

13.2 

0.8 

45.6 

13.3 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

31.9 

(3.1)   

(3.4)   

(3.7)   

(22.2)   

(6.7)   

— 

64.0 

0.1 

(4.3)   

1.0 

14.9 

14.1 

— 

12.1 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2.7 

— 

156.5 

147.3 

0.1 

0.9 

0.4 

6.1 

3.2 

0.7 

8.9 

1.8 

60.5 

27.4 

3.0 

2.4 

62.2 

0.9 

8.4 

1.3 

40.1 

19.5 

2020

2019

2017

2015

2015

2015

2015

2015

$ 207.4  $ 

602.2  $  594.2  $ 

1.4  $ 

1,433.0  $ 2,944.7  $  208.8  $ 

2,035.2  $ 3,538.9  $ 

1,767.9 

Land held for future development

$  268.3  $ 

—  $ 

—  $  —  $ 

—  $ 

—  $  268.3  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

— 

The aggregate cost of the total properties for federal income tax purposes was $8,084.2 million at December 31, 2020. In addition, Construction in progress was 
$982.2 million as we continue to build data center facilities.

* Reductions in Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition due to impairment losses recorded for the respective facility.

122

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Historical Cost and Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization

The following table reconciles the historical cost and accumulated depreciation for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019
and 2018.

(amounts in millions)
Property

Balance—beginning of period

Disposals

Impairments

Impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02

Additions (acquisitions and improvements)

Balance, end of period(1)

Accumulated Depreciation

Balance—beginning of period

Disposals

Impairments

Impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02
Additions (depreciation and amortization expense)

Balance, end of period

Years Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

$ 

6,089.5  $ 

5,347.5  $ 

3,840.8 

(6.7)  

(10.8)  

—   

961.4   

(15.8)  

(0.7)  

(97.8)  

856.3   

7,033.4  $ 

6,089.5  $ 

1,379.2  $ 

1,054.5  $ 

(5.9)  

(14.0)  

—   
—   
394.6   
1,767.9  $ 

—   
(19.3)  
358.0   
1,379.2  $ 

(20.8) 

— 

— 

1,527.5 

5,347.5 

782.4 

(14.0) 

— 
— 
286.1 
1,054.5 

$ 

$ 

$ 

(1) - Includes construction-in-progress of $982.2 million, $946.3 million and $744.9 million for the years ended December 31, 
2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively that is not included in amounts reflected above in Schedule III.

123

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit #

Exhibit Description

2.1 Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2017, between Cheetah Asia Holdings LLC, CyrusOne LLC 
and GDS Holdings Limited (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on 
October 24, 2017 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(a) Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium Topco Limited, CyrusOne Dutch 

Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto (Incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on December 28, 2017 (Registration No. 
001-35789)).

2.2(b) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated April 20, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on April 27, 
2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(c) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated April 26, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on April 27, 
2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(d) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated May 17, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 21, 
2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(e) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated May 25, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 29, 
2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(f) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated June 28, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on June 29, 
2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(g) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated July 19, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on July 20, 
2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(h) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated July 27, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on July 30, 
2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(i) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated August 10, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on August 
13, 2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

2.2(j) Extension Letter to Sale and Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2017 among Zenium TopCo Limited, 
CyrusOne Dutch Holdings B.V., ZTP Seller Rep, LLC, CyrusOne LP and certain other sellers named thereto 
dated August 15, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on August 
17, 2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

3.1 Articles of Amendment and Restatement of CyrusOne Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K, 

filed by the Registrant on January 25, 2013 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of CyrusOne Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K, filed by 

the Registrant on March 17, 2017 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.1(a) Indenture, dated as of March 17, 2017, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp., as issuers, the 

guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 5.000% Senior Notes due 2024 
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on March 17, 2017 (Registration 
No. 001-35789)).

124

4.1(b) First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 2, 2018, by and among C1-Allen LLC, C1-ATL LLC, C1-Mesa 

LLC, C1-Sterling VIII LLC, Warhol TRS LLC, Warhol Partnership LLC, Warhol REIT LLC, C1-Santa Clara 
LLC, CyrusOne LP, CyrusOne Finance Corp., the other guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as 
trustee, relating to the 5.000% Senior Notes due 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(b) of Form 10-K, 
filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 22, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789))

4.1(c) Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 30, 2019, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne 

Finance Corp., as issuers, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 
5.000% Senior Notes due 2024 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(c) of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. 
on October 31, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.1(d) Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2019, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne 

Finance Corp., as issuers, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 
5.000% Senior Notes due 2024 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
December 5, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.2(a) Indenture, dated as of March 17, 2017, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp., as issuers, the 

guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 5.375% Senior Notes due 2027 
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on March 17, 2017 (Registration 
No. 001-35789)).

