PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                       CONTACT:

VALHI, INC.                                  STEVEN L. WATSON
THREE LINCOLN CENTRE                         VICE PRESIDENT
5430 LBJ FREEWAY, SUITE 1700                 (972) 233-1700
DALLAS, TEXAS 75240-2697                     (972) 239-0142 (FAX)



                    VALHI, INC. SETTLES STOCKHOLDER LAWSUITS


     DALLAS, TEXAS . . . February 6, 1998 . . .Valhi, Inc. (NYSE: VHI) announced
today that it has reached agreements in principal to settle previously reported
stockholder derivative litigation pending in state courts involving Tremont
Corporation (NYSE: TRE), and NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NL), respectively.

     The litigation involving Tremont (Kahn v. Tremont Corporation, et al.,
pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery) arose out of the 1991 sale by Valhi
of approximately 15% of NL's outstanding common stock to Tremont. Under the
memorandum of understanding for the settlement, Valhi will transfer to Tremont
1.2 million NL shares held by Valhi, subject to adjustment depending on the
sales price of NL shares at the time of closing, up to a maximum of 1.4 million
shares and a minimum of 1 million shares.

     The litigation involving NL (Seinfeld v. Simmons, et al., pending in the
Chancery Division of the New Jersey Superior Court) arose out of the 1991 dutch
auction tender offer by NL for its shares.  Under the memorandum of
understanding for the settlement, Valhi will transfer to NL 750,000 NL shares
held by Valhi, subject to adjustment depending on the sales price of NL shares
at the time of closing, up to a maximum of 825,000 shares and a minimum of
675,000 shares.

     Valhi stated that it had reached the settlements in order to avoid the
burden and expense of further litigation and that it continued to believe it had
engaged in no wrongdoing associated with the transactions in question.

     The settlements are subject to approval by the respective courts in which
the cases are pending.  If so approved, the closings under the settlements are
expected to occur in the third quarter of 1998.  Completion of the settlements
will result in Valhi holding approximately 55% of NL's outstanding common stock,
and Tremont holding approximately 20% of NL's outstanding common stock.

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