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TRANSFORMING
WHAT
MATTERS
Table of
Contents
2 Introduction
6 CEO Letter
9 Financials
13 Light
17 Spaces
20 Culture
24 Sustainability
27 For Stockholders
“In Fiscal Year 2021, the Acuity team
delivered a series of strategic changes to
improve our Company and its performance.
The year presented ongoing challenges due
to the global pandemic. Our teams focused
on product vitality, customer service, and
efficient, thoughtful execution.”
Neil M. Ashe
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
R EAD FULL LE T TER
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We use technology to solve
problems in spaces, light, and
more things to come.
Acuity Brands, Inc. is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve
problems in spaces and light. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and
Lighting Controls (“ABL”) and the Intelligent Spaces Group (“ISG”), we design, manufacture, and bring
to market products and services that make the world more brilliant, productive, and connected. We
achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting,
lighting controls, building management systems, and location-aware applications.
We are based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia and are
powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates.
Fiscal Year 2021 was a pivotal year for us as we advanced our corporate transformation. We returned
the Company to growth amid a challenging global environment. We expanded our gross profit and
operating profit margins. We generated strong cash flow and allocated capital in a way that creates
permanent value for shareholders. We realigned our businesses into Acuity Brands Lighting and
Lighting Controls and the Intelligent Spaces Group. We built a strong and diverse leadership team. Our
Company continued to drive improvements across our Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”)
goals through our EarthLIGHT strategy, and we made progress on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (“DEI”). As
a result, we have positioned ourselves well for Fiscal Year 2022.
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TRANS FORMING OUR BUSINESS
We use technology to solve
problems in spaces, light, and
more things to come.
TRANS FORMING O U R P R O D U C T P O RT F O L I O
We are focused on innovation
through product vitality.
T R A N S F O R M I N G H O W W E R U N O U R B U S I N E S S
The Better. Smarter. Faster.
process focuses on the art of
the possible and understanding
that the most important metric
is end-user satisfaction.
T R A N S F O R M I N G O U R C U LT U R E
We are defining ourselves as
a values-based organization
where the best people come to
do their best work.
T R A N S F O R M I N G O U R F U T U R E
We are creating a better
future – one where our
planet, communities, and
businesses can thrive.
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$3.5B
NET SALES
$365M*
FREE CASH FLOW
4.0%
NET SALES
GROWTH
12.4%
OPERATING
PROFIT MARGIN
42.6%
GROSS PROFIT
MARGIN
$8.38
DILUTED EPS
F I N A N CI AL H I GHL IGHTS
*Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities minus purchases of property, plant, and equipment.
CEO Letter
TO OUR
STOCKHOLDERS
In Fiscal Year 2021, Acuity Brands
made significant progress in its
transformation and delivered a
solid performance.
“In Fiscal Year 2021, we made
significant progress on the
transformation of Acuity Brands.
Our Company improved operations
and delivered solid performance
in a challenging environment.
We increased our service levels,
delivered productivity improvements,
and introduced new products
featuring some of the most advanced
technology in the industry.”
Neil M. Ashe
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
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TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS
In January of 2020, Acuity announced our plan to undergo a company-wide transformation. In Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), the Acuity
team delivered a series of strategic changes to improve our Company and its performance. The year presented ongoing challenges
due to the global pandemic. Yet, our teams persevered by focusing on product vitality, customer service, and efficient, thoughtful
execution, even in these difficult circumstances.
Fiscal Year 2021 was a pivotal year for us as we advanced our corporate transformation. I’m proud of what
our associates have accomplished. Our key achievements include:
• Returning the Company to growth through increased sales. This Fiscal Year, sales increased year-over-year in the third quarter,
fourth quarter, and full year. We also expanded margins for the full year.
• Realigning our Company into two segments, ABL, our Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls business, and ISG, our
Intelligent Spaces Group. This alignment creates the necessary strategic focus on each segment and allows us to develop the
leadership teams to deliver on the potential of each business.
