EXHIBIT 99.1


                      ACUITY BRANDS NAMES EDWARD H. BASTIAN
              AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

ATLANTA -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- April 27, 2005 -- Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI)
announced today that Edward H. Bastian, age 47, will be joining the Company as
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on June 1, 2005. Mr. Bastian
has over twenty-five years of financial experience, most recently as Senior Vice
President, Finance and Controller of Delta Air Lines, Inc. Mr. Bastian's
responsibilities at Delta included internal and external financial reporting,
financial planning and analysis, and Sarbanes-Oxley implementation and
compliance. Mr. Bastian spearheaded the implementation of SAP financial systems
at Delta, including process and organization redesign, and was instrumental in
the company's cost reduction efforts following the events of September 11, 2001.
Previously, Mr. Bastian served as Vice President of Finance and Controller of
Frito-Lay International and as a partner with Price Waterhouse in its audit
practice.

Karen J. Holcom, who has served as Interim Chief Financial Officer since the
Company's promotion of Vernon J. Nagel to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
will continue to serve as Vice President and Controller of Acuity Brands.

Vernon J. Nagel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands, said,
"We conducted an extensive search for the right person to serve as the Chief
Financial Officer of Acuity Brands, and we are excited to add Ed Bastian to our
senior management team. Ed has built a strong track record of success and
achievement in his career. His financial and strategic management skills will be
of tremendous value to Acuity Brands as we continue to implement programs to
accomplish our goal of becoming a high performance organization for our
customers, shareholders, and employees."

Mr. Bastian said, "I look forward to joining Acuity Brands. The Company is
solidly positioned in its markets and is seeking to become even stronger, with
customer and operational excellence its top priorities. I look forward to
contributing to the Company's future success."

Acuity Brands, Inc., with fiscal year 2004 net sales of over $2.1 billion, is
comprised of Acuity Brands Lighting and Acuity Specialty Products. Acuity Brands
Lighting is one of the world's leading providers of lighting fixtures and
includes brands such as Lithonia Lighting(R), Holophane(R), Peerless(R),
Hydrel(R), American Electric Lighting(R), and Gotham(R). Acuity Specialty
Products is a leading provider of specialty chemicals and includes brands such
as Zep(R), Zep Commercial(TM), Enforcer(R), and Selig(TM). Headquartered in
Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 10,000 people and has
operations throughout North America and in Europe and Asia.