News Release

ATLANTA, Aug 16, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, today announced that it has acquired for cash Horizon Control Inc. ("Horizon Control"), a lighting control research and development company specializing in PC-based lighting control systems. For over 15 years, Horizon Control and its management team have developed and licensed products to the entertainment and architectural lighting control markets. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed and the acquisition is not expected to materially impact Acuity Brands' future consolidated financial results.

Professional lighting designers and integrators use Horizon Control technology in lighting control consoles worldwide for theaters, theme parks, convention centers, hotels, museums, cruise ships and numerous other public spaces. Customers using this technology embrace the power and ease-of-use that Horizon Control products and services provide, and supporting these customers will continue to be an important focus.

"The rapid expansion of LED lighting and other emerging technologies makes integrated lighting control increasingly pivotal in our ability to deliver high-quality, customer-focused solutions," said Vernon J. Nagel, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands. "We are excited to bring this talented and proven development team onboard to accelerate the company's ability to deliver superior products to the market," Nagel continued.

"We are thrilled to have joined the Acuity Brands team," said Dr. Alan Martello, founder of Horizon Control, "Our extensive background in lighting control combined with the talents and resources within Acuity Brands creates a synergy that enables us to deliver advanced products providing a superior customer experience," added Martello.

The entire Horizon Control team has joined Acuity Brands, notably, Dr. Martello, Dr. Philip Nye, former Chief Engineer at DHA Lighting and principal of Engineering Arts, Robert Bell, founder of CAST Lighting, and Wally Russell, Award winner for his contribution to lighting control visualization systems.

For additional information, please visit Acuity Brands and Horizon Control on the web and Acuity Brands' YouTube Channel. You can also become a fan of Acuity Brands on Facebook(R) and follow Acuity Brands on Twitter(R).

About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. is a North American market leader and one of the world's leading providers of luminaires, lighting control systems and related products and services with fiscal year 2010 net sales of over $1.6 billion. The Company's lighting and system control product lines include Lithonia Lighting(R), Holophane(R), Peerless(R), Mark Architectural Lighting(TM), Hydrel(R), American Electric Lighting(R), Gotham(R), Carandini(R), RELOC(R), Antique Street Lamps(TM), Tersen(R), Winona(R) Lighting, Synergy(R) Lighting Controls, Sensor Switch(R), Lighting Control & Design(TM), Dark to Light(R), ROAM(R), Sunoptics(R), acculamp(TM) and Healthcare Lighting(R). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 6,000 associates and has operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements that may be considered forward-looking include statements incorporating terms such as "will," "expects," "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "may," and similar terms that relate to future events, performance, or results of the Company. The specific forward-looking statement made in this press release pertains to the expectation that the acquisition is not expected to materially impact the Company's fiscal 2011 consolidated financial results. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations or projections expressed in the forward-looking statements. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and management undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.

SOURCE: Acuity Brands, Inc.

Acuity Brands, Inc.
Dan Smith, 404-853-1423
Investor Relations
Dan.Smith@acuitybrands.com