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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2019

We prepared the Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) to present the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of Acuity Brands and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. No material reclassifications occurred during the current period.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Adopted in Fiscal 2019

ASU 2017-01 -— Clarifying the Definition of a Business

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (“ASU 2017-01”), which requires an evaluation of whether substantially all of the fair value of assets obtained in an acquisition is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If so, the transaction does not qualify as a business. The guidance also requires an acquired business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs. We adopted ASU 2017-01 effective September 1, 2018 and applied the guidance prospectively. The provisions of ASU 2017-01 did not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

ASU 2016-15 — Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”), which is intended to reduce the diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. These cash flows include debt prepayment and extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, and proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance. We adopted ASU 2016-15 effective September 1, 2018 and applied the changes retrospectively. We maintain life insurance policies on certain former employees primarily to satisfy obligations under certain deferred compensation plans. As required by the standard, proceeds from these policies are now classified as cash inflows from investing activities. We received $0.8 million and $1.0 million from corporate-owned life insurance policies during the nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As such, cash flows from operations for the nine months ended May 31,

2018 decreased $1.0 million, with a corresponding increase to cash flows from investing activities, compared to amounts previously reported. The remaining provisions of ASU 2016-15 did not impact our financial statements for the periods presented.

ASU 2017-07 — Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation — Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (“ASU 2017-07”), which changes the presentation of net periodic pension cost related to employer sponsored defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits. Service cost is now included within the same income statement line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period, while other components of net periodic pension cost are presented separately outside of operating income. Additionally, only service costs may be capitalized in assets. We adopted ASU 2017-07 effective as of September 1, 2018. We applied the standard retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost within our income statements. As a practical expedient, we used amounts previously disclosed in the Pension and Defined Contribution Plans footnote of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements within our Form 10-K as the basis for retrospective application because amounts capitalized in inventory at a given point in time are de minimis and determining these amounts was impractical. Upon adoption of ASU 2017-07, our previously reported Operating profit for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2018 increased $1.5 million and $4.6 million, respectively, with a corresponding increase to Miscellaneous expense (income), net. The provisions of ASU 2017-07 have no impact to our net income or earnings per share.

The impact of the provisions of ASU 2017-07 on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2018 are as follows (in millions):



	Three Months Ended May 31, 2018									Nine Months Ended May 31, 2018
	As Revised			Previously Reported			Higher (Lower)			As Revised		Previously Reported			Higher (Lower)
Cost of products sold	$	554.9		$	554.6		$	0.3		$	1,545.4	$	1,544.4		$	1.0
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses	271.8			273.6			(1.8		)	745.7		751.3			(5.6		)
Miscellaneous expense (income), net	(0.2		)	(1.7		)	1.5			3.8		(0.8		)	4.6

ASC 606 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which replaced the existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Since the issuance of ASU 2014-09, the FASB released several amendments to improve and clarify the implementation guidance, as well as to change the effective date. These standards have been collectively codified within Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). ASC 606 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The standard also requires additional disclosures about the nature, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in those judgments.

We adopted ASC 606 effective September 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method and recognized a cumulative effect of applying ASC 606 of $13.0 million in Retained earnings on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of this date. We applied the standard to all contracts as of the transition date. Information for prior years presented has not been restated and continues to reflect the authoritative accounting standards in effect for those periods.

Adjustments related to the adoption of ASC 606 include additional deferrals of revenue recognition for service-type warranties and the gross presentation of right of return assets and refund liabilities for sales with a right of return. The effects of the adoption of ASC 606 on our Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019, and the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of May 31, 2019 are as follows (in millions except per share amounts):



Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income	Three Months Ended May 31, 2019							Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019
	As Currently Reported		Without ASC 606 Adoption		Higher (Lower)			As Currently Reported		Without ASC 606 Adoption		Higher (Lower)
Net sales	$	947.6	$	951.4	$	(3.8	)	$	2,734.6	$	2,742.4	$	(7.8	)
Cost of products sold	564.0		566.2		(2.2		)	1,649.6		1,653.6		(4.0		)
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses	263.4		263.4		—			751.1		750.9		0.2
Operating profit	120.3		121.9		(1.6		)	332.6		336.6		(4.0		)
Income tax expense	23.4		23.8		(0.4		)	70.1		71.1		(1.0		)
Net income	88.4		89.6		(1.2		)	234.3		237.3		(3.0		)

Basic earnings per share	$	2.23	$	2.26	$	(0.03	)	$	5.89	$	5.97	$	(0.08	)
Diluted earnings per share	2.22		2.25		(0.03		)	5.87		5.95		(0.08		)



