Entity

Koch Industries is one of the world’s largest privately held conglomerates, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. With annual revenues exceeding $125 billion, it operates across a diverse array of industries, including manufacturing, refining, chemicals, energy, fibers and polymers, minerals, fertilizers, forest and consumer products, technology, and investments. The company employs approximately 122,000 people in over 60 countries, with about half of its business based in the United States.

History and Evolution

Founded in 1940 by Fred C. Koch as the Wood River Oil and Refining Company, Koch Industries began as an oil refining business. Fred C. Koch’s innovative thermal cracking process for crude oil laid the foundation for the company’s early growth. The company underwent several name changes, becoming Rock Island Oil & Refining Company before adopting the Koch Industries name in 1968, in honor of its founder following his death in 1967.

Under the leadership of Charles G. Koch, who became chairman and CEO in 1967, the company expanded aggressively through acquisitions and diversification. Major milestones include the acquisition of DuPont’s INVISTA textile unit in 2004 and Georgia-Pacific Corporation in 2005, as well as significant investments in technology and energy transition sectors in recent years.

Business Activities and Subsidiaries

Koch Industries operates through a wide range of subsidiaries and business units, including:

• Flint Hills Resources: Refining and chemicals
• Georgia-Pacific: Forest and consumer products
• Guardian Industries: Glass and building products
• Molex: Electronic components
• INVISTA Polymers and fibers
• Koch Ag & Energy Solutions: Fertilizers and energy
• Koch Minerals & Trading: Commodity trading
• Koch Engineered Solutions: Industrial equipment and services
• Koch Investments Group: Financial services and investments
• Infor: Cloud computing and enterprise software 

These businesses span sectors such as oil and gas, refining, chemicals, biofuels, fertilizers, forest products, consumer goods, technology, and logistics.

References

1. About - Koch Inc.
2. Koch, Inc. - Wikipedia
3. Koch | Company Overview & News - Forbes
4. What is Brief History of Koch Industries Company? - Canvas Business Model
5. Companies - Koch Industries - Koch Inc.
6. Koch Industries LLC  Company Profile and News - Bloomberg