Document:

Ex-10.78 Invisa, Inc.

 

Exhibit 10.78

G.M. CAPITAL PARTNERS, LTD.

September 9, 2003

Invisa, Inc.

Attention: Stephen Michael, President

4400 Independence court

Sarasota, FL 34234

Dear Mr. Michael:

This letter confirms the engagement agreement (the “Agreement”)
between G.M. Capital Partners, Ltd. (“GMC”) and Invisa, Inc. a Nevada
corporation, (hereinafter “Invisa” or the
“Company”) pursuant to which
GMC will furnish management consulting, financial advisory and
investor relations services. GMC will assist Invisa in the capacity
as detailed below.

1. RESPONSIBILITY OF GMC

A.     Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, GMC services will
include, among
other things, a due diligence overview of the Company including;
reviewing Invisa’s current financial position and projections relating
to Invisa’s capital requirements, analyzing the proforma effects of
the financing on such projections, and rendering advice on methods of
structuring such financing (“Financing”).

B.     It is expressly acknowledged and agreed by the parties hereto that
GMC’s obligations do not insure the successful negotiation of or
obtaining of any type of Financing for Invisa and any efforts for
obtaining Financing shall be on a “best efforts” basis only. GMC is
not a registered broker dealer.

C.     The central task of GMC will be attracting suitable entities that
are in the business of, or interested, in making equity or debt
investments in companies such as Invisa. GMC’s role will include
assisting the Company in proposing an equity or debt investment in
Invisa to prospective investors, presenting Invisa’s analysis in
support of the investment, and structuring and negotiating the
financial terms of the investment.

D.     We will also assist in the coordination of the many parties involved and
attend

“Registered in the British
Virgin Islands”

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to the numerous technical details required in arranging and finalizing
any transaction. These tasks often present substantive issues or other
difficulties and constitute the most time-consuming aspects of a Financing,
requiring an anticipation of problems and experienced coordination of attorneys
and other parties, as appropriate.

2. INFORMATION

A.     GMC will perform services for the Company in all areas generally considered
to be management consulting, financial advisory and investor relations,
including but not limited to the preparation and dissemination of financial
publicity, annual and interim reports for stockholders and the financial
community, preparation and dissemination of information concerning the
Company’s operations, and consultation with respect to financial negotiations
with investment banking firms, lenders and private investors.

B.     Information to be released by GMC will be disseminated to general, financial
and trade media, the investment banking community, banks and statistical
organizations, all as deemed necessary or appropriate by GMC and the Company.

C.     All information to be disseminated through GMC will be based upon material
furnished by the Company and will be released only after receipt by GMC of
final approval from the Company. The Company recognized that GMC may have,
either at the present time or in the future, obligations imposed upon it by the
federal securities laws to verify independently certain of the information
contained in release being made through it. Accordingly, the Company agrees
that GMC shall have the right to make such reasonable inquiries as it shall
deem necessary or appropriate of officers and employees of the Company and its
counsel and auditors with respect to information being released by GMC upon
approval by designated management. Such approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld. The Company recognizes that the accuracy and completeness of all
information contained in release ultimately rests with the Company and agrees
to indemnify and hold GMC harmless from and against any loss and expense
arising out of a claim that any information released by GMC is inaccurate or
incomplete.

     D.     You acknowledge and understand that GMC, in order to perform its services
effectively under this agreement, and to satisfy such obligation as may be
imposed upon it by the federal securities laws, requires the prompt receipt of
all material information with respect to the Company, its operations and its
prospects. Accordingly, you agree to furnish promptly to GMC copies of all
reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all
communications with Stockholders and all reports received from your auditors.
Furthermore, you recognize the necessity of promptly notifying GMC of all
material developments concerning the
Company, its business and prospects and to supply GMC with sufficient
information

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necessary for GMC to make a determination as to its compliance with
its own procedures as well as any legal requirements.