Consolidated Balance Sheet	May 31, 2019
	As Currently Reported		Without ASC 606 Adoption	Higher (Lower)
Accounts receivable, net	$	586.0	564.7	$	21.3
Prepayments and other current assets	69.0		53.7	15.3
Other accrued liabilities	176.7		139.8	36.9
Deferred income tax liabilities	89.6		94.8	(5.2		)
Other long-term liabilities	98.7		77.8	20.9
Retained earnings	2,204.9		2,220.9	(16.0		)

Accounting Standards Yet to Be Adopted

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract (“ASU 2018-15”), which will require customers to apply internal-use software guidance to determine the implementation costs that are able to be capitalized. Capitalized implementation costs will be required to be amortized over the term of the arrangement, beginning when the cloud computing arrangement is ready for its intended use. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2019. The standard allows changes to be applied either retrospectively or prospectively. We will adopt the standard as required in fiscal 2021. The provisions of ASU 2018-15 are not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires an entity to assess impairment of its financial instruments based on its estimate of expected credit losses. The provisions of ASU 2016-13 are effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2019. Entities are required to apply these changes through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. We will adopt the amendments as required in fiscal 2021. The provisions of ASU 2016-13 are not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lessees to include most leases on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2018. Since the issuance of ASU 2016-02, the FASB released several amendments to improve and clarify the implementation guidance, as well as to change the allowable adoption methods. These standards have been collectively codified within ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). The standard allows entities to present the effects of the accounting change as either a cumulative adjustment as of the beginning of the earliest period presented or as of the date of adoption. We have an implementation team tasked with reviewing our lease obligations and determining the impact of the new standard to our financial statements. The team is also tasked with identifying appropriate changes to our business processes, systems, and controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard. Currently, the implementation team has substantially completed its review of outstanding property and equipment leases, which represent our primary outstanding lease obligations. The team is in the process of reviewing and analyzing other contracts that may have ASC 842 impacts, including information technology contracts. The implementation team reports its findings and progress of the project to management on a frequent basis and to

the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. Based on our current lease portfolio, we preliminarily expect ASC 842 to have a material impact on our consolidated balance sheets primarily related to the recognition of operating lease assets and liabilities. However, we do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income or cash flows. Further details regarding our undiscounted future lease payments as well as the timing of those payments are included within the Commitments and Contingencies footnote of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements within our Form 10-K. We will adopt the standard as required on September 1, 2019.

All other newly issued accounting pronouncements not yet effective have been deemed either immaterial or not applicable.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when we transfer control of goods and services to our customers. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for goods and services and is recognized net of allowances for rebates, sales incentives, product returns, and discounts to customers. Sales and use taxes collected on behalf of governmental authorities are excluded from revenues. Payment is generally due and received within 60 days from the point of sale or prior to the transfer of control of certain goods and services. No payment terms extend beyond one year, and we apply the practical expedient within ASC 606 to conclude that no significant financing terms exist within our contracts with customers. Allowances for cash discounts to customers are estimated using the expected value method based on historical experience and are recorded as a reduction to sales. Our standard terms and conditions of sale allow for the return of certain products within four months of the date of shipment. We also provide for limited product return rights to certain distributors and other customers, primarily for slow moving or damaged items subject to certain defined criteria. The limited product return rights generally allow customers to return resalable products purchased within a specified time period and subject to certain limitations, including, at times, when accompanied by a replacement order of equal or greater value. At the time revenue is recognized, we record a refund liability for the expected value of future returns primarily based on historical experience, specific notification of pending returns, or based on contractual terms with the respective customers. Although historical product returns generally have been within expectations, there can be no assurance that future product returns will not exceed historical amounts. A significant increase in product returns could have a material adverse impact on our operating results in future periods.

Total refund liabilities recorded under ASC 606 related to rights of return, cash discounts, and other miscellaneous credits to customers were $38.8 million and $41.2 million as of May 31, 2019 and September 1, 2018, respectively, and are reflected within Other accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additionally, we record right of return assets for products expected to be returned to our distribution centers, which are included within Prepayments and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Such assets totaled $15.3 million and $16.4 million as of May 31, 2019 and September 1, 2018, respectively.

