Entrepreneur India – July 2019

PAINTING

INDIA’S

LEGACY

Berger Paints has come a

long way in its two