3. COMPENSATION TO GMC

In consideration of our services as set forth above, GMC shall be entitled to
receive, and Invisa agrees to pay to GMC the following:

A.     GMC will receive a success fee (“Success fee”) in the form of a cash payment
in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the gross proceeds of any private
Financing, including any form of equity, convertible debt, debt with warrants,
debt with equity incentives to the lender, or any other form of equity, debt or
guarantees obtained by or invested in Invisa payable upon closing or receipt of
funds by Invisa or any entity described in Paragraph 5., whichever is earlier.
GMC agrees that it will adjust its Success Fee in the event that a fee is
required to be paid to a third party. Such adjustment will be made to reflect
usual and customary practices in these types of transactions with a limit of
total aggregate combined compensation payable to GMC and all third parties
being no more than 12%.

B.     Invisa shall have sole discretion in determining what constitutes an
acceptable Financing as contemplated by this Agreement. GMC shall earn the
Success Fee only upon the closing or receipt of funds from a Financing as
described in 3.A, above, and not merely for presenting a financing option or
prospective investor which in Invisa’s sole discretion is unacceptable.

C.     GMC will be retained as Financial Advisor, Management Consultant and
Investors Relations firm for the Company at a fee of $5,000 per month. Monthly
payments will commence on September 1st, 2003, and will be payable on the 1st
of each month for twelve (12) consecutive months.

D.     GMC’s out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed on a pre-approved basis.

4. EXCLUSIVITY

A.     From the effective date of this Agreement, Invisa and its officers will not
engage any other person or entity to serve as its agent or representative to
provide services similar to those to be provided by GMC through the term of
this Agreement without the prior written consent of GMC and such consent would
not be unreasonably withheld.

B.     If for a period of two (2) years after successfully closing a Financing, as
contemplated under this Agreement, Invisa desires to commence any Transaction
(as hereinafter defined), and GMC has the expertise, resources and infrastructure
to

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complete such a transaction (as determined by an independent
industry-related third party mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto) GMC
shall have the right of first refusal to act as Invisa’s financial advisors, to
arrange for placement agents or underwriters, as the case may be, with respect
to any such Transaction or Transactions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term “Transaction” shall include each of the following; the purchase, sale,
merger, consolidation or any other business combination, in one or a series of
transactions involving Invisa or any sale of securities of Invisa or a New
Entity as described below, effected pursuant to a private sale or an
underwritten public offering.

C.     If Invisa decides to actively pursue any such Transaction and GMC has the
expertise, resources and infrastructure to complete such a transaction (as
determined by an independent industry-related third party) and exercises the
right of first refusal provided hereunder, GMC and Invisa will enter into an
agreement appropriate to the circumstances containing provisions for among
other things, compensation, indemnification, contribution, and representations
and warranties which are usual and customary for similar agreements entered
into by GMC or other investment bankers of national standing acting in similar
transactions. Invisa agrees that it will not enter into any such Transaction,
unless GMC has waived their right of first refusal with respect thereto or
prior to or simultaneously with the consummation of such Transaction, until
adequate provision is made with respect to the payment of compensation to GMC
as contemplated hereby.

D.     Invisa will provide GMC a list of contacts that it has been in discussions
with regarding possible Transactions attached hereto as Schedule A. Invisa
will consult with GMC as to GMC’s involvement in the Transaction. GMC will
provide Invisa with its list of contacts on a monthly basis, to include name,
address and phone number for the sole purpose of Invisa to log GMC’s contacts
in the event of future possible business conducted with the contacts of GMC.

E.     This agreement may be terminated by mutual consent between GMC and Invisa.

5. ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER OF OBLIGATION

In the event that Invisa contributes, pledges, guarantees or otherwise conveys
any of its assets (including without limitation the assets of its subsidiaries
or affiliates) to, or incurs any liabilities on behalf of, or grants the
authority to operate its business(es) or affiliated business(es) to a new
entity, whether a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or national
person (“New Entity”) for the purpose of obtaining Financing as contemplated by
this Agreement that would result in a circumvention of this Agreement, then GMC
will be compensated by Invisa for whatever funds were received by the New
Entity on the same basis as if the funds were invested directly in Invisa. The
parties further agree that all Invisa’s rights and obligations under the
Agreement will be equally binding upon New Entity and that Invisa will not
enter into

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or create any agreement, undertaking or legal obligation with a New
Entity without requiring said New Entity to accept and satisfy Invisa’s right
and obligations under this Agreement as if they were their own.

