SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010	Commission file number 1-5467	

VALHI, INC.	
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)	

Delaware	 	87-0110150	
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)	 	(IRS Employer
Identification No.)	

5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas  75240-2697	
(Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)	

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:                                                                                                                                 (972) 233-1700

Indicate by check mark:

Whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  X    No      

Whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).* Yes       No      

 	*	The registrant has not yet been phased into the interactive data requirements.	

Whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Large accelerated filer       Accelerated filer   X  non-accelerated filer       smaller reporting company      .

Whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes        No  X .

Number of shares of the Registrant's common stock outstanding on April 30, 2010:  113,603,955.

 

 

VALHI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

 	Page
number	
Part I.                  FINANCIAL INFORMATION	 	
 	 	
Item 1.                   Financial Statements.	 	
 	 	
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets –
 December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2010 (unaudited)	 
3	
 	 	
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)  – Three ended March 31, 2009 and 2010	 
5	
 	 	
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
 –Three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2010	 
6	
 	 	
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity
 and Comprehensive Income –  Three months ended 
 March 31, 2010 (unaudited)	 
 
8	
 	 	
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 (unaudited)	 
9	
 	 	
Item 2.                   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
 Condition and Results of Operations.	 
28	
 	 	
Item 3.                   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	48	
 	 	
Item 4.                   Controls and Procedures	49	
 	 	
Part II.                      OTHER INFORMATION	 	
 	 	
Item 1.                   Legal Proceedings.	50	
 	 	
Item 1A.                              Risk Factors.	50	
 	 	
Item 6.                   Exhibits.	51	
 	 	
Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Part II are omitted because there is no information to report.

 
 
2

 

VALHI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions)

              ASSETS	 	December 31,
 2009	 	 	March 31,
 2010  	 	
 	 	 	 	 	(unaudited)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	68.7	 	 	$	46.3	 	
  Restricted cash equivalents	 	 	8.9	 	 	 	4.6	 	
  Marketable securities	 	 	6.1	 	 	 	5.1	 	
  Accounts and other receivables, net	 	 	222.9	 	 	 	259.0	 	
  Inventories, net	 	 	312.0	 	 	 	294.6	 	
  Prepaid expenses and other	 	 	17.7	 	 	 	18.2	 	
  Deferred income taxes	 	 	11.9	 	 	 	11.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total current assets	 	 	648.2	 	 	 	639.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Marketable securities	 	 	279.5	 	 	 	292.3	 	
  Investment in affiliates	 	 	116.1	 	 	 	115.5	 	
  Goodwill	 	 	396.9	 	 	 	397.0	 	
  Deferred income taxes	 	 	185.5	 	 	 	205.0	 	
  Other assets	 	 	103.5	 	 	 	106.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total other assets	 	 	1,081.5	 	 	 	1,116.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property and equipment:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Land	 	 	56.3	 	 	 	54.3	 	
  Buildings	 	 	293.8	 	 	 	283.1	 	
  Equipment	 	 	1,176.1	 	 	 	1,139.9	 	
  Mining properties	 	 	68.4	 	 	 	65.0	 	
  Construction in progress	 	 	20.7	 	 	 	21.6	 	
 	 	 	1,615.3	 	 	 	1,563.9	 	
  Less accumulated depreciation	 	 	934.7	 	 	 	916.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Net property and equipment	 	 	680.6	 	 	 	647.2	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total assets	 	$	2,410.3	 	 	$	2,403.2	 	

 
 
3

 

VALHI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)

(In millions)

   LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	 	December 31,
 2009	 	 	March 31,
 2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	(unaudited)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current liabilities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Current maturities of long-term debt	 	$	2.5	 	 	$	5.0	 	
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	 	 	288.1	 	 	 	279.5	 	
  Income taxes	 	 	3.9	 	 	 	2.2	 	
  Deferred income taxes	 	 	4.7	 	 	 	4.3	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total current liabilities	 	 	299.2	 	 	 	291.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncurrent liabilities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Long-term debt	 	 	988.4	 	 	 	993.1	 	
  Deferred income taxes	 	 	360.7	 	 	 	367.4	 	
  Accrued pension costs	 	 	130.5	 	 	 	122.7	 	
  Accrued environmental costs	 	 	37.9	 	 	 	38.7	 	
  Accrued postretirement benefits costs	 	 	25.5	 	 	 	25.8	 	
  Other liabilities	 	 	69.7	 	 	 	61.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total noncurrent liabilities	 	 	1,612.7	 	 	 	1,608.8	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Equity:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Valhi stockholders’ equity:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Preferred stock	 	 	667.3	 	 	 	667.3	 	
    Common stock	 	 	1.2	 	 	 	1.2	 	
    Additional paid-in capital	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	
    Accumulated deficit	 	 	(197.7	)	 	 	(197.5	)	
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss	 	 	(3.2	)	 	 	(1.7	)	
    Treasury stock	 	 	(38.9	)	 	 	(38.9	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total Valhi stockholders' equity	 	 	428.7	 	 	 	430.4	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	 	 	69.7	 	 	 	73.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total equity	 	 	498.4	 	 	 	503.4	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total liabilities and equity	 	$	2,410.3	 	 	$	2,403.2	 	

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 10 and 12)

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

 

VALHI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In millions, except per share data)

 	 	Three months ended	 	
 	 	March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(unaudited)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues and other income:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Net sales	 	$	277.3	 	 	$	356.8	 	
  Other income, net	 	 	30.2	 	 	 	28.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Total revenues and other income	 	 	307.5	 	 	 	384.8	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Costs and expenses:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Cost of sales	 	 	272.7	 	 	 	290.7	 	
  Selling, general and administrative	 	 	51.4	 	 	 	58.3	 	
  Litigation settlement and contract termination	 	 	-	 	 	 	33.3	 	
  Interest	 	 	16.0	 	 	 	17.4	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total costs and expenses	 	 	340.1	 	 	 	399.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Loss before income taxes	 	 	(32.6	)	 	 	(14.9	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income tax benefit	 	 	(9.2	)	 	 	(30.0	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Net income (loss)	 	 	(23.4	)	 	 	15.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncontrolling interest in net income (loss)
 of subsidiaries	 	 	(3.4	)	 	 	 1.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Net income (loss) attributable to Valhi      stockholders	 	$	(20.0	)	 	$	13.6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts attributable to Valhi stockholders:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share	 	$	(.18	)	 	$	.10	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash dividends per share	 	$	.10	 	 	$	.10	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic and diluted weighted average shares
 outstanding	 	 	 114.3	 	 	 	 114.3	 	

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

 

VALHI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(unaudited)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from operating activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Net income (loss)	 	$	(23.4	)	 	$	15.1	 	
  Depreciation and amortization	 	 	14.4	 	 	 	16.3	 	
  Gain on sale of business	 	 	(6.4	)	 	 	-	 	
  Accrued litigation settlement and contract termination	 	 	-	 	 	 	33.3	 	
  Benefit plan expense greater (less) than cash funding
   requirements:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Defined benefit pension expense	 	 	(.9	)	 	 	1.3	 	
    Other postretirement benefit expense	 	 	-	 	 	 	.1	 	
  Deferred income taxes	 	 	(16.4	)	 	 	(30.0	)	
  Net distributions from (contributions to)
   Ti02 manufacturing joint venture	 	 	(1.8	)	 	 	 .8	 	
  Other, net	 	 	1.2	 	 	 	.3	 	
  Change in assets and liabilities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Accounts and other receivables, net	 	 	(10.6	)	 	 	(62.7	)	
    Inventories, net	 	 	81.3	 	 	 	6.1	 	
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	 	 	(54.2	)	 	 	(9.3	)	
    Accounts with affiliates	 	 	(9.5	)	 	 	16.5	 	
    Income taxes	 	 	2.2	 	 	 	(1.0	)	
    Other, net	 	 	5.3	 	 	 	(3.3	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
        Net cash used in operating activities	 	 	(18.8	)	 	 	(16.5	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from investing activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Capital expenditures	 	 	(19.3	)	 	 	(8.9	)	
  Capitalized permit costs	 	 	.1	 	 	 	(.6	)	
  Purchase of marketable securities	 	 	(3.1	)	 	 	(4.5	)	
  Proceeds from:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Disposal of marketable securities	 	 	2.2	 	 	 	2.1	 	
    Sale of business	 	 	6.8	 	 	 	-	 	
  Change in restricted cash equivalents, net	 	 	.8	 	 	 	4.3	 	
  Other, net	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	-	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
        Net cash used in investing activities	 	 	(12.6	)	 	 	(7.6	)	

 
 
6

 

VALHI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)

(In millions)

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(unaudited)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash flows from financing activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Indebtedness:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Borrowings	 	$	117.3	 	 	$	112.3	 	
    Principal payments	 	 	(61.6	)	 	 	(96.3	)	
    Deferred financing costs paid	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	-	 	
  Purchases of Kronos common stock	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	-	 	
  Valhi cash dividends paid	 	 	(11.4	)	 	 	(11.4	)	
  Distributions to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	 	 	(1.2	)	 	 	(1.2	)	
  Issuance of common stock and other	 	 	.2	 	 	 	.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Net cash provided by financing activities	 	 	43.1	 	 	 	3.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents – net change from:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Operating, investing and financing activities	 	 	11.7	 	 	 	(20.6	)	
  Currency translation	 	 	(.7	)	 	 	(1.8	)	
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	 	 	37.0	 	 	 	68.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	 	$	48.0	 	 	$	46.3	 	

Supplemental disclosures:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Cash paid for:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Interest, net of amounts capitalized	 	$	7.2	 	 	$	7.3	 	
    Income taxes paid (refunded), net	 	 	3.5	 	 	 	(15.1	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncash investing activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Note receivable from sale of business	 	 	.7	 	 	 	-	 	
    Accrual for capital expenditures	 	 	11.4	 	 	 	2.4	 	
    Accrual for capitalized permit costs	 	 	1.7	 	 	 	.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncash financing activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Promissory notes payable incurred in
   connection with litigation settlements and
   contract termination	 	 	   -	 	 	 	   30.0	 	

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

7

 

VALHI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Three months ended March 31, 2010

(In millions)

 	 	Valhi Stockholders’ Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Accumulated	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Additional	 	 	 	 	 	other	 	 	 	 	 	Non-	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Preferred	 	 	Common	 	 	paid-in	 	 	Accumulated	 	 	comprehensive	 	 	Treasury	 	 	controlling	 	 	Total	 	 	Comprehensive	 	
 	 	stock	 	 	stock	 	 	capital	 	 	deficit	 	 	income (loss)	 	 	stock	 	 	Interest	 	 	equity	 	 	income	 	
 	 	(unaudited)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2009	 	$	667.3	 	 	$	1.2	 	 	$	-	 	 	$	(197.7	)	 	$	(3.2	)	 	$	(38.9	)	 	$	69.7	 	 	$	498.4	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	13.6	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	1.5	 	 	 	15.1	 	 	$	15.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other comprehensive income, net	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	1.5	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	3.5	 	 	 	5.0	 	 	 	5.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Equity transaction with
 noncontrolling interest	 	 	 -	 	 	 	 -	 	 	 	 .1	 	 	 	 -	 	 	 	 -	 	 	 	 -	 	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	 -	 	 	 	 -	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash dividends	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	(11.3	)	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	(1.2	)	 	 	(12.6	)	 	 	-	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	( 2.1	)	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	( .4	)	 	 	( 2.5	)	 	 	-	 	

Balance at March 31, 2010	 	$	667.3	 	 	$	1.2	 	 	$	-	 	 	$	(197.5	)	 	$	(1.7	)	 	$	(38.9	)	 	$	73.0	 	 	$	503.4	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Comprehensive income	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	$	20.1	 	

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
8

 

VALHI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2010

(unaudited)

Note 1 -                           Organization and basis of presentation:

Organization - We are majority owned by Contran Corporation, which directly and through its subsidiaries owns approximately 93% of our outstanding common stock at March 31, 2010.  Substantially all of Contran's outstanding voting stock is held by trusts established for the benefit of certain children and grandchildren of Harold C. Simmons (for which Mr. Simmons is the sole trustee) or is held directly by Mr. Simmons or other persons or entities related to Mr. Simmons. Consequently, Mr. Simmons may be deemed to control Contran and us.

Basis of Presentation - Consolidated in this Quarterly Report are the results of our majority-owned and wholly-owned subsidiaries, including NL Industries, Inc., Kronos Worldwide, Inc., CompX International, Inc., Tremont LLC and Waste Control Specialists LLC (“WCS”).  Kronos (NYSE: KRO), NL (NYSE: NL) and CompX (NYSE: CIX) each file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report have been prepared on the same basis as the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 that we filed with the SEC on March 10, 2010 (the “2010 Annual Report”).  In our opinion, we have made all necessary adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) in order to state fairly, in all material respects, our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented.  We have condensed the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2009 contained in this Quarterly Report as compared to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date, and we have omitted certain information and footnote disclosures (including those related to the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2009) normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  Certain reclassifications have been made to conform the prior year’s Consolidated Financial Statements to the current year’s classifications.  Our results of operations for the interim period ended March 31, 2010 may not be indicative of our operating results for the full year.  The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with our 2010 Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our 2010 Annual Report.

Unless otherwise indicated, references in this report to “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Valhi, Inc and its subsidiaries (NYSE: VHI), taken as a whole.

 
 
9

 

Note 2 -                           Business segment information:

 Business segment 	 	 
       Entity       	 	% controlled at
 March 31, 2010 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Chemicals	 	                 Kronos	 	                                                         95%	
Component products	 	                 CompX	 	                                                         87%	
Waste management	 	                 WCS	 	                                                       100%	

Our control of Kronos includes 59% we hold directly and 36% held directly by NL.  We own 83% of NL.  Our control of CompX is through NL.

