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): July 23, 2007
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-16583 | 58-2632672 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of in 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 8.01. | Other Events. |
On July 23, 2007, Acuity Brands announced that the company’s Board of Directors unanimously authorized management to pursue a plan to separate its lighting and specialty products businesses by spinning off the business now known as Acuity Specialty Products Group, Inc. into an independent publicly traded company.
Consummation of the spin-off transaction is subject to several conditions, including receipt of confirmation of the tax-free treatment of the spin-off, receipt of certain regulatory approvals, and the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the effectiveness of a registration statement on Form 10. The registration statement on Form 10 is expected to be filed next week. Approval of the transaction by shareholders of Acuity Brands is not required.
A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits. |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued by Acuity Brands, Inc. on July 23, 2007 |
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: July 23, 2007 | ||||
| ACUITY BRANDS, INC. | ||||
| By: | /s/ Kenyon W. Murphy | |||
| Kenyon W. Murphy | ||||
| Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel | ||||
EXHIBIT INDEX
| 99.1 | Press Release issued by Acuity Brands, Inc. on July 23, 2007 |