CORRESP 1 filename1.htm vhisupsecltr1209.htm
VALHI, INC.
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700
Dallas, Texas  75240


FOIA CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST BY VALHI, INC.


November 20, 2009

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Mail Stop 4631
Washington, D.C. 20549

Attention:              Mr. Terence O’Brien, Accounting Branch Chief
Division of Corporation Finance

CC:          Ms. Tracey Houser, Staff Accountant
                Division of Corporation Finance

RE:         Valhi, Inc.
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008, Filed March 12, 2009
Forms 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarters Ended March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009
File No. 333-48391


Dear Mr. O’Brien

Exhibit A to this letter (the “Information”) is hereby submitted to you in response to the Staff’s letter dated October 27, 2009, (the “Comment Letter”) concerning the above referenced Form 10-K and Forms 10-Q of Valhi, Inc. (“Valhi”).  The Information is being supplementally provided to you in response to comment number 5 in the Comment Letter.

Pursuant to 17 C.F.R. § 200.83(c), the undersigned hereby requests on behalf of Valhi that the Commission afford the Information confidential treatment for reasons of business confidentiality, and that no portion thereof be disclosed if a request for disclosure is made under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 522.  Pursuant to the Commission Rule of Information Request, 17 C.F.R. § 200.83, each page of the Information is clearly marked “Confidential Treatment Requested.”

If you have any questions, you may contact the undersigned at 972-450-4228.

 
 
 

Securities and Exchange Commission
November 20, 2009
Page 2



Sincerely,



/s/ Gregory M. Swalwell                 
Gregory M. Swalwell,
 Vice President and Controller

CC:  Office of Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Operations   (w/o enclosure)
        Securities and Exchange Commission
        Mail Stop 0-5
        SEC Operations Center
        6432 General Green Way
        Alexandria, Virginia  22312-2413

 
 
 
 
 


Exhibit A
Document Supplementally Provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission
  November 20, 2009
 
Valhi, Inc.
Goodwill by Reporting Unit - Supplementally Provided to SEC Staff
Unaudited
(In $ millions)
                 
       
Component Products
        
       
CompX
  
CompX
    
   
Chemicals
  
Security
  
Furniture
  
Total
                 
2009 Annual Test
                
                 
Goodwill
  
                   359.0
  
                     27.2
  
                    10.7
  
                 396.9
                 
Net Assets (including goodwill)
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
Fair Value
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
Headroom
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
   
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
2008 Annual Test
                
                 
Goodwill
  
                   358.4
  
                     27.2
  
                    10.8
  
                 396.4
                 
Net Assets (including goodwill)
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
Fair Value
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
Headroom
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
   
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
Interim Testing Furniture Components Only
            
   
 December 31,
  
 March 31,
  
 June 30,
    
   
 2008
  
 2009
  
 2009
    
                 
Goodwill
  
                     10.6
  
                     10.5
  
                    10.7
    
                 
Net Assets (including goodwill)
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
Fair Value
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
Headroom
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
   
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
  
[*]
                 
 Exhibit A - Page 1 of 1
[*] Information omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the SEC.