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net sales:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Chemicals	 	$	248.0	 	 	$	319.7	 	
  Component products	 	 	28.5	 	 	 	32.8	 	
  Waste management	 	 	.8	 	 	 	4.3	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Total net sales	 	$	277.3	 	 	$	356.8	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of sales:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Chemicals	 	$	244.4	 	 	$	260.0	 	
  Component products	 	 	23.7	 	 	 	23.7	 	
  Waste management	 	 	4.6	 	 	 	7.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Total cost of sales	 	$	272.7	 	 	$	290.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross margin:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Chemicals	 	$	3.6	 	 	$	59.7	 	
  Component products	 	 	4.8	 	 	 	9.1	 	
  Waste management	 	 	(3.8	)	 	 	(2.7	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Total gross margin	 	$	4.6	 	 	$	66.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating income (loss):	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Chemicals	 	$	(25.5	)	 	$	22.6	 	
  Component products	 	 	(1.0	)	 	 	1.7	 	
  Waste management	 	 	(6.5	)	 	 	(6.7	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Total operating income (loss)	 	 	(33.0	)	 	 	17.6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Equity in income (loss) of investee	 	 	(.7	)	 	 	.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
General corporate items:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Securities earnings	 	 	6.4	 	 	 	6.5	 	
  Insurance recoveries	 	 	.7	 	 	 	18.2	 	
  Litigation settlement gain (expense)	 	 	11.9	 	 	 	(32.2	)	
  Gain on sale of business	 	 	6.4	 	 	 	-	 	
  General expenses, net	 	 	(8.3	)	 	 	(7.7	)	
Interest expense	 	 	(16.0	)	 	 	(17.4	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Loss before income taxes	 	$	(32.6	)	 	$	(14.9	)	

Segment results we report may differ from amounts separately reported by our various subsidiaries and affiliates due to purchase accounting adjustments and related amortization or differences in the way we define operating income.  Intersegment sales are not material.  Of the $33.3 million aggregate litigation settlement and contract termination expense we recognized in the first quarter of 2010, $1.1 million relates to WCS and is included in the determination of its operating loss, and the remaining $32.2 million relates to NL.  See Notes 7 and 12.

10

 
Note 3 – Accounts and other receivables, net:

 	 	December 31,
 2009	 	 	March 31,
 2010  	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts receivable	 	$	204.0	 	 	$	256.3	 	
Notes receivable	 	 	3.4	 	 	 	3.2	 	
Refundable income taxes	 	 	2.6	 	 	 	2.2	 	
Receivable from Contran – income taxes, net	 	 	16.2	 	 	 	-	 	
Allowance for doubtful accounts	 	 	(3.3	)	 	 	(2.7	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	222.9	 	 	$	259.0	 	

Note 4 -                           Inventories, net:

 	 	December 31,
 2009	 	 	March 31,
 2010  	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Raw materials:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Chemicals	 	$	56.4	 	 	$	45.2	 	
  Component products	 	 	4.8	 	 	 	5.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total raw materials	 	 	61.2	 	 	 	50.9	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Work in process:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Chemicals	 	 	18.2	 	 	 	14.9	 	
  Component products	 	 	6.2	 	 	 	6.6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total in-process products	 	 	24.4	 	 	 	21.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Finished products:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Chemicals	 	 	161.8	 	 	 	161.9	 	
  Component products	 	 	5.3	 	 	 	5.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total finished products	 	 	167.1	 	 	 	166.9	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Supplies (primarily chemicals)	 	 	59.3	 	 	 	55.3	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total 	 	$	312.0	 	 	$	294.6	 	

 
 
11

 

Note 5 - Other noncurrent assets:

 	 	December 31,
 2009  	 	 	March 31,
 2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Marketable securities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC	 	$	250.0	 	 	$	250.0	 	
  Titanium Metals Corporation (“TIMET”)	 	 	28.5	 	 	 	37.8	 	
  Other 	 	 	1.0	 	 	 	4.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	279.5	 	 	$	292.3	 	

Investment in affiliates:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  TiO2 manufacturing joint venture	 	$	98.7	 	 	$	98.0	 	
  Other 	 	 	17.4	 	 	 	17.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	116.1	 	 	$	115.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Waste disposal site operating permits, net	 	$	53.5	 	 	$	53.7	 	
  NL note receivable	 	 	15.0	 	 	 	15.0	 	
  IBNR receivables	 	 	7.5	 	 	 	7.6	 	
  Deferred financing costs	 	 	6.0	 	 	 	5.2	 	
  Other intangible assets	 	 	1.4	 	 	 	1.3	 	
  Pension asset	 	 	.3	 	 	 	.3	 	
  Other	 	 	19.8	 	 	 	23.6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	103.5	 	 	$	106.7	 	

Our noncurrent marketable securities are carried at fair value using quoted market prices, primarily Level 1 inputs as defined by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820-10-35,  Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures , except for our investment in The Amalgamated Sugar Company.  Our investment in Amalgamated is measured using significant unobservable inputs, which are Level 3 inputs.  Please refer to Note 4 in our 2009 Annual Report for a complete description of the valuation methodology for our investment in Amalgamated.  There have been no changes to the carrying value of this investment during the periods presented.  See Note 13.

 
 
12

 

Note 6 -                      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	December 31,
 2009	 	 	March 31,
 2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Accounts payable	 	$	124.5	 	 	$	109.1	 	
  Employee benefits	 	 	34.8	 	 	 	33.8	 	
  Payable to affiliates:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Louisiana Pigment Company, L.P.	 	 	12.0	 	 	 	11.0	 	
    Contran – trade items	 	 	14.1	 	 	 	14.7	 	
    TIMET	 	 	-	 	 	 	 .4	 	
  Accrued sales discounts and rebates	 	 	21.4	 	 	 	10.6	 	
  Environmental costs	 	 	11.0	 	 	 	8.3	 	
  Interest	 	 	8.0	 	 	 	16.3	 	
  Deferred income	 	 	7.5	 	 	 	2.4	 	
  Other	 	 	54.8	 	 	 	72.9	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	288.1	 	 	$	279.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncurrent:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Reserve for uncertain tax positions	 	$	35.2	 	 	$	35.3	 	
  Insurance claims and expenses	 	 	11.7	 	 	 	11.8	 	
  Employee benefits	 	 	9.2	 	 	 	8.6	 	
  Deferred income	 	 	8.5	 	 	 	.8	 	
  Payable to affiliate – TIMET	 	 	.3	 	 	 	-	 	
  Other	 	 	4.8	 	 	 	4.6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	69.7	 	 	$	61.1	 	

Note 7 - Long-term debt:

 	 	December 31,
 2009	 	 	March 31,
 2010  	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Valhi:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Snake River Sugar Company	 	$	250.0	 	 	$	250.0	 	
  Contran credit facility	 	 	54.9	 	 	 	53.5	 	
  Promissory note payable to Contran	 	 	30.0	 	 	 	30.0	 	
      Total Valhi debt	 	 	334.9	 	 	 	333.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Subsidiary debt:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Kronos International:
    6.5% Senior Secured Notes	 	 	 574.6	 	 	 	 538.0	 	
  European bank credit facility	 	 	13.0	 	 	 	24.3	 	
CompX promissory note payable to TIMET	 	 	42.2	 	 	 	42.2	 	
  Kronos U.S. bank credit facility	 	 	16.7	 	 	 	21.4	 	
  NL promissory note (see Note 12)	 	 	-	 	 	 	18.0	 	
  WCS 6% promissory note payable	 	 	-	 	 	 	12.0	 	
  Other	 	 	9.5	 	 	 	8.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total subsidiary debt	 	 	656.0	 	 	 	664.6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total debt	 	 	990.9	 	 	 	998.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Less current maturities	 	 	2.5	 	 	 	5.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total long-term debt	 	$	988.4	 	 	$	993.1	 	

13

 
Valhi - During the first three months of 2010, we had net repayments of $1.4 million under our Contran credit facility.  The average interest rate on these outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2010 was 5.75%.  The average interest rate on the Contran promissory note was 1.75% at March 31, 2010.  On March 31, 2010 we amended both the Contran credit facility and the Contran promissory note to extend their maturity date, and such facilities are now due on demand, but in any event no earlier than March 31, 2012.

Kronos - During the first three months of 2010, we borrowed a net euro 9.0 million ($13.2 million when borrowed/repaid) under Kronos’ European credit facility and a net $4.7 million under Kronos’ U.S. credit facility.  The average interest rates on these outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2010 were 3.62% and 3.25%, respectively.

In April 2010 Kronos entered into an unsecured revolving credit facility with Contran pursuant to which Kronos may borrow up to $40.0 million from Contran.  The loans from Contran will bear interest, payable quarterly, at the prime rate minus 0.5%, with all outstanding principal due on demand and in any event no later than December 31, 2011.  The amount of Kronos’ outstanding borrowing at any time is solely at the discretion of Contran.  As of April 30, 2010, Kronos had aggregate borrowings outstanding from Contran of $24.8 million, which were primarily used to repay outstanding borrowings under Kronos’ U.S. bank credit facility.

NL – NL’s $18.0 million long-term promissory note is discussed in Note 12.

WCS – As part of the termination of a contract with a former customer regarding various contractual and legal claims, in April 2010 WCS issued the former customer a $12.0 million long-term promissory note.  The note is unsecured, bears interest at a fixed rate of 6% and is payable in five equal annual installments of principal plus accrued interest beginning on December 31, 2010.  We have the right to prepay the note at any time without penalty.  A substantial portion of the principal amount of the promissory note issued was offset against deferred revenue that was unearned by us.  The remaining $1.1 million we recognized in contract termination expense related to this agreement in the first quarter of 2010.

Restrictions and Other - Certain of the credit facilities with unrelated, third-party lenders described above require the respective borrowers to maintain minimum levels of equity, require the maintenance of certain financial ratios, limit dividends and additional indebtedness and contain other provisions and restrictive covenants customary in lending transactions of this type.  We are in compliance with all of our debt covenants at March 31, 2010.  We believe we will be able to comply with the financial covenants contained in all of our credit facilities through the maturity of the respective facility; however if future operating results differ materially from our expectations we may be unable to maintain compliance.

 
 
14

 

Note 8 - Employee benefit plans:

Defined benefit plans - The components of our net periodic defined benefit pension cost are presented in the table below.

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Service cost 	 	$	1.8	 	 	$	2.7	 	
Interest cost 	 	 	6.6	 	 	 	6.5	 	
Expected return on plan assets	 	 	(5.2	)	 	 	(5.3	)	
Amortization of unrecognized:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Prior service cost	 	 	.3	 	 	 	.3	 	
  Net transition obligations	 	 	.1	 	 	 	.1	 	
Recognized actuarial losses	 	 	1.8	 	 	 	1.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	5.4	 	 	$	6.0	 	

Other postretirement benefits - The components of our net periodic other postretirement benefit cost are presented in the table below.

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Service cost	 	$	.1	 	 	$	.1	 	
Interest cost	 	 	.4	 	 	 	.4	 	
Amortization of prior service credit	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	(.2	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	.4	 	 	$	.3	 	

Contributions - We expect to contribute the equivalent of $24.4 million and $2.5 million, respectively, to all of our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans during 2010.

Note 9 - Other income, net:

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Securities earnings:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Dividends and interest	 	$	6.6	 	 	$	6.5	 	
  Securities transactions, net	 	 	(.2	)	 	 	-	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total securities earnings	 	 	6.4	 	 	 	6.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Equity in income (loss) of investee	 	 	(.7	)	 	 	.1	 	
Currency transactions, net	 	 	5.3	 	 	 	2.6	 	
Insurance recoveries	 	 	.7	 	 	 	18.2	 	
Gain on litigation settlements	 	 	11.9	 	 	 	-	 	
Gain on sale of business	 	 	6.4	 	 	 	-	 	
Other, net	 	 	.2	 	 	 	.6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total 	 	$	30.2	 	 	$	28.0	 	

15

 
Insurance recoveries reflect, in part, amounts we received from certain of our former insurance carriers, and relate to the recovery of prior lead pigment and asbestos litigation defense costs incurred by us.  In addition, a substantial portion of the insurance recoveries we recognized in the first quarter of 2010 relates to the NL litigation settlement discussed in Note 12.

We provided certain research, laboratory and quality control services within and outside the sweetener industry for The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC and others. In January 2009, we sold our research, laboratory and quality control business to the LLC for an aggregate sales price of $7.5 million, consisting of $6.7 million in cash paid at closing and $500,000 which was paid in February 2010 and $250,000 payable in February 2011.  The amounts owed to us in 2010 and 2011 do not bear interest, and we recognized these amounts at their aggregate net present value of approximately $.7 million.  We recognized a pre-tax gain of $6.3 million from the sale of this business.  The revenues, pre-tax income and total assets of the operations sold are not material in any period presented.

 The litigation settlement gain in the first quarter of 2009 relates to amounts we received from Halliburton Company in recovery of past environmental remediation and related legal costs we had previously incurred.

