Press Release

SUGAR LAND, Texas, Oct. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:AAOI), a leading provider of fiber-optic access network products for the cable broadband, internet data center, and fiber-to-the-home markets, today announced the full exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters in connection with the company's previously announced initial public offering that priced on September 25, 2013. The over-allotment option to purchase 540,000 shares of Applied Optoelectronics' common stock was granted to the underwriters by certain selling stockholders, and Applied Optoelectronics will not receive any proceeds from the sale of such shares.

Raymond James and Piper Jaffray & Co. acted as lead joint book-running managers for the offering. Cowen and Company and Roth Capital Partners acted as co-managers for the offering.

This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716, telephone: 1-800-248-8863, or e-mail: prospectus@raymondjames.com; and from Piper Jaffray & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 800 Nicollet Mall, J12S03, Minneapolis, MN 55402, telephone: 800-747-3924, or e-mail: prospectus@pjc.com.

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2013. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. is a leading, vertically-integrated provider of fiber-optic networking products, principally used in the cable television broadband, fiber-to-the-home, and internet datacenter markets. AOI was founded in 1997, and has its headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, with additional manufacturing and R&D operations in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China. For additional information, visit www.ao-inc.com.

CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact:

                  

         The Blueshirt Group, Investor Relations

         Maria Riley

         +1-415-217-7722

         ir@ao-inc.com