6. TWO YEAR PROVISION

If, within two (2) years from the termination of this Agreement, Invisa or its
officers consummate any Financing with any party to whom Invisa or its officers
were introduced by GMC or who was contacted by GMC in connection with its
services for Invisa hereunder, or who received information prepared by GMC in
connection with the Financing, then Invisa shall pay to GMC the agreed upon
compensation.

7. TERMINATION

This Agreement shall terminate twelve (12) months from the above written date
of this Agreement unless extended in writing and signed by both parties. GMC
shall be paid by Invisa all fees earned through Termination Date together with
reimbursement of all expenses due hereunder. All such fees and reimbursement
due GMC shall be paid on or before the Termination Date. Notwithstanding
anything expressed or implied herein to the contrary, the terms and provisions
of Section 3, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive
the termination of this Agreement.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

As is customary in engagements of this nature, each party agrees to indemnify
and hold the other party harmless from and against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions, including security holder actions, in respect
thereof) related to or arising out of the engagement hereunder or either
party’s role in connection therewith, and each party will reimburse the other
for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred in
connection with pending or threatened litigation. Neither party will, however,
be responsible for any claims, liabilities, losses, damages or expenses which
are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith, gross
negligence, negligence, or wrongful intentional acts of the other party.
Neither party shall have any liability to the other in connection with such
engagement, except to the extent the other party incurs liability for losses,
claims damages, liabilities or expenses as a result of the bad faith, gross
negligence, or wrongful intentional act of such party. In the event both
parties are at fault, then each party shall contribute to amounts paid or
payable by the other party in respect of its losses, claims, damages and
liabilities in such proportion as appropriately reflects the relative benefits
received by, and fault of, the respective parties. The foregoing shall be in
addition to any rights that either party may have at common law or otherwise
and shall extend upon the same terms to inure to the benefit of any director,
officer, employee, agent or controlling person of Invisa, Inc.

9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

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The Parties agree that the Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding of the Parties and that no understanding or agreements, verbal or
otherwise, exists between the Parties excepts set forth in the Agreement. Any
modification to the Agreement must be reduced to writing, signed by both
Parties, and attached to the Agreement to be effective.

10. SEVERABILITY

Should any section or any part of any section of the Agreement be rendered
void, invalid, or unenforceable by any court or law for any reason such
determination shall not render void, invalid, or unenforceable any other
section or any part of any section in the Agreement.

11. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS

Each Party, for itself, and its successors, heirs, executors, administrators,
representatives, insures, agents, and assigns, covenants and agrees that all
representations made hereunder and obligations created hereunder shall apply to
their successors and assigns provided however, that GMC shall not assign this
Agreement to a third party without the prior written consent of the board of
directors (unless otherwise designated) of Invisa which consent shall not be
unreasonable withheld.

12. NOTICES

Any required notices under this Agreement shall be made by overnight courier or
certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested as follows:

If to GMC

	 	G.M. Capital Partners, Ltd.

Mr. Marc Angst

2, rue Thalberg

CP 1507

CH-1211 Geneve 1

With copies to:

	 	Mr. J.A. Michie

Managing Director

GM. Capital Partners, Ltd.

Usteristrasse19

POB 6681

CH-8023 Zurich

Switzerland

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If to Invisa:

Invisa, Inc.

Mr. Stephen A. Michael

President

4400 Independence Court

Sarasota, FL 34234

13. CHOICE OF LAW

The validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws
of the State of Florida, without giving effect to the State of Florida’s choice
of law principle and all actions arising under this Agreement or arising out of
the operative facts represented by services performed pursuant to this
Agreement shall be resolved in the courts of the State of Florida.

14. HEADINGS

The headings are for informational purposes only and shall not constitute a
part of this Agreement.

15. NO WAIVER OF BREACH

Waiver of any one breach of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be
deemed a waiver of any other breach of the same or any other provision of this
Agreement.

16. SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE

The parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement shall not impose
obligations on the parties that would not be compliant with all applicable
securities laws, rules and regulations (“Securities Laws”), and accordingly,
the obligations of the parties as set forth in this Agreement are only to the
extent that they shall be compliant with applicable Securities Laws.

AGREED AND ACCEPTED

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth our mutual understanding
by signing and returning the copy of this Agreement provided for that purpose.

