ACUITY INC. (DE) 10-K

Item 9a. Controls and Procedures Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted by us under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As required by SEC rules, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of August 31, 2021. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Based on this evaluation, these officers have concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level as of August 31, 2021. However, because all disclosure procedures must rely to a significant degree on actions or decisions made by employees throughout the organization, such as reporting of material events, the Company and its reporting officers believe that they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud or errors and omissions, if any, within the Company will be detected. Limitations within any control system, including our control system, include faulty judgments in decision-making or simple errors or mistakes. In addition, controls can be circumvented by an individual, by collusion between two or more people, or by management override of the control. Because of these limitations, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be detected. During the year ended August 31, 2021, we completed our acquisitions of Rockpile Ventures and ams OSRAM's North American Digital Systems business (“OSRAM DS”), collectively the (“2021 Acquisitions”). SEC guidance permits management to omit an assessment of an acquired business' internal control over financial reporting from management's assessment of internal control over financial reporting for a period not to exceed one year from the date of the acquisition. Accordingly, management has not assessed the 2021 Acquisitions' internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2021. Excluding the acquisitions, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We began integrating the 2021 Acquisitions into our existing control procedures from their respective dates of acquisition. We do not anticipate the integration of the acquired companies to result in changes that would materially affect our internal control over financial reporting. Management’s annual report on our internal control over financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation report are included in our 2021 Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the headings, Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm as it relates to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. Item 9b. Other Information None. 78 Table of Contents PART III Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance The information required by this item, with respect to directors and corporate governance, will be included under the caption Item 1 — Election of Directors of our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 5, 2022, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference. The information required by this item, with respect to executive officers, will be included under the caption Executive Officers of our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 5, 2022, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference. The information required by this item, with respect to the code of ethics, will be included under the captions Governance Policies and Procedures and Contacting the Board of Directors of our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 5, 2022, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 11. Executive Compensation The information required by this item will be included under the captions Compensation of Directors, Director Information, Board and Committees, Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation, Report of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, Compensation Discussion and Analysis, Fiscal 2021 Summary Compensation Table, Fiscal 2021 Grants of Plan-Based Awards, Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2021 Year-End, Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2021, Pension Benefits in Fiscal 2021, CEO Pay Ratio, Fiscal 2021 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation, Employment Arrangements, Potential Payments upon Termination, and Equity Compensation Plans of our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 5, 2022, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters The information required by this item will be included under the captions Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s Securities and Equity Compensation Plans of our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 5, 2022, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence The information required by this item will be included under the caption Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 5, 2022, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services The information required by this item will be included under the captions Audit Fees and Other Fees, Preapproval Policies and Procedures, and Report of the Audit Committee of our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 5, 2022, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference. 79 Table of Contents PART IV Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules (a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report: (1) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 32 Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 33 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 31, 2021 and 2020 37 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended August 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 38 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended August 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 39 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended August 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 40 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 41 (2) Financial Statement Schedules: Any of Schedules I through V not listed above have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto (3) Exhibits filed with this report (begins on next page): Copies of exhibits will be furnished to stockholders upon request at a nominal fee. Requests should be sent to Acuity Brands, Inc., Investor Relations Department, 1170 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 2300, Atlanta, Georgia 30309-7676 80 Table of Contents INDEX TO EXHIBITS EXHIBIT 3 (a) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Acuity Brands, Inc. (formerly Acuity Brands Holdings, Inc.), dated as of September 26, 2007. Reference is made to Exhibit 3.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on September 26, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. (b) Certificate of Amendment of Acuity Brands, Inc. (formerly Acuity Brands Holdings, Inc.), dated as of September 26, 2007. Reference is made to Exhibit 3.2 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on September 26, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. (c) Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Acuity Brands, Inc., dated as of January 6, 2017. Reference is made to Exhibit 3(c) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. (d) Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Acuity Brands, Inc., dated as of January 7, 2021. Reference is made to Exhibit 3(d) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 7, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference. (e) Amended and Restated Bylaws of Acuity Brands, Inc., dated as of January 7, 2021. Reference is made to Exhibit 3(e) of registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 7, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference. EXHIBIT 4 (a) Form of Certificate representing Acuity Brands, Inc. Common Stock. Reference is made to Exhibit 4.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. (b) Description of Securities. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. (c) Indenture, dated as of November 10, 2020, between Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Reference is made to Exhibit 4.1 of registrant's Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on November 10, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (d) First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 10, 2020, among Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc., Acuity Brands, Inc. and ABL IP Holding, LLC, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Reference is made to Exhibit 4.2 of registrant's Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on November 10, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (e) Officer’s Certificate, dated as of November 10, 2020, pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.03 of the Indenture, dated November 10, 2020, setting forth the terms of the 2.150% Senior Notes due 2030. the 2.150% Senior Notes due 2030. Reference is made to Exhibit 4.3 of registrant's Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on November 10, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (f) Form of 2.150% Senior Notes due 2030 (included in Exhibit 4.3). Reference is made to Exhibit 4.3 of registrant's Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on November 10, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. EXHIBIT 10(i) (1) Five-Year Credit Agreement dated June 29, 2018. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. (2) Amendment No. 1 dated as of April 22, 2019 to Five-Year Credit Agreement dated June 29, 2018. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 of registrant's Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on April 24, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. EXHIBIT 10(iii)A Management Contracts and Compensatory Arrangements: (1) Acuity Brands, Inc. 2001 Nonemployee Directors’ Stock Option Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.6 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. 81 Table of Contents (2) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. 2001 Nonemployee Directors’ Stock Option Plan, dated December 20, 2001. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(3) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 14, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. (3) Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option Agreement for Nonemployee Director dated October 25, 2006. Reference is made to Exhibit 99.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 27, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. (4) Amendment No. 2 to Acuity Brands, Inc. 2001 Non-employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(2) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 4, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. (5) Amendment No. 3 to Acuity Brands, Inc. 2001 Nonemployee Directors’ Stock Option Plans. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(3) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 10, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. (6) Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.14 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. (7) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(2) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 14, 2003, which is incorporated by reference. (8) Amendment No. 2 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(8) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 14, 2003, which is incorporated by reference. (9) Amendment No. 3 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(36) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2004, which is incorporated by reference. (10) Amendment No. 4 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 99.2 of registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 6, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. (11) Amendment No. 5 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(6) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 10, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. (12) Amended and Restated Acuity Brands, Inc., 2005 Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan, effective as of January 1, 2010. Reference is made to Exhibit 10 (c) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on March 31, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. (13) Amended and Restated Acuity Brands, Inc. 2005 Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan, effective as of July 1, 2019. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(b) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 2, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (14) First Amendment to the Acuity Brands, Inc. 2005 Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. (15) Acuity Brands, Inc. Nonemployee Director Deferred Compensation Plan as Amended and Restated Effective June 29, 2006. Reference is made to Exhibit 99.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 6, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. (16) Amendment No. 2 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Nonemployee Director Deferred Compensation Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(86) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 27, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. 82 Table of Contents (17) Amended and Restated Acuity Brands Inc. 2011 Nonemployee Director Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of December 1, 2012. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(68) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 26, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference. (18) Acuity Brands, Inc. Compensation for Non-Employee Directors. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(c) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (19) Acuity Brands, Inc. Senior Management Benefit Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.16 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. (20) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Senior Management Benefit Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(5) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 10, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. (21) Acuity Brands, Inc. Executive Benefits Trust. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.18 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. (22) Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Retirement Plan for Executives. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.19 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. (23) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Retirement Plan for Executives. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(2) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 14, 2003, which is incorporated by reference. (24) Acuity Brands, Inc. Benefits Protection Trust. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.21 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. (25) Form of Acuity Brands, Inc., Letter regarding Bonuses. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.25 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. (26) Acuity Brands, Inc. 2002 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, Effective As of January 1, 2003, As Amended and Restated Effective As of June 26, 2015. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(1) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 1, 2015, which is incorporated by reference. (27) Acuity Brands, Inc. 2002 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, As Amended and Restated Effective As of July 1, 2019. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(c) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 2, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (28) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. 2002 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(a) of registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 7, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (29) Unforeseeable Emergency Distribution Amendment to the Acuity Brands, Inc. 2002 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated July 12, 2018. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(24) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 25, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. (30) Form of Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement entered into as of April 21, 2006. Reference is made to Exhibit 99.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 27, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. (31) Letter Agreement relating to Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(4) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 14, 2003, which is incorporated by reference. 83 Table of Contents (32) Employment Letter between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel, dated June 29, 2004. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(III)A(1) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 6, 2004, which is incorporated by reference. (33) Amended and Restated Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 20, 2004, by and between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(III)A(2) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 6, 2004, which is incorporated by reference. (34) Amendment dated April 21, 2006 to the Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. Reference is made to Exhibit 99.3 of registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 27, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. (35) Amendment No. 2 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(2) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 4, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. (36) Amendment No. 3 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement, between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(78) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 30, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. (37) Amendment No. 4 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement, between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(2) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 2, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. (38) Amendment No. 5 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(a) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 3, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (39) Premium-Priced Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Executive Officers between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(III)A(5) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 6, 2005, which is incorporated by reference. (40) Employment Letter between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Neil M. Ashe, dated January 9, 2020 Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (41) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (options subject only to time-based conditions) Reference is made to Exhibit 10.2 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (42) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (options subject to time-based and share price performance conditions) Reference is made to Exhibit 10.3 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (43) Form of Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Neil M. Ashe Reference is made to Exhibit 10.4 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (44) Form of Change in Control Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Neil M. Ashe Reference is made to Exhibit 10.5 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (45) Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for Executive Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(III)A(3) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on January 6, 2005 incorporated by reference. (46) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Executive Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(III)A(4) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 6, 2005, which is incorporated by reference. 84 Table of Contents (47) Acuity Brands, Inc. Matching Gift Program. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(III)A(1) of the registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 4, 2005, which is incorporated by reference. (48) Employment Letter dated November 16, 2005 between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 18, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. (49) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(81) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 30, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. (50) Amendment No. 2 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10 (f) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on March 31, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. (51) Amendment No. 3 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(4) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 2, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. (52) Amendment No. 4 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(46) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. (53) Amendment No. 5 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(43) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 27, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. (54) Amendment No. 6 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(44) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 27, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. (55) Amendment No. 7 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(45) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 26, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. (56) Amendment No. 8 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(a) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (57) Amendment No. 9 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Richard K. Reece. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(b) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 3, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (58) Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. Severance Agreement, entered into as of March 28, 2018, by and between Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. and Karen J. Holcom. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(51) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (59) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. and Karen J. Holcom. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(52) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (60) Amendment No. 2 to Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. and Karen J. Holcom. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(53) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (61) Amendment No. 3 to Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. and Karen J. Holcom. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(a) of registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 7, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. 85 Table of Contents (62) Change in Control Agreement, entered into as of March 28, 2018, by and between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Karen J. Holcom. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(54) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (63) Amendment No.1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Change in Control Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Karen J. Holcom. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(55) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (64) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Executive Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 99.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 2, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. (65) Amended and Restated Acuity Brands, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit A of the registrant’s Proxy Statement as filed with the Commission on November 16, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. (66) Acuity Brands, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan Fiscal Year 2008 Plan Rules for Executive Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 99.1 of the registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on January 4, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. (67) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Key Employees effective October 24, 2008. Reference is made to Exhibit 10 (i) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 8, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. (68) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Executive Officers of Acuity Brands, Inc. effective October 24, 2008. Reference is made to Exhibit 10 (j) of registrant’s Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 8, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. (69) Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(84) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 30, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. (70) Employment Letter between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Laurent J. Vernerey dated September 6, 2017. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(61) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 25, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. (71) Severance Agreement by and between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Laurent J. Vernerey dated January 5, 2018. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(62) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 25, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. (72) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Laurent J. Vernerey. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(b) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 9, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (73) Change in Control Agreement dated January 5, 2018 by and between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Laurent J. Vernerey. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(63) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 25, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. (74) Change in Control Agreement dated March 28, 2018, by and between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Barry R. Goldman. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(81) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (75) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Change in Control Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Barry R. Goldman. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(82) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (76) Severance Agreement dated March 28, 2020, by and between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Barry R. Goldman. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(83) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. 86 Table of Contents (77) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Barry R. Goldman. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(84) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (78) Amendment No. 2 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Barry R. Goldman. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(85) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (79) Amendment No. 3 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Barry R. Goldman. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(86) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (80) Amendment No. 4 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Barry R. Goldman. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. (81) Change in Control Agreement dated March 2, 2020, by and between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Dianne S. Mills. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(87) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (82) Severance Agreement dated March 2, 2020, by and between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Dianne S. Mills. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(88) of the registrant’s Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (83) Amendment No. 1 to Acuity Brands, Inc. Severance Agreement between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Dianne S. Mills. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. (84) Form of Indemnification Agreement. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on February 9, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. (85) Acuity Brands, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Stock Incentive Compensation Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit A of the registrant’s Proxy Statement as filed with the Commission on November 19, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference. (86) Acuity Brands, Inc. 2012 Management Cash Incentive Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit B of the registrant’s Proxy Statement as filed with the Commission on November 19, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference. (87) Form of Stock Notification and Award Agreement for restricted stock, effective October 24, 2013. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(72) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. (88) Form of Stock Notification and Award Agreement for stock options, effective October 24, 2013. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(1) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 2, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. (89) Form of Stock Notification and Award Agreement for restricted stock, effective October 27, 2014. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(65) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. (90) Form of Stock Notification and Award Agreement for stock options, effective October 27, 2014. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(66) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. (91) Form of Stock Notification and Award Agreement for stock options, effective April 1, 2016. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(1) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 6, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 87 Table of Contents (92) Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for U.S. Grantees. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(70) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 27, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. (93) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Non-U.S. Grantees. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(72) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 26, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. (94) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(72) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 27, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. (95) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement for Named Executive Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(73) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 27, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. (96) Amended and Restated Acuity Brands, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Stock Incentive Compensation Plan. Reference is made to Annex A of the registrant’s Proxy Statement as filed with the Commission on November 21, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. (97) Acuity Brands, Inc. 2017 Management Cash Incentive Plan. Reference is made to Annex B of the registrant’s Proxy Statement as filed with the Commission on November 21, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. (98) Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for U.S. Employees. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(1) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 4, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. (99) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Notification and Award Agreement for Non-U.S. Grantees. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(2) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 4, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. (100) Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Directors. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(3) of the registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on April 4, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. (101) Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Omnibus Stock Incentive Compensation Plan Global Performance Unit Notification and Award Agreement. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(93) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (102) Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Omnibus Stock Incentive Compensation Plan Global Performance Unit Notification and Award Agreement. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(c) of registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 7, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. (103) Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Omnibus Stock Incentive Compensation Plan Global Restricted Stock Unit Notification and Award Agreement. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(iii)A(94) of the registrant's Form 10-K as filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. (104) Acuity Brands, Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Omnibus Stock Incentive Compensation Plan Global Restricted Stock Unit Notification and Award Agreement. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(d) of registrant's Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on January 7, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. EXHIBIT 21 List of Subsidiaries. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. EXHIBIT 22 List of Guarantors and Subsidiary Issuers of Guaranteed Securities. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. EXHIBIT 23 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. EXHIBIT 24 Powers of Attorney. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. 88 Table of Contents EXHIBIT 31 (a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. (b) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. EXHIBIT 32 (a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. (b) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. EXHIBIT 101 .INS XBRL Instance Document The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. .SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. .CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. .DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. .LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. .PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-K. 89 Table of Contents Item 16. Form 10-K Summary None. 90 Table of Contents SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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. ACUITY BRANDS, INC. Date: October 27, 2021 By: /S/ NEIL M. ASHE Neil M. Ashe Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date /s/ NEIL M. ASHE Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer October 27, 2021 Neil M. Ashe /s/ KAREN J. HOLCOM Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) October 27, 2021 Karen J. Holcom * Director October 27, 2021 W. Patrick Battle * Director October 27, 2021 Mark J. Sachleben * Director October 27, 2021 G. Douglas Dillard, Jr. * Director October 27, 2021 James H. Hance, Jr. * Director October 27, 2021 Maya Leibman * Director October 27, 2021 Laura G. O'Shaughnessy * Director October 27, 2021 Dominic J. Pileggi * Director October 27, 2021 Ray M. Robinson * Director October 27, 2021 Mary A. Winston *BY: /s/ KAREN J. HOLCOM Attorney-in-Fact October 27, 2021 Karen J. Holcom 91