Acuity Brands has just acquired Intelligent Building Automation And Energy Management company Distech Controls for $252.8 million. Canadian based Distech has some innovative products to control HVAC, Access Control and Video Surveillance in Buildings; allowing connectivity and analysis of different systems. It generated $55.7m in sales last year, meaning Acuity paid an exit sales multiple of 4.5; no wonder Distech’s VC investors are calling this a “great exit”. Acuity Brands can now add Distech to their growing stable of acquisitions, including Adura Technologies, a company in the networked lighting space and eldoLED, a manufacturer of LED driver electronics. Acuity Brands reported total revenue of $2.93b and net income of $175.8m in the 12 months ending 31/08/2014. Clearly this was a strategic acquisition that will have little effect on their bottom line. So why now and why Distech Controls? We have written extensively about the confluence of IP, Wireless Technology and LED Lighting creating the perfect […]