8-K

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): November 9, 2010

ACUITY BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-16583	58-2632672
(State or other jurisdiction of Company or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1170 Peachtree St., N.E., Suite 2400, Atlanta, GA	30309
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 404-853-1400

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

     On November 10, 2010, Acuity Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) will participate in the Robert W. Baird Industrial Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Vernon J. Nagel, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Company will deliver a presentation at the event discussing recent business performance and other subjects of interest to investors. A copy of the materials presented at the conference is available on Acuity Brands’ website at http://www.acuitybrands.com. A copy of the presentation is included as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

     The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 is furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except as shall to, and does not, constitute a representation that such furnishing is required by Regulation FD or that the information this current report contains is material investor information that is not otherwise publicly available.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Presentation dated November 10, 2010

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: November 9, 2010

ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
By:	/s/ Richard K. Reece
	Richard K. Reece
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1 Presentation dated November 10, 2010

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Robert W. Baird Industrial Conference

November 10, 2010

Vernon J. Nagel

Chairman, President & CEO

Forward Looking Statement

This presentation contains forward?looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements made herein that may be considered forward?looking include statements incorporating terms such as “expects,” “believes,”

“intends,” “anticipates” and similar terms that relate to future events, performance, or results of the Company, including, without limitation, statements made regarding the forecast for the non?residential construction market and expected future results.

Forward?looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the historical experience of Acuity Brands and management’s present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, customer and supplier relationships and prices; competition; ability to realize anticipated benefits from initiatives taken and timing of benefits; market demand; li tigation and other contingent liabilities; and economic, political, governmental, and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, tax rate, markets, products, services, and prices, among others. Please see the risk factors more fully described in the Company’s SEC filings including the Annual Report on Form 10?K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2010.

Profile

Positioned for Success

A Bright Future

Vision & Strategy

Vision:Market leader by delivering superior lighting solutions

Strategy:Drive profitable growth by aligning the considerable and unique capabilities and resources of our organization with a keen focus on:

Customers — Differentiated Lighting Solutions

Cost — World?Class Efficiency

Culture — Operational Excellence (Q, D, C, I)

Company Overview

N.A. Market Share Leader

Most recognized brands in the lighting industry

Mfg Facilities: 17

Sales Channels: 14

Customers: 5,000

Products: 500,000 Active Products 2,000 Product Groups

Associates: 6,000

Industry Leading Indoor & Outdoor Product Portfolio

North AmericaAcuityProduct TypesMarket SizeBrands$9.3 BillionRanking*USDCommercial Indoor$3.2Outdoor$2.3Residential$1.5 Outdoor

Industrial$1.0Lighting Controls$0.9Emergency$0.4

AB Ranking

1

2 — 4

4

* Market Share

Financial Summary ($Millions, except Diluted EPS) Operating Profit & Margins

Diluted EPS

$261

$3.51

$222 12.9%

+21%

$2.89

Margin

11.3%

+67%

Margin

$152 $154 $158

$2.01

9.3% 9.7% $1.73 $1.79

8.3%

-43%

Margin

Margin Margin

+215% - -11%

$67

4.1% 5-Yr CAGR $0.55 5-Yr CAGR

Margin

13%

27%

Net Sales

$1 965 $2,027

$1,841 +3%

$1,638 +7%

$1,657

+12%

$1,627

-18% - -2%

5-Yr CAGR

Flat

‘05’06’07’08’09’10’05’06’07’08’09’10’05’06’07’08’09’10Note:Financial summary excludes operating results from specialty chemicals business including certain allocations of corporate costs. 2005 operatingprofit includes restructuring charge of $19.4 million ($0.32 per diluted share). 2007 operating profit includes a $6.6 million net gain ($0.10 perdiluted share) related to the settlement of a commercial dispute. 2008 operating profit includes a special charge of $14.6 million ($0.21 perdiluted share) for streamlining and simplifying the business following the spin?off of Zep Inc. 2009 operating profit includes a special charge of$26.7 million ($0.40 per diluted share) for streamlining the business. 2010 operating profit includes a special charge of $8.4 million ($0.13 perdiluted share) for streamlining activities. Additionally, 2010 diluted EPS incl udes a $0.16 loss on early extinguishment of debt.

Financial Summary

($Millions)

Free Cash FlowLeverage(Net Debt?to?Capital Ratio)$196$17734%34%$13924%$104$10118%19%$7110%

‘05’06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10’05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10

Note: Free Cash Flow is defined as cash flow from operations minus capital expenditures.

Net Debt?to?Capital Ratio is defined as total debt minus cash divided by total debt minus cash plus total equity.

Stock Performance — As of August 31, 2010

Stock PriceTotal Returns(Adjusted for Zep Spin?Off)(Annualized, Adjusted for Zep Spin?Off) $60$50$40$30$20$10$0Aug-05Aug-06Aug-07Aug-08Aug-09Aug-10

1-Yr3-Yr5-YrAcuity22%(3%)11%DJUSEC4%(8%)1%S&P 5005%(9%)(1%)S&P 40012%(4%)2%S&P 6008%(7%)(0%) DJUSEC — Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equip. Index

Profile Positioned for Success

A Bright Future

Positioned for Success

Operations

Market Access

Portfolio

Growth Leverage

Addressable Market

Positioned for Success - Internal Leverage

Lean Business ProcessesOperating Metrics 2004 — 2010Financial Metrics 2004 — 2010Sales per Associate38%Gross Profit Margin20%Mfg Footprint (Sq Ft)42%Operating Margin52%Op. Working Capital42%Free Cash Flow143%(% of Net Sales)

Note: Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations minus capital expenditures.

