SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* WITTICH WESLEY E (Last) (First) (Middle) 1170 PEACHTREE STREET, NE SUITE 2400 (Street) ATLANTA GA 30309 (City) (State) (Zip)	2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 07/01/2004	3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ACUITY BRANDS INC [ AYI ]
		4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) Director 10% Owner X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) SVP, Audit & Risk Mgmt.	5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
			6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) X Form filed by One Reporting Person Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	31,947(1)	D
Common Stock	596	I	by 401(k)

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option	(2)	12/02/2011	Common Stock	46,873	13.8	D
Employee Stock Option	(3)	10/23/2010	Common Stock	25,050	16.5	D
Employee Stock Option	(3)	03/14/2005	Common Stock	2,341	22.53	D
Employee Stock Option	(3)	01/04/2010	Common Stock	4,682	23.65	D
Employee Stock Option	(2)	12/17/2013	Common Stock	15,880	23.69	D
Employee Stock Option	(3)	03/19/2006	Common Stock	2,341	28.62	D
Employee Stock Option	(3)	09/21/2008	Common Stock	4,097	29.95	D
Employee Stock Option	(3)	09/16/2006	Common Stock	2,341	32.46	D
Employee Stock Option	(3)	09/22/2007	Common Stock	3,511	37.85	D
Stock Units	(5)	(5)	Common Stock	5,831	(4)	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The total direct shares owned includes 9,615 time-vesting restricted shares.

2. This option vests in equal annual installments over a three year period.

3. This option vests in equal annual installments over a four-year period.

4. 1-for-1

5. Stock Units are payable in cash according to the provisions of the Acuity Brands, Inc. Supplemental Deferred Savings Plan.

	Wesley E. Wittich	07/02/2004
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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