UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ------------ FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 16, 2003 ------------------ Acuity Brands, Inc. ------------------ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware -------- (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 001-16583 --------- (Commission File Number) 58-2632672 ---------- (IRS Employer Identification Number) 1170 Peachtree St., N.E., Suite 2400, Atlanta, GA 30309 ------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (404) 853-1400 -------------- Registrant's telephone number, including area code N/A ----------------------------------------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Item 5. Other Events and Required FD Disclosure. On December 16, 2003, Acuity Brands, Inc. (the "Registrant") issued a press release with respect to its 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference into this Item 5 as if fully set forth herein. Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits. (a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. None. (b) Pro Forma Financial Information. None. (c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is filed herewith: EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION ----------- ----------- 99.1 Press release, issued by the Registrant on December 16, 2003. 2
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements 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. Date: December 16, 2003 ACUITY BRANDS, INC. By: /s/ Kenyon W. Murphy ---------------------------------------------- Kenyon W. Murphy Senior Vice President and General Counsel 3
Exhibit 99.1 [Acuity Brands, Inc. Letterhead] COMPANY CONTACT: KAREN HOLCOM ACUITY BRANDS, INC. (404) 853-1437 ACUITY BRANDS LIMITS SHARES TO BE ISSUED UNDER LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN ATLANTA, DECEMBER 16, 2003 - Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) announced today that it will not issue more than three million of the additional shares being authorized under the amended and restated Long-Term Incentive Plan without seeking further approval of shareholders. The Plan as now proposed for approval by shareholders at the annual meeting on December 18 would otherwise add five million shares to those available for issuance under the Plan. James S. Balloun, Acuity Brands' Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, said: "Our Board of Directors has imposed this limitation in response to feedback from shareholders. While the additional shares we originally sought were within limits established by the leading institutional proxy advisory services, a number of our shareholders indicated to us that they wanted the opportunity to evaluate our long-term awards more frequently. The commitment we are announcing today will provide that opportunity." Acuity Brands, Inc., with fiscal year 2003 net sales of approximately $2.0 billion, is comprised of Acuity Brands Lighting and Acuity Specialty Products. Acuity Brands Lighting is a world leader in lighting fixtures and includes brands such as Lithonia Lighting(R), Holophane(R), Peerless(R), Hydrel(R), and American Electric Lighting(R). Acuity Specialty Products is a leading provider of specialty chemicals and includes brands such as Zep(R), Enforcer(R), and Selig Industries(TM). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 11,400 people and has operations throughout North America and in Europe and Asia. 4