Koch, Inc.

Koch, Inc. is a multinational conglomerate founded in 1940 by Fred C. Koch, with its headquarters located in Wichita, Kansas. The company originated as the Wood River Oil and Refining Company, focused on an improved thermal cracking process for crude oil developed by the founder in 1927. Following the death of Fred C. Koch in 1967, his son Charles G. Koch assumed leadership, subsequently renaming the firm Koch Industries, Inc. in 1968. Under this leadership, the company diversified from a regional oil firm into a global organization through significant acquisitions, including Georgia-Pacific in 2005 and Molex in 2013. In June 2024, the company formally transitioned its name from Koch Industries, Inc. to Koch, Inc..

Business/Product Breakdown

Koch, Inc. operates a diverse portfolio of businesses spanning manufacturing, refining, chemicals, and technology. Through its Flint Hills Resources subsidiary, the company produces fuels, bio-based products, and chemical building blocks, while Koch Pipeline Company manages thousands of miles of infrastructure for transporting petroleum and natural gas liquids. The company's consumer and building products division, led by Georgia-Pacific, manufactures bath tissue, paper towels, and building materials like plywood and gypsum wallboard. Its industrial segments include INVISTA, which specializes in polymers and fibers such as nylon and polypropylene; Guardian Industries, a producer of high-performance glass and automotive plastic components; and Molex, a provider of electronic and fiber optic connectivity solutions. Additionally, Koch, Inc. maintains a presence in the software sector through Infor, a provider of industry-specific cloud business applications, and in agriculture through Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, which offers fertilizer and ingredient products. Recent strategic shifts include an announced departure from global oil and refined fuels trading to increase focus on sectors like critical metals and natural gas.