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                                  PRESS RELEASE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                CONTACT:
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                                      Bobby D. O'Brien
VALHI, INC.                           Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Three Lincoln Centre                  (972) 233-1700
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700
Dallas, Texas 75240-2697
(972) 233-1700

                      VALHI DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND AND
                 ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING


         DALLAS,  TEXAS  . . .  May  25,  2004 . . .  Valhi,  Inc.  (NYSE:  VHI)
announced  today that its board of directors  has  declared a regular  quarterly
dividend of six cents ($0.06) per share on its common stock, payable on June 30,
2004 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 11, 2004.

         Valhi also announced that its  stockholders  had re-elected each of its
seven  directors  for terms of one year at the annual  stockholder  meeting held
today.  Valhi's  directors are:  Thomas E. Barry,  Norman S. Edelcup,  W. Hayden
McIlroy,  Glenn R. Simmons,  Harold C. Simmons, J. Walter Tucker, Jr. and Steven
L. Watson.

         Valhi,  Inc. is engaged in the  titanium  dioxide  pigments,  component
products (ergonomic computer support systems,  precision ball bearing slides and
security products), titanium metals products and waste management industries.

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