Note 10 - Income tax benefit:

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31, 	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Expected tax benefit, at U.S. federal
 statutory income tax rate of 35%	 	$	(11.4	)	 	$	(5.2	)	
Incremental U.S. tax and rate differences on
 equity in earnings	 	 	(1.6	)	 	 	 10.3	 	
Non-U.S. tax rates	 	 	 1.4	 	 	 	(.1	)	
Nondeductible expenses	 	 	 2.2	 	 	 	.8	 	
Nontaxable income	 	 	(1.0	)	 	 	(.3	)	
Prior year adjustments	 	 	-	 	 	 	(.7	)	
U.S. state income taxes, net	 	 	 .9	 	 	 	.4	 	
German tax attribute adjustments	 	 	-	 	 	 	(35.2	)	
Other, net	 	 	.3	 	 	 	-	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
     Income tax benefit	 	$	(9.2	)	 	$	(30.0	)	

Tax authorities are continuing to examine certain of our foreign tax returns and have or may propose tax deficiencies, including penalties and interest.  We cannot guarantee that these tax matters will be resolved in our favor due to the inherent uncertainties involved in settlement initiatives and court and tax proceedings.  We believe we have adequate accruals for additional taxes and related interest expense which could ultimately result from tax examinations.  We believe the ultimate disposition of tax examinations should not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.  We currently estimate that our unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by $.5 million within the next twelve months due to the expiration of certain statutes.

As a consequence of a European Court ruling that resulted in a favorable resolution of certain income tax issues in Germany, during the first quarter of 2010 the German tax authorities agreed to an increase in Kronos’ German net operating loss carryforwards.  Accordingly, we recognized a non-cash income tax benefit of $35.2 million in the first quarter of 2010.

16

 
Under GAAP, we are required to recognize a deferred income tax liability with respect to the incremental U.S. (federal and state) and foreign withholding taxes that would be incurred when undistributed earnings of a foreign subsidiary are subsequently repatriated, unless management has determined that those undistributed earnings are permanently reinvested for the foreseeable future. Prior to March 31, 2010, we had not recognized a deferred income tax liability related to incremental income taxes on the pre-2005 undistributed earnings of CompX’s Taiwanese subsidiary, as those earnings were deemed to be permanently reinvested.  We are required to reassess the permanent reinvestment conclusion on an ongoing basis to determine if our intentions have changed.  At the end of March 2010, and based primarily upon changes in our cash management plans, we determined that none of the undistributed earnings of CompX’s Taiwanese subsidiary can now be considered to be permanently reinvested in Taiwan.  Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2010 we recognized an aggregate $1.9 million provision for deferred income taxes on the pre-2005 undistributed earnings of our Taiwanese subsidiary.  Consequently, none of the undistributed earnings of our non-U.S. operations are now considered to be permanently reinvested.

Note 11 - Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries:

 	 	December 31,
 2009	 	 	March 31,
 2010 	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  NL Industries	 	$	43.6	 	 	$	45.3	 	
  Kronos Worldwide	 	 	15.0	 	 	 	16.9	 	
  CompX International	 	 	11.1	 	 	 	10.8	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	69.7	 	 	$	73.0	 	

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncontrolling interest in net income (loss) of
 subsidiaries:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  NL Industries	 	$	(2.0	)	 	$	(.4	)	
  Kronos Worldwide	 	 	(1.3	)	 	 	2.0	 	
  CompX International	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	(.1	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	(3.4	)	 	$	1.5	 	

 
 
17

 

The changes in our ownership interest in our subsidiaries and the effect on our equity is as follows:

 	 	Three months ended	 	
 	 	March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss) attributable to Valhi stockholders	 	$	(20.0	)	 	$	13.6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Transfers from noncontrolling interest:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Increase in additional paid-in capital for purchase of 14,000 shares of Kronos common stock	 	 	 .2	 	 	 	 -	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Equity adjustment, Note 12	 	 	-	 	 	 	.4	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Issuance of NL common stock	 	 	 -	 	 	 	.1	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Transfers from noncontrolling interest	 	 	.2	 	 	 	.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss) attributable to Valhi stockholders and change from noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	 	$	(19.8	)	 	$	 14.1	 	

Note 12 - Commitments and contingencies:

Lead pigment litigation - NL

NL's former operations included the manufacture of lead pigments for use in paint and lead-based paint.  NL, other former manufacturers of lead pigments for use in paint and lead-based paint (together, the “former pigment manufacturers”), and the Lead Industries Association (“LIA”), which discontinued business operations in 2002, have been named as defendants in various legal proceedings seeking damages for personal injury, property damage and governmental expenditures allegedly caused by the use of lead-based paints.  Certain of these actions have been filed by or on behalf of states, counties, cities or their public housing authorities and school districts, and certain others have been asserted as class actions.  These lawsuits seek recovery under a variety of theories, including public and private nuisance, negligent product design, negligent failure to warn, strict liability, breach of warranty, conspiracy/concert of action, aiding and abetting, enterprise liability, market share or risk contribution liability, intentional tort, fraud and misrepresentation, violations of state consumer protection statutes, supplier negligence and similar claims.

The plaintiffs in these actions generally seek to impose on the defendants responsibility for lead paint abatement and health concerns associated with the use of lead-based paints, including damages for personal injury, contribution and/or indemnification for medical expenses, medical monitoring expenses and costs for educational programs.  To the extent the plaintiffs seek compensatory or punitive damages in these actions, such damages are generally unspecified. In some cases, the damages are unspecified pursuant to the requirements of applicable state law.  A number of cases are inactive or have been dismissed or withdrawn.  Most of the remaining cases are in various pre-trial stages.  Some are on appeal following dismissal or summary judgment rulings in favor of either the defendants or the plaintiffs.  In addition, various other cases are pending (in which we are not a defendant) seeking recovery for injury allegedly caused by lead pigment and lead-based paint. Although we are not a defendant in these cases, the outcome of these cases may have an impact on cases that might be filed against us in the future.

18

 
We believe that these actions are without merit, and we intend to continue to deny all allegations of wrongdoing and liability and to defend against all actions vigorously.  We do not believe it is probable that we have incurred any liability with respect to any of the lead pigment litigation cases to which we are a party, and any liability to us that may result, if any, in this regard cannot be reasonably estimated, because:
 	·	we have never settled any of these cases;	

 	·	no final, non-appealable adverse verdicts have ever been entered against us; and	

 	·	we have never ultimately been found liable with respect to any such litigation matters.	

              Accordingly, we have not accrued any amounts for any of the pending lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation cases.  New cases may continue to be filed against us.  We cannot assure you that we will not incur liability in the future in respect of any of the pending or possible litigation in view of the inherent uncertainties involved in court and jury rulings.  The resolution of any of these cases could result in recognition of a loss contingency accrual that could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations for the interim or annual period during which such liability is recognized, and a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial condition and liquidity. 

Environmental matters and litigation

General - Our operations are governed by various environmental laws and regulations.  Certain of our businesses are and have been engaged in the handling, manufacture or use of substances or compounds that may be considered toxic or hazardous within the meaning of applicable environmental laws and regulations.  As with other companies engaged in similar businesses, certain of our past and current operations and products have the potential to cause environmental or other damage.  We have implemented and continue to implement various policies and programs in an effort to minimize these risks.  Our policy is to maintain compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations at all of our plants and to strive to improve our environmental performance.  From time to time, we may be subject to environmental regulatory enforcement under U.S. and foreign statutes, the resolution of which typically involves the establishment of compliance programs.  It is possible that future developments, such as stricter requirements of environmental laws and enforcement policies, could adversely affect our production, handling, use, storage, transportation, sale or disposal of such substances.  We believe that all of our facilities are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws.

Certain properties and facilities used in our former operations, including NL’s divested primary and secondary lead smelters and former mining locations are the subject of civil litigation, administrative proceedings or investigations arising under federal and state environmental laws.  Additionally, in connection with past disposal practices, we are currently involved as a defendant, potentially responsible party (“PRP”) or both, pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (“CERCLA”), and similar state laws in various governmental and private actions associated with waste disposal sites, mining locations, and facilities we or our predecessors currently or previously owned, operated or were used by us or our subsidiaries, or their predecessors, certain of which are on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) Superfund National Priorities List or similar state lists.  These proceedings seek cleanup costs, damages for personal injury or property damage and/or damages for injury to natural resources.  Certain of these proceedings involve claims for substantial amounts.  Although we may be jointly and severally liable for these costs, in most cases we are only one of a number of PRPs who may also be jointly and severally liable, and among whom costs may be shared or allocated.  In addition, we are also a party to a number of personal injury lawsuits filed in various jurisdictions alleging claims related to environmental conditions alleged to have resulted from our operations.

19

 
Environmental obligations are difficult to assess and estimate for numerous reasons including the:

 	·	complexity and differing interpretations of governmental regulations;	

 	·	number of PRPs and their ability or willingness to fund such allocation of costs;	

 	·	financial capabilities of the PRPs and the allocation of costs among them;	

 	·	solvency of other PRPs;	

 	·	multiplicity of possible solutions;	

 	·	number of years of investigatory, remedial and monitoring activity required; and	

·  	number of years between former operations and notice of claims and lack of information and documents about the former operations.	

In addition, the imposition of more stringent standards or requirements under environmental laws or regulations, new developments or changes regarding site cleanup costs or allocation of costs among PRPs, solvency of other PRPs, the results of future testing and analysis undertaken with respect to certain sites or a determination that we are potentially responsible for the release of hazardous substances at other sites, could cause our expenditures to exceed our current estimates. Because we may be jointly and severally liable for the total remediation cost at certain sites, the amount for which we are ultimately liable may exceed our accruals due to, among other things, the reallocation of costs among PRPs or the insolvency of one or more PRPs.  We cannot assure you that actual costs will not exceed accrued amounts or the upper end of the range for sites for which estimates have been made, and we cannot assure you that costs will not be incurred for sites where no estimates presently can be made.  Further, additional environmental matters may arise in the future.  If we were to incur any future liability, this could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

We record liabilities related to environmental remediation obligations when estimated future expenditures are probable and reasonably estimable.  We adjust our environmental accruals as further information becomes available to us or circumstances change.  We generally do not discount estimated future expenditures to their present value due to the uncertainty of the timing of the pay out.  We recognize recoveries of remediation costs from other parties, if any, as assets when their receipt is deemed probable.  At March 31, 2010, we had no receivables for recoveries.

We do not know and cannot estimate the exact time frame over which we will make payments for our accrued environmental costs.  The timing of payments depends upon a number of factors including the timing of the actual remediation process; which in turn depends on factors outside of our control.  At each balance sheet date, we estimate the amount of our accrued environmental costs we expect to pay within the next twelve months, and we classify this estimate as a current liability.   We classify the remaining accrued environmental costs as a noncurrent liability.

20

 
Changes in our accrued environmental costs during the first three months of 2010 are as follows:

 	 	Amount	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	
Balance at the beginning of the period	 	$	48.9	 	
Additions charged to expense, net	 	 	.1	 	
Changes in currency exchange rate	 	 	(.1	)	
Payments, net	 	 	(1.9	)	
 	 	 	 	 	
      Balance at the end of the period	 	$	47.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance
 Sheet at the end of the period:	 	 	 	 	
  Current liability	 	$	8.3	 	
  Noncurrent liability	 	 	38.7	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	$	47.0	 	

NL - On a quarterly basis, we evaluate the potential range of our liability at sites where NL, its present or former subsidiaries have been named as a PRP or defendant.  At March 31, 2010, we accrued approximately $45 million, related to approximately 50 sites, for those environmental matters related to NL which we believe are at the present time and/or in their current phase reasonably estimable.  The upper end of the range of reasonably possible costs to us for sites for which we believe it is currently possible to estimate costs is approximately $80 million, including the amount currently accrued.  We have not discounted these estimates to present value.

We believe that it is not possible to estimate the range of costs for certain sites.  At March 31, 2010, there were approximately 5 sites for which we are not currently able to estimate a range of costs.  For these sites, generally the investigation is in the early stages, and we are unable to determine whether or not NL actually had any association with the site, the nature of our responsibility, if any, for the contamination at the site and the extent of contamination at and cost to remediate the site.  The timing and availability of information on these sites is dependent on events outside of our control, such as when the party alleging liability provides information to us.  At certain of these previously inactive sites, NL has received general and special notices of liability from the EPA and/or state agencies alleging that NL, sometimes with other PRPs, are liable for past and future costs of remediating environmental contamination allegedly caused by former operations.  These notifications may assert that NL, along with any other alleged PRPs, are liable for past and/or future clean-up costs that could be material to us if we are ultimately found liable.

 	Other -  We have also accrued approximately $2.3 million at March 31, 2010 for other environmental cleanup matters.  This accrual is near the upper end of the range of our estimate of reasonably possible costs for such matters.	

Insurance coverage claims 

We are involved in certain legal proceedings with a number of our former insurance carriers regarding the nature and extent of the carriers’ obligations to us under insurance policies with respect to certain lead pigment and asbestos lawsuits. The issue of whether insurance coverage for defense costs or indemnity or both will be found to exist for our lead pigment and asbestos litigation depends upon a variety of factors, and we cannot assure you that such insurance coverage will be available. 

21

 
We recognize insurance recoveries in income only when receipt of the recovery is probable and the amount is determinable.  We have agreements with two former insurance carriers pursuant to which the carriers reimburse us for a portion of our future lead pigment litigation defense costs, and one such carrier reimburses us for a portion of our future asbestos litigation defense costs.  We are not able to determine how much we will ultimately recover from these carriers for defense costs incurred by us because of certain issues that arise regarding which defense costs qualify for reimbursement.  While we continue to seek additional insurance recoveries, we do not know if we will be successful in obtaining reimbursement for either defense costs or indemnity.  We have not considered any additional potential insurance recoveries in determining accruals for lead pigment or asbestos litigation matters. 

For a complete discussion of certain litigation involving NL and certain of their former insurance carriers, please refer to our 2009 Annual Report.

