Baron Funds Comments on Acuity Brands Inc

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Jul 22, 2014

Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI), which provides LED lighting systems for commercial real estate facilities, typifies our fallen angel investments. After our initial purchase in 2011, the stock dropped off sharply in reaction to an earnings miss. We used the weakness to significantly increase our position in Acuity. Since then, the stock has more than doubled. The company has an extensive distribution network and expertise in complex lighting schemes that is unparalleled in the industry, and we think it will continue to take market share in the growing number of commercial buildings being retrofit with energy efficient lighting systems.

From Baron Funds' Second Quarter 2014 Shareholder Letter.