Simmons said he plans a tender offer for NL.

A company controlled by Harold C. Simmons, Amalgamated Sugar Co., said it expects to launch an offer of $15.12 1/2 a share within five business days. Simmons initially offered to negotiate a merger at $15 a share but was rebuffed by NL’s board last week. The proposal came only hours after NL Industries said it might spin off one of its two main businesses, chemicals or oil services, to its stockholders. Amalgamated and other Simmons affiliates already own 20.4% of NL’s 60 million common shares outstanding. However, Amalgamated’s offer is conditioned on NL’s “poison pill” provision being invalidated by the courts.