FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                         CONTACT:


Valhi, Inc.                                 Bobby D. O'Brien
Three Lincoln Centre                        Vice President and Chief Financial
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700                  Officer
Dallas, Texas 75240-2697                    (972) 233-1700

NL Industries, Inc.                         Gregory M. Swalwell
Three Lincoln Centre                        Vice President, Finance and Chief
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700                   Financial Officer
Dallas, Texas 75240-2697                    (972) 233-1700


              NL INDUSTRIES, INC. ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF STOCK OF
                            COMPX INTERNATIONAL INC.

         DALLAS,  TEXAS . . . September 24, 2004 . . . Valhi,  Inc. (NYSE:  VHI)
and NL Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:  NL) announced  today that NL has completed the
acquisition of  approximately  68% of the outstanding  shares of common stock of
CompX International Inc. owned by Valhi and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Valcor,
Inc., at a purchase price of $16.25 per share, or an aggregate of  approximately
$168.6 million. The purchase price was paid by NL's transfer to Valhi and Valcor
of $168.6  million of NL's $200 million  long-term note  receivable  from Kronos
Worldwide,  Inc. On May 20, 2004, NL announced that it had established a Special
Committee  of its  Board  of  Directors  comprised  of  directors  who  are  not
affiliated with Valhi to consider a possible transaction. Cypress Associates LLC
served as  financial  advisor to NL's  Special  Committee  and has  rendered  an
opinion  to the  Special  Committee  that the  purchase  price  is fair,  from a
financial  point of view, to NL. Piper Rudnick LLP served as  independent  legal
advisor to NL's Special Committee.  The Boards of Directors of Valhi and NL also
have approved the transaction.

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