UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

March 28, 2023

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio	1-2299		34-0117420
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One Applied Plaza	Cleveland	Ohio	44115
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)			(Zip Code)

(216) 426-4000

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, without par value	AIT	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

ITEM 8.01	OTHER EVENTS.

On March 28, 2023, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that Jon S. Ploetz has joined the Company as Vice President – General Counsel & Secretary. The Company’s press release announcement is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

ITEM 9.01	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. dated March 28 2023.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: March 29, 2023	By: /s/ David K. Wells
	David K. Wells, Vice President-Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

Document

EXHIBIT 99.1

News Release

Applied Industrial Technologies Names New General Counsel & Secretary

CLEVELAND, OH (March 28, 2023) – Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) today announced that Jon S. Ploetz has joined the Company as Vice President – General Counsel & Secretary. In this role, Ploetz will lead the Company’s global legal affairs, governance and compliance activities, ESG efforts, and corporate secretary duties. Ploetz succeeds Fred D. Bauer who elected to retire effective January 31, 2023, after 30 years of service to the Company. Bauer remained the Company’s Secretary throughout the replacement search; his official departure is March 31, 2023.

“Jon brings more than 20 years of skilled legal expertise in a diverse range of matters, including corporate governance, securities, M&A, and more. We look forward to the contributions he will make as we continue to execute our company-specific growth opportunities and long-range strategic plan,” said Neil A. Schrimsher, President & Chief Executive Officer. “We thank Fred for his leadership, commitment and valued role as a trusted advisor over the years,” added Schrimsher.

Ploetz joins Applied® from Harsco Corporation (NYSE: HSC), a market-leading global provider of environmental solutions for industrial and specialty waste streams, where he served as Vice President, Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary since 2018, and Assistant General Counsel, Corporate & Securities prior to that. His professional career also includes five years as Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary at Arch Coal, Inc., and nearly 10 years of law firm experience.

Ploetz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Statistics and Management from Luther College in Iowa, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado School of Law. He is a member of several professional groups, including the Society for Corporate Governance and the National Association of Corporate Directors.

About Applied®

Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies. Our leading brands, specialized services, and comprehensive knowledge serve MRO and OEM end users in virtually all industrial markets through our multi-channel capabilities that provide choice, convenience, and expertise. For more information, visit www.applied.com.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Ryan D. Cieslak

Director – Investor Relations & Treasury

216-426-4887 / rcieslak@applied.com

Julie A. Kho

Manager – Corporate Communications

& Public Relations

216-426-4483 / jkho@applied.com