Johnston Industries announces management re-alignment in a move to improve customer service, optimize operations and reduce costs; Senior Officers Will Now Direct All Operating Divisions.

COLUMBUS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 1996--Johnston Industries, Inc., (NYSE:JII), a diversified textile manufacturing company with annual revenues in excess of $350 million, today announced a re-structuring of management responsibilities at the corporate level in a move to strengthen customer service, optimize marketing and manufacturing performance, and reduce costs.

Opp & Micolas, Southern Phenix Textiles, Wellington Sears, and Johnston Industries Composite Reinforcements will continue as separate operating units but under a single corporate management umbrella. The centralized management, spurred by Johnston's recently-completed l00 percent acquisition of Jupiter National, Inc. and its textile unit, the Wellington Sears Company, is expected to significantly enhance marketing and operating efficiency.

Under the management re-organization, Donald L. Massey, formerly president and CEO of Johnston Industries Composite Reinforcements, will become corporate president, home furnishings; L. Allen Hinkle, formerly president and chief operating officer of Wellington Sears Company, will become corporate president of industrial fabrics; William I. Henry, formerly Johnston vice president, products and operations planning, will become corporate vice president, operations; and Larry L. Galbraith, formerly president and CEO of Southern Phenix Textiles, will become corporate vice president, special projects. All four will report directly to Gerald B. Andrews, president and CEO of Johnston Industries.

Commenting on the new Johnston management structure, Mr. Andrews said: "Johnston customers will see little change with respect to the people they normally deal with. This management re-alignment simply enables us to take maximum advantage of the outstanding talent we have throughout the Johnston organization, which until now has usually been confined to a particular division. These gentlemen are all seasoned executives, and will act as catalysts to optimize and enhance performance in the four divisions." He added that numerous corporate areas would benefit from the re-structuring, including the refinement of many administrative functions such as finance, systems, human resources and purchasing which would eliminate redundancies and reduce costs.

Mr. Massey, 51, who joined Johnston Industries in 1991, was formerly vice president, marketing (1984) and senior vice president (1986) of Swift Textiles. He began his career with the Shell Oil Company, moving on to Playtex and then to Glen Alden, the parent of Playtex and Swift at the time. At Johnston, he has played a key role in developing the company's newest division, specializing in the fast-growing emerging field of composite reinforcement fabrics which have a wide variety of applications replacing more traditional materials such as wood, steel, aluminum and concrete.

Mr. Hinkle, 52, has been president and chief operating officer of Wellington Sears since November 1992. Prior to that, he served as vice president, manufacturing and then president of the Custom Fabrics Division of WestPoint Pepperell which changed its name back to Wellington Sears when Jupiter National acquired it in 1992. He is a graduate of Auburn University and resides in Lafayette, Alabama, with his family.

Mr. Henry, 56, a 35-year veteran of the textile industry, began his career with Canton Textile Mills in Canton, GA. He joined Southern Phenix Textiles in Phenix City, Alabama, in 1970 and held many management positions including vice president of operations until 1992 when he became a Johnston Industries officer. He is a graduate of Southern Technical College and Columbus College, and resides in Columbus, Georgia, with his family.

Mr. Galbraith, 57, a native of Pueblo, Colorado graduated from Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, Tennessee. He joined Johnston in 1970 as a plant engineer for Southern Phenix Textiles. In 1972 he was appointed vice-president of engineering, purchasing and finishing and in 1989 was made CEO of Southern Phenix Textiles. Prior to joining Johnston, Mr. Galbraith was superintendent for Daniel Construction Company, Greenville, South Carolina. He resides in Columbus with his family.

Johnston Industries, Inc.'s four operating units produce woven and non-woven textiles primarily for the industrial and home furnishings markets and, to a lesser extent, for the basic automotive and apparel sectors. The company's newest venture, Johnston Industries Composite Reinforcements, Inc., makes VECTORPLY(R) and other sophisticated multiaxial non-crimp reinforcing fabrics from fiber-glass, carbon, and aramid fibers.

CONTACT: Gerald B. Andrews or John W. Johnson

Johnston Industries, Inc.

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OR

Pat Westring or Joel Pomerantz

The Dilenschneider Group

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