• Maintaining our continued strong cash flow and creating value through effective capital allocation. Acuity acquired OSRAM’s
North American digital systems business to broaden our portfolio, deliver smarter technology faster, and create the opportunity to
become a key strategic supplier to the industry. We also took advantage of favorable market conditions to repurchase over 10% of
our outstanding shares.
• Building a strong and diverse leadership team capable of maximizing the performance of our businesses, and continuing to
attract, develop, and retain key talent for our organization.
• Creating the environment for the best people to come and do their best work. Our Company launched Acuity Anywhere — a hybrid
work model. We also formed an Executive-level council to drive our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Forming an Executive-level EarthLIGHT council. We have made meaningful progress in our environmental, social, and governance
initiatives, lessening our environmental footprint and improving our corporate governance structure.
Our Fiscal 2021 performance was strong, and as we look forward, we expect to continue this performance.
Encouraging Financial Performance, Strong Business Units
I am pleased with our solid financial performance throughout FY21. We reported full-year net sales of $3.5 billion, an increase of 4
percent compared with Fiscal Year 2020, driven by improved sales in the second half of FY21. In addition, we reported a full-year
gross profit margin of 42.6 percent, up 40 basis points over the prior year, and an operating profit margin of 12.4 percent, an increase
of 180 basis points over the prior year. Full-year diluted earnings per share of $8.38 represented a 34 percent increase over the prior
year. Our focus on innovation through product vitality and increasing our service levels for the benefit of our customers has delivered
strong results. And we are continuing our efforts to drive our product expansion.
Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls: New products, industry-leading service
We were pleased with the results of our core ABL segment. Much of our success is attributed to a revitalized product portfolio,
productivity improvements, higher service levels, diligent cost control, prudent price increases, and careful supply chain
management.
Here are just a few of our ABL product revenue drivers:
In FY21, Acuity capitalized on the rapid growth in industrial spaces. At the center of that effort was our rapidly growing portfolio of
Contractor Select products. For example, The Lithonia Lighting® Compact Pro High Bay (CPHB), a breakthrough high bay luminaire,
was designed to deliver improved performance in a smaller size to ensure ease of installation. Our CPHB has been in high demand
due to the increase in warehouse renovations, driven by the shift to online retail and the expansion of logistics networks across
North America. The product is more efficient to transport and can be manufactured in our facilities or sourced externally to ensure
supply chain flexibility.
Another example from the Lithonia Lighting® brand is the HomeGuard LED security floodlight introduced in the fourth quarter. The
floodlight offers a technology upgrade, higher efficacy, greater safety options, and ease of installation. Sales have been strong. We’re
off to a great start in a category where we currently have low share and strong growth opportunities.
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Our new product innovations also included the introduction of the Gotham EVO® LED Luminaires with UV technology. This
product uses nanometer technology and circulation above the fixture to disinfect air locally in occupied and unoccupied spaces.
We have installed this product in multiple Acuity locations and are developing specifications for its use in education, office, and
healthcare applications.
Intelligent Spaces Group: Smarter, Safer, and Greener
The Intelligent Spaces Group is comprised of Distech Controls® and our Atrius® technology. It’s a collection of valuable technology
assets and very talented people. We’re meeting customers where they are on their digital transformation journey and using our
technology to solve problems in spaces and make them smarter, safer, and greener.
As part of our Intelligent Spaces Group, Distech Controls and our Atrius technology work together to reshape how people operate,
use, and experience spaces. Distech Controls is an open protocol building management technology that optimizes energy efficiency
and comfort in buildings while reducing operating costs. Our Atrius technology gathers, unlocks, and transforms raw data to enable
a broad range of software solutions that solve critical business challenges. Between Distech Controls and Atrius, we have two
essential pieces of the puzzle in delivering edge-to-cloud solutions to transform spaces.