	 	 	 
	Invisa, Inc.	 	
G.M. Capital Partners, Ltd
	 
	Stephen A. Michael

Stephen A. Michael

President	 	
J. A. Michie

J.A. Michie

Managing Director

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Schedule A

	 	 	 
	BarBell Group, Inc. — Equity Line of Credit	 	
Crescent Fund, Inc.
	c/o Edward H. Burnbaum, Esq	 	
67 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
	Novack Burnbaum Crystal LLP	 	
New York, NY 10005
	300 East 42nd Street, 10th Floor	 	
(212) 509-3060
	New York, NY 10017	 	
Contact: Jeff Stone
	(212) 682-4002	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	
Ash Capital Partners, Inc.
	Capstone Partners, L.C	 	
Affiliated with Wellfleet Partners, Inc.
	3475 Lenox Road, Suite 400	 	
One Penn Plaza, Suite 2032
	Atlanta, GA 30326	 	
New York, NY 10119
	(404) 238-0550	 	
(212) 714-0400 x224
	Contact: Gregory Bartko, Esq./CEO	 	
Contact: Ytzik Aranov
	 	 	 
	Brooks, Houghton & Company, Inc.	 	
National Financial Communications Corp.
	444 Madison Avenue, 25th Floor	 	
300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200
	New York, NY 10022	 	
Needham, MA 02492
	(212) 829-1675	 	
(781) 444-6100 x629
	Contact: Kevin Centofanti	 	
Contact: Gary Geraci
	 	 	 
	Source Capital Group, Inc.	 	
Various Angel Investor Groups
	1221 Post Road East	 	 
	Westport, CT 06880	 	 
	(203) 341-3500 or 800 882-2889	 	 
	Contact: W. Todd Coffin	 	 
	 	 	 
	Fusion Capital Fund II, LLC	 	 
	Manager: Fusion Capital Partners, LLC	 	 
	222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 9-112	 	 
	Chicago, IL 60654	 	 
	(312) 644-6644	 	 
	Contact: Joshua Scheinfeld — (312) 560-7337	 	 
	 	 	 
	Hawk Associates, Inc.	 	 
	204 Ocean Drive	 	 
	Tavernier, FL 33070	 	 
	(305) 852-2383	 	 
	Contact: Frank Hawkins, Jr.<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10(c)

                      APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                           FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                         (SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 RESTATEMENT)

         WHEREAS, the Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. Deferred
Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, which originally was known as the
Bearings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, was
established effective as of July 1, 1991, by Bearings, Inc., which later became
known as Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") to provide
non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company the option to
defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation payable to them for
services as Directors; and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to restate the Plan in order to reflect
certain revisions to Section 303A(8) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed
Company Manual;

         NOW, THEREFORE, effective as of September 1, 2003, the Plan is hereby
amended and restated as hereinafter set forth.

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

      1.1 DEFINITIONS As used herein, the following words shall have the
meanings hereinafter set forth unless otherwise specifically provided.

                  (1) The term "BENEFICIARY" shall mean the person or persons
            who, in accordance with the provisions of Article V, is entitled to
            receive a distribution hereunder in the event a Participant dies
            before his interest under the Plan has been distributed to him in
            full.

                  (2) The term "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the
            Company.

                  (3) The term "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Executive Organization
            and Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other
<PAGE>
            committee of the Board that is designated by the Board to administer
            the Plan. The Committee shall be constituted so as to satisfy any
            applicable legal requirements including the requirements of Rule
            16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any
            similar rule which may subsequently be in effect. The members shall
            be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board and any
            vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by the Board.

                  (4) The term "COMMON SHARES" shall mean the common stock of
            the Company.

                  (5) The term "COMPANY" shall mean Applied Industrial
            Technologies, Inc., its corporate successors, and any corporation
            into or with which it is merged or consolidated.

                  (6) The term "DEFERRAL" shall mean that portion of the
            compensation a Participant elects to defer pursuant to the terms of
            the Plan.

                  (7) The term "DEFERRAL ACCOUNT" shall mean the bookkeeping
            account established under the Plan in the name of each Participant
            to reflect the Deferrals of such Participant.

