AIT Applied Industrial Technologies Inc

• New Share Repurchase Plan Authorized

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) today reported third quarter fiscal 2015 sales and earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Net sales for the quarter were $680.0 million, an increase of 10.0% compared with $618.0 million in the same quarter a year ago. Net income for the quarter was $28.6 million, or $0.70 per share, compared with $30.4 million, or $0.72 per share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Prior year earnings reflect a $0.07 per share benefit from one-time tax benefits and a $0.02 per share benefit from other tax accrual reversals.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2015, sales increased 14.9% to $2.07 billion from $1.81 billion in the same period last year. Net income increased to $87.4 million from $83.1 million, and earnings per share increased 7.7% to $2.11 per share from $1.96 per share last year.

Commenting on the results, Applied's President & Chief Executive Officer Neil A. Schrimsher said, "The third quarter presented some challenges, including a deceleration of industrial market demand and foreign exchange headwinds. Our overall sales increase for the quarter reflects a 10.6% increase from acquisition related volume coupled with a 1.3% rise in our core underlying operations, offset by a negative 1.9% foreign currency translation impact. We dealt with these challenges and headwinds in our top line growth through effective cost controls within the quarter, and we will take additional actions as we move towards completing our fiscal year.

"We are revising our full-year guidance range for earnings per share to between $2.80 and $2.95 per share, on a sales increase of 11.5% to 13%. Overall, Applied is well-positioned – with a strong foundation, expanding capabilities and a straightforward strategic plan. We are focused on meeting the product, service and solution needs of current and new industrial customers."

In addition, Mr. Schrimsher announced that the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per common share. The dividend is payable on May 29, 2015, to shareholders of record on May 15, 2015.

During the quarter, the Company purchased 870,200 shares of its common stock in open market transactions for $37.3 million. Fiscal year to date, the Company has purchased 1.3 million shares for a total of $59.2 million. On April 28, the Board of Directors approved a new authorization to repurchase up to 1.5 million shares, in open market and negotiated transactions, replacing the existing authorization.

"We are pleased with the Board's authorization of a new stock repurchase plan. This action reflects our continued confidence in the Company's growth opportunities and our ongoing commitment to enhance shareholder value," added Mr. Schrimsher.

Applied will host its quarterly conference call for investors and analysts at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 30. Neil A. Schrimsher – President & CEO, and Mark O. Eisele – CFO will discuss the Company's performance. To join the call, dial 1-800-755-1805 or 1-212-231-2910 (for International callers). A live audio webcast can be accessed online through the investor relations portion of the Company's website at www.applied.com. A replay of the call will be available for two weeks by dialing 1-800-633-8284 or 1-402-977-9140 (International) using passcode 21766597.

With more than 570 facilities and 5,900 employee associates, Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading industrial distributor that offers more than five million parts to serve the needs of MRO and OEM customers in virtually every industry. In addition, Applied provides engineering, design and systems integration for industrial and fluid power applications, as well as customized mechanical, fabricated rubber and fluid power shop services. Applied also offers maintenance training and inventory management solutions that provide added value to its customers. Applied can be visited on the Internet at www.applied.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. Applied intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are often identified by qualifiers such as "guidance" and derivative or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors including trends in the industrial sector of the economy, and other risk factors identified in Applied's most recent periodic report and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by Applied or any other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved. Applied assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, or events, or otherwise.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) Applied uses the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of valuing U.S. inventory. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can only be made at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management's estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory determination.

(2) On July 1, 2014, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Knox Oil Field Supply Inc. ("Knox"), headquartered in San Angelo, Texas, for a purchase price of $132.5 million.

On July 1, 2014, the Company acquired substantially all of the net assets of Rodamientos y Derivados del Norte S.A de C.V., a Mexican distributor of bearings and power transmission products and related products, and Great Southern Bearings / Northam Bearings, a Western Australia distributor of bearings and power transmission products. On November 3, 2014, the Company acquired Ira Pump and Supply Inc., a Texas distributor of oilfield pumps and supplies. The combined total purchase price of these acquisitions was $54.9 million.

The financial results of the operations acquired have been included in the Service Center Based Distribution Segment as of the acquisition date.

(3) Effective July 1, 2013, the Company aligned the consolidation of the Company's Canadian subsidiaries in the consolidated financial statements which previously included results on a one month reporting lag. The Company has determined that the effect of this change is not material to the financial statements for all periods presented and therefore has not presented retrospective application of this change. The net impact of the lag elimination was $1.2 million of additional income and has been included within "Other (income) expense, net" on the Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income for the nine months ended March 31, 2014.

(4) During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, $2.8 million of tax reserves were reversed which reduced income tax expense by the same amount and resulted in an increase to earnings per share in the quarter of $0.07.

CONTACT: For investor relations information, contact
         Mark O. Eisele, Vice President - Chief Financial Officer
         216-426-4417
         For corporate information, contact
         Julie A. Kho, Manager - Public Relations
         216-426-4483

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