Protecting the Environment, Improving our Corporate Governance
Protecting our planet is the right thing to do, and it is good business. Our team has made significant progress and a meaningful
difference. We have committed that our put-in-place products and services will prevent 100 million metric tons of carbon emissions
by 2030. In addition, we have reached carbon neutrality in our operations. We’ve also enhanced our corporate governance structure,
including instituting an ongoing investor outreach program, evolving our Board of Directors, and changing our total rewards
framework to align all of our interests.
Building an Environment for the Best People to do their best work
Acuity is transforming human resources and the associate experience to support the growth of our Company. We are working to
provide our associates with what they need to do their jobs with passion and purpose through our listening strategies, professional
development opportunities, and modernizing our internal tools. In addition, we strive to enable a more productive remote work
environment and create an inclusive workplace culture that recognizes and embraces our differences.
Preparing for the year ahead
Acuity is positioned at the intersection of sustainability and technology. We are building a company that can anticipate the changing
needs of the industry by enhancing our service levels, thoughtfully applying technology into our products, and focusing on product
vitality.
We’re excited about the opportunities for growth in the future. Our strategy to continue leading and reinventing the industry is sound.
Our Company has improved our profit margins through product and productivity improvements and by leveraging our costs as
we’ve transformed. In addition, we have allocated capital effectively to grow our current businesses, add new companies, and take
advantage of market conditions to repurchase our shares — all predicated on our strong organic cash flow.
Our transformation is ongoing and will continue to evolve. The Acuity team is making tremendous progress, and I’m optimistic about
what’s to come. Finally, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our global team of dedicated associates for their hard work and our
stockholders for their continued support.
Best,
Neil M. Ashe
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
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Financials
FY21 FINANCIAL
PERFORMANCE
Fiscal Year 2021 was a year of improvement. Through
our business segments, ABL and ISG, we made
progress on our transformational priorities, improved
the financial performance of the business, and
continued to allocate capital thoughtfully.
We are transforming our business and focusing on
our customers, our investors, and our associates. As
a result, we are excited to enter Fiscal Year 2022 as a
much stronger company with clear opportunities.
“We have evolved our service
levels, improved our margins, and
allocated capital effectively. I’m
excited by everything this team
has achieved together and the
progress we continue to make.”
Karen J. Holcom
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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(in millions, except earnings per share)
for the year ended August 31
Operations
Net Sales
Gross Profit %
Operating Profit
Operating Profit %
Net Income
Diluted earnings per share
Diluted weighted average number of shares
outstanding
Return on stockholders’ equity(1)
Cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization
Capital expenditures
Financial Position
Total assets
Total cash
Total debt
Total stockholders equity
Operating working capital(2) as a
percentage of net sales
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2021
2020
% Change
4%
21%
23%
34%
(19%)
(1%)
(20%)
$
$
$
$
3,461.0
42.6 %
427.6
12.4 %
306.3
8.38
36.6
3,326.3
42.2 %
353.9
10.6 %
248.3
6.27
39.6
15.2 % $
12.2 %
504.8
101.1
54.9
408.7
100.1
43.8
2021
3,575.1
491.3
494.3
2,044.5
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2020
% Change
3,491.7
560.7
401.1
2,127.5
2%
(12%)
23%
(4%)
16.7 %
14.8 %
(1) Return on Stockholders’ Equity is calculated by dividing Net Income by Average Total Stockholders’
Equity (average of five quarters).
(2) Operating working capital is defined as net receivables plus inventories minus accounts payable.
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REVENUES
($ in millions)
$3,680.1
$3,672.7
$3,505.1
$3,326.3
$3,461.0
OPERATING PROFIT
($ in millions)
$527.5
$460.8
$462.9
$427.6
$353.9
‘17
‘18
‘19
‘20
‘21
‘17
‘18
‘19
‘20
‘21
DILUTED EPS
FREE CASH FLOW*
($ in millions)
$8.52
$8.29
$8.38
$7.43
$6.27
$441.7
$449.9
$364.9
$307.9
$269.3
‘17
‘18
‘19
‘20
‘21
‘17
‘18
‘19
‘20
‘21
*Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities
minus purchases of property, plant, and equipment.
