Harold Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harold Clark Simmons May 13, 1931 |
| Died | December 28, 2013 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupation(s) | Owner of Contran Corporation and Valhi, Inc. |
| Spouse(s) | Normagene Fairchild (divorced) Sandra Saliba (divorced) Annette Caldwell (widow) |
| Children | 6 Scheryle Patigian (with Fairchild) Lisa Simmons (with Fairchild) Andrea Swanson (with Saliba) Serena Connelly (with Saliba) and two step-daughters |
Harold Clark Simmons (May 13, 1931 – December 29, 2013) was an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist whose banking expertise helped him develop the acquisition concept known as the leveraged buyout (LBO) to acquire various corporations. He was the owner of Contran Corporation and of Valhi, Inc., (a NYSE traded company about 90% controlled by Contran).[1] As of 2006[update], he controlled five public companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange: NL Industries; Titanium Metals Corporation, the world's largest producer of titanium; Valhi, Inc., a multinational company with operations in the chemicals, component products, Waste Control Specialists (waste management), titanium metals industries; CompX International, manufacturer of ergonomic products, and Kronos Worldwide, leading producer and marketer of titanium dioxide.[2]