                  (8) The term "DIRECTOR" shall mean any non-employee director
            of the Company.

                  (9) The term "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean the average of the
            high and low prices of a Common Share as reported on the composite
            tape for securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange for the
            date in question, provided that if no sales of Common Shares were
            made on said exchange on that date, the average of the high and low
            prices of a Common Share as reported on said composite tape for the
            preceding day on which sales of Common Shares were made on said
            Exchange.

                  (10) The term "FISCAL YEAR" shall mean the fiscal year of the
            Company, which begins on each July 1 and ends on the subsequent June
            30.

                  (11) The term "FUND" shall mean any investment fund designated
            by the Committee in which Deferrals can be deemed to be invested;
            provided, however, that one such Fund shall be deemed to be invested
            in Common Shares.

                  (12) The term "PARTICIPANT" shall mean a Director who elects
            to defer all or any portion of his compensation under the Plan
            pursuant to the provisions of Article II.
<PAGE>
                  (13) The term "PLAN" shall mean Applied Industrial
            Technologies, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan For Non-Employee
            Directors (formerly known as the Bearings, Inc. Deferred
            Compensation Plan For Non-Employee Directors), as amended and
            restated herein, effective as of September 1, 2003, with all
            amendments, supplements, and modifications hereafter made.

                  (14) The term "TRUST" shall mean the trust maintained pursuant
            to the terms of the Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.
            Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits Trust Agreement (formerly
            known as the Bearings, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement
            Benefits Trust Agreement).

                  (15) The term "VALUATION DATE" shall mean March 31, June 30,
            September 30, and December 31 of each Fiscal Year and any other date
            as may be designated as such by the Committee or the Board.

      1.2 CONSTRUCTION. Where necessary or appropriate to the meaning herein,
the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and the masculine pronoun to
include the feminine.

                                   ARTICLE II
                             ELECTIONS BY DIRECTORS

      2.1 ELECTION TO DEFER. Prior to the first day of any Fiscal Year quarter
(July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1) a Director may elect to defer
receipt of all or a portion of the compensation payable to him for future
services as a Director as a Deferral under the Plan. If a Director becomes a
Director after the beginning of any Fiscal Year quarter, the Director may elect
to defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation payable to him for
future services as a Director as a Deferral under the Plan. Any election under
this Section 2.1 shall be made on in the form (an "Election Form") and manner
specified by the Committee and acceptable to the Company. In addition, such
election shall indicate the allocation of the Deferral to be deemed invested in
the Funds.

      2.2 EFFECTIVENESS OF ELECTIONS. Elections to defer compensation for future
services as a Director shall be effective upon the delivery of an Election Form
to the Committee and, subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, shall be
irrevocable upon the commencement of the next subsequent Fiscal Year quarter.
Subject to the provisions of Article IV and Section 6.7, amounts deferred
<PAGE>
pursuant to any election hereunder shall be invested and distributed in the
manner and at the time set forth in such Election Form.

      2.3 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF ELECTIONS. A Director may terminate or
amend his election to defer receipt of compensation as a Deferral pursuant to
the provisions of Section 2.1 of the Plan with respect to subsequent Fiscal Year
quarters in a written notice delivered to the Committee prior to commencement of
the Fiscal Year quarter with respect to which such compensation will be earned
and such notice will be effective. Any amendment which serves only to change a
designation of a Beneficiary shall be permitted at any time and shall be
effective upon delivery to the Committee in such form, time, and manner as may
be required by the Committee. Any amendment which changes the time or manner for
payment of amounts credited to a Participant's Deferral Account pursuant to
Section 3.1 shall be made only pursuant to the provisions of Article IV.

                                   ARTICLE III
                            ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENTS

      3.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The Deferral Account of each Participant
shall have subaccounts which shall reflect the Funds into which Deferrals are
deemed invested and credited pursuant to the applicable Election Form filed by
the Participant with the Committee.