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Total Shareholder Return (FY21)**
Among Acuity Brands, Inc., the S&P 400, and
the S&P 1500 Capital Goods
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
-10%
-20%
**9/1/20-8/31/21
Acuity Brands, Inc.
S&P 400
S&P 1500 Capital Goods
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Lighting and Lighting Controls
TRANSFORMING
LIGHT
Providing sustainable, inspiring, and
intelligent lighting solutions that enrich
the communities where people live,
learn, work, and play.
“To continue leading the
industry, we will aggressively
reinvent the service
experience using technology.
We will also maintain a
high product vitality and
continuously reinvent
our portfolios.
Trevor Palmer
President, Acuity Brands Lighting
and Lighting Controls
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BETTER.
SMARTER.
FASTER.
As the market leader, we provide a broad product offering of
the best brands and categories, with a high level of service and
consistency. We have the number one market access in the
industry, comprised of the leading independent sales agents,
electrical distributors, and retailers.
We’ve returned our lighting and lighting controls business to
growth by focusing on our customers’ needs and increasing
our margins through product vitality and productivity
improvements.
Despite challenging market conditions in FY21, we remained
focused on our strategy, challenging the industry’s service
levels, leading the technology curve, and accelerating product
vitality.
Our Lighting and Lighting Controls business leads
the industry with a broad portfolio of products.
We continue to adapt our portfolio to meet the changing
needs of our customers.
This Fiscal Year, Acuity capitalized on the growth trend in
the industrial market by rapidly expanding our portfolio
of Contractor Select products. For example, The Lithonia
Lighting® Compact Pro High Bay (CPHB), a breakthrough
high bay luminaire, was designed to deliver improved
performance in a smaller size. Our CPHB has been in high
demand due to the increase in warehouse renovations, driven
by the shift to online retail and the expansion of logistics
networks across North America. To ensure supply chain
flexibility, the product is more efficient to transport and can be
manufactured in our facilities or sourced externally.
Pictured here: Acuity Brands associates working in our
Monterrey Production Facility in Mexico.
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Better. Smarter. Faster. is the process by which
we are transforming our Company.
Through Better. Smarter. Faster. we are making progress on
two essential factors — delivering value to our customers
and focusing on time, our only constrained resource. To
solve our customers’ problems, we are taking the important
step of learning more about their needs. As we better
understand their needs, we map them to the art of the
possible to identify the best solution and include time as a
key performance indicator.
Lights are essential to all spaces, which gives
us an opportunity for innovation and growth.
In a new or existing construction project, lighting and
lighting controls are key to the design and functionality of
a space. Two of the most exciting new developments in
our industry are the increased focus on reducing energy
consumption and enhancing wellness.
Pictured here: Custom lighting installed in an office
building in Orlando, FL.
Agent: Landreth Lighting, Inc.
Specifier: HLB Lighting Design, Inc.
Photographer: Chad Baumer Photography
Leader Insights: An interview with
Sarah Golish
Senior Vice President,
Digital Lighting Networks
Sarah Golish leads the Digital Lighting Networks team within
the Lighting and Lighting Controls segment responsible for
developing and delivering lighting controls systems and in-
luminaire technology for indoor and outdoor spaces that allow
our customers to reduce energy cost, aid in-building code
compliance, and improve occupant comfort. She joined Acuity
in 2016 and, in the last 12 months, has seen a significant
transformation at the Company.
This Fiscal Year we improved our service levels
and processes in several ways.
We realigned our sales team, bringing in more product
specialists with a deeper level of technical expertise to
support our agency partners and other channel partners.