Other litigation

NL - In April 2010, NL entered into a settlement agreement without any admission of wrongdoing by any party in connection with the case captioned  Contran Corporation, et al. v. Terry S. Casey, et al.  (Case No. 07-04855, 192 nd  Judicial District Court, Dallas County, Texas), which case was described in our 2009 Annual Report.  The settlement agreement provides for an aggregate payment of $44.0 million to be made to the plaintiffs by us, consisting of (i) $26.0 million in cash payable in May 2010 and (ii) an $18.0 million long-term promissory note issued by NL.  The note will bear interest, payable quarterly, at the prime rate, and fifty percent of the principal amount will be payable on each of December 1, 2011 and December 1, 2012.  The note is collateralized by shares of Kronos and CompX common stock owned by NL and having an aggregate market value of at least 200% of the outstanding principal amount of the promissory note.  Under certain conditions, NL has agreed to prepay up to $4.0 million principal amount of such indebtedness.  The settlement agreement further provides that the case (and all associated litigation or arbitrations) will be dismissed with prejudice.

In accordance with GAAP, we have recognized the impact of the settlement for financial reporting purposes as of March 31, 2010.  For financial reporting purposes, we have classified $32.2 million of the aggregate amount to be paid to the plaintiffs as a litigation settlement expense in respect of settlement of certain claims made by plaintiffs in the litigation.  NL had insurance coverage for a portion of such litigation settlement, and a substantial portion of the insurance recoveries we recognized in the first quarter of 2010 relates to such coverage.  With respect to the other claim of the plaintiffs as it relates to the repurchase of their EMS noncontrolling interest, the resulting $2.5 million increase over our previous estimate of such payment is accounted for as a reduction in stockholders’ equity in accordance with GAAP, of which $2.1 million is attributable to Valhi stockholders and $.4 million is attributable to the shareholders representing the noncontrolling interest of NL.

22

 
NL has been named as a defendant in various lawsuits in several jurisdictions, alleging personal injuries as a result of occupational exposure primarily to products manufactured by its former operations containing asbestos, silica and/or mixed dust.  As a result, the total number of outstanding cases increased.  Approximately 1,226 of these types of cases remain pending, involving a total of approximately 2,670 plaintiffs.  In addition, the claims of approximately 7,500 plaintiffs have been administratively dismissed or placed on the inactive docket in Ohio state and Indiana courts.  We do not expect these claims will be re-opened unless the plaintiffs meet the courts’ medical criteria for asbestos-related claims.  We have not accrued any amounts for this litigation because of the uncertainty of liability and inability to reasonably estimate the liability, if any.  To date, we have not been adjudicated liable in any of these matters.  Based on information available to us, including:

·  	facts concerning historical operations,	

·  	the rate of new claims,	

·  	the number of claims from which we have been dismissed and	

·  	our prior experience in the defense of these matters,	

we believe that the range of reasonably possible outcomes of these matters will be consistent with our historical costs (which are not material).  Furthermore, we do not expect any reasonably possible outcome would involve amounts material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.  We have sought and will continue to vigorously seek, dismissal and/or a finding of no liability from each claim.  In addition, from time to time, we have received notices regarding asbestos or silica claims purporting to be brought against former subsidiaries, including notices provided to insurers with which we have entered into settlements extinguishing certain insurance policies.  These insurers may seek indemnification from us.

CompX – CompX is involved, from time to time, in various contractual, product liability, patent (or intellectual property), employment and other claims and disputes incidental to its business.  On February 10, 2009, a complaint (Doc. No. DN2650) was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) by Humanscale Corporation requesting that the ITC commence an investigation pursuant to Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to evaluate allegations concerning the unlawful importation of certain adjustable keyboard related products into the U.S. by CompX’s Canadian subsidiary.  The products are alleged to infringe certain claims under U.S. patent No. 5,292,097C1 (the “‘097 Patent”) held by Humanscale.  The complaint seeks as relief the barring of future imports of the products into the U.S. until the expiration of the related patent in March 2011.  On February 23, 2010, the administrative law judge (the “ALJ”) overseeing the investigation issued his Initial Determination, finding that a significant independent claim within the ‘097 Patent was determined to be “obvious” under 35 U.S.C. Section 102, which generally results in the lack of enforceability of such a claim against infringement.  On February 23, 2010, the ALJ further found that 38 of the 40 keyboard support products in question that CompX import into the United States from its Canadian subsidiary did not infringe on the ‘097 Patent. Sales of the remaining two products found to be infringing are not significant.  On April 26, 2010, the ITC issued a notice that it will review a significant portion of the ALJ’s Initial Determination, including the findings of certain meanings within the claims of the ‘097 Patent, the alleged infringement of the two products the ALJ concluded were infringing on a dependent claim within the ‘097 Patent, the invalidity of the sole independent claim within the ‘097 Patent, and the defense of intervening rights asserted by CompX. Of significance is the fact that the ITC is not reviewing the ALJ’s finding that 38 of our 40 keyboard support products at issue do not infringe on the ‘097 Patent, so the lack of infringement of those accused products is now considered a final determination by the ITC.  CompX denies any infringement alleged in the investigation and plan to defend ourselves with respect to any claims of infringement by Humanscale through the Presidential review process of the ruling, which is expected to conclude in August 2010.

23

 
On February 13, 2009, a Complaint for patent infringement was filed in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division (CV No. 3:09CV86-JRS) by Humanscale Corporation against CompX International Inc. and CompX Waterloo.  CompX answered the allegations of infringement of Humanscale’s ‘097 Patent set forth in the complaint on March 30, 2009.  CompX filed for a stay in the U.S. District Court Action pending the completion of the related case before the ITC with respect to Humanscale’s claims (as a matter of legislated right because of the ITC action) while at the same time counterclaiming patent infringement claims against Humanscale for infringement of our keyboard support arm patents (U.S. No. 5,037,054 and U.S. No. 5,257,767) by Humanscale’s models 2G, 4G and 5G support arms.  Humanscale filed a response not opposing our motion to stay their patent infringement claims but opposing our patent infringement counterclaims against them and asking the Court to stay all claims in the matter until the ITC investigation is concluded.  We filed our response to their motions.  At a hearing before the court held on May 19, 2009, CompX’s motion to stay the Humanscale claim of patent infringement was granted and Humanscale’s motion to stay our counterclaims was denied.  A jury trial was completed on February 25, 2010 relating to our counter claims with the jury finding that Humanscale infringed on CompX’s patents and awarded damages in excess of $19 million for past royalties.  Post judgment briefs are due May 11, 2010, and we anticipate the judge to issue a final judgment in June 2010.  The verdict is subject to appeal.  Due to the uncertain nature of the on-going legal proceedings we have not accrued a receivable for the amount of the award.

Other – For a discussion of other legal proceedings to which we are a party, please refer to our 2009 Annual Report.

In addition to the litigation described above, we and our affiliates are involved in various other environmental, contractual, product liability, patent (or intellectual property), employment and other claims and disputes incidental to our present and former businesses.  In certain cases, we have insurance coverage for these items, although we do not expect any additional material insurance coverage for our environmental claims.

We currently believe that the disposition of all of these various other claims and disputes, individually or in the aggregate, should not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity beyond the accruals already provided.

 
 
24

 

Note 13 - Financial instruments:

The following table summarizes the valuation of our marketable securities and financial instruments recorded at fair value:

 	 	Fair Value Measurements	 	
 	 	Total	 	 	Quoted Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)	 	 	Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	 	 	Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
December 31, 2009:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Marketable securities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Current	 	$	6.1	 	 	$	-	 	 	$	6.1	 	 	$	-	 	
    Noncurrent	 	 	279.5	 	 	 	28.6	 	 	 	.9	 	 	 	250.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Currency forward contracts	 	 	1.6	 	 	 	1.6	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
March 31, 2010:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Marketable securities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    Current	 	$	5.1	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	5.1	 	 	 	-	 	
    Noncurrent	 	 	292.3	 	 	 	42.3	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	250.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Currency forward contracts	 	 	1.8	 	 	 	1.8	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	

See Note 5 for information on how we determine fair value of our noncurrent marketable securities.

We periodically use currency forward contracts to manage a nominal portion of currency exchange rate market risk associated with trade receivables, or similar exchange rate risk associated with future sales, denominated in a currency other than the holder's functional currency.  These contracts generally relate to our Chemicals and Component Products operations.  We have not entered into these contracts for trading or speculative purposes in the past, nor do we currently anticipate entering into such contracts for trading or speculative purposes in the future.  Some of the currency forward contracts we enter into meet the criteria for hedge accounting under GAAP and are designated as cash flow hedges.  For these currency forward contracts, gains and losses representing the effective portion of our hedges are deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, and are subsequently recognized in earnings at the time the hedged item affects earnings.  For the currency forward contracts we enter into which do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, we mark-to-market the estimated fair value of such contracts at each balance sheet date, with any resulting gain or loss recognized in income currently as part of net currency transactions.  The fair value of the currency forward contracts is determined using Level 1 inputs as defined by ASC Topic 820-10-35 based on the foreign currency spot forward rates quoted by banks or foreign currency dealers.

At March 31, 2010 our Chemicals Segment held the following series of short-term forward exchange contracts.

·  	an aggregate of $36 million for an equivalent value of Canadian dollars at an exchange rate of Cdn. $1.04 per U.S. dollar.  These contracts with Wachovia Bank, National Association, mature from April 2010 through December 2010 at a rate of $4 million per month, subject to early redemption provisions at our option.  At March 31, 2010, the actual exchange rate was Cdn. $1.02 per U.S. dollar;	

·  	an aggregate $58 million for an equivalent value of Norwegian kroner at exchange rates ranging from kroner 5.85 to kroner 6.13 per U.S. dollar.  These contracts with DnB Nor Bank ASA mature from April 2010 through March 2011 at a rate of $1 million to $2.3 million per month.  At March 31, 2010, the actual exchange rate was kroner 6.00 per U.S. dollar; and 	

·  	an aggregate euro 16 million for an equivalent value of Norwegian kroner at exchange rates ranging from kroner 8.47 to kroner 9.13 per euro.  These contracts with DnB Nor Bank ASA mature from April 2010 through December 2010 at a rate of euro .1 million to euro 1.8 million per month, subject to early redemption provisions at our option.  At March 31, 2010, the actual exchange rate was kroner 8.01 per euro.	

25

 
The estimated fair value of our currency forward contracts at March 31, 2010 was a $1.8 million net asset, which is the result of $2.7 million recognized as part of Prepaid Expenses and Other and $.9 million recognized as a part of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.  There is also a corresponding $1.8 million currency transaction gain in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  To the extent we held such contracts during 2009, we did not use hedge accounting for any of such contracts and we are not currently using hedge accounting for our existing contracts.

The following table presents the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value but which require fair value disclosure:

 	 	December 31,
 2009	 	 	March 31,
 2010	 	
 	 	Carrying
 amount	 	 	Fair
value	 	 	Carrying
 amount	 	 	Fair
value	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 equivalents	 	$	78.0	 	 	$	78.0	 	 	$	51.2	 	 	$	51.2	 	
Promissory note receivable	 	 	15.0	 	 	 	15.0	 	 	 	15.0	 	 	 	15.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Long-term debt (excluding capitalized leases):	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Publicly-traded fixed rate debt -	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
    KII Senior Secured Notes	 	$	574.6	 	 	$	466.2	 	 	$	538.0	 	 	$	455.0	 	
  Snake River Sugar Company fixed rate loans	 	 	250.0	 	 	 	250.0	 	 	 	250.0	 	 	 	250.0	 	
  CompX variable rate promissory note	 	 	42.2	 	 	 	42.2	 	 	 	42.2	 	 	 	42.2	 	
  Variable rate debt to Contran	 	 	84.9	 	 	 	84.9	 	 	 	83.5	 	 	 	83.5	 	
  Variable rate bank credit facilities	 	 	29.1	 	 	 	29.1	 	 	 	45.7	 	 	 	45.7	 	
  Variable rate debt to former shareholders	 	 	-	 	 	 	-	 	 	 	18.0	 	 	 	18.0	 	
  Other fixed-rate debt	 	 	.5	 	 	 	.5	 	 	 	12.5	 	 	 	12.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncontrolling interest in:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  NL common stock	 	$	43.6	 	 	$	57.1	 	 	$	45.3	 	 	$	70.6	 	
  Kronos common stock	 	 	15.0	 	 	 	38.4	 	 	 	16.9	 	 	 	34.7	 	
  CompX common stock	 	 	11.1	 	 	 	12.2	 	 	 	10.8	 	 	 	14.5	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Valhi stockholders' equity	 	$	428.7	 	 	$	1,597.3	 	 	$	430.4	 	 	$	2,250.2	 	

The fair value of our publicly-traded marketable securities, noncontrolling interest in NL Industries, Kronos and CompX and our common stockholders' equity are all based upon quoted market prices, Level 1 inputs as defined at each balance sheet date.  The fair value of our 6.5% Notes are also based on quoted market prices at each balance sheet date; however, these quoted market prices represent Level 2 inputs because the markets in which the Notes trade are not active.  At December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2010, the estimated market price of the 6.5% Notes was approximately euro 809 and euro 843, respectively, per euro 1,000 principal amount. The fair value of our fixed-rate nonrecourse loans from Snake River Sugar Company is based upon the $250 million redemption price of our investment in the Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC, which collateralizes the nonrecourse loans, (this is a Level 3 input).  Fair values of the variable interest rate note receivable and variable interest debt and other fixed-rate debt are deemed to approximate book value. Due to their near-term maturities, the carrying amounts of accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered equivalent to fair value.  See Notes 5 and 7.

 
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Note 14 – Earnings per share:

Earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period.  A reconciliation of the numerator used in the calculation of earnings (loss) per share is presented in the following table:
 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss) attributable to Valhi stockholders	 	$	(20.0	)	 	$	13.6	 	
Equity adjustment	 	 	-	 	 	 	(2.1	)	
Adjusted net income (loss)loss attributable to Valhi stockholders	 	$	(20.0	)	 	$	11.5	 	

The $2.1 million equity adjustment attributable to Valhi stockholders is discussed in Note 12.

