The company has come a long way since its small beginning in 1942. Four friends who were willing to take on the world's biggest, most famous paint companies operating in India at that time set it up as a partnership firm. Over the course of 25 years, Asian Paints became a corporate force and India's leading paints company. Driven by its strong consumer-focus and innovative spirit, the company has been the market leader in paints since 1967. Asian Paints is India’s leading paint company with a group turnover of Rs 202.1 billion. The group has an enviable reputation in the corporate world for professionalism, fast track growth, and building shareholder equity. Asian Paints operates in 15 countries and has 26 paint manufacturing facilities in the world servicing consumers in over 60 countries. Besides Asian Paints, the group operates around the world through its subsidiaries Asian Paints Berger, Apco Coatings, SCIB Paints, Taubmans, Causeway Paints and Kadisco Asian Paints. Asian Paints manufactures wide range of paints for Decorative and Industrial use. In Decorative paints, Asian Paints is present in all the four segments v.i.z Interior Wall Finishes, Exterior Wall Finishes, Enamels and Wood Finishes. It also offers Water proofing, wall coverings and adhesives in its product portfolio. In the Industrial coatings space, Asian Paints operates through two 50:50 joint ventures with PPG Inc, USA., one of the largest automotive coatings manufacturer in the world. The first Joint Venture ‘PPG Asian Paints Pvt Ltd’ services the increasing requirements of the Indian automotive coatings market. The second JV ‘Asian Paints PPG Pvt Ltd’ services the protective, industrial powder, industrial containers and light industrial coatings markets in India. Vertical integration has seen Asian Paints diversify into chemical products such as Phthalic Anhydride and Pentaerythritol, which are used in the paint manufacturing process. The company has discontinued production of Phthalic Anhydride from end of July 2017. In the Home Improvement and Décor category, the company is present in the Kitchen and Bath fittings space and offers various products under Sleek and Ess Ess brand respectively.