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Acuity Brands Named IMARK Group 2010 Supplier of the Year

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^{Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, November 23rd 2010 at 5:35 GMT by Market Wire}  

ATLANTA--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Acuity Brands ] (NYSE: AYI), a market leader in innovative energy efficient lighting and control solutions, is proud to announce that it was selected as IMARK Groupa™s 2010 aSupplier of the Yeara and received the award at IMARKa™s Annual Meeting. As a co-operative of major distributors for Acuity Brandsa™ products, the IMARK Group represents over 2,000 distributor locations.

"Congratulations on earning our Supplier of the Year award. Acuity Brands, its Lithonia Lighting unit and its agents have built a strong partnership with the IMARK Group and its members. The award is greatly deserved."

The award winner was selected by IMARKa™s over 1,100 member companies. Members used the following criteria when rating preferred suppliers: annual sales growth and overall performance, marketing support for IMARK programs, new product promotion and communication activities, IMARK member training through IMARK University, and creative efforts to serve new IMARK members.

During the presentation of the award, IMARKa™s President, Bob Smith said, aCongratulations on earning our Supplier of the Year award. Acuity Brands, its Lithonia Lighting unit and its agents have built a strong partnership with the IMARK Group and its members. The award is greatly deserved.a

aThe breadth and depth of Acuity Brandsa™ distribution network are unrivaled in the lighting industry,a said Chuck Meteer, Acuity Brands Lighting Senior Vice President, Sales and Channel Management. aIt is indeed special when a distribution partner such as IMARK Group recognizes us for what we believe is a core strength. We strive for excellence in all facets of our relationships with our customers and channel partners.a

For more information, please visit [ www.acuitybrands.com ] and [ www.imarkgroup.com ]

About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. is a North American market leader and one of the worlda™s leading providers of luminaires, lighting control systems and related products and services with fiscal year 2010 net sales of over $1.6 billion. The Companya™s lighting and system control product lines include Lithonia Lighting®, Holophane®, Peerless®, Mark Architectural Lightinga", Hydrel®, American Electric Lighting®, Gotham®, Carandini®, RELOC®, Antique Street Lampsa", Tersen®, Renaissance Lighting®, Winona Lighting®, Synergy® Lighting Controls, Sensor Switch®, Lighting Control & Designa", DTL® and ROAM®. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 6,000 associates and has operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

About IMARK Group

IMARK GROUP, Inc. is a member-owned marketing group made up of over 1,100 independently owned electrical distributors throughout the United States. Our membership includes over 70 members in the Top 200 largest distributors in the country. Member companies serve their local customers from over 2,000 branch locations. With over $15 billion in combined sales, IMARK Group is the largest member owned, member governed cooperative in the US electrical industry.

IMARK members are market-leading companies serving the needs of electrical contractors, industrial and institutional MRO customers, electric utilities and other customer types throughout the country. At the heart of IMARK's success is its relationship with over 100 of the electrical industry's leading manufacturers and service providers. IMARK members work closely with these companies to satisfy end customers while members and suppliers maximize profitability, increase market share, and strengthen business relationships.

IMARK Group, Inc. is headquartered in Bowie, Maryland and was founded on February 1, 1996 as the result of a merger between The Independent Electrical Distributors Group (TIED) and Western Independent Electrical Distributors (WIED). In January 2009, IMARK Group merged with the Equity/EDN marketing group. Moving forward, IMARK Group will be a haven for high quality electrical distributors that intend to maintain their independence and enjoy high quality relationships with the electrical industrya™s leading manufacturers.

One of the largest independent marketing cooperatives in the United States, IMARK Group is an associate member of the National Association of Electrical Distributors and the National Cooperative Business Association.