 
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS    

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Business Overview

We are primarily a holding company.  We operate through our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, including NL Industries, Inc., Kronos Worldwide, Inc., CompX International, Inc., Tremont LLC and Waste Control Specialists LLC (“WCS”).    Kronos (NYSE: KRO), NL (NYSE: NL) and CompX (NYSE: CIX) each file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

We have three consolidated operating segments:

 	•	Chemicals – Our chemicals segment is operated through our majority ownership of Kronos.  Kronos is a leading global producer and marketer of value-added titanium dioxide pigment products (“TiO 2 ”).  TiO 2  is used for a variety of manufacturing applications, including plastics, paints, paper and other industrial products.	

 	•	Component Products – We operate in the component products industry through our majority ownership of CompX.  CompX is a leading global manufacturer of security products, precision ball bearing slides and ergonomic computer support systems used in the office furniture, transportation, tool storage and a variety of other industries.  CompX also manufactures stainless steel exhaust systems, gauges and throttle controls for the performance boat industry.	

 	•	Waste Management – WCS is our wholly-owned subsidiary which owns and operates a West Texas facility for the processing, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous, toxic and certain types of low-level radioactive waste.  WCS obtained a byproduct disposal license in 2008 and began disposal operations in October 2009.  In January 2009 WCS received a low-level radioactive waste disposal license, which was signed in September 2009.  Construction of the low-level radioactive waste facility is currently expected to begin in mid-2010, following the completion of some pre-construction licensing and administrative matters, and is expected to be operational in early 2011 .	

General

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.   Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical in nature are forward-looking in nature about our future that are not statements of historical fact.  Statements in this report including, but not limited to, statements found in Item 2 - "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," are forward-looking statements that represent our beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information.  In some cases you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "believes," "intends," "may," "should," "could," "anticipates," "expects" or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategies or trends.  Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know if these expectations will be correct.  Forward-looking statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact expected results. Actual future results could differ materially from those predicted. While it is not possible to identify all factors, we continue to face many risks and uncertainties.  Among the factors that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those described herein are the risks and uncertainties discussed in this Quarterly Report and those described from time to time in our other filings with the SEC including, but not limited to, the following:

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 	·	Future supply and demand for our products;	

 	·	The cyclicality of certain of our businesses (such as Kronos’ TiO2 operations);	

 	·	Customer inventory levels (such as the extent to which Kronos’ customers may, from time to time, accelerate purchases of TiO 2  in advance of anticipated price increases or defer purchases of TiO 2  in advance of anticipated price decreases;	

 	·	Changes in our raw material and other operating costs (such as energy costs);	

 	·	General global economic and political conditions (such as changes in the level of gross domestic product in various regions of the world and the impact of such changes on demand for, among other things, TiO 2 );	

 	·	Competitive products and prices, including increased completion from low-cost manufacturing sources (such as China);	

 	·	Possible disruption of our business or increases in the cost of doing business resulting from terrorist activities or global conflicts;	

 	·	Customer and competitor strategies;	

 	·	The impact of pricing and production decisions;	

 	·	Competitive technology positions;	

 	·	The introduction of trade barriers;	

 	·	Restructuring transactions involving us and our affiliates;	

 	·	Potential consolidation or solvency of our competitors;	

 	·	Demand for high performance marine components;	

 	·	The ability of our subsidiaries to pay us dividends (such as Kronos’ suspension of its dividend in 2009);	

 	·	Uncertainties associated with new product development;	

 	·	Fluctuations in currency exchange rates (such as changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and each of the euro, the Norwegian krone, the Canadian dollar and the New Taiwan dollar);	

 	·	Operating interruptions (including, but not limited to, labor disputes, leaks, natural disasters, fires, explosions, unscheduled or unplanned downtime and transportation interruptions);	

 	·	The timing and amounts of insurance recoveries;	

 	·	Our ability to renew, amend, refinance or establish credit facilities;	

 	·	Our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity;	

 	·	The ultimate outcome of income tax audits, tax settlement initiatives or other tax matters;	

 	·	The ultimate ability to utilize income tax attributes or changes in income tax rates related to such attributes, the benefit of which has been recognized under the more likely than not recognition criteria (such as Kronos’ ability to utilize its German net operating loss carryforwards);	

 	·	Environmental matters (such as those requiring compliance with emission and discharge standards for existing and new facilities, or new developments regarding environmental remediation at sites related to our former operations);	

 	·	Government laws and regulations and possible changes therein (such as changes in government regulations which might impose various obligations on present and former manufacturers of lead pigment and lead-based paint, including NL, with respect to asserted health concerns associated with the use of such products);	

 	·	Our ability to complete, obtain approval of and comply with the conditions of our licenses and permits (such as approval by the TCEQ of license conditions of WCS’s low-level radioactive waste disposal license);	

 	·	The ultimate resolution of pending litigation (such as NL's lead pigment litigation, environmental and other litigation and CompX’s patent litigation);	

 	·	Our ability to comply with covenants contained in our revolving bank credit facilities; and	

 	·	Possible future litigation.	

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Should one or more of these risks materialize (or the consequences of such development worsen), or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those currently forecasted or expected.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of changes in information, future events or otherwise.

Operations Overview

Quarter Ended March 31, 2010 Compared to the Quarter Ended March 31, 2009 -

Net income attributable to Valhi stockholders was $13.6 million, or $.10 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2010 compared to a net loss attributable to Valhi stockholders of $20.0 million, or $.18 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2009.  The net income attributable to Valhi stockholders in the first quarter of 2010 was primarily due to an income tax benefit recognized during the quarter discussed below.  As more fully discussed below, our diluted income per share increased from 2009 to 2010 primarily due to the net effects of:

 	·	operating income from our Chemicals and Component Products Segment in 2010 as compared to operating losses in 2009;	

 	·	a non-cash deferred income tax benefit recognized in the first quarter of 2010;	

 	·	litigation settlement and contract termination expense in 2010 as compared to litigation settlement gain in 2009;	

 	·	higher insurance recoveries in 2010; and	

                                ·  	a gain on the sale of a business in 2009.	

Our net income attributable to Valhi shareholders in 2010 includes:

 	·	a non-cash deferred income tax benefit of $.21 per diluted share (net of noncontrolling interest) recognized by Kronos related to a European Court ruling that resulted in the favorable resolution of certain German income tax issues;	

 	·	insurance recoveries of $.09 per diluted share (net of tax and noncontrolling interest); and	

 	·	a charge of $.16 per diluted share (net of tax and noncontrolling interest) related to litigation settlement and contract termination.	

Our net loss attributable to Valhi stockholders in 2009 includes (i) a gain of $.07 per diluted share as a result of the gain on litigation settlement and (ii) a gain of $.04 per diluted share from the sale of a business.

 
 
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Current Forecast for 2010 –

We currently expect to report net income attributable to Valhi stockholders for 2010 as compared to the net loss in 2009 primarily due to the net effects of:
 	·	expected operating income from our Chemicals Segment due to increased sales volumes and lower anticipated per metric ton production costs;	

 	·	expected operating income from our Component Products Segment due to higher sales and lower legal expenses;	

 	·	a non-cash income tax benefit of approximately $24.4 million ($.21 per diluted share), net of noncontrolling interest, in the first quarter of 2010 as a result of a European Court ruling that resulted in a favorable resolution of certain income tax issues in Germany;	

 	·	litigation settlement and contract termination expense in 2010 as compared to recording  litigation settlement gains in 2009; and	

 	·	higher operating losses at WCS as we expect more expenses associated with the limited operations of our byproduct disposal facility which commenced operations in the fourth quarter of 2009.	

Segment Operating Results - 2009 Compared to 2010 –

Chemicals -

We consider TiO2 to be a “quality-of-life” product, with demand affected by gross domestic product (“GDP”) and overall economic conditions in our markets located in various regions of the world.  Over the long-term, we expect demand for TiO 2  will grow by 2% to 3% per year, consistent with our expectations for the long-term growth in GDP.  However, even if we and our competitors maintain consistent shares of the worldwide market, demand for TiO 2 in any interim or annual period may not change in the same proportion as the change in GDP, in part due to relative changes in the TiO 2  inventory levels of our customers.  We believe our customers’ inventory levels are partly influenced by their expectation for future changes in market TiO 2  selling prices.  The majority of our TiO 2  grades and substantially all of our production are considered commodity pigment products; we compete for sales primarily on the basis of price.

The factors having the most impact on our reported operating results are:
 	·	TiO2 sales and production volumes;	

 	·	TiO2 selling prices;	

 	·	Currency exchange rates (particularly the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar relative to the euro, Norwegian krone and the Canadian dollar); and	

 	·	Manufacturing costs, particularly raw materials, maintenance and energy-related expenses.	

The key performance indicators for our Chemicals Segment are our TiO2 average selling prices, and our levels of TiO2 sales and production volumes.  Ti0 2  selling prices generally follow industry trends and prices will increase or decrease generally as a result of competitive market pressure.

 
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 	 	Three months ended
  March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	% Change	 	
 	 	(Dollars in millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net sales	 	$	248.0	 	 	$	319.7	 	 	 	29	%	
Cost of sales	 	 	244.4	 	 	 	260.0	 	 	 	6	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross margin	 	$	3.6	 	 	$	59.7	 	 	 	1,558	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating income (loss)	 	$	(25.5	)	 	$	22.6	 	 	 	189	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Percent of net sales:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Cost of sales	 	 	99	%	 	 	81	%	 	 	 	 	
  Gross margin	 	 	1	 	 	 	19	 	 	 	 	 	
  Operating income	 	 	(10	)	 	 	7	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Ti02 operating statistics:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Sales volumes*	 	 	97	 	 	 	122	 	 	 	26	%	
  Production volumes*	 	 	64	 	 	 	124	 	 	 	94	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Percent change in net sales:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Ti02 product pricing	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	(1	)%	
  Ti02 sales volumes	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	26	 	
  Ti02 product mix	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	-	 	
Changes in currency exchange rates	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	4	%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	29	%	

* Thousands of metric tons

Net Sales - Our Chemicals Segment’s sales increased 29% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009, primarily due to a 26% increase in sales volumes along with the positive impact of currency exchange rates, partially offset by a 1% decrease in average TiO 2  selling prices.  We estimate the favorable effect of changes in currency exchange rates increased our Chemicals Segment’s net sales by approximately $10 million as compared to the same period in 2009.  TiO 2  selling prices will increase or decrease generally as a result of competitive market pressures and changes in the relative level of supply and demand.  We are currently in a period of generally rising industry prices and we expect average selling prices in the second quarter of 2010 to be higher than the average selling prices in the first quarter of 2010.  The 26% increase in sales volumes in the first quarter of 2010 is due to higher demand, primarily in European and export markets resulting from the improvement in current economic conditions.  We expect demand will continue to remain above 2009 levels for the remainder of the year.

Cost of Sales - Our Chemicals Segment’s cost of sales percentage decreased significantly in the first three months of 2010 compared to the same period last year primarily due to the significantly higher production volumes in 2010, as we implemented temporary plant curtailments during the first half of 2009 in order to reduce our finished goods inventories to an appropriate level.  Such temporary plant curtailments resulted in approximately $50 million of unabsorbed fixed production costs which were charged directly to cost of sales in the first quarter of 2009.  As compared to the first quarter of 2009, cost of sales in the first three months of 2010 was also impacted by a 26% increase in sales volumes, a 94% increase in TiO 2  production volumes, lower raw material costs of $8.1 million, lower utility costs of $9.4 million, an increase in maintenance costs of $4.7 million and currency fluctuations (primarily the euro).  In addition, cost of sales in the first quarter of 2010 was negatively impacted by approximately $4 million as a result of a higher waste-to-ore ratio in the ore we produce at our ilmenite mines in Norway.

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Operating Income (Loss) - Our Chemicals Segment’s operating income increased significantly in the first three months of 2010 primarily due to the significant increase in our gross margin and increased sales volumes.  Our gross margin improved to 19% in the first three months of 2010 compared to 1% in the same period of 2009 because of the significant amount of unabsorbed fixed production costs resulting from the production curtailments we implemented during the first six months of 2009, as well as the effect of higher sales volumes, offset somewhat by changes in currency exchange rates.  Our Chemicals Segment’s operating income increased in the first quarter of 2009 primarily because of higher sales volumes and lower manufacturing costs per ton resulting from higher production volumes.  However, changes in currency rates have negatively affected our gross margin and operating income.  We estimate that changes in currency exchange rates decreased operating income by approximately $8 million in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009.

Our Chemicals Segment’s operating income is net of amortization of purchase accounting adjustments made in conjunction with our acquisitions of interests in NL and Kronos.  As a result, we recognize additional depreciation expense above the amounts Kronos reports separately, substantially all of which is included within cost of sales.  We recognized an additional $.6 million and $.7 million of additional depreciation expense in the first three months of 2009 and 2010, respectively, which reduced our reported Chemicals Segment operating income as compared to amounts reported separately by Kronos. 

Currency Exchange Rates – Our Chemicals Segment has substantial operations and assets located outside the United States (primarily in Germany, Belgium, Norway and Canada).  The majority of sales generated from our foreign operations are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, principally the euro, other major European currencies and the Canadian dollar. A portion of our sales generated from our foreign operations is denominated in the U.S. dollar.  Certain raw materials used worldwide, primarily titanium-containing feedstocks, are purchased in U.S. dollars, while labor and other production costs are purchased primarily in local currencies.  Consequently, the translated U.S. dollar value of our foreign sales and operating results are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations which may favorably or adversely impact reported earnings and may affect the comparability of period-to-period operating results.  In addition to the impact of the translation of sales and expenses over time, our foreign operations also generate currency transaction gains and losses which primarily relate to the difference between the currency exchange rates in effect when  non-local currency sales or operating costs are initially accrued and when such amounts are settled with the non-local currency.