Our teams saw improvements across our service levels by
shifting our focus to real-time visibility for our customers
and associates. We are now able to track our product from
inventory to customer delivery with a higher degree of
precision. Our distributors, contractors, and agents can now
see the status of an order at any time to enable planning and
proactive communication. Our improvements allow us to better
anticipate constraints in our supply chain and allow us to
engineer alternatives that can help manage lead times.
The acquisition of OSRAM North American
Digital Systems Business was an exciting
advancement of our driver portfolio.
The OSRAM North American Digital Systems Business
acquisition was strategically significant. We are now able to
better control our technology and product lifecycle, expand our
access to the North American component market, and reduce
our dependency on others for LED driver product supply and
supporting technology. We are excited about what we can
achieve in the future.
We have learned a lot about ourselves during the
pandemic, and one of the biggest realizations was
that our team can innovate and operate effectively
from anywhere in the world.
There has always been an assumption that teams need to
interact in person in the same office or location. However, our
teams have thrived in this new collaborative digital ecosystem.
We have a growing network of engineers spread across
the globe, including a new layer of engineering talent with
the acquisition of OSRAM North American Digital Systems
Business. We have found new ways to support our engineering
teams when they couldn’t physically be together to maintain
our productivity.
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Intelligent Spaces Group
TRANSFORMING
SPACES
Using technology to
make spaces smarter,
safer, and greener.
“We’ve only started our
journey, but we are already
building a bridge into the
critical infrastructure of
our customers and helping
them solve real-world
business problems.”
Peter Han
President, Intelligent Spaces Group
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SMARTER
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GREENER
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Our Intelligent Spaces Group works
together to reshape how people operate, use,
and experience spaces.
The Intelligent Spaces Group is comprised of our Distech
Controls® and our Atrius® technology solutions. It combines
valuable technology assets with very talented people.
We’re meeting customers where they are on their digital
transformation journey.
As part of our Intelligent Spaces Group, Distech Controls
and Atrius technology work together to reshape how people
operate, use, and experience spaces. Distech Controls
open-source building management technology optimizes
energy efficiency and comfort in buildings while reducing
operating costs. Our Atrius technology gathers, unlocks, and
transforms raw data to enable a broad range of software
solutions that solve critical business challenges. With
Distech Controls and Atrius, we have two essential pieces of
the puzzle in delivering edge-to-cloud solutions to customers
for energy management, location services, and asset
tracking. From sensors to smart thermostats and gateways
to the services that animate those devices, our solutions
help our customers in their digital transformation.
Leader Insights: An interview with
Lauren Scott
Vice President, Marketing &
Sustainability, Intelligent Spaces Group
Lauren Scott joined Acuity in 2017, and has played a central
role in defining the Intelligent Spaces Group growth strategy.
Over the last 12 months, Lauren has seen the benefit of our
corporate transformation.
It’s been incredibly exciting to watch Acuity’s
digital transformation, especially how our team
within the Intelligent Spaces Group has evolved.
With the combination of the existing talent and the new talent
coming in, we have a diverse set of people with an incredible
breadth of knowledge. Our team includes individuals with
backgrounds in operational technology, information technology,
building intelligence, and people from large enterprises who are
very disciplined in terms of processes. As a result, we are set
up for scalability and are in a strong position to execute well.
When we talk about a building’s performance,
we think of it through the lens of it being
Smarter, Safer, Greener.
Companies are not only responsible for what’s inside of
their four walls; they also have to ensure that they are good
corporate stewards, community members, and global
citizens. Operating a smarter, safer, greener space such as a
physical building is one of the ways a company can advance
its ESG goals. Understanding the needs of a space and its
consumption patterns in real-time is the digital backbone of an
intelligent space. Through the collection and interpretation of
data, you can transform a space’s consumption and emission
patterns while ensuring that the comfort of the occupants is
not overlooked.
Analyzing data and extracting meaningful
insights is an ongoing process that delivers
continuous improvement for buildings and
the people who use them.
