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          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  CONTACT:

          VALHI, INC.                             Steven L. Watson,
                                                  Vice President
          Three Lincoln Centre                    (972) 450-4216
          5430 LBJ Freeway                        (972) 450-4278 (fax)
          Dallas, Texas 75240-2697

                     VALHI ANNOUNCES TRANSFER OF SUGAR BUSINESS

                    Dallas, Texas . . . January  3, 1997 . . . Valhi,  Inc.
          (NYSE: VHI) announced  today the  completion of  the transfer  of
          control to Snake River Sugar  Company, an Oregon cooperative,  of
          the  refined   sugar  business   previously  conducted   by   The
          Amalgamated Sugar Company, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
          Valhi.

                    Pursuant to  the transaction,  Amalgamated received  an
          interest  in  The  Amalgamated  Sugar  Company  LLC,  a   limited
          liability company controlled by Snake River, with an agreed value
          of $250 million, in return for the transfer of substantially  all
          of Amalgamated's  net assets,  on a  tax deferred  basis.   Snake
          River made certain loans to Valhi aggregating $250 million, which
          are collateralized with Amalgamated's interest in the LLC and are
          due in 30 years.  Snake  River's source of funds for these  loans
          included capital  contributions by  the grower  members of  Snake
          River and $192  million in debt  financing provided  by Valhi,  a
          portion of which Snake River expects  to repay or refinance  with
          third party lenders  in 1997.   Valhi received approximately  $82
          million  net  cash,  including  fourth  quarter  dividends   from
          Amalgamated of $21 million.

                    Depending  upon  future  performance,  Amalgamated   is
          entitled to receive certain distributions from the LLC, which are
          expected to exceed Valhi's interest payments on the $250  million
          of loans from Snake River.

                    Valhi is engaged in the chemicals, fast food, component
          products, waste management and other industries.

                    The statements in this release relating to matters that
          are not  historical facts  are  forward looking  statements  that
          involve risks and uncertainties,  including, but not limited  to,
          the risks  inherent  in agricultural  operations  (including  the
          choice  of  crops  to  be  grown  by  producers  of  agricultural
          products), future global supply,  demand and pricing for  refined
          sugar, continuation  of  the  United  States  government's  price
          support program for sugar refined from sugarbeets, the ability of
          Snake River's  management to  effect an  efficient transition  of
          Amalgamated's  operations  to  the  LLC,  environmental  matters,
          general economic conditions,  and other  risks and  uncertainties
          affecting the business of Amalgamated detailed from time to time
          in Valhi's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.