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What Are the Top Companies Owned by DuPont?
E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company was founded in 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont. Most of us know it by its more common name, DuPont (DD). The American conglomerate is one of the world’s largest producers of chemicals and science-based products.
Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, DuPont is responsible for developing innovative materials such as Teflon, Mylar, Dacron, Lycra, and Orlon. In August 2017, the company merged with Dow Chemical, forming DowDuPont. The two split in 2019, which was the same time that DuPont spun off its agricultural chemicals into a separate company. The result was three separate companies: Corteva, Dow, and DuPont.
Acquisitions aren’t new to DuPont. In fact, it has acquired a number of companies over the years that continue to help it grow its broad range of science-based products. The following are some of the top companies under the DuPont umbrella.
Key Takeaways
- DuPont is one of the world’s largest producers of chemicals and science-based products.
- The company merged with Dow Chemical in 2017, formed a new company called DowDuPont and split two years later, forming three subsidiaries.
- Over its long history, DuPont has acquired a number of companies that have helped grow its broad range of products, including Danisco and Pioneer.
1. Danisco
- Acquired: 2011
- Purchase Price: $6.3 billion
Danisco A/S was established in 1989. It is a Danish-based biotech company with a range of specialty food ingredients, including enablers, cultures and sweeteners. Danisco specializes in producing enzymes that are used to preserve foods and make biofuels.
Now operating under the name DuPont Danisco, it is one of the largest producers of the thickening agent guar gum and the gelling agent carrageenan, which adds texture and stability to dairy desserts, processed cheeses, and jellies. The company claims that its ingredients are in much of the world’s ice cream.
This company also develops many natural enzymes and antioxidants that preserve the shelf life of food worldwide.
2. Pioneer
- Acquired: 1999
- Purchase Price: $7.7 billion
Founded in 1926, Pioneer (now part of Corteva and not Dupont) is a large U.S. producer of hybrid seeds for agriculture. The Iowa-based company is one of the largest producers of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), specializing in genetically modified crops with insect or herbicide resistance.
Pioneer produces, markets, and sells hybrid seed corn, sorghum, sunflower, cotton, soybean, alfalfa, canola, rice, wheat, and other seeds in more than 125 countries.
Fast Fact
As part of its 2024 Sustainability Report, DuPont reported $12.1 billion of net sales earned by its 24,000 employees in 2023.
What Does DuPont Make?
DuPont was established in 1802 as a gunpowder manufacturer. The company expanded its footprint to a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, building and construction, electronics, energy, medical, manufacturing, packaging, and water protection. Some of the products that come with the DuPont name include adhesives, construction materials, fabrics, medical devices, personal protective equipment, and solar solutions.
What Role Does the DuPont Family Play in the Business?
DuPont was founded by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont in 1802 as a manufacturer of gunpowder. He left France and came to the United States during the French Revolution. The company, which expanded its footprint beyond gunpowder, was family-owned until it went public. Eleuthère I. du Pont, one of the heirs to the family fortune, was appointed to the company’s board in 2019.
Where Is DuPont Based?
DuPont is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, but the company has businesses all over the world. According to its website, DuPont has offices, manufacturing centers, and other business units in about 50 different countries.
What Is the DuPont Analysis?
The DuPont analysis is a popular financial tool that can help analysts and investors determine a company’s profitability. It was developed in 1914 by F. Donaldson Brown, who was an employee of the DuPont Corporation, to analyze and compare the operational efficiency and profitability of two related companies. Donaldson combined earnings, investment, and working capital into return on investment (ROI). Once used exclusively by DuPont, it became a financial tool for other companies.