 
 
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Overall, fluctuations in currency exchange rates had the following effects on our Chemicals Segment’s net sales and operating income (loss):

 	 	Impact of changes in currency exchange rates– 2009 vs. 2010	 	
 	 	Transaction gains/(losses) recognized	 	 	Translation gain/loss-
impact of rate	 	 	Total currency impact	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	Change	 	 	changes	 	 	2009 vs 2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Impact on:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Net sales	 	$	-	 	 	$	-	 	 	$	-	 	 	$	10	 	 	$	10	 	
  Operating
   income (loss)	 	 	 5	 	 	 	 3	 	 	 	(2	)	 	 	(6	)	 	 	(8	)	

Outlook - During 2009 and 2010, our Chemicals Segment announced various TiO2 price increases, a portion of which were implemented during the second half of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, with portions of the remainder expected to be implemented later in 2010.  While our average TiO 2  selling prices were 1% lower in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009, our average selling prices at the end of the first quarter of 2010 were 1% higher as compared to the end of 2009.  As a result of expected continued implementation of price increases, we anticipate our average selling prices will continue to increase during the remainder of 2010.

In response to the worldwide economic slowdown and weak consumer confidence, we reduced our production volumes during the first half of 2009 in order to reduce our finished goods inventory, improve our liquidity and match production to market demand.  Overall industry pigment demand is expected to be higher in 2010 as compared to 2009 as a result of improving worldwide economic conditions.  While we operated our facilities at approximately 58% of capacity during the first half of 2009 (50% during the first quarter), we increased our capacity utilization to approximately 94% during the second half of 2009.  We operated our plants at near full capacity utilization during the first quarter of 2010, and we currently expect to operate our facilities at such near full capacity levels during the remainder of 2010.  Our expected capacity utilization levels could be adjusted upwards or downwards to match changes in demand for our product. We also expect raw material, energy and freight costs will relatively increase during the remainder of 2010, and a portion of future price increases we expect to implement are intended to compensate for such increases in our operating costs.

We currently expect to report operating income in 2010 as compared to an operating loss in 2009, as the favorable effects of the worldwide economic recovery and improving consumer confidence will continue to improve demand in all of our key market segments.  The expected increase in our sales volumes for 2010 should allow us to maintain our near full capacity utilization for the remainder of the year.  With such improved capacity utilization levels and higher expected selling prices, we expect to report improved operating and financial performance in 2010.

Our expectations as to the future of the TiO2 industry are based upon a number of factors beyond our control, including worldwide growth of gross domestic product, competition in the marketplace, solvency and continued operation of competitors, unexpected or earlier than expected capacity additions or reductions and technological advances.  If actual developments differ from our expectations, our results of operations could be unfavorably affected.

 
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Component Products -

The key performance indicator for our Component Products Segment is operating income margins.

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	% Change	 	
 	 	(Dollars in millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net sales	 	$	28.5	 	 	$	32.8	 	 	 	15	%	
Cost of sales	 	 	23.7	 	 	 	23.7	 	 	 	-	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross margin	 	$	4.8	 	 	$	9.1	 	 	 	91	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating income (loss)	 	$	(1.0	)	 	 	1.7	 	 	 	287	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Percent of net sales:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Cost of sales	 	 	83	%	 	 	72	%	 	 	 	 	
  Gross margin	 	 	17	 	 	 	28	 	 	 	 	 	
  Operating income	 	 	(3	)	 	 	5	 	 	 	 	 	

Net Sales - Our Component Products Segment’s sales increased in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period of 2009 due to an increase in order rates across most of our customers resulting from improving economic conditions in North America.   We estimate the favorable effect of relative changes in currency exchange rates increased our net sales by $.5 million in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period of 2009.

Cost of Sales - Our Component Products Segment’s cost of sales percentage improved 11% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period of 2009 primarily due to improved coverage of overhead and fixed manufacturing costs from higher sales volume and the related efficiency gains from the increase in utilization of capacity.

Operating Income (Loss) - Our Component Products Segment had operating income in the first quarter of 2010 compared to an operating loss in the first quarter of 2009 primarily due to the net impact of improved gross margins as a result of improved cost of sales ratios partially offset by $1.6 million in patent litigation expenses incurred in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to nominal expenses in the same period of 2009 related to patent litigation at the Furniture Components reporting unit.  In the first three months of 2010 we estimated that relative changes in currency exchange rates decreased operating income by $.7 million.

Currency Exchange Rates – Our Component Products Segment has substantial operations and assets located outside the United States in Canada and Taiwan.  The majority of sales generated from our foreign operations are denominated in the U.S. dollar, with the rest denominated in other currencies, principally the Canadian dollar and the New Taiwan dollar.    Most raw materials, labor and other production costs for our foreign operations are denominated primarily in local currencies.  Consequently, the translated U.S. dollar values of our foreign sales and operating results are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations which may favorably or unfavorably impact reported earnings and may affect comparability of period-to-period operating results. In addition to the impact of the translation of sales and expenses over time, our foreign operations also generate currency transaction gains and losses which primarily relate to the difference between the currency exchange rates in effect when  non-local currency sales or operating costs are initially accrued and when such amounts are settled with the non-local currency.

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Overall, fluctuations in currency exchange rates had the following effects on our Compo`nent Products Segment’s net sales and operating income (loss):

 	 	Impact of changes in currency exchange rates – 2009 vs. 2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	Translation gain/loss-
impact of rate	 	 	Total currency impact	 	
 	 	Transaction gains/(losses) recognized	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	 	Change	 	 	changes	 	 	2009 vs 2010	 	
 	 	(in millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Impact on:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net sales	 	$	-	 	 	$	-	 	 	$	-	 	 	$	.5	 	 	$	.5	 	
Operating income	 	 	-	 	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	(.1	)	 	 	(.6	)	 	 	(.7	)	

Outlook – Demand for Component Products Segment’s products has increased as conditions in the overall economy have improved, although there is still uncertainty as to the sustainability of the related increase in sales. While changes in market demand are not within our control, we are focused on the areas we can impact.  Staffing levels are continuously being evaluated in relation to sales order rates resulting in headcount adjustments, to the extent possible, to match staffing levels with demand.  We expect our lean manufacturing and cost improvement initiatives to continue to positively impact our productivity and result in a more efficient infrastructure that we are beginning to leverage as the demand growth returns.  Additionally, we continue to seek opportunities to gain market share in markets we currently serve, expand into new markets and develop new product features in order to mitigate the impact of changes in demand as well as broaden our sales base.

In addition to challenges with overall demand, volatility in the cost of raw materials is ongoing.  The cost of commodity raw materials began to increase during the first quarter of 2010 and we currently expect these costs to continue to be volatile during 2010.  We generally seek to mitigate the impact of fluctuations in raw material costs on our margins through improvements in production efficiencies or other operating cost reductions.  In the event we are unable to offset raw material cost increases with other cost reductions, it may be difficult to recover those cost increases through increased product selling prices or raw material surcharges due to the competitive nature of the markets served by our products.  Consequently, overall operating margins may be affected by raw material cost pressures.

A competitor has filed claims against us for patent infringement.  We have denied the allegations of patent infringement and are seeking to have the claims dismissed.  While we currently believe the disposition of these claims should not have a material, long-term adverse effect on our operating income, we expect to continue to incur costs defending against such claims during the short-term that are likely to be material to our operating income.

 
 
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Waste Management -

 	 	Three months ended	 	
 	 	March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net sales	 	$	.8	 	 	$	4.3	 	
Cost of sales	 	 	4.6	 	 	 	7.0	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross margin	 	$	(3.8	)	 	$	(2.7	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating loss	 	$	(6.5	)	 	$	(6.7	)	

General – We have operated our Waste Management Segment’s waste management facility on a relatively limited basis while we navigated the regulatory licensing requirements to receive permits for the disposal of byproduct waste material and for a broad range of low-level and mixed low-level radioactive wastes (“LLRW”).  We previously filed license applications for such disposal capabilities with the applicable Texas state agencies.  In May 2008, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) issued us a license for the disposal of byproduct material.  Byproduct material includes uranium or thorium mill tailings as well as equipment, pipe and other materials used to handle and process the mill tailings.  We began construction of the byproduct facility infrastructure at our site in Andrews County, Texas in the third quarter of 2008 and this facility began disposal operations in October 2009.  In January 2009, TCEQ issued a near-surface low-level and mixed LLRW disposal license to us.  This license was signed in September 2009.  Construction of the LLRW site is currently expected to commence in mid-2010, following the completion of some pre-construction licensing and administrative matters, and is expected to be operational in early 2011.  While construction for the LLRW disposal facility is pending, we currently have facilities that allow us to treat, store and dispose of a broad range of hazardous and toxic wastes and byproducts material, and to treat and store a broad range of low-level and mixed LLRW.

Net Sales and Operating Loss – The Waste Management Segment’s sales increased in the first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to revenue associated with the disposal of certain hazardous waste which had previously been stored at Waste Management’s facility.   The Waste Management Segment’s operating loss increased primarily due to contract termination expense of $1.1 million related to an agreement to terminate a disposal contract with a former customer. We continue to seek to increase our Waste Management Segment’s sales volumes from waste streams permitted under our current licenses.

Outlook – Having obtained the final regulatory license we need to commence full scale operations, we are in process of constructing the facilities we will need to provide “one-stop shopping” for hazardous, toxic, low-level and mixed LLRW and radioactive byproduct material.  WCS will have the broadest range of capabilities of any commercial enterprise in the U.S. for the storage, treatment and permanent disposal of these materials, which we believe will give WCS a significant and valuable competitive advantage in the industry once final construction is completed in mid-2011.  We are also exploring opportunities to obtain certain types of new business (including disposal and storage of certain types of waste) that, if obtained, could help to increase our Waste Management Segment’s sales, and decrease our Waste Management Segment’s operating loss.  Our ability to increase our Waste Management Segment’s sales volumes through these waste streams, together with improved operating efficiencies through further cost reductions and increased capacity utilization, are important factors in improving our Waste Management Segment’s operating results and cash flows.  Until we are able to increase our Waste Management Segment’s sales volumes, we generally expect to continue to report operating losses in our Waste Management Segment.  While achieving increased sales volumes could result in operating profits, we currently do not believe we will report any significant levels of Waste Management operating profit until we have started to generate revenues following completion of the construction discussed above.

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We believe WCS can become a viable, profitable operation; however, we do not know when or if we will be successful in improving WCS cash flows.  We have in the past, and we may in the future, consider strategic alternatives with respect to WCS.  We could report a loss in any such strategic transaction.

General Corporate Items, Other Items, Interest Expense, Income Tax Benefit and Noncontrolling Interest - 2010 Compared to 2009

Interest and Dividend Income – A significant portion of our interest and dividend income in both 2010 and 2009 relates to the distributions we received from The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC.  We recognized dividend income from the LLC of $6.3 million in both the first quarter 2010 and 2009.

Insurance Recoveries – Insurance recoveries relate to amounts NL received from certain of its former insurance carriers, and relate principally to the recovery of prior lead pigment and asbestos litigation defense costs incurred by NL.  We have agreements with certain former insurance carriers pursuant to which the carriers reimburse us for a portion of our future lead pigment litigation defense costs, and one such carrier reimburses us for a portion of our future asbestos litigation defense costs.  We are not able to determine how much we will ultimately recover from these carriers for defense costs incurred by us because of certain issues that arise regarding which defense costs qualify for reimbursement.

In addition to the insurance recoveries discussed above, in the first quarter of 2010 we recognized an insurance recovery in connection with the litigation settlement discussed in Note 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  NL had insurance coverage for a portion of the litigation settlement, and a substantial portion of the insurance recoveries we recognized in the first quarter of 2010 relates to such coverage.

Other Income – In the first quarter of 2009, we recognized a pre-tax litigation settlement gain of $11.9 million related to amounts we received in the first quarter of 2009 in recovery of past environmental remediation and related legal costs we had previously incurred.  See Note 9 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  Also in 2009 we recognized a $6.4 million gain on the sale of the assets of our research, laboratory and quality control business to The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC. See Note 9 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Corporate Expenses and Other Items, Net - The $33.3 million in litigation settlements expense are discussed in Notes 7 and 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  Corporate expenses were 8% lower at $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to $8.3 million in the same period in 2009. Corporate expenses decreased primarily due to lower defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit expense, lower environmental related expenses and lower incentive compensation expense which included certain incentive compensation paid in connection with the sale of our research and development business in the first quarter of 2009.  These decreases were partially offset by higher litigation related costs at NL. Included in corporate expense are:

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·  	litigation and related costs at NL (exclusive of the litigation settlement discussed above) of $2.9 million in 2010 compared to $2.5 million in 2009 and	

·  	environmental expenses of $.1 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to $.9 million in the same period of 2009.	

We expect our corporate expenses in 2010 will be lower than in 2009 primarily due to the lower expected pension and other postretirement benefit expense.  The level of our litigation and related expenses varies from period to period depending upon, among other things, the number of cases in which we are currently involved, the nature of such cases and the current stage of such cases (e.g. discovery, pre-trial motions, trial or appeal, if applicable).  See Note 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  If our current expectations regarding the number of cases in which we expected to be involved during 2010, or the nature of such cases, were to change, our corporate expenses could be higher than we currently estimate.

