Georgetown, S.C.-based geosynthetics producer Agru America Inc. is investing $39.1 million to
expand its operations in Georgetown, S.C., and Andrews, S.C., and add 126 jobs in the process.

The company will invest $19.2 million to add 40,000 square feet (ft2) to its Georgetown
manufacturing facility to accommodate at least three new machines and to add a 130,000-ft2 asphalt
storage yard. The investment also includes the addition of 49 employees.

Agru America will invest $19.9 million to upgrade and expand its Andrews manufacturing
facility to accommodate additional production equipment and add 77 new jobs. The company acquired
the facility in January and added production of needlepunched, nonwoven textiles for environmental,
industrial, automotive, bedding and furniture products.

“We are pleased with the opportunity to move forward with these expansions,” said Robert
Johnson, president, Agru America. “We have seen demand for our products increase and adding
capacity at both facilities will help us meet our manufacturing goals.”

Agru America claims to be the only U.S. manufacturer to use the flat die extrusion
calendering process to produce structured geomembranes for the global civil/environmental market.
The company reports the process enables production of a textured liner that offers a consistent
core thickness and high puncture, tear and elongation values. Its geosynthetics products include
Smooth, Micro Spike®, Super Gripnet® and Drain Liner™ in both linear low-density polyethylene and
high-density polyethylene.

Agru America is owned by Agru Kunststofftechnik GmbH, an Austria-based producer of plastic
products for piping systems other applications.

December 18, 2012

Mount Vernon Mills Inc., Mauldin, S.C., has launched its flame-resistant (FR) fabrics brand, Mount
Vernon FR, comprising six collections: AMTEX™ C100 100-percent cotton; Amtex Plus 88/12
cotton/nylon; RESILIENCE® 80/20 cotton/Nomex®; Resilience Trio cotton/Nomex/nylon; Phoenix FR denim
fabrics; and the MY•FR custom fabric program. Mount Vernon’s AMSOFT™ fabric softening finish can be
added to all styles to enhance comfort. FR performance is guaranteed for the garment’s useful life,
and meets NFPA 70E and 2112, and EN ISO 11611 and 11612 standards.

The company has more than doubled capacity at its Trion, Ga., production plant, which
controls more than 25 major processes including spinning, weaving, dyeing and FR finishing;
utilizes more than 3,000 computer-monitored control points; and performs extensive quality
assurance testing.

Mount Vernon Mills’ Trion, Ga., manufacturing plant

November/December 2012

The management team of Vita Nonwovens LLC, High Point, N.C., has completed its buyout of the
business from its parent company, United Kingdom-based The Vita Group’s Vitafoam Inc. division. The
team partnered with private equity enterprises Capital South Partners and Crutchfield Capital, both
based in Charlotte, combined with Source Capital Mezzanine Fund and PNC Bank.

The company produces nonwovens for automotive, construction, filtration, furniture, hygiene,
and mattress applications. It operates three facilities: a 130,000-square-foot (ft2) facility in
High Point that houses senior management and three high-speed thermal bond carded crosslapped
lines; a 78,000-ft2 plant in Schertz, Texas, equipped with one thermal bond line; and a 108,000-ft2
plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., equipped with one thermal bond line and one high-speed dual-card with
high-speed needling.

“We have built a solid foundation and forged strong partnerships over the years which are
critical for our future,” said Kevin Womble, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Vita
Nonwovens. “We want to enhance our customers’ experience and continue to find ways to bring value
in support of their initiatives. Our new structure will allow us to achieve these objectives with
an entrepreneurial flair.”

November/December 2012