UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Acuity Brands Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock ($0.01 par value)
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(Title of Class of Securities)
00508y102
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(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 2002
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[X] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not
be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act
(however, see the Notes).
------------------------------
CUSIP No. 00508y102
------------------------------
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Sterling Capital Management LLC
56-2226389
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
Not Applicable
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
North Carolina
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NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
None
---------------------------------------------------------
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
3,241,550
----------------------------------------------------------
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
None
-------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
Not Applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IA
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------------------------------
CUSIP No. 00508y102
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Sterling MGT, Inc.
56-2226391
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
Not Applicable
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
North Carolina
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
None
---------------------------------------------------------
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
3,241,550
----------------------------------------------------------
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
None
-----------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARE
Not Applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
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------------------------------
CUSIP No. 00508y102
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Eduardo A. Brea
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
Not Applicable
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
---------------------------------------------------------
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
3,241,550
----------------------------------------------------------
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
-----------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
Not Applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
CUSIP No. 00508y102
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Alexander W. McAlister
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
Not Applicable
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
---------------------------------------------------------
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
3,241,550
----------------------------------------------------------
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
-----------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
Not Applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
CUSIP No. 00508y102
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
David M. Ralston
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
Not Applicable
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
---------------------------------------------------------
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
3,241,550
----------------------------------------------------------
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
-----------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
Not Applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
CUSIP No. 00508y102
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Brian R. Walton
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
Not Applicable
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
---------------------------------------------------------
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
3,241,550
----------------------------------------------------------
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
-----------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
Not Applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
CUSIP No. 00508y102
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Mark Whalen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
Not Applicable
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
---------------------------------------------------------
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
3,241,550
----------------------------------------------------------
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
-----------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,241,550
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
Not Applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:
Acuity Brands Inc.
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
1170 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 2400
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Item 2(a) Name of Person(s) Filing:
Sterling Capital Management LLC ("Sterling")
Sterling MGT, Inc. ("Sterling Management")
Eduardo A. Brea
Alexander W. McAlister
David M. Ralston
Brian R. Walton
Mark Whalen
Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
Sterling, Sterling Management, Mr. Brea, Mr. McAlister, Mr. Ralston, Mr.
Walton and Mr. Whalen are all located at:
4064 Colony Road, Suite 300
Charlotte, NC 28211
Item 2(c) Citizenship:
Sterling is a North Carolina limited liability company.
Sterling Management is a North Carolina corporation.
Mr. Brea, Mr. McAlister, Mr. Ralston, Mr. Walton and Mr. Whalen are U.S.
citizens.
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock ($0.01 par value) (the "Stock")
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:
00508y102
Item 3 Type of Person:
(e) Sterling is an Investment Adviser registered under section 203 of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
(g) Sterling Management is the Managing Member of Sterling. Mr. Brea, Mr.
McAlister, Mr. Ralston, Mr. Walton and Mr. Whalen are controlling
shareholders of Sterling Management. Sterling Management, Mr. Brea, Mr.
McAlister, Mr. Ralston, Mr. Walton and Mr. Whalen are control persons under
17 C.F.R. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).
Item 4 Ownership:
(a) Amount beneficially owned:
See Item 9 of Cover Pages.
(b) Percent of class:
See Item 11 of Cover Pages.
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
See Item 5 of Cover Pages.
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
See Item 6 of Cover Pages
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of:
See Item 7 of Cover Pages.
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of:
See Item 8 of Cover Pages.
Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
Not Applicable
Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
Sterling is a registered investment adviser whose clients have the right to
receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds
from the sale of, the Stock. None of these clients to the knowledge of
Sterling, Sterling Management, Mr. Brea, Mr. McAlister, Mr. Ralston, Mr.
Walton or Mr. Whalen beneficially owns more than 5% of the Stock.
Item 7
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:
Sterling is an Investment Adviser registered under section 203 of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
Sterling Management is the Managing Member of Sterling. Mr. Brea, Mr.
McAlister, Mr. Ralston, Mr. Walton and Mr. Whalen are controlling
shareholders of Sterling Management.
Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
Not Applicable
Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of Group:
Not Applicable
Item 10 Certification:
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary
course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of
or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or
as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
Date: February 4, 2003
STERLING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
By: Sterling MGT, Inc.
Its Manager
By: /s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Mark Whalen
--------------------------
Mark Whalen
President
STERLING MGT, INC.
By: /s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Mark Whalen
--------------------------
Mark Whalen
President
EDUARDO A. BREA
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Eduardo A. Brea
------------------------------
ALEXANDER W. MCALISTER
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Alexander W. McAlister
-------------------------------------
DAVID M. RALSTON
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for David M. Ralston
-------------------------------------
BRIAN R. WALTON
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Brian R. Walton
-------------------------------------
MARK WHALEN
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Mark Whalen
-------------------------------------
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 1
Joint Filing Agreement dated as of February 4, 2003 by and among Sterling
Capital Management LLC, Sterling MGT, Inc., Eduardo A. Brea, Alexander W.
McAlister David M. Ralston, Brian R. Walton and Mark Whalen.
Exhibit 1
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
This will confirm the agreement by and between the undersigned that the
Schedule 13G (the "Statement") to which this Agreement is attached is being
filed on behalf of the persons listed below. Each of the persons listed
hereby acknowledges that pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k) promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each person on whose behalf the
Statement is filed is responsible for the timely filing of such statement and
any amendments thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy of the
information concerning such person contained therein, and that such person is
not responsible for the completeness or accuracy of the information
concerning the other persons making the filing, unless such person knows or
has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
Dated: February 4, 2003
STERLING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
By: Sterling MGT, Inc.
Its Manager
By: /s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Mark Whalen
--------------------------
Mark Whalen
President
STERLING MGT, INC.
By: /s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Mark Whalen
--------------------------
Mark Whalen
President
EDUARDO A. BREA
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Eduardo A. Brea
------------------------------
ALEXANDER W. MCALISTER
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Alexander W. McAlister
-------------------------------------
DAVID M. RALSTON
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for David M. Ralston
-------------------------------------
BRIAN R. WALTON
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Brian R. Walton
-------------------------------------
MARK WHALEN
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner, Attorney in Fact for Mark Whalen
-------------------------------------