Obligations for environmental remediation costs are difficult to assess and estimate, and it is possible that actual costs for environmental remediation will exceed accrued amounts or that costs will be incurred in the future for sites in which we cannot currently estimate the liability.  If these events were to occur during 2010, our corporate expenses would be higher than our current estimates. See Note 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest Expense – We have a significant amount of indebtedness denominated in the euro, primarily through our subsidiary Kronos International, Inc. (“KII”).  KII has outstanding euro 400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.5% Senior Secured Notes due in 2013 outstanding.  The interest expense we recognize on these fixed rate Notes varies with fluctuations in the euro exchange rate.

Interest expense increased to $17.4 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $16.0 million in the first quarter of 2009 primarily due to higher average debt balances at Valhi parent, higher interest rates on our European credit facility and changes in currency exchange rates which offset the effect of decreased average borrowings under Kronos’ revolving credit facilities offset somewhat by lower interest expense at CompX due to lower interest rates.  Excluding the effect of currency exchange rates, we expect interest expense will continue to be higher in 2010 as compared to 2009 due to continued higher average balances of outstanding borrowings at Valhi parent in 2010 and higher interest rates on certain of our credit facilities.

Income Tax Benefit – Our income tax benefit was $30.0 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2009. Our tax rate varies as the contribution of income from our business units changes.  Our income tax benefit in 2010 includes a $35.2 million income tax benefit related to a European Court ruling that resulted in a favorable resolution of certain income tax issues in Germany and an increase in the amount of our German corporate and trade tax net operating loss carryforwards.  Our income tax benefit in the first quarter of 2010 also includes an aggregate $1.9 million provision for deferred income taxes on the pre-2005 undistributed earnings of our Taiwanese subsidiary.

We have substantial net operating loss carryforwards in Germany (the equivalent of $941 million for German corporate purposes and $288 million for German trade tax purposes at December 31, 2009 (which amounts exclude the adjustment to such carryforwards recognized in the first quarter of 2010.  See Note 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements).  At March 31, 2010, we have concluded that no deferred income tax asset valuation allowance is required to be recognized with respect to such carryforwards, principally because (i) such carryforwards have an indefinite carryforward period, (ii) we have utilized a portion of such carryforwards during the most recent three-year period and (iii) we currently expect to utilize the remainder of such carryforwards over the long term.  However, prior to the complete utilization of such carryforwards, particularly if the economic recovery were to be short-lived or we were to generate losses in our German operations for an extended period of time, it is possible that we might conclude the benefit of such carryforwards would no longer meet the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria, at which point we would be required to recognize a valuation allowance against some or all of the then-remaining tax benefit associated with the carryforwards.

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See Note 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information about our 2010 income tax items and a tabular reconciliation of our statutory tax expense to our actual tax expense.

Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries – Noncontrolling interest in net income was $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to a loss of $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2009. In the first three months of 2010 we had operating income at Kronos and CompX compared to operating losses at Kronos, CompX and NL in the first quarter of 2009.

 
 
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Consolidated Cash Flows

Operating Activities -

Trends in cash flows from operating activities (excluding the impact of significant asset dispositions and relative changes in assets and liabilities) are generally similar to trends in our earnings.

Cash flows from operating activities increased from $18.8 million cash used in operations in the first three months of 2009 compared $16.5 million used in the first three months of 2010.  This $2.3 million net decrease in the amount of cash used was primarily due to the net effects of the following items:

 	·	higher consolidated operating income in 2010 of $50.6 million, due to operating income at Kronos and CompX in 2010 compared to operating losses at all of our segments in 2009;	

 	·	cash paid for taxes of $3.5 million in 2009 compared to cash refunds received of $15.1 million in 2010;	

 	·	proceeds from a litigation settlement of $11.8 million received in January 2009;	

 	·	distributions from our Chemicals Segment’s joint venture of $.8 million in 2010 compared to contributions of $1.8 million in 2009; and	

 	·	Changes in receivables, inventories, payables and accrued liabilities in 2010 used $38.6 million of net cash, a decline of $35.7 million compared to 2009, primarily due to increased sales and production volumes.	

Changes in working capital were affected by accounts receivable and inventory changes.  As shown below:

·  	Kronos’ average days sales outstanding (“DSO”) increased from December 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010 due to the timing of collection on receivable balances;	

 	·	Kronos’ average days sales in inventory (“DSI”) decreased slightly from December 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010;	

 	·	CompX’s average DSO increased from December 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010.  Historically, CompX’s average December 31 DSO is low due to the timing of sales and collections in the fourth quarter.  Overall, CompX’s March 31, 2010 average DSO is comparable to March 31, 2009; and	

 	·	CompX’s average DSI increased from December 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010 as a result of the increase in sales in the first quarter of 2010 and the related timing of inventory purchases.	

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For comparative purposes, we have also provided comparable prior year numbers below.

 	December 31,	March 31,	December 31,	March 31,	
 	2008	2009	2009	2010	
 	 	 	 	 	
Kronos:	 	 	 	 	
  Days sales outstanding	 64 days	68 days	 56 days	61 days	
  Days sales in inventory	113 days	64 days	 58 days	56 days	
 	 	 	 	 	
CompX:	 	 	 	 	
  Days sales outstanding	 41 days	44 days	37 days	43 days	
  Days sales in inventory	 70 days	80 days	64 days	67 days	

We do not have complete access to the cash flows of our majority-owned subsidiaries, due in part to limitations contained in certain credit agreements of our subsidiaries and because we do not own 100% of these subsidiaries.  A detail of our consolidated cash flows from operating activities is presented in the table below.  Intercompany dividends have been eliminated.

 	 	Three months ended
 March 31,	 	
 	 	2009	 	 	2010	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
  Valhi exclusive of subsidiaries	 	$	12.2	 	 	$	16.2	 	
  Kronos	 	 	(17.4	)	 	 	(15.9	)	
  CompX	 	 	(.3	)	 	 	(2.5	)	
  Waste Control Specialists	 	 	(8.5	)	 	 	(5.6	)	
  NL exclusive of its subsidiaries	 	 	.6	 	 	 	(1.7	)	
  Tremont	 	 	10.9	 	 	 	(.9	)	
  Other	 	 	1.2	 	 	 	.3	 	
  Eliminations	 	 	(17.5	)	 	 	(6.4	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
      Total 	 	$	(18.8	)	 	$	(16.5	)	

Investing and Financing Activities –

We spent $8.9 million in capital expenditures during the first three months of 2010 as follows:

 	·	$8.5 million in our Chemicals Segment; and	

 	·	$.4 million in our Component Products Segment.	

We had the following market transactions during the three months of 2010:

 	·	purchased marketable securities of $4.5 million; and	

 	·	sold marketable securities for proceeds of $2.1 million.	

During the first three months of 2010, we had net borrowings of euro 9.0 million ($13.2 million when borrowed/repaid) under Kronos’ European bank credit facility, and borrowed a net $4.7 million under Kronos’ U.S. bank credit facility.  During the first three months of 2010, we made net repayments of $1.4 million under our Contran credit facility.  We paid aggregate cash dividends of $11.4 million ($.10 per share per quarter) on our common stock in the first three months of 2010.  Distributions to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries in the first three months of 2010 are primarily comprised of CompX dividends paid to shareholders other than NL.

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Outstanding Debt Obligations

At March 31, 2010, our consolidated indebtedness was comprised of:

 	·	KII’s euro 400 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.5% Senior Secured Notes ($538.0 million) due in 2013;	

 	·	our $250 million loan from Snake River Sugar Company due in 2027;	

 	·	KII's European revolving credit facility ($24.3 million outstanding) which matures in May 2011;	

 	·	CompX’s promissory note payable to TIMET ($42.2 million outstanding) which is due in 2014;	

 	·	Kronos’ U.S. revolving credit facility ($21.4 million outstanding) which matures in September in 2011;	

 	·	Valhi’s revolving credit facility with Contran ($53.5 million outstanding) due in 2012;	

 	·	A wholly-owned subsidiary of Valhi's promissory demand notes payable to Contran ($30.0 million outstanding) due in 2012;	

 	·	NL’s $18.0 million promissory note issued in connection with a litigation settlement due in 2011 and 2012; and	

 	·	WCS’ $12.0 million promissory note issued in connection with the termination of a customer contract due in 2010 through 2014; and	

 	·	approximately $8.7 million of other indebtedness.	

Certain of our revolving credit facilities with unrelated, third party lenders require the respective borrowers to maintain minimum levels of equity, require the maintenance of certain financial ratios, limit dividends and additional indebtedness and contain other provisions and restrictive covenants customary in lending transactions of this type.  We are in compliance with all of our debt covenants at March 31, 2010.  We believe we will be able to comply with the financial covenants contained in all of our credit facilities through the maturity of the respective facilities; however if future operating results differ materially from our expectations we may be unable to maintain compliance.

Future Cash Requirements

Liquidity –

Our primary source of liquidity on an ongoing basis is our cash flows from operating activities and borrowings under various lines of credit and notes.  We generally use these amounts to (i) fund capital expenditures, (ii) repay short-term indebtedness incurred primarily for working capital purposes and (iii) provide for the payment of dividends (including dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries) or treasury stock purchases.  From time-to-time we will incur indebtedness, generally to (i) fund short-term working capital needs, (ii) refinance existing indebtedness, (iii) make investments in marketable and other securities (including the acquisition of securities issued by our subsidiaries and affiliates) or (iv) fund major capital expenditures or the acquisition of other assets outside the ordinary course of business.  Occasionally we sell assets outside the ordinary course of business, and we generally use the proceeds to (i) repay existing indebtedness (including indebtedness which may have been collateralized by the assets sold), (ii) make investments in marketable and other securities, (iii) fund major capital expenditures or the acquisition of other assets outside the ordinary course of business or (iv) pay dividends.

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We routinely compare our liquidity requirements and alternative uses of capital against the estimated future cash flows we expect to receive from our subsidiaries, and the estimated sales value of those units.  As a result of this process, we have in the past sought, and may in the future seek, to raise additional capital, refinance or restructure indebtedness, repurchase indebtedness in the market or otherwise, modify our dividend policies, consider the sale of our interests in our subsidiaries, affiliates, business units, marketable securities or other assets, or take a combination of these and other steps, to increase liquidity, reduce indebtedness and fund future activities.  Such activities have in the past and may in the future involve related companies.  From time to time we and our subsidiaries may enter into intercompany loans as a cash management tool.  Such notes are structured as revolving demand notes and pay and receive interest on terms we believe are more favorable than current debt and investment market rates.  The companies that receive these notes have sufficient borrowing capacity to repay the notes at anytime upon demand.  All of these notes and related interest expense and income are eliminated in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

We periodically evaluate acquisitions of interests in or combinations with companies (including our affiliates) that may or may not be engaged in businesses related to our current businesses.  We intend to consider such acquisition activities in the future and, in connection with this activity, may consider issuing additional equity securities and increasing indebtedness.  From time to time, we also evaluate the restructuring of ownership interests among our respective subsidiaries and related companies.

Based upon our expectations of our operating performance, and the anticipated demands on our cash resources, we expect to have sufficient liquidity to meet our short-term obligations (defined as the twelve-month period ending March 31, 2011).  In this regard, see the discussion above in  “Outstanding Debt Obligations.”   If actual developments differ from our expectations, our liquidity could be adversely affected.

At March 31, 2010, we had credit available under existing facilities of $97.6 million, which was comprised of:

 	·	$81.1(1) million under Kronos’ various U.S. and non-U.S. credit facilities; and	

 	·	$16.5 million under Valhi’s Contran credit facility.	

(1)	Consists principally of $44.5 million under Kronos’ European credit facility, $11.9 million under its Canadian credit facility and $24.7 million under its U.S. credit facility.  At March 31, 2010, the borrowing availability under Kronos’ European revolving credit facility was limited to euro 51 million ($68.9 million), and the $44.5 million amount of our unused borrowing availability at March 31, 2010 is based on this euro 51 million maximum borrowing availability.  In accordance with the terms of the European revolving credit facility, in May 2010 Kronos satisfied certain specified covenants in the facility, and as a result the maximum borrowing availability under the facility has now returned to the full euro 80 million facility size.  Had the full euro 80 million been available at March 31, 2010, the borrowing availability under Kronos’ European revolver would have increased from $44.5 million to $83.6 million.	

We could borrow all of the amounts noted above without violating any covenants of the credit facilities.  As a result of covenant restrictions relating the ratio of earnings before interest and tax to cash interest expense, as defined in the CompX credit agreement, CompX would not have been able to borrow under its credit agreement during the first quarter of 2010 due to a net cumulative loss before interest and tax incurred for the first quarter of 2010 and the prior two quarters.  Any future losses before interest and tax would also likely restrict or prohibit CompX from borrowing under its credit agreement without violating the terms of the credit agreement.  However, there are no current expectations that CompX will be required to borrow on the revolving credit facility in the near term as cash flows from its operations are expected to be sufficient to fund its future liquidity requirements.

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At March 31, 2010, we had an aggregate of $98.5 million of restricted and unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.  A detail by entity is presented in the table below.

 	 	Amount	 	
 	 	(In millions)	 	
 	 	 	 	
  NL Parent	 	$	37.0	 	
  Valhi exclusive of its subsidiaries	 	 	15.5	 	
  Kronos	 	 	24.0	 	
  CompX	 	 	12.4	 	
  Tremont	 	 	8.8	 	
  Waste Control Specialists	 	 	.8	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
  Total cash and cash equivalents restricted cash
   And marketable securities	 	$	98.5	 	

Capital Expenditures –

We currently estimate that we will invest approximately $89 million in capital expenditures during 2010, as follows:
 	·	$43 million in our Chemicals Segment, including approximately $12 million in the area of environmental protection and compliance;	

 	·	$4 million in our Component Products Segment; and	

 	·	$42 million in our Waste Management Segment.	

The WCS amount includes approximately $4 million in capitalized permit costs.  Capital spending for 2010 is expected to be funded through cash generated from operations and credit facilities.   Our Waste Management Segment’s LLRW disposal license was issued in January 2009 and signed in September 2009.  With the receipt of this license, WCS expects to begin construction of its LLRW facility in mid-2010.  Approximately $31 million of WCS’ planned capital spending relates to the new facility.  WCS is currently seeking financing to fund construction of these facilities, and a delay in obtaining such financing could result in a delay in the commencement of constructing the LLRW facility.  In May 2009, the Andrews County voters approved the potential bond sale of up to $75 million to provide financing for the construction.  However, the county has not yet issued the bonds, and we can provide no assurance that the bonds will be issued.

With the exception of our Waste Management Segment, in response to the current economic conditions planned capital expenditures in 2010 will be to maintain our facilities.

Repurchases of Common Stock –

We have in the past, and may in the future, make repurchases of our common stock in market or privately-negotiated transactions.  At March 31, 2010 we had approximately 4.0 million shares available to repurchase shares of our common stock under the authorizations made by our Board of Directors.

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CompX’s board of directors authorized the repurchase of its Class A common stock in open market transactions, including block purchases, or in privately-negotiated transactions at unspecified prices and over an unspecified period of time.  At March 31, 2010 approximately 678,000 shares were available for purchase under these authorizations.

Dividends –

Because our operations are conducted primarily through subsidiaries and affiliates, our long-term ability to meet parent company level corporate obligations is largely dependent on the receipt of dividends or other distributions from our subsidiaries and affiliates.  In February 2009, Kronos’ board suspended its quarterly dividend after considering the challenges and opportunities that exist in the Ti0 2  products industry and we do not currently expect to receive a dividend from Kronos in 2010. NL’s current quarterly cash dividend is $.125 per share, although in the past NL has paid a dividend in the form of Kronos common stock.  If NL pays its regular quarterly dividends in cash, based on the 40.4 million shares we held of NL common stock at March 31, 2010, we would receive aggregate annual dividends from NL of $20.2 million. We do not expect to receive any distributions from WCS during 2010.  All of our ownership interest in CompX is held through our ownership in NL, as such we do not receive any dividends from CompX.  Instead any dividend CompX declares is paid to NL.

Our subsidiaries have various credit agreements with unrelated third-party lenders which contain customary limitations on the payment of dividends, typically a percentage of net income or cash flow; however, these restrictions in the past have not significantly impacted their ability to pay dividends.

Investment in our Subsidiaries and Affiliates and Other Acquisitions –

We have in the past, and may in the future, purchase the securities of our subsidiaries and affiliates or third parties in market or privately-negotiated transactions.  We base our purchase decision on a variety of factors, including an analysis of the optimal use of our capital, taking into account the market value of the securities and the relative value of expected returns on alternative investments. In connection with these activities, we may consider issuing additional equity securities or increasing our indebtedness.  We may also evaluate the restructuring of ownership interests of our businesses among our subsidiaries and related companies.

We generally do not guarantee any indebtedness or other obligations of our subsidiaries or affiliates.  Our subsidiaries are not required to pay us dividends.  If one or more of our subsidiaries were unable to maintain its current level of dividends, either due to restrictions contained in a credit agreement or to satisfy its liabilities or otherwise, our ability to service our liabilities or to pay dividends on our common stock could be adversely impacted.  If this were to occur, we might consider reducing or eliminating our dividends or selling interests in subsidiaries or other assets.  If we were required to liquidate assets to generate funds to satisfy our liabilities, we might be required to sell at what we believe would be less than the value of such assets.

WCS’ primary source of liquidity currently consists of intercompany borrowings from one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries under the terms of a revolving credit facility.  We eliminate these intercompany borrowings in our Consolidated Financial Statements.  During the first quarter of 2010, WCS borrowed a net $2.4 million from our subsidiary.  WCS used these net borrowings primarily to fund its operating loss and capital expenditures.  The outstanding amount of this intercompany borrowing, which is eliminated in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, was $7.0 million at March 31, 2010 and $4.6 million at December 31, 2009.  We expect that WCS will likely borrow additional amounts during the remainder of 2010 from our subsidiary.   In addition to WCS’ borrowing availability under this facility, we currently expect WCS’ cash needs in 2010 to be provided in part by certain third-party borrowings.  If WCS is not successful in obtaining third-party borrowings, it is probable the amount WCS may borrow under this facility would be increased to compensate.

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Investment in The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC –

The terms of The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC Company Agreement provide for an annual "base level" of cash dividend distributions (sometimes referred to as distributable cash) by the LLC of $26.7 million, from which we are entitled to a 95% preferential share. Distributions from the LLC are dependent, in part, upon the operations of the LLC.  We record dividend distributions from the LLC as income when they are declared by the LLC, which is generally the same month in which we receive the distributions, although distributions may in certain cases be paid on the first business day of the following month.  To the extent the LLC's distributable cash is below this base level in any given year, we are entitled to an additional 95% preferential share of any future annual LLC distributable cash in excess of the base level until such shortfall is recovered.  Based on the LLC's current projections for 2010, we expect distributions received from the LLC in 2010 will exceed our debt service requirements under our $250 million loans from Snake River Sugar Company by approximately $1.8 million.

We may, at our option, require the LLC to redeem our interest in the LLC beginning in 2012, and the LLC has the right to redeem our interest in the LLC beginning in 2027.  The redemption price is generally $250 million plus the amount of certain undistributed income allocable to us, if any.  In the event we require the LLC to redeem our interest in the LLC, Snake River has the right to accelerate the maturity of and call our $250 aggregate million loans from Snake River.  Redemption of our interest in the LLC would result in us reporting income related to the disposition of our LLC interest for income tax purposes, although we would not be expected to report a gain in earnings for financial reporting purposes at the time our LLC interest is redeemed.  However, because of Snake River’s ability to call our $250 million loans from Snake River upon redemption of our interest in the LLC, the net cash proceeds (after repayment of the debt) generated by the redemption of our interest in the LLC could be less than the income taxes that we would be required to pay as a result of the disposition.

Off-balance Sheet Financing

We do not have any off-balance sheet financing agreements other than the operating leases discussed in our 2009 Annual Report.

Commitments and Contingencies

We are subject to certain commitments and contingencies, as more fully described in Notes 10 and 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and in Part II, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report, including:

 	·	certain income tax examinations which are underway in various U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions;	

 	·	certain environmental remediation matters involving NL, Tremont and Valhi;	

 	·	certain litigation related to NL’s former involvement in the manufacture of lead pigment and lead-based paint; and	

 	·	certain other litigation to which we are a party.	

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In addition to those legal proceedings described in Note 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, various legislation and administrative regulations have, from time to time, been proposed that seek to (i) impose various obligations on present and former manufacturers of lead pigment and lead-based paint (including NL) with respect to asserted health concerns associated with the use of such products and (ii) effectively overturn court decisions in which NL and other pigment manufacturers have been successful.  Examples of such proposed legislation include bills which would permit civil liability for damages on the basis of market share, rather than requiring plaintiffs to prove that the defendant's product caused the alleged damage, and bills which would revive actions barred by the statute of limitations.  While no legislation or regulations have been enacted to date that are expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity, enactment of such legislation could have such an effect.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

There have been no recent accounting pronouncements for the period ended March 31, 2010.

Critical Accounting Policies

There have been no changes in the first three months of 2010 with respect to our critical accounting policies presented in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation in our 2009 Annual Report.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk, including currency exchange rates, interest rates and equity security prices.  For a discussion of such market risk items, please refer to Part I, Item 7A - “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2009 Annual Report.  There have been no material changes in these market risks during the first three months of 2010.

We have substantial operations located outside the United States for which the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.  As a result, our assets and liabilities, results of operations and cash flows will fluctuate based upon changes in currency exchange rates.

We periodically use currency forward contracts to manage a nominal portion of currency exchange rate market risk associated with trade receivables, or similar exchange rate risk associated with future sales, denominated in a currency other than the holder's functional currency.  These contracts generally relate to our Chemicals and Component Products operations.  We have not entered into these contracts for trading or speculative purposes in the past, nor do we currently anticipate entering into such contracts for trading or speculative purposes in the future.  Some of the currency forward contracts we enter into meet the criteria for hedge accounting under GAAP and are designated as cash flow hedges.  For these currency forward contracts, gains and losses representing the effective portion of our hedges are deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, and are subsequently recognized in earnings at the time the hedged item affects earnings.  For the currency forward contracts we enter into which do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, we mark-to-market the estimated fair value of such contracts at each balance sheet date, with any resulting gain or loss recognized in income currently as part of net currency transactions.  See Note 13 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
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ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures –

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures.  The term "disclosure controls and procedures," as defined by regulations of the SEC, means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“the Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit to the SEC under the Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions to be made regarding required disclosure.  Each of Steven L. Watson, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bobby D. O’Brien, our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the design and operating effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2010.  Based upon their evaluation, these executive officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2010.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting –

We also maintain internal control over financial reporting.  The term “internal control over financial reporting,” as defined by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f), means a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that:

 	·	pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of our assets,	

 	·	provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and	

 	·	provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.	

As permitted by the SEC, our assessment of internal control over financial reporting excludes (i) internal control over financial reporting of our equity method investees and (ii) internal control over the preparation of our financial statement schedules required by Article 12 of Regulation S-X.  However, our assessment of internal control over financial reporting with respect to our equity method investees did include our controls over the recording of amounts related to our investment that are recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, including controls over the selection of accounting methods for our investments, the recognition of equity method earnings and losses and the determination, valuation and recording of our investment account balances.

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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting –

There has been no change to our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.                      Legal Proceedings.

In addition to the matters discussed below, please refer to Note 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and to our 2009 Annual Report.

County of Santa Clara v. Atlantic Richfield Company, et al. (Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara, Case No. CV788657).  Oral argument before the California Supreme Court on the question of whether the contingency fee arrangements between plaintiffs and their counsel are illegal has been scheduled for May 2010.

The Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma et al. v. ASARCO Incorporated et al. (United States District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma, Case No. 03-CII-846H(J)).  In April 2010, a settlement was reached between the plaintiffs and NL, and the case was dismissed with prejudice as to NL.  This dismissal concludes the case. 

Brown, et al. v. NL Industries, Inc. et al. (Circuit Court Wayne County, Michigan, Case No. 09-002458 CE).  This case involves identical claims to those raised in the 2006  Brown  case described in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2010.  In March 2010, the court dismissed the claims of all of the plaintiffs in this second  Brown  case.  In April 2010, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration of the dismissal order.

Consolidation Coal Company v. 3M Company, et al. (United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, Civil Action No. 5:09-CV-00191-FL).  In March 2010, the motion to dismiss was denied.

In January 2010, we were served with an amended complaint in Los Angeles Unified School District v. Pozas Brothers Trucking Co., et al.  (Los Angeles Superior Court, Central Civil West, LASC Case No. BC 391342).  The complaint was filed against several defendants in connection with the alleged contamination of a 35 acre site in South Gate, California acquired by the plaintiff by eminent domain to construct a middle school and high school.  The plaintiff alleges that The 1230 Corporation (f/k/a Pioneer Aluminum, Inc.) operated on a portion of property within the 35 acre site and is responsible for contamination caused by its operations and that NL is liable as an alleged successor to The 1230 Corporation, which is a subsidiary of NL.  The plaintiff has brought claims for contribution, indemnity, and nuisance and is seeking past and future clean-up and other response costs.  We intend to deny liability and will defend vigorously against all of the claims. 

Item 1A.                      Risk Factors.

For a discussion of the risk factors related to our businesses, please refer to Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our 2009 Annual report.  There have been no material changes to such risk factors during the first three months of 2010.

 
 
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Item 6.                  Exhibits.

 	Item No.	 	Exhibit Index	
 	 	 	 	
 	31.1	 	Certification	
 	 	 	 	
 	31.2	 	Certification	
 	 	 	 	
 	32.1	 	Certification	

 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 	 	          VALHI, INC.          
(Registrant)	

 	 	 	
Date   May 6, 2010            	 	/s/ Bobby D. O’Brien               	
 	 	Bobby D. O’Brien
(Vice President and Chief
 Financial Officer)	
 	 	 	
Date   May 6, 2010            	 	/s/ Gregory M. Swalwell            	
 	 	Gregory M. Swalwell
(Vice President and Controller,
 Principal Accounting Officer)	

 
 
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 	Exhibit 31.1	

I, Steven L. Watson, certify that:

1)      I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Valhi, Inc.;

2)	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;	

3)	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;	

4)	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:	

 	a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;	

 	b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;	

 	c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and	

 	d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an Annual Report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and	

5)	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):	
 
 	a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and	

 	b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.	

Date: May 6, 2010

/s/ Steven L. Watson
Steven L. Watson
President and Chief Executive Officer

 	Exhibit 31.2	

I, Bobby D. O’Brien, certify that:

1)	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Valhi, Inc.;	

2)	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;	

3)	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;	

4)	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:	

 	a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;	

 	b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;	

 	c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and	

 	d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and	

5)	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):	

 	a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and	

 	b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.	

Date: May 6, 2010

/s/Bobby D. O’Brien
Bobby D. O’Brien
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 	Exhibit 32.1	

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Valhi, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I Steven L. Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and I Bobby D. O’Brien, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)          The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)          The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/  Steven L. Watson                	 	/s/  Bobby D. O’Brien             	
Steven L. Watson
President and Chief Executive Officer
May 6, 2010	 	Bobby D. O’Brien
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
May 6, 2010	

Note:  The certification the registrant furnishes in this exhibit is not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section.  Registration Statements or other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall not incorporate this exhibit by reference, except as otherwise expressly stated in such filing.