Whether it’s the systems within the building or the occupants
within a space, one of the big problems we’re helping our
customers solve is how to get as much data about a space as
possible. We want to analyze that data and extract meaningful
insights to help our customers identify opportunities for
improving building performance, improving enterprise
operations, and providing better personal experiences for
occupants or visitors of that space. Then, we want to work
alongside our customers to “act” on those insights, solving a
problem to improve the building’s performance.
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Culture
TRANSFORMING
OUR CULTURE
We are creating an environment
where the best people come to
do their best work.
“We believe our new way of
working is transformative.
Acuity offers flexibility
for associates; facilitates
greater access to the best
talent; allows us to keep
pace with customer needs;
and supports our EarthLIGHT
sustainability and social
initiatives.”
Dianne S. Mills
Senior Vice President and
Chief Human Resources Officer
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We’ve accelerated our Company’s internal
transformation.
We started with a listening strategy to create a
more inclusive, empowering culture.
We are transforming human resources and the associate
experience for the future of the company, in order to
support our changing, growing business. We’re providing
our associates with what they need to do their jobs with
passion and purpose, whether it’s the tools that enable a more
productive remote work environment or an inclusive workplace
culture that recognizes and embraces our differences. All of
Acuity’s associates operate under a shared set of values that
unite us in our mission to solve the big problems facing our
customers and our communities.
In FY21, we launched Acuity Anywhere, a holistic
hybrid work model that creates greater flexibility
on where and how our associates work, train, and
grow professionally with our Company.
Acuity Anywhere challenges us to look at where we work and
how we work. By changing the way we think about our spaces,
meetings, technology, and remote work offerings, we have a
powerful advantage in recruiting and retaining the diversity of
talent that Acuity needs. It gives our associates more flexibility.
As Acuity continues to evolve, we can attract and retain the
best people regardless of where they live.
Additionally, the new work model provides for more time
away from work for associates. The updated time away
from work policies include expanded bereavement leave,
increased vacation time, paid holidays, parental leave
for mothers and fathers, time off to receive COVID-19
vaccinations, and time off to vote. Acuity also increased
certain leave and health-related benefits for its manufacturing
and distribution associates who are primarily on-site and looks
forward to continuing this forward progress in partnership
with its labor unions.
To better understand the experience of our associates, we
conducted two surveys, which unlocked critical insights into
our workplace culture. Approximately 85% of our associates
participated in our overall comprehensive engagement
survey. We learned where our Company stands relative to the
engagement benchmarks of companies with outstanding
financial performance as well as companies in technology and
manufacturing. Acuity is focused on driving real change around
professional development, further enhancing our culture,
and increasing our efforts around DEI. We also completed a
diversity, equity, and inclusion survey that gave us an in-depth
look into different viewpoints on inclusion here at Acuity.
Our ongoing listening strategy will play a fundamental role in
understanding how to support our associates and, together,
build the culture that supports our people in doing their best
work.
Our associates are the key to our success.
The future of our Company is an exciting one, and to drive
innovation across Spaces and Light we are prioritizing the
experience of our associates by creating a values-based
workplace where they can thrive as part of a team. Ultimately,
our Company’s success will depend on our ability to offer a
workplace that supports wellness, development, belonging,
and productivity.
This Fiscal Year we made great progress on our internal
transformation, and looking ahead, Acuity will continue to
nurture a company culture that supports our growth and
change.
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OUR
VALUES
We are preparing our associates to deliver on
our transformation. Based on the results of our
engagement survey, we are performing well relative to
others in the manufacturing and technology sectors.
Acuity is on a journey, and understanding what matters
most to our associates is the key to creating a high-
performing organization. Our values are how we win
and grow together and will result in higher levels of
engagement from people who are inspired to bring
their passion and creativity to Acuity.
“Our values guide who we
are and the impact we are
making.”
Candace Steele Flippin
Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
INTEGRITY
We do the right thing, the first time, every time.
TIME
Time is the only constrained resource.
We focus on what is most important.
CURIOSITY
We are always searching for a better way.
