NL Industries (), formerly known as the National Lead Company, is a lead smelting company currently based in Houston, Texas. National Lead was one of the 12 original stocks included in the

Dow Jones Industrial Average The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow (), is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The DJIA is one of the oldest and most commonly followed equity indexe ...

at the time of its creation on May 26, 1896. NL Industries (Dutch Boy Paint) Specimen Stock Certificate, c

History

It began business in Philadelphia in 1772. The name "National Lead Company" was used since 1891 after a series of mergers. National Lead changed its name to NL Industries in 1971.

California lead paint liability case

NL Industries has encountered legal problems based on their long history of selling

lead paint Lead paint or lead-based paint is paint containing lead. As pigment, lead(II) chromate (, "chrome yellow"), lead(II,IV) oxide, (, "red lead"), and lead(II) carbonate (, "white lead") are the most common forms.. Lead is added to paint to acce ...

. Exposure to lead paint can cause numerous health and developmental problems in children and adults, and its use has been banned or restricted in many countries. In January 2014, the

Santa Clara County Superior Court The Superior Court of California for and in the County of Santa Clara is the state trial court in and for Santa Clara County, California. The Santa Clara Superior Court serves the public by providing equal justice for all in a fair, accessible, ...

ruled that NL Industries, along with Sherwin-Williams and

ConAgra Conagra Brands, Inc. (formerly ConAgra Foods) is an American consumer packaged goods holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Conagra makes and sells products under various brand names that are available in supermarkets, restauran ...

were

jointly and severally Where two or more persons are liable in respect of the same liability, in most common law legal systems they may either be: * jointly liable, or * severally liable, or * jointly and severally liable. Joint liability If parties have joint liabili ...

liable for $1.15 billion, to be paid into a lead paint abatement fund to be used to remove lead paint from older housing. The judge ruled that the paint companies manufactured, marketed, and sold lead paint without disclosing the health risks to the consumers in spite of "actual and constructive knowledge that it was harmful." The disposition of ''The People v. ConAgra Grocery Products Company et al.'' in the California 6th Appellate District Court on November 14, 2017, is that On February 14, 2018, the California Supreme Court denied the defendants' request for review, sending the case back to the trial court as ordered by the Appellate Court. NL Industries settled its part of the suit in May, 2018 with a payment of $60 million and a pledge to stop supporting the ConAgra & Sherwin-Williams backed ballot measure proposed for the November, 2018 ballot

National Lead and Dutch Boy Paints

In 1907, National Lead entered the consumer market for titanium paints, creating a product line under the name " Dutch Boy". Dutch Boy paints competed with other brands that contained mineral products supplied by National Lead. The "Dutch Boy Painter", which was created by Lawrence Carmichael Earle, became National Lead's symbol for many years. NL Industries sold off the Dutch Boy brand in 1980 to Sherwin-Williams, two years after the CPSC's directive banning the manufacturing of lead housepaint went into effect.

CompX International

CompX International Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers of security products and recreational marine components in the world. Located in Dallas, Texas, CompX International Inc. is also a subsidiary of NL Industries, Inc. The business of the company is divided into three segments: Security Products, Furniture Components and Marine Components. Their products are designed to meet the high-end applications. CompX International Inc. offers its products through original equipment manufacturers and distributors.

History

Based in Dallas, Texas, CompX was founded to open business on August 4, 1993. In March 1998, CompX International Inc. completed its initial public offering, making it a public company with stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol of CIX. In 1999, CompX International moved the corporate headquarters from Mauldin, S.C. to Houston. On Jan 11, 2000, CompX International Inc. acquired Chicago Lock Co. successfully for about $9.2 million in cash, which was borrowed under its existing credit facility. In May 2002, CompX International achieved an agreement to close its Dallas corporate office. In September 2004, NL Industries completed the acquisition of 68% of CompX International for $168.6 million. In December 2012, CompX International Inc. sold its Furniture Components operations to Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company for approximately $59 million in cash.

Leadership

The main officers of the company are listed as follows:Managers
/ref> *David Bowers - President, chief executive officer *Jim Brown - Chief Financial Officer

References

External links

*
Fundinguniverse.com: History of NL Industries, Inc.

Compx.com: CompX International website
{{Authority control Conglomerate companies of the United States Holding companies of the United States Lead companies Lead poisoning incidents Mining companies of the United States Paint manufacturers Smelting Titanium mining Manufacturing companies based in Houston Companies based in Philadelphia American companies established in 1891 Conglomerate companies established in 1971 Holding companies established in 1891 Manufacturing companies established in 1891 1891 establishments in Pennsylvania 1971 establishments in Texas Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Former components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average