NL Industries

NL Industries, Inc. (now operating as NLI Holdings, Inc.) is one of the oldest publicly traded companies in the United States, tracing its origins to 1891 when it was formed as National Lead Company from a series of mergers of lead mining and smelting operations. The company rebranded as NL Industries in 1971 and has since transformed into a diversified holding company. Today, NLI Holdings operates in the component products industry through its majority-owned subsidiary CompX International Inc. (NYSE American: CIX), which manufactures security products and marine engine components, and holds a significant noncontrolling interest in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: KRO), a global producer and marketer of value-added titanium dioxide pigments used in paints, plastics, and coatings. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, NLI Holdings is a subsidiary of Valhi, Inc., itself controlled by Harold Simmons' investment vehicle. The company generates revenue primarily through distributions and equity income from its holdings rather than direct operations.