Harold Simmons Foundation's rapid Valhi stock dump appears timed to cut estate taxes

Harold Simmons Foundation's rapid Valhi stock dump appears timed to cut estate taxes The passage details a concentrated sale of millions of Valhi shares by the Harold Simmons Foundation, followed by a gift of additional shares that enables further sales, seemingly timed to reduce estate tax liability. It provides specific dates, share counts, and price impact, offering a concrete lead for financial‑flow and tax‑avoidance investigation. However, the actors are limited to a private foundation and heirs rather than high‑level government officials, and the tactic is already known in estate‑planning circles, lowering its novelty and power linkage. Key insights: Harold Simmons Foundation sold ~4.8 M Valhi shares in two weeks (June 11‑25), half of total six‑month volume.; Share price fell only 9.5% despite massive sell‑off, preserving $80 M in estate‑tax savings for Simmons heirs.; On June 25 the foundation received a “gift” of 900 k shares from Valhi Holding Co., enabling further sales on June 26.