We also maintain one-time or ongoing marketing and trade-promotion programs with certain customers that require us to estimate and accrue the expected costs of such programs. These arrangements include cooperative marketing programs, merchandising of our products, introductory marketing funds for new products, and other trade-promotion activities conducted by the customer. Costs associated with these programs are generally estimated based on the most likely amount expected to be settled based on the context of the individual contract and are reflected within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income in accordance with ASC 606, which in most instances requires such costs to be recorded as reductions of revenue. The refund liabilities associated with these programs totaled $31.8 million and $43.9 million as of May 31, 2019 and September 1, 2018, respectively, and are reflected within Other accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Costs to obtain and fulfill contracts, such as sales commissions and shipping and handling activities, are short-term in nature and are expensed as incurred.

Nature of Goods and Services

Products

Approximately 95% of revenues for the periods presented were generated from short-term contracts with our customers to deliver tangible goods such as luminaires, lighting controllers, controllers for various building systems, power supplies, prismatic skylights, and drivers. We record revenue from these contracts when the customer obtains control of those goods. For sales designated free on board shipping point, control is transferred at the time of shipment. For sales designated free on board destination, customers take control when a product is delivered to the customer’s delivery site.

Professional Services

We collect fees associated with training, installation, and technical support services, primarily related to the set up of our lighting solutions. We recognize revenue for these one-time services at the time the service is performed. We also sell certain service-type warranties that extend coverages for products beyond their base warranties. We account for service-type warranties as distinct performance obligations and recognize revenue for these contracts ratably over the life of the additional warranty period. Claims related to service-type warranties are expensed as incurred.

Software

Software sales include licenses for software, data usage fees, and software as a service arrangements, which generally extend for one year or less. We recognize revenue for software based on the contractual rights provided to a customer, which typically results in the recognition of revenue ratably over the contractual service period.

Shipping and Handling Activities

We account for all shipping and handling activities as activities to fulfill the promise to transfer products to our customers. As such, we do not consider shipping and handling activities to be separate performance obligations, and we expense these costs as incurred.

Contracts with Multiple Performance Obligations

A small portion (approximately 5% for the periods presented) of our revenue was derived from the combination of any or all of our products, professional services, and software licenses. Significant judgment may be required to determine which performance obligations are distinct and should be accounted for separately. We allocate the expected consideration to be collected to each distinct performance obligation based on its standalone selling price. Standalone selling price is generally determined using a cost plus margin valuation when no observable input is available. The amount of consideration allocated to each performance obligation is recognized as revenue in accordance with the timing for products, professional services, and software as described above.

Contract Balances

Our rights related to collections from customers are unconditional and are reflected within Accounts receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We do not have any other significant contract assets. Contract liabilities arise when we receive cash or an unconditional right to collect cash prior to the transfer of control of goods or services.

The amount of transaction price from contracts with customers allocated to our contract liabilities as of May 31, 2019 and September 1, 2018 consists of the following (in millions):



	May 31, 2019		September 1, 2018
Current deferred revenues	$	8.5	$	4.8
Non-current deferred revenues	43.7		35.0

Current deferred revenues primarily consist of customer prepayments, software licenses, and to a lesser extent professional service and sales-type warranty fees collected prior to performing the related service. Current deferred revenues are included within Other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These services are expected to be performed within one year. Non-current deferred revenues primarily consist of long-term service-type warranties, which are typically recognized ratably as revenue between five and ten years from the date of sale, and are included

within Other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Revenue recognized from beginning balances of contract liabilities during the nine months ended May 31, 2019 totaled $3.7 million.

Unsatisfied performance obligations that do not represent contract liabilities consist primarily of orders for physical goods that have not yet been shipped. This backlog of orders at any given time is affected by various factors, including seasonality, cancellations, sales promotions, production cycle times, and the timing of receipt and shipment of orders, which are usually shipped within a few weeks of order receipt. Accordingly, a comparison of backlog orders from period to period is not necessarily meaningful and may not be indicative of future shipments.

Disaggregated Revenues

Our lighting and building management solutions are sold primarily through independent sales agents who cover specific geographic areas and market channels, by internal sales representatives, through consumer retail channels, and directly to large corporate accounts

Methodologies used to determine fair values of financial assets and liabilities

We utilize valuation methodologies to determine the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities in conformity with the concepts of “exit price” and the fair value hierarchy as prescribed in ASC 820. All valuation methods and assumptions are validated at least quarterly to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the fair values. There were no material changes to the valuation methods or assumptions used to determine fair values during the current period.

Recognition of transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy

We used quoted market prices to determine the fair value of Level 1 assets and liabilities. No transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy occurred during the current fiscal period. In the event of a transfer in or out of a level within the fair value hierarchy, the transfers would be recognized on the date of occurrence.