Applied Industrial (AIT) officer receives RSUs, performance shares and SARs

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) officer Jon S. Ploetz received equity awards on 08/12/2025 that were reported on Form 4. The filing shows the acquisition of 473 restricted stock units and 734 performance-based shares, both recorded as $0 purchase price awards and reflected as beneficial ownership totals of 2,708 and 3,442 shares respectively after each transaction. The filing also reports the grant of 1,453 stock appreciation rights (SARs) with a $270.68 exercise/conversion price, exercisable in annual 25% increments beginning 08/12/2026 and expiring 08/12/2035. The awards consist of time-vested restricted stock units, performance shares banked for the 2025 program, and stock-only SARs; they were signed by a power of attorney on 08/14/2025.

Positive

• Long-term alignment: Grants consist of restricted stock units and performance shares that vest over three years, aligning officer incentives with shareholder performance.
• No cash outlay: Awards were reported at $0, indicating they are compensation grants rather than purchases, preserving executive cash while tying value to stock performance.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Compensation/Corporate Governance Analyst

TL;DR: Routine equity compensation awarded to a senior officer aligning pay with shareholder outcomes; no cash consideration reported.

The Form 4 documents customary long-term incentive awards: restricted stock units (vesting in three years), performance shares banked under the 2025 program (vesting at program end), and stock-only SARs with a $270.68 conversion reference price. These grants are disclosed as acquisitions at $0 and increase beneficial ownership by modest share counts (2,708 and 3,442 reported totals after transactions, plus 1,453 SARs). For governance review, key points are the mix of time-based and performance-based awards and delayed exercisability of SARs, which tie pay to multi-year performance without immediate dilution from a cash purchase.

Securities/Insider Transactions Specialist

TL;DR: Filing shows non-sale insider acquisitions under standard equity plans; transactions are procedural and not an indication of trading in company stock.

This Section 16 filing records acquisitions rather than disposals and includes specific mechanics: RSUs settled in shares, performance shares to be settled in shares after the three-year program, and SARs exercisable over a multi-year schedule. The filing is mechanically complete, cites the $270.68 SAR price, and is executed by a POA. From a securities compliance perspective, the filing meets disclosure of insider ownership changes and timing (08/12/2025 transactions, 08/14/2025 signature).

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Ploetz Jon S

(Last) (First) (Middle)

ONE APPLIED PLAZA

(Street)

CLEVELAND OH 44115

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES INC [ AIT ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	VP-General Counsel & Secretary

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/12/2025

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	08/12/2025		A		473(1)	A	$0	2,708	D
Common Stock	08/12/2025		A		734(2)	A	$0	3,442	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Appreciation Rights	$270.68	08/12/2025		A		1,453		08/12/2026(3)	08/12/2035	Common Stock	1,453	$0	1,453	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Restricted stock units that vest three years from the date of grant and are settled in shares of Applied common stock.

2. Performance shares "banked" as a result of 2025 performance. Performance shares vest at end of three-year program and are settled in shares of Applied common stock.

3. Stock-only stock appreciation rights which become exercisable in annual increments of 25% commencing one year after the date of grant.

Remarks:

	/s/ Patricia A. Comai, POA for Jon S. Ploetz	08/14/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What transactions did Jon S. Ploetz report on the AIT Form 4?

The filing reports acquisitions on 08/12/2025 of 473 restricted stock units, 734 performance shares (banked for 2025), and 1,453 stock appreciation rights.

When do the restricted stock units and performance shares vest?

The restricted stock units vest three years from the grant date; performance shares vest at the end of the three-year performance program.

What are the terms of the stock appreciation rights (SARs)?

The SARs have a conversion/exercise price of $270.68, are exercisable in annual 25% increments beginning 08/12/2026, and expire on 08/12/2035.

Did Jon S. Ploetz pay for these shares?

No purchase price is reported; the acquisitions are recorded at $0, indicating they are awards under the company’s equity plans.

Who signed the Form 4 filing?

The form was signed on behalf of Jon S. Ploetz by Patricia A. Comai, POA on 08/14/2025.