Acuity Brands Announces Senior Notes Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI) announced a launch of senior unsecured notes through its subsidiary, Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. (ABL). The offering will be fully guaranteed by Acuity Brands and ABL IP Holding LLC. The proceeds from the notes will be used to prepay ABL's outstanding term loan and for general corporate purposes. BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan are the joint book-running managers for the offering. The timing and terms will depend on market conditions. The press release includes forward-looking statements concerning the offering and its risks.

Positive

• The proceeds will be used to prepay outstanding borrowings, potentially improving the company's financial health.

Negative

• The offering introduces additional debt obligations, which could increase financial risk.

Atlanta, Oct. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) (the “Company”) announced today that its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. (“ABL”), has launched an offering of senior unsecured notes. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and ABL IP Holding LLC (“ABL IP Holding”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ABL. The exact amount, terms and timing of the offering will depend upon market conditions and other factors.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to prepay all of the outstanding borrowings under ABL’s senior unsecured term loan and for general corporate purposes.

BofA Securities, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering of notes.

ABL has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus dated October 23, 2020 and a preliminary prospectus supplement dated October 27, 2020) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering of the notes. Prospective investors should read the prospectus in the registration statement, the preliminary prospectus supplement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company, ABL, ABL IP Holding and the offering. These documents are available for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Alternatively, copies may be obtained from BofA Securities, Inc. at 1-800-294-1322, or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. The Company designs, manufactures, and brings to market products and services that make the world more brilliant, productive, and connected including building management systems, lighting, lighting controls, and location-aware applications. Acuity Brands achieves growth through the development of innovative new products and services.

Through the Acuity Business System, Acuity Brands achieves customer-focused efficiencies that allow the Company to increase market share and deliver superior returns. The Company looks to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals.

Acuity Brands is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The Company is powered by over 10,000 dedicated and talented associates.

Forward-Looking Information

This release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that may be considered forward-looking include statements incorporating terms such as "expects," "believes," "intends," “estimates”, “forecasts,” "anticipates," “could,” “may,” “should”, “suggests,” “remain,” and similar terms that relate to future events, performance, or results of the Company and specifically include statements made in this press release regarding the completion of the proposed offering of the notes and the intended use of proceeds from the offering of the notes. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the historical experience of the Company and management's present expectations or projections. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements are more fully described in the Company’s SEC filings including risks discussed in Part I, “Item 1a. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2020. The discussion of those risks is specifically incorporated herein by reference. Management believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and management undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them considering new information or future events.

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Company Contact:                                      
Pete Shannin             
Acuity Brands, Inc.    
(770) 860-2873                      
Pete.Shannin@acuitybrands.com

 

FAQ

What is Acuity Brands' stock symbol?

The stock symbol for Acuity Brands is AYI.

What is the purpose of the senior unsecured notes offering by Acuity Brands?

The proceeds will be used to prepay outstanding borrowings under ABL's senior unsecured term loan and for general corporate purposes.

Who are the managers of the notes offering by Acuity Brands?

BofA Securities, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

When was the Acuity Brands' press release about the notes offering published?

The press release was published on October 27, 2020.