We are willing and able to change.
CUSTOMER OBSESSED
We see the world through the eyes of customers
and end-users. We deliver on their needs.
PEOPLE
We create an environment where the best people
come to do their best work. We all succeed together.
COMMUNITY
We care about the environment and our
neighbors. We make communities better.
OWNERS MINDSET
We think and act like owners. We focus on
long-term, sustainable value creation.
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“We have been quick to adapt to
changes in our workplace and
our world and have found ways to
make things better.”
“Our new work model gives
me the flexibility to get my
work done while also balancing
whatever life may have going on.”
“The one thing that we have
in common is that we are all
uniquely different, and we now
celebrate those differences.”
Tawana Jones
Quality Engineering Manager
Bethany Cruz
Senior Sales Operations Manager
Patrick Atchison
Compliance Manager
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“There is now more focus on
developing talent and being better
partners to our customers, which is a
big shift in our culture.”
“Acuity leadership has taken an
active role in listening, hearing,
and understanding the challenges
faced by its associates.”
Samar Soliman
Vice President, Digital Lighting
Networks Engineering
Brian Bond
Senior Manager, Marketing
“During these challenging times,
Acuity has done a great job of
keeping us connected with our
coworkers while not physically
being in the office together.”
Fardin Faruque
Indoor RFD Engineering Manager
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Sustainability
TRANSFORMING
OUR FUTURE
Sustainability is a central tenet
of our corporate strategy.
“We’ve made significant
progress on EarthLIGHT since
we began communicating our
strategy and impact three years
ago. I am proud of our associates
and their positive impact on the
world, and I am grateful to be a
part of these efforts.”
Barry Goldman
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Founder of the EarthLIGHT Program
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Our Approach to ESG
EarthLIGHT is a central tenet of our strategy and
reflects our comprehensive approach around
ESG topics. Through EarthLIGHT, we improve our
performance, increase transparency, and better
highlight our results on numerous ESG priorities.
R EAD EARTHLIGHT REPORT
Set our target to enable
100 million tons of carbon
avoidance by 2030
Achieved carbon neutrality
in our operations
Created an Executive-
level DEI Council
Built a strong and diverse
leadership team
Introduced Acuity
Anywhere, our new holistic
hybrid work model
Established an Executive-
level EarthLIGHT Council
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Operating with Integrity
Operating with integrity means doing things right the first
time and every time. It means we earn the trust of our
customers, shareholders, business partners, and each
other by our actions each day. Honesty. Transparency.
Meeting our commitments. Taking care of our people.
Demonstrating our shared values. These are all essential
elements of operating with integrity and strong governance.
Protecting, preserving, and transforming
our world
Acuity continues to seek ways to lessen our carbon
footprint. Our operations are now 100% carbon neutral.
The determination to reduce carbon emissions for our
customers extends to our own operations. And we
are decreasing our energy consumption in our offices,
production facilities, and distribution centers.
Making offset investments — We have begun to offset our
emissions by investing in forestry and landfill gas-to-energy
projects that reduce atmospheric carbon. We’re tackling
our Scope 1 and 2 emissions head-on with investments
that improve the environment.
Creating an environment where the best people
come to do their best work
The core of any company is people. Through our inclusive
culture, our associates can bring their fresh ideas,
perspectives, and experiences to deliver the best solutions
for our customers.
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STOCKHOLDER
INFORMATION
Board of Directors
Neil M. Ashe
W. Patrick Battle
G. Douglas Dillard, Jr.
James H. Hance, Jr.(3)(4)
Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer
Acuity Brands, Inc.
Managing Partner
Stillwater Family Holdings
Managing Partner
Slewgrass Capital, LLC and
Slewgrass Partners, LLC
Director and
Operating Executive
The Carlyle Group LP
Maya Leibman
Laura O’Shaughnessy
Dominic J. Pileggi(2)
Ray M. Robinson
Executive Vice President
and Chief Information Officer
American Airlines Group, Inc.
