UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 14, 2021

Commission file number 001-16583.

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ACUITY BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Delaware	58-2632672
(State or other jurisdiction of<br>incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer<br>Identification Number)

1170 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 2300, Atlanta, Georgia 30309-7676

(Address of principal executive offices)

(404) 853-1400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share	AYI	New York Stock Exchange

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))

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02	Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On September 14, 2021, Richard (Ricky) K. Reece notified Acuity Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) of his intention to retire from his positions as Executive Vice President of Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vice Chairman, Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc., effective November 30, 2021.

On September 17, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the retirement of Mr. Reece. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01	Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)	Exhibits
---	---	---
Exhibit No.		Description
	99.1	Press Release dated September 1 7 , 2021
	104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document).

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: September 17, 2021

ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
By:	/s/ Karen J. Holcom
	Karen J. Holcom<br>Senior Vice President and<br>Chief Financial Officer

Document

Exhibit 99.1

Press Release

Richard Reece, Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of

Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls Business to Retire

ATLANTA, September 17, 2021 - Today, Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) (“Acuity”) announced the upcoming retirement of Richard (Ricky) K. Reece, Executive Vice President of Acuity Brands and Vice Chairman, Acuity Brands Lighting. Reece will continue in his role until November 30, 2021.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, the leadership team, and our associates, we thank Ricky for his dedication and many contributions to Acuity,” said Neil Ashe, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “We appreciate his leadership over the past 16 years and wish him the best in his next chapter.”

Prior to his current role, Reece served as the Company’s President from September 2019 to February 2021 and previously as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for 14 years. During his tenure as CFO, Reece partnered closely with former Acuity Chairman and CEO, Vernon Nagel, evolving the Acuity portfolio to include smart lighting, controls, and electronics through numerous acquisitions including SensorSwitch™, eldoLED®, and ams OSRAM’s North American Digital Systems business and Acuity’s entry into the intelligent spaces market through the acquisition of Distech™.

“It has been an honor to be part of Acuity’s transformation and growth,” said Richard Reece. “I am privileged to have played a role in growing our business and working with the most incredible talent in the industry.”

On March 1, 2021, the Company announced that Trevor S. Palmer succeeded Reece as President of the Acuity Brands lighting and lighting controls business.

About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. Through its two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL) and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG) the Company designs, manufactures, and brings to market products and services that make the world more brilliant, productive, and connected. Acuity Brands achieves growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including building management systems, lighting, lighting controls, and location-aware applications.

Acuity Brands achieves customer-focused efficiencies that allow the Company to increase market share and deliver superior returns. The Company looks to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals.

Acuity Brands is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 12,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuitybrands.com.

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Investor Contact:

Charlotte McLaughlin

Vice President, Investor Relations

(404) 853-1456

investorrelations@acuitybrands.com

Media Contact:

Candace Steele Flippin

Chief Communications Officer

candace@acuitybrands.com