Read me. Monsanto. Founded in 1901 by John Francis Queeny, by the 1940s Monsanto was a major producer of plastics, including polystyrene and synthetic fibers.
Notable achievements by Monsanto and its scientists as a chemical company included breakthrough research on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation and being the first company to mass-produce light emitting diodes (LEDs). The company also formerly manufactured controversial products such as the insecticide DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, and recombinant bovine somatotropin (a.k.a. bovine growth hormone). Monsanto was among the first to genetically modify a plant cell, along with three academic teams, which was announced in 1983,[9] and was among the first to conduct field trials of genetically modified crops, which it did in 1987.
It remained one of the top 10 U.S. chemical companies until it divested most of its chemical businesses between 1997 and 2002, through a process of mergers and spin-offs that focused the company on biotechnology. Cargill. Cargill, Incorporated, is an American privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a Minneapolis suburb.
Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue.[2] If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2013, number 9 on the Fortune 500, behind Valero Energy and ahead of Ford Motor Company.[3] Some of Cargill's major businesses are trading, purchasing and distributing grain and other agricultural commodities, such as palm oil; trading in energy, steel and transport; the raising of livestock and production of feed; producing food ingredients such as starch and glucose syrup, vegetable oils and fats for application in processed foods and industrial use.
Cargill also operates a large financial services arm, which manages financial risks in the commodity markets for the company. History[edit] Cargill was founded in 1865 by William W. 20th century[edit] 2000s[edit] In October 2011, the U.S. Koch Industries. Coordinates: In 2013, Forbes called it the second largest privately held company in the United States (after Cargill), with an annual revenue of $115 billion,[5][6][7] down from the largest in 2006.
If Koch Industries were a public company in 2013, it would have ranked 17 in the Fortune 500.[8] History[edit] Predecessor companies[edit] In 1925, Fred C. In 1940, Koch joined new partners to create a new firm, the Wood River Oil and Refining Company, which is today known as Koch Industries. Koch Industries[edit] The company was renamed Koch Industries in honor of Fred Koch, the year after his death.
In 1970, Charles was joined at the family firm by his brother David H. Recent News[edit] In April 2014, Koch Industries and the private equity arm of Goldman Sachs agreed to acquire printing ink producer Flint for around $3 billion.[17] Subsidiaries[edit] Among Koch Industries' subsidiaries across various industries[18] are: Georgia-Pacific[edit]