Board Director and
Independent Consultant
Former Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer
and President
Thomas and Betts Corporation
Non-Executive Chairman
Citizens Trust Bank;
President Emeritus
East Lake Golf Club
Mark J. Sachleben
Mary A. Winston(1)
Chief Financial Officer
and Corporate Secretary
New Relic, Inc.
President
WinsCo Enterprises, Inc.;
Former
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
Family Dollar Stores, Inc.
(1) Chair of Audit Committee
(2) Chair of Compensation and Management Development Committee
(3) Chair of Governance Committee
(4) Lead Director
Executive Officers
Neil M. Ashe
Karen J. Holcom
Barry R. Goldman
Dianne S. Mills
Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Senior Vice President and
General Counsel
Senior Vice President
and Chief Human
Resources Officer
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Stockholder Information
Corporate Headquarters
Acuity Brands, Inc.
1170 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 2300
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-7676
404-853-1400
www.acuitybrands.com
Stock Listing
New York Stock Exchange
Ticker Symbol: AYI
Annual Meeting
1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
January 5, 2022
virtualshareholdermeeting.com/AYI2022
Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
55 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard
Suite 1000
Atlanta, Georgia 30308-3051
404-874-8300
Reports Available to Stockholders
Transfer Agent & Registrar
Computershare Investor Services is
the transfer agent, registrar, dividend
disbursing agent, and dividend
reinvestment agent for the Company.
Stockholders of record with questions
about lost certificates, lost or missing
dividend checks, direct deposit of
dividends, or notification of change of
address should contact:
Copies of the following Company reports
may be obtained, without charge:
Acuity Brands, Inc.
c/o Computershare
• 2021 Annual Report to the
Securities and Exchange Commission,
filed on Form 10-K
• Quarterly Reports to the Securities
and Exchange Commission, filed on
Form 10-Q
Requests should be directed to:
By Regular Mail
PO Box 505000
Louisville, Kentucky 40233-5000
By Overnight Delivery
462 South 4th Street
Suite 1600
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Acuity Brands, Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations
1170 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 2300
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-7676
404-853-1400
www.acuitybrands.com
computershare.com/investor
Toll Free: 866-234-1921
Inside the United States and Canada
201-680-6578
Outside the United States and Canada
Direct Stock Purchase Plan
Computershare Investor Services
offers a direct stock purchase and sale
plan for investors wishing to purchase
Acuity Brands stock. Dividends can be
automatically reinvested. The Plan is
not sponsored or administered by Acuity
Brands. Inquiries should be directed to:
Computershare Investor Services
Forward-Looking Statements
This report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements are
subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control. We caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this report
is not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press
release. In addition, forward-looking statements are statements other than those of historical fact and may include statements relating to goals, plans, market conditions
and projections regarding Acuity Brands’ strategy, and specifically include statements made in this report regarding: strategy, corporate transformation, innovation, product
vitality, creating a better future, service levels, “we expect to continue this performance,” strong growth opportunities, “smarter, safer, and greener,” add new companies, plans
to repurchase shares, reinventing the service experience using technology, maintaining high product vitality, continuously reinventing our portfolios, leading the technology
curve, better anticipate constraints around the supply chain, impact of the OSRAM North American Digital Systems acquisition, “we are set up for scalability and are in a strong
position to execute well,” attracting and retaining the best people, the benefits of Acuity Anywhere, 100 million metric tons of carbon emissions avoidance, the benefits of
Acuity Anywhere hybrid work model, and enhanced governance policies. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology
such as “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “comfortable with,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar
terminology. A number of important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those
factors discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, filed on October 27, 2021 and those described from time to time in our other
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which can be found at the SEC’s website www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking information presented herein
is made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions,
the occurrence of events, or otherwise.
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Acuity Brands, Inc.
1170 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 2300
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-7676
404-853-1400
www.acuitybrands.com
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