4.2(b) First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 2, 2018, by and among C1-Allen LLC, C1-ATL LLC, C1-Mesa 

LLC, C1-Sterling VIII LLC, Warhol TRS LLC, Warhol Partnership LLC, Warhol REIT LLC, C1-Santa Clara 
LLC, CyrusOne LP, CyrusOne Finance Corp., the other guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as 
trustee, relating to the 5.375% Senior Notes due 2027. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2(b) of Form 10-K, 
filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 22, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.2(c) Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 30, 2019, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne 

Finance Corp., as issuers, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 
5.375% Senior Notes due 2027 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2(c) of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. 
on October 31, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.2(d) Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2019, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne 

Finance Corp., as issuers, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 
5.375% Senior Notes due 2027 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
December 5, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.3(a) Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2019, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp., as issuers, 

and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne 
Inc. on December 5, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.3(b) First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2019, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance 

Corp., as issuers, CyrusOne Inc., as guarantor and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 2.900% 
Senior Notes due 2024 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
December 5, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.3(c) Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2019, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne 

Finance Corp., as issuers, CyrusOne Inc., as guarantor and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 
3.450% Senior Notes due 2029 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
December 5, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.3(d) Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 22, 2020, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance 

Corp., as issuers, CyrusOne Inc., as guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust 
Company Americas, as paying agent and security registrar (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Form 8-K, 
filed by CyrusOne Inc. on January 22, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.3(e) Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 21, 2020, by and among CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne 
Finance Corp., as issuers, CyrusOne Inc., as guarantor and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 
2.150% Senior Notes due 2030 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
September 21, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

4.4 Form of Certificate for Common Stock of CyrusOne Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of 

Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11/A, filed by the Registrant on 
December 13, 2012 (Registration No. 333-183132)).

4.5+ Description of Securities.

10.1 Certificate of Limited Partnership of CyrusOne LP (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Form S-4, filed by 

CyrusOne LP on October 28, 2015 (Registration No. 333-207647)).

10.2 Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of CyrusOne LP (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 

10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 4, 2016 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

125

10.3 First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CyrusOne LP, dated as of 
February 18, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 
22, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.4+ Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CyrusOne LP, dated as 

of February 15, 2021.

10.5(a) Credit Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2018, among CyrusOne LP, the subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the 

lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, KeyBank National 
Association, as syndication agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Barclays 
Bank PLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint 
bookrunners (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on April 4, 2018 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.5(b) Joinder Agreement dated as of October 2, 2018, by and among C1-Allen LLC, C1-ATL LLC, C1-Mesa LLC, C1-

Sterling VIII LLC, Warhol TRS LLC, Warhol Partnership LLC, Warhol REIT LLC, C1-Santa Clara LLC and 
acknowledged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., relating to the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2018, 
among CyrusOne LP, the subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, 
N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, KeyBank National Association, as syndication agent, and JPMorgan 
Chase Bank, N.A., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and TD 
Securities (USA) LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5(b) 
of Form 10-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 22, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.5(c) Amendment, dated as of March 31, 2020, among CyrusOne LP, the other loan parties thereto, the lenders party 

thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 29, 
2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on April 1, 2020 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.5(d) Reaffirmation Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2020, by and among CyrusOne Inc. and CyrusOne GP and 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K, 
filed by CyrusOne Inc. on April 1, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.6 Form of 2018 Sales Agreement, dated February 27, 2018, by and among CyrusOne Inc., CyrusOne GP, 

CyrusOne LP and each of Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 
Jefferies LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan 
Stanley & Co. LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Stifel, Nicolaus & 
Company, Incorporated and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of 
Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on February 27, 2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.7 Forward Sale Agreement, dated September 25, 2018, between CyrusOne Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 

(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on October 1, 2018 (Registration 
No. 001-35789)).

10.8 Form of Forward/Primary Sales Agreement, dated November 19, 2018, by and among CyrusOne Inc., CyrusOne 
GP, CyrusOne LP and each of Barclays Capital Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & 
Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., Raymond James & 
Associates, Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of Form 8-K, filed by 
CyrusOne Inc. on November 19, 2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.9 Form of Primary Sales Agreement, dated November 19, 2018, by and among CyrusOne Inc., CyrusOne GP, 
CyrusOne LP and each of Capital One Securities, Inc., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, SunTrust 
Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 of Form 8-K, 
filed by CyrusOne Inc. on November 19, 2018 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.10(a) Form of Indemnification Agreement between CyrusOne Inc. and its directors and officers. (Incorporated by 

reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11/A, filed 
by the Registrant on December 13, 2012 (Registration No. 333-183132)).

10.10(b) Form of Indemnification Agreement between CyrusOne Inc. and its directors and officers. (Incorporated by 

reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on July 27, 2016 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.11† CyrusOne 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Amendment No. 3 to 
the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11/A, filed by the Registrant on November 16, 2012 
(Registration No. 333-183132)).

126

10.12† CyrusOne 2013 Short Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Amendment No. 3 to the 
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11/A, filed by the Registrant on November 16, 2012 (Registration 
No. 333-183132)).

10.13(a)† Employment Agreement, dated as of January 24, 2013, by and between CyrusOne LLC and Gary J. Wojtaszek 

(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on January 29, 2013 (Registration 
No. 001-35789)).

10.13(b)† Transition and Separation Agreement dated as of February 19, 2020 by and between Gary J. Wojtaszek and 

CyrusOne LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 21, 
2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.14(a)† Employment Agreement, dated as of January 24, 2013, by and between CyrusOne LLC and Kevin L. Timmons 

(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on January 29, 2013 (Registration 
No. 001-35789)).

10.14(b)† Separation Agreement and Release of All Claims, dated as September 14, 2020, by and between Kevin Timmons 
and CyrusOne LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on October 
29, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.15(a)† Employment Agreement, dated as of January 24, 2013, by and between CyrusOne LLC and Venkatesh S. 

Durvasula (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of Form 10-K, filed by the Registrant on March 29, 2013 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.15(b)† Long-Term International Assignment Letter, dated October 30, 2018, by and between CyrusOne LLC and 

Venkatesh S. Durvasula (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15(a) of Form 10-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
February 22, 2019 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.15(c)† Offer Letter, dated as of November 6, 2018, by and between CyrusOne LLC and Venkatesh S. Durvasula 

(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15(b) of Form 10-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 22, 2019 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.15(d)† Transition and Separation Agreement dated as of January 13, 2020 by and between Venkatesh S. Durvasula and 

CyrusOne LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K/A, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on January 17, 
2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.15(e)† Omnibus Amendment Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2020 by and between Venkatesh S. Durvasula and 
CyrusOne LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K/A, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 
27, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.15(f)† Transition and Separation Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2020 by and between Venkatesh S. Durvasula and 

CyrusOne LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on July 2, 2020 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.16† Employment Agreement dated as of July 31, 2015, by and between CyrusOne LLC and Robert M. Jackson 

(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on August 3, 2015 (Registration 
No. 001-35789)).

10.17† Form of Executive Non-Statutory Performance Stock Option Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 

Long Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on 
April 22, 2013 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.18† Form of Employee Non-Statutory Performance Stock Option Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 

Long Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K, filed by the Registrant on 
April 22, 2013 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.19† Form of Executive Time-Based Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 

Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on August 7, 
2015 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.20† Form of Executive Performance Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 

Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on August 7, 
2015 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.21† Form of Executive Non-Statutory Stock Option Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 

Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on August 7, 
2015 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.22† Form of Employee Time-Based Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 
Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2016 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

127

10.23† Form of Director Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan 

(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2016 (Registration 
No. 001-35789))

10.24† Form of Executive Non-Statutory Stock Option Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 

Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2016 
(Registration No. 001-35789))

10.25† Form of Executive Performance Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 
Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2016 
(Registration No. 001-35789))

10.26† Form of Executive Time-Based Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 
Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2016 
(Registration No. 001-35789))

10.27† Form of Executive Retention Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 

Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2016 
(Registration No. 001-35789))

10.28† Form of Employee Retention Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 2012 Long Term 

Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2016 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.29(a)† Employment Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2016, by and between CyrusOne LLC and Diane M. 

Morefield (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on October 31, 2016 
(Registration No. 001-35789))

10.29(b)† Transition and Retirement Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2020 by and between Diane M. Morefield and 

CyrusOne LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on July 31, 2020 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.30† CyrusOne Restated 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form S-8, filed 

by CyrusOne Inc. on July 1, 2016 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.31† Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Award under the Restated CyrusOne 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan 
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 of Form 10-K/A, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 28, 2017 
(Registration No. 001-35789))

10.32† Form of Director Restricted Stock Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne Restated 2012 Long Term 

Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 10, 
2017 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.33† Form of Executive Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne Restated 2012 

Long Term Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 10-Q, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
May 10, 2017 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.34† Form of Executive Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award under the provisions of the CyrusOne 

Restated 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-Q, filed by 
CyrusOne Inc. on May 10, 2017 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.35† CyrusOne Restated 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated February 18, 2019) (Incorporated 

by reference to Exhibit 10.36 of Form 10-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 22, 2019 (Registration No. 
001-35789)).

10.36† Form of Amendment to 2017-2019 PSU Grant Agreements (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 of Form 

10-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on February 20, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.37 Form of Forward/Primary Sales Agreement, dated May 6, 2020, by and among CyrusOne Inc., CyrusOne GP, 

CyrusOne LP and each of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Credit 
Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC, 
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., RBC Capital 
Markets, LLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of Form 8-K, filed by 
CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.38 Form of Primary Sales Agreement, dated May 6, 2020, by and among CyrusOne Inc., CyrusOne GP, CyrusOne 

LP and each of Fifth Third Securities, Inc., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and SunTrust Robinson 
Humphrey, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on May 6, 2020 
(Registration No. 001-35789)).

128

10.39† Employment Agreement dated as of June 26, 2020 by and between Bruce W. Duncan and CyrusOne 

Management Services LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
July 2, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.40(a)† Offer Letter to John Hatem, dated as of August 29, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K, 

filed by CyrusOne Inc. on September 2, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.40(b)† Severance Agreement, dated September 1, 2020 by and between John Hatem and CyrusOne Management 

Services LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on September 2, 
2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.41(a)† Offer Letter to Katherine Motlagh, dated as of October 4, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of 

Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on October 9, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

10.41(b)† Severance Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2020 by and between Katherine Motlagh and CyrusOne 

Management Services LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K, filed by CyrusOne Inc. on 
October 9, 2020 (Registration No. 001-35789)).

21.1+ Subsidiaries of the Registrant

22+ List of Guarantors and Subsidiary Issuers of Guaranteed Securities.

23.1+ Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

31.1+ Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 

2002.

31.2+ Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 

2002.

32.1++ Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 

2002.

32.2++ Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 

2002.

(101.INS)* XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL 

tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

(101.SCH)* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

(101.CAL)* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

(101.DEF)* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

(101.LAB)* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

(101.PRE)* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

(104)*

Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File 
because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document (included in Exhibit 101).

+ Filed herewith.

++ Furnished herewith.

* Submitted electronically with this report.

† This exhibit is a management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.

129

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this 
report  to  be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the  undersigned  thereunto  duly  authorized,  on  the  19th  day  of  February,  2021,  and  this 
report has been signed below on such date by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.

SIGNATURES

CyrusOne Inc.

By:

/s/ Bruce W. Duncan
Bruce W. Duncan

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

By:

/s/ Katherine Motlagh
Katherine Motlagh

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

By:

/s/ Mark E. Skomal
Mark E. Skomal

Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

130

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  this  report  has  been  signed  below  by  the  following 
persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature

   Title

Date

/s/ Bruce W. Duncan
Bruce W. Duncan

/s/ Alex Shumate
Alex Shumate

/s/ David H. Ferdman
David H. Ferdman

/s/ John W. Gamble Jr.
John W. Gamble Jr.

/s/ Michael A. Klayko
Michael A. Klayko

/s/ T. Tod Nielsen
T. Tod Nielsen

/s/ William E. Sullivan
William E. Sullivan

/s/ Lynn Wentworth

Lynn Wentworth

   President, Chief Executive Officer

February 19, 2021

and Director

   Chairman of the Board of Directors

February 19, 2021

   Director

February 19, 2021

   Director

February 19, 2021

Director

February 19, 2021

   Director

February 19, 2021

   Director

February 19, 2021

   Director

February 19, 2021

131