Acuity Brands

Annual Report

Financial Highlights

We delivered another record financial performance.

01

2015

The Numbers

(in millions of dollars, except earnings per share) for the year ended August 31
Operations 
2015(1)
2014(2)
% Change 
Net sales $2,706.7 $2,393.5 13%
Gross profit % 42.3% 40.9%  
Operating profit $376.3 $299.1 26%
Operating profit % 13.9% 12.5%  
Net Income $222.1 $175.8 26%
Diluted earnings per share $5.09 $4.05 26%
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in millions) 43.4 43.0  
Return on average shareholders’ equity 17.7% 16.3% 9%
Cash provided by operating activities $288.9 $233.1 24%
Depreciation and amortization $45.8 $43.4 6%
Capital expenditures $56.5 $35.3 60%
Financial Position 
2015(1)
2014(2)
% Change
Total assets $2,430 $2,166 12%
Total cash $757 $553 37%
Total debt $352 $352  —
Total stockholders’ equity $1,360 $1,164 17%
Ratio of total debt to capital 20.6% 23.2%  
Operating working capital as a percentage of net sales(3) 12.0% 12.5%  

(1) 2015 results include a net special charge associated with streamlining activities of $12.4 million, or $0.19 diluted share, as well as non-tax deductible acquisition-related professional fees of $3.2 million, or $0.08 diluted share, and a net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.03 diluted share, associated with financial instruments to hedge the foreign currency exposure related to the acquisition of Canadian-based Distech Controls, Inc.

(2) 2014 results include pre-tax fraud-related recoveries of $5.8 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, that partially offset the $8.1 million pre-tax loss incurred in fiscal 2013 as a result of fraud perpetrated at a freight payment and audit service firm formerly retained by the Company.

(3) Operating working capital is defined as net receivables plus inventories minus accounts payable.

02

2015

At A Glance

Revenues ($ in millions)

$1,796

$1,934

$2,089

$2,394

$2,707

’11
’12
’13
’14
’15

Diluted EPS  

$2.42

$2.72

$2.95

$4.05

$5.09

’11
’12
’13
’14
’15

Operating Profit ($ in millions)

$188.7

10.5%

$208.0

10.8%

$221.5

10.6%

$299.1

12.5%

$376.3

13.9%

’11
’12
’13
’14
’15

Margins

Free Cash Flow ($ in millions)

$137.8

$140.8

$91.7

$197.8

$232.4

’11
’12
’13
’14
’15

Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operating
activities minus purchases of property, plant, and equipment.

03

Five-Year

Cumulative Total Return*

Among Acuity Brands, Inc., the S&P MidCap 400 Index, the Dow Jones US Electrical Components & Equipment Index, and the Dow Jones US Building Materials & Fixtures Index

Acuity Brands, Inc.

Dow Jones US Electrical Components & Equipment Index

S&P MidCap 400 Index

Dow Jones US Building Materials & Fixtures Index

  8/10 8/11 8/12 8/13 8/14 8/15
Acuity Brands, Inc. $100 $120 $169 $227 $330 $521
S&P MidCap 400 Index $100 $123 $139 $171 $211 $211
Dow Jones US Electrical Components & Equipment Index $100 $124 $154 $192 $241 $217
Dow Jones US Building Materials & Fixtures Index $100 $112 $168 $213 $266 $307

*Assumes $100 invested on August 31, 2010 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.