Acuity Inc. is a market-leading industrial technology company.
The company uses technology to solve problems in spaces and light. Through the company’s 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 a valuable difference in people's lives. The company achieves growth through the development of innovative new products and services, includi...
Acuity Inc. is a market-leading industrial technology company.
The company uses technology to solve problems in spaces and light. Through the company’s 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 a valuable difference in people's lives. The company achieves growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and location-aware applications.
The company’s addressable market includes non-portable luminaires as defined by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association; poles for outdoor lighting; emergency lighting fixtures and lighting equipment; lighting controls; HVAC controls; refrigeration controls; and building technology controls, software, and systems.
The company is a leading provider of integrated lighting and building technology solutions that utilize internally developed, licensed, or acquired intellectual property.
The company has relationships with channel partners, such as electrical distributors, home improvement retailers, independent sales agencies, system integrators, and value-added resellers. Approximately 53% of the company’s finished products are manufactured in Mexico.
The company utilizes strategic partners and third-party relationships in order to operate and grow its business. For instance, the company utilizes third parties for contract manufacturing of certain products, subcontract installation and commissioning, as well as perform certain selling, distribution, and administrative functions.
The company has substantial activities outside of the United States, including sourcing of products, materials, components, and contract manufactured finished goods, as well as manufacturing and distribution activities.
Segments
ABL Segment
The company’s ABL strategy is to increase product vitality, elevate service levels, use technology to improve and differentiate both the company’s products and how the company operates the business, and drive productivity. ABL's portfolio of lighting solutions includes commercial, architectural, and specialty lighting in addition to lighting controls and components that can be combined to create integrated lighting controls systems. The company offers devices, such as luminaires that predominantly utilize light emitting diode (‘LED’) technology designed to optimize energy efficiency and comfort for various indoor and outdoor applications.
ABL's portfolio of products includes but is not limited to the following brands: A-Light, Aculux, American Electric Lighting, Cyclone, Dark to Light, eldoLED, Eureka, Gotham, Healthcare Lighting, Holophane, Hydrel, IOTA, Juno, Lithonia Lighting, Luminaire LED, Luminis, Mark Architectural Lighting, nLight, OPTOTRONIC, Peerless, RELOC Wiring Solutions, and SensorSwitch.
Principal customers of ABL include electrical distributors, retail home improvement centers, electric utilities, corporate accounts, original equipment manufacturer (‘OEM’) customers, digital retailers, lighting showrooms, and energy service companies. The company’s customers are located in North America and select international markets that serve new construction, renovation and retrofit, and maintenance and repair applications. ABL's lighting and lighting controls solutions are sold primarily through a network of independent sales agencies that cover specific geographic areas and market channels, by internal sales representatives, through consumer retail channels, directly to large corporate accounts, and directly to OEM customers. Products are delivered primarily through a network of distribution centers, as well as directly from the company’s manufacturing facilities using both common carriers and an internally-managed truck fleet.
ISG Segment
The company’s ISG strategy is to make spaces smarter, safer, and greener by connecting the edge to the cloud. ISG offers building management solutions and building management software. The company’s building management solutions include products for controlling heating, ventilation, air conditioning (‘HVAC’), lighting, shades, refrigeration, and building access that deliver end-to-end optimization of those building systems. The company’s intelligent building management software enhances the occupant experience, improves building system management, and automates labor intensive tasks while delivering operational energy efficiency. Through a connected and converged building system architecture, the company’s software delivers different applications, allows clients to upgrade over time with natural refresh cycles, and deploys new capabilities. Customers of ISG primarily include system integrators, as well as retail stores, airports, and enterprise campuses throughout North America and select international locations. ISG products and solutions are marketed under multiple brand names, including but not limited to, Atrius and Distech Controls.
Marketing
The company markets its product portfolio and service capabilities to customers and end users in multiple channels through a broad spectrum of marketing and promotional methods, including direct customer contact, trade shows, on-site training, print and digital advertising in industry publications, product brochures, and other literature, as well as through digital marketing and social media. The company operates training and education facilities in various locations in North America and Europe designed to enhance the lighting, lighting controls, and building management systems knowledge of customers and industry professionals.
Manufacturing and Distribution
The company operates eighteen manufacturing facilities, including seven in Mexico, six in the United States, three in Canada, and two in Europe. The company utilizes a blend of internal and outsourced manufacturing processes and capabilities to fulfill a variety of customer needs. The company’s investment in the company’s production facilities is focused primarily on improving capabilities, product quality, and manufacturing efficiency, as well as environmental, health, and safety compliance. The company also utilizes contract manufacturing from the U.S., Asian, and European sources for certain products.
The company operates seven manufacturing facilities in Mexico, some of which are authorized to operate as Maquiladoras by the Ministry of Economy of Mexico. Maquiladora status allows the company to import raw materials into Mexico duty-free, provided that such items, after processing, are exported from Mexico within a stipulated time frame. Maquiladora status, which is renewed periodically, is subject to various restrictions and requirements, including compliance with the terms of the Maquiladora program and other local regulations, which have become stricter in recent years.
The company operates seven distribution facilities, including five facilities in the United States and two in Canada.
During the year ended August 31, 2024 (fiscal 2024), net sales initiated outside of the U.S. represented approximately 15% of total net sales.
Regulations
The company is subject to various federal, state, and local laws and regulations that impose increasingly complex, stringent and costly compliance activities. These laws and regulations include but are not limited to, the Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Clean Water Act; the Safe Harbor data privacy program between the U.S. and European Union; the United States-Mexico-Canada-Free Trade Agreement (‘USMCA’); regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration agency; the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation; California’s Consumer Privacy Act and Connected Device Privacy Act; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other federal and state labor and employment laws and regulations; the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the ‘FCPA’); and the U.K. Bribery Act.
Intellectual Property
As of August 31, 2024, the company had approximately 1,600 total patent assets, including issued U.S. and foreign patents, as well as pending U.S. and foreign patent applications.
Seasonality
The company’s business exhibits some seasonality, with net sales being affected by weather and seasonal demand on construction and installation programs, particularly during the winter months, as well as the annual budget cycles of major customers. Historically, with certain exceptions, the company has experienced its highest sales in the last two quarters of the company’s fiscal year (year ended August 2024) due to these factors.
The company’s lighting and building technology solutions are sold to customers in both the new construction, as well as renovation and retrofit markets for residential and non-residential applications.
Research and Development
For the year ended August 31, 2024, the company's research and development expenses totaled $102.3 million.
History
The company was incorporated in 2001 under the laws of the state of Delaware. It was formerly known as Acuity Brands, Inc. and changed its name to Acuity Inc. in March 2025.