      3.2 AMOUNT OF DEFERRALS. If a Participant elects to have compensation
deferred under the Plan as a Deferral and invested in a Fund, other than a Fund
comprised of Common Shares, 100% of the amount of such Deferral deemed so
invested in such Fund shall be credited to his Deferral Account and subaccounts
in accordance with his duly filed Election Form. If the Participant elects to
have some or all of his compensation deferred under the Plan as a Deferral and
invested in a Fund comprised of Common Shares, 125% of the amount of such
Deferral deemed so invested in such Fund shall be credited to his Deferral
Account and subaccounts in accordance with the terms of his duly filed Election
Form. Any such Deferral shall be credited to the Deferral Account of a
Participant as of the last day of the Fiscal Year quarter during which the
Deferral would have otherwise been payable to such Participant.
<PAGE>
      3.3 ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS. As of each Valuation Date, the value of each
Deferral Account shall be adjusted to reflect deemed earnings, losses,
dividends, distributions, and credits in accordance with procedures adopted by
the Committee or the Board. Common Shares of a Fund credited to any Deferral
Account shall be valued at Fair Market Value.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                            DISTRIBUTION OF ACCOUNTS

      4.1 METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION. The value of a Participant's Deferral Account
deemed invested in a fund comprised of Common Shares shall be distributed in
Common Shares and the value of a Participant's Deferral Account deemed otherwise
invested shall be distributed in cash. Such value shall be determined as of the
most recent Valuation Date. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2, a
distribution from a Participant's Deferral Account shall be made either in a
lump sum or in equal annual installments over a period of not more than ten
years as specified in such Participant's Election Form.

      4.2 TIME OF PAYMENTS. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.2 or
Section 4.3, distribution of the value of a Deferral from a Participant's
Deferral Account shall commence on the date specified in his applicable Election
Form. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, a
Participant may elect to change the manner and the time of the distribution of
the value of any Deferral no later than 30 days prior to his termination as a
Director or, if earlier, the date he had previously elected to receive
distribution of such Deferral; provided, however, that if such Participant is
terminated as a Director with less than 30 days notice, such Participant may
elect to change the manner and time of distribution of the value of any Deferral
during the period which commences as of the day he receives notice of his
termination as a Director and ends ten days thereafter. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, except in the case of the termination of a Participant as a Director,
in no event may a Participant change the time and manner of the distribution of
a Deferral which has been previously changed in the immediately preceding
three-year period.
<PAGE>
      4.3 HARDSHIP DISTRIBUTION. Prior to the time the Deferral Account of a
Participant becomes payable under Section 4.2, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may elect to distribute all or a portion of the a Participant's
Deferral Account on account of severe financial hardship of the Participant. For
purposes of the Plan, severe financial hardship shall be deemed to exist in the
event the Committee determines that the Participant requires a distribution to
meet immediate and heavy financial needs resulting from a sudden or unexpected
illness or accident of the Participant or a member of his or her family, loss of
the Participant's property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and
unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of
the Participant. A distribution based on financial hardship shall not exceed the
amount required to meet the immediate financial need created by the hardship and
the income taxes resulting from such distribution.

      4.4 DISTRIBUTIONS UPON DEATH. Upon the death of a Participant, the balance
of his or her Deferral Account shall be paid to his Beneficiary in a form and
manner approved by the Committee.

      4.5 TAXES. In the event any taxes are required by law to be withheld or
paid from any payments made pursuant to the Plan, the Committee shall cause such
amounts to be withheld from such payments and shall transmit the withheld
amounts to the appropriate taxing authority.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                  BENEFICIARIES

         In the event a Participant dies before his interest under the Plan in
his or her Deferral Account has been distributed in full, any remaining interest
shall be distributed pursuant to Article IV to his Beneficiary, who shall be the
person designated as such in writing by the Participant in the form and manner
specified by the Company. In the event a Participant does not designate a
Beneficiary or his designated Beneficiary does not survive him, his beneficiary
shall be his estate.
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE VI
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      6.1 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Company reserves the right
to amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that no amendment
or termination shall affect the rights of Participants to amounts previously
credited to their Deferral Accounts pursuant to Section 3.2; and provided
further, that, effective on and after October 21, 2003, the provisions of
Section 3.2 providing for the crediting of 125% of a Deferral deemed invested in
a Fund comprised of Common Shares shall continue in effect until the earlier of
(i) the tenth anniversary of the date that the Plan was last approved by the
holders of a majority of the Common Shares then outstanding, or, if later, the
date that the limited transition period under Section 303A(8) of the New York
Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual would end unless otherwise permitted to
continue under said Section; or (ii) the date that the Plan is terminated by the
Company.

      6.2 NON-ALIENATION. No benefit under the Plan shall at any time be subject
in any manner to alienation or encumbrance. If any Participant or Beneficiary
shall attempt to, or shall, alienate or in any way encumber his rights or
benefits under the Plan, or any part thereof, or if by reason of his bankruptcy
or other event happening at any time any such benefits would otherwise be
received by anyone else or would not be enjoyed by him, his interest in all such
benefits shall automatically terminate and the same shall be held or applied to
or for the benefit of such person, his spouse, children, or other dependents as
the Committee may select.

      6.3 PAYMENT OF BENEFITS TO OTHERS. If any Participant or Beneficiary to
whom a benefit is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his affairs
because of illness or accident, any payment due (unless prior claim therefor
shall have been made by a duly qualified guardian or other legal representative)
may be paid to the spouse, parent, brother, sister, adult child, or any other
individual deemed by the Company to be maintaining or responsible for the
maintenance of such person. Any payment made in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 6.3 shall be a complete discharge of any liability of the Plan
with respect to the benefit so paid.
<PAGE>
      6.4 PLAN NON-CONTRACTUAL. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a
commitment or agreement on the part of any person employed by the Company to
continue his employment with the Company, and nothing herein contained shall be
construed as a commitment on the part of the Company to continue the employment
or the annual rate of compensation of any such person for any period, and all
Participants shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if the Plan
had never been established.

      6.5 TAXABILITY OF PLAN BENEFITS. This Plan is intended to be treated as an
unfunded deferred compensation plan under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. It is the intention of the Company that the amounts deferred pursuant
to the Plan shall not be included in the gross income of the Participants or
their Beneficiaries until such time as the deferred amounts are distributed from
the Plan. If, at any time, it is determined that amounts deferred pursuant to
the Plan are currently taxable to a Participant or his Beneficiary, the amounts
credited to such Participant's Deferral Account which become so taxable shall be
distributed immediately to him; provided, however, that in no event shall
amounts so payable under the Plan to a Participant exceed the value of his
Deferral Account.

      6.6 FUNDING. The Company may cause Plan benefits to be paid from the Trust
which is a grantor trust that provides full funding of the Plan benefits in the
event of a potential change in control or change in control. Subject to the
provisions of the Trust, the obligation of the Company under the Plan to provide
a Participant or Beneficiary with a benefit constitutes the unsecured promise of
the Company to make payments as provided herein, and no person shall have any
interest in, or a lien or prior claim upon, any property of the Company.

      6.7 SECTION 16B PROCEDURES. In conjunction with rules promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has established Section 16b Procedures
which affect certain transactions under the Plan involving Employer Securities
held for the benefit of a Director. Such Procedures, which are hereby
incorporated into the Plan shall constitute for all purposes a part of the Plan.
In the event that the Procedures conflict with any other provision of the Plan,
the Procedures shall override such
<PAGE>
other provision and shall be controlling. For purposes of this Section, the
following terms shall have the meaning hereinafter set forth.

            (a)   The term "Employer Security" shall mean any qualifying
                  employer security as defined in Section 407(d)(5) of ERISA
                  which is also an equity security as defined under the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

            (b)   The term "Officer" shall mean any person who is designated as
                  an "Officer" of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

            (c)   The term "Section 16b Procedures" or "Procedures" shall mean
                  the Administrative Procedures Applicable to Officers and
                  Directors Under Employee Benefit Plans Maintained by Applied
                  Industrial Technologies, Inc., effective as of January 1,
                  1997, with all amendments thereafter made.

      6.8 SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular
provision of the Plan shall not affect any other provision hereof, and the Plan
shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision
were omitted herefrom.

      6.9 GOVERNING LAW. The provisions of the Plan shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

      Executed at Cleveland, Ohio, this 12th day of August, 2003.

                               APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                               By:     /s/ D. L. Pugh
                                   ----------------------------
                                    Title:  Chairman & CEO

                               By:     /s/ Fred Bauer
                                   ----------------------------
                                    Title:  Vice President

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