Positioned for Success - Market Access

Channel Leadership

Product SegmentsSales ChannelCommercialIndustrialRenovationResi.ControlsC & IDirectHome CenterShowroomUtilitiesNat’l Accts

Positioned for Success Portfolio

LuminairesControlsAcquisitionsAcquisitionsMark LightingLC&DRenaissanceSensor SwitchWinona2009 — 100+New ProductsNew Products2010 — 100+

Positioned for Success - Portfolio

Growth Through Innovation & Acquisitions

Indoor

FunctionalArchitectural

#1 Market Position#1 Market Position

Controls

#3 #1

FunctionalArchitectural#1 Market Position#2 Market PositionOutdoor

Positioned for Success - Addressable Market

Significant Expansion of Addressable N.A. Market

Prior2010

Controls

Growth

Renovation

NewNewConstruction/Construction/TITI

TI = Tenant Improvements

Source: Company Estimates

Profile

Positioned for Success

A Bright Future

A Bright Future

Market / Macro Trends

Innovation & Markets

Strategic Focus

A Bright Future - North American Market

2010 ? $9.3 Billion

Product Segments

Controls(Sensors &IndustrialModules)11%9%

Outdoor

19%

Comm. & Inst.

35%

Residential

16%

Other

10%

Channels

ESCOOtherDirect/Nat’l1%7%Accts5% Utilities

7%

Lighting

Showrooms 4%

Home Centers

9%

Electrical

Wholesalers 67% Source: Frost & Sullivan, Global Insight Construction, NEMA luminaires report, McGraw Hill Canadian Construction, and Company Estimates

A Bright Future ? Macro Trends

Addressable N.A. Market/Drivers

$15.6B+68%$2.2BControls$11.0B$1.4BLighting Solutions$1.0BRenovation (Incremental)$9.3B-15%$0.9B$11.0BNew Construction$8.4BTI/Renovation

200820102015

Drivers

Superior Task Lighting

Lighting Systems

Lighting Value/Sq. Ft.

Energy Efficiency

Sustainability

ROI

Technology

GDP

Demographics

Source: Company Estimates

A Bright Future ? Macro Trends

New/TIRenovationN.A. Lighting Fixtures MarketGrowth Rates & Value($B)10%8%9%$12Installed$10Base8%7%$100B+$86%Renovation$6Conversion4%3%Opportunity$42%1%$20%$-New ConstructionFY’11FY’12FY’13FY’14FY’151.5% to 2.5% Conversion Rate

Controls$2.5$2.0Billions$1.5$$1.020% CAGR$0.5

$-

FY’10 FY’11 FY’12 FY’13 FY’14 FY’15

Source: Global Insight Construction, NEMA luminaires report, McGraw Hill Canadian Construction, and Company Estimates

A Bright Future Innovation

Efficacy (Lm /Watt)

System Technology Transformation LED

150+$0.05

120

T75oda$0.005y

Conversion of earlyExpansion on LED MarketMarket ConversionLED Adaptors

(cents/lm)EngineLumenLightperCost

Source: Company Estimates

A Bright Future Innovation

50%+

LED

LED &DigitalLightingOtherSystems20%

All about the Source

1%

Phase I

Source

LEDOtherOther$8 BLED$4 B

MainstreamLighting in aIndoor & OutdoorDigital AgeSolutions

Phase IIPhase IIILighting SolutionsDigital Transformation

Source: Company Estimates

A Bright Future - Lighting Solutions

Orders ofinteractionsIntelligent distributedcontrol and productsolutionsControlsEmbedded ControlsFixturesControlsIndependent lightingcontrols & fixturesFixturesLC&DSSIABL1st Half2nd Half2010CY’09CY’09

Integrated Lighting Solutions

Total solution provider

providing light and energy management

2011?2015

A Bright Future - Markets

A Leader in the Evolution of Digital Lighting

Luminaires

Education

Office

Control

Devices

Integrated

Lighting

Solutions

Healthcare

Industrial

Commercial

A Bright Future - Indoor Lighting Solutions

Quality of

Lighting

Experience

Superior EnergyFinanciallySavingsViable

IntelligentLong Life andIndoor LightingReliability

A Bright Future - Outdoor Lighting Solutions

ROAM Management System

• Energy/Maintenance

Savings

• Extended Life

• Safety

System Features

Smart Photocontrols

Diagnostics

Automated Maintenance Scheduling

Web?based portal

Network Operation Center

Strategic Focus ? Profitable Growth Strategy

Exp and Earnings and Cash Flow

Organic

Growth

Operating

Excellence “3 C’s”

Grow Market Share

Financial Goals

Margins12%EPS Growth15%+ROE20%+Cash FlowExceed net income

“Consistent Upper?Quartile Performance” Meet or exceed financial goals during an entire business cycle

Conclusion

Investment Considerations

Market leader

Strong operating/financial leverage

Product and innovation leadership

Favorable market trends

Compelling long?term investment