Strengthens Balance Sheet, Positions Company for Accelerated Growth

Milwaukee, Wis., March 13, 2013 – ARI Network Services, Inc. (OTCBB: ARIS), a leader in creating, marketing, and supporting SaaS and DaaS solutions that connect consumers, dealers, distributors, and manufacturers in selected vertical markets, announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements with various accredited investors in a private placement of $4.8 million of its common stock at a purchase price of $1.50 per share.  In addition, the Company will issue to the investors warrants to purchase 1, 066, 667 shares of common stock at a price of $2.00 per share.  The warrants are exercisable for five years.

New institutional investors accounted for the majority of the financing and existing investors made up the remainder. The signing of the agreements occurred on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Final closing of the shares is expected to occur on or before Monday, March 18, 2013.  Ascendiant Capital Markets, LLC served as the exclusive placement agent for the transaction.

“We are very pleased to announce this significant financing transaction, the proceeds from which will be used to pay down debt incurred to finance our recent acquisitions, ” said Roy W. Olivier, President and CEO of ARI. “This event will significantly enhance our balance sheet, and with the integration of our two most recent acquisitions underway, we are now well positioned to further advance our competitive standing in the marketplace and take advantage of strategic opportunities.”

The securities offered in this private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state securities laws.  Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and such applicable state securities laws.  The securities were offered only to accredited investors.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

About ARI
ARI Network Services, Inc. (“ARI”) (OTCBB: ARIS) creates award-winning software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) and data-as-a-service (“DaaS”) solutions that help equipment manufacturers, distributors and dealers in selected vertical markets Sell More Stuff!™ – online and in-store. Our innovative products are powered by a proprietary library of enriched original equipment and aftermarket content that spans more than 10.5 million active part and accessory SKUs, 469, 000 models and $1.7 billion in retail product value.  We remove the complexity of selling and servicing new and used inventory, parts, garments, and accessories (“PG&A”) for customers in automotive tire and wheel, powersports, outdoor power equipment, marine, RV and white goods industries. More than 22, 000 equipment dealers, 195 distributors and 140 manufacturers worldwide leverage our web and eCatalog platforms to Sell More Stuff!™.

For more information on ARI, visit www.arinet.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release contain “forward‐looking statements” regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933.  All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projects about the markets in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management.  Words such as  “expects, ” “anticipates, ” “targets, ” “goals, ” “projects”, “intends, ” “plans, ” “believes, ” “seeks, ” “estimates, ” “endeavors, ” “strives, ” “may, ” or variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward‐looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, estimate or verify.  Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include those factors described in Part 1A of the Company’s annual report on Form 10‐K for fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward‐looking statements. The forward‐looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward‐looking statements. For more information, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For More Information, contact

Jon M. Lintvet, Chief Marketing Officer, +1-414-973-4300,  Jon.Lintvet@arinet.com; or
Darin Janecek, Chief Financial Officer, +1-414-973-4300,  Darin.Janecek@arinet.com