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News Release Vertiv Reports 5.8 % Net Sales Growth , 17.2 % Orders Growth and Record Backlog in Third Quarter VERTIVM Robust end - market demand continued with double - digit order growth and record backlog of $ 2.4 billion . Net sales growth of 5.8 % and organic net sales growth of 3.9 % versus prior year third quarter . Third quarter operating profit of $ 82 million and adjusted operating profit of $ 131 million ( ¹ ) , with operating profit margin of 6.7 % and adjusted operating profit margin of 10.7 % . Adjusted operating profit margin 490 basis points higher than prior year third quarter . Diluted earnings per share of $ 0.15 , up $ 0.47 and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $ 0.20 ( ¹ ) up $ 0.15 from prior year quarter . Year - to - date net operating cash flow of $ 174 million increased $ 160 million , and year - to - date free cash flow of $ 128 million increased $ 140 million from 2020 year - to - date . Portfolio enhancements continue expect to close E + acquisition by November 1 , 2021 , and announcement of sale of heavy industrial UPS business expected to close in fourth quarter 2021 . COLUMBUS , Ohio [ October 27 , 2021 ] Vertiv Holdings Co ( NYSE : VRT ) , a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions , today reported strong financial results for its third quarter ended September 30 , 2021. Third quarter net sales were $ 1,229 million , an increase of $ 67 million , or 5.8 % , compared with last year's third quarter and a 3.9 % organic sales increase excluding the impact of foreign currency . EMEA net sales increased 18.7 % and were up 17.8 % organically , with continued strength in colocation data center projects . APAC net sales increased 4.0 % and were down 0.4 % organically , with positive impacts from COVID - 19 recovery in India offset by elevated 5G and wind power investments in China in third quarter 2020 , which created a challenging year - over - year comparison . Americas net sales increased 1.0 % and were up 0.6 % organically , with strong service sales offset by constrained product sales impacted by supply chain challenges . Orders in the third quarter increased 17.2 % compared with the prior year quarter , and Vertiv's backlog reached a record level $ 2.4 billion at the end of September , increasing 34 % from the end of 2020 . Third quarter operating profit of $ 82 million increased $ 47 million and adjusted operating profit of $ 131 million increased $ 64 million from the prior year quarter . Adjusted operating profit improvement was influenced by a one time $ 80 million charge for a restructuring reserve and asset impairments recorded in third quarter 2020. The remaining $ 16 million reduction in adjusted operating profit was primarily driven by a $ 40 million year - over - year headwind from net material and freight inflation offset by $ 15 million net fixed cost reductions and a $ 10 million flowthrough benefit from higher organic sales . Supply chain issues have continued to accelerate in the third quarter and no improvement is expected in the fourth quarter , although our pricing response continues to meaningfully increase sequentially each quarter , and we anticipate another sequential increase in the fourth quarter . Cost containment actions have been accelerated heading into the fourth quarter to mitigate impacts from increased supply chain disruptions . " We are pleased with our third quarter performance . We met our expectations for the period despite strong inflation and supply chain headwinds that continue , ” said Rob Johnson , Vertiv's Chief Executive Officer . " Despite the challenges , affecting virtually every sector of global business , we navigated our way through the quarter based upon the focus and persistence of our procurement organization that has strong relationships with suppliers and transportation providers that help to enable our success . Ultimately , the disruptions to our supply chain will pass , and we will be a stronger company in the long term because of our current efforts . On the inflation front , we continue to effectively balance appropriate pricing actions with a sharp focus on cost reductions . We will remain nimble and take the necessary actions to ensure that we continue to support our customers during this strong demand environment . Every day we are inspired and motivated by the knowledge that Vertiv helps to connect the world . We enable families , educators , healthcare and other vital organizations and businesses to connect , to communicate , to collaborate and to address needs , challenges and opportunities . We will always keep that responsibility at the forefront of what we do . " Dave Cote , Vertiv's Executive Chairman , added , “ Vertiv is a growing , value - creating company with a great position in a good industry . The business challenges we face today are not unique to our company and are temporary in nature . The Vertiv team will work through these temporary challenges . Investments in new products , service offerings , the Vertiv Operating System and inorganic growth opportunities accelerate our ability to create value . We acted on that commitment during the third quarter when we announced the acquisition of E + I Engineering . The transaction will round out our portfolio of in - building power train offerings for data centers and vital commercial and industrial markets . The combination amplifies Vertiv's growth opportunities and profitability while enabling us to 1