VALHI EXPECTS POSITIVE 2014 FROM WCS

Valhi Inc., the parent company of Waste Control Specialists, expects WCS to begin operating profitably in 2014 after suffering an operating loss in 2013, although the company warned it would not be opposed to seeking “strategic alternatives” if cash flow does not improve, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing yesterday. WCS suffered an operating loss of $22.6 million in 2013, a number Valhi attributed to an industry-wide shortage of shipping containers needed to transport LLRW, but with the delivery of its first type-B cask, Valhi does not expect that to be a problem anymore. “We believe WCS can become a viable, profitable operation; however, we do not know if we will be successful in improving WCS’ cash flows,” the filing said. “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.”