PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: VALHI, INC. STEVEN L. WATSON THREE LINCOLN CENTRE VICE PRESIDENT 5430 LBJ FREEWAY, SUITE 1700 (972) 450-4216 DALLAS, TEXAS 75240-2697 VALHI, INC. ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF TREMONT CORPORATION SHARES FROM RELATED ENTITIES DALLAS, TEXAS . . . June 19, 1998 . . .Valhi, Inc. (NYSE: VHI) announced today the purchase of 2,948,031 shares of Tremont Corporation (NYSE: TRE) common stock, representing 43.8% of the total outstanding Tremont shares from Contran Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries at a price of $56.00 per share, in a privately-negotiated transaction. Contran and related entities own, directly and indirectly, 93% of Valhi. A special committee of Valhi's board of directors, with the assistance of its own legal and financial advisors, negotiated the terms of the transaction on behalf of Valhi. A portion of the proceeds of the transaction were used to repay in full approximately $106.6 million of principal and accrued interest outstanding under a revolving line of credit between Valhi and Contran. Valhi is engaged in the titanium dioxide pigments, titanium metal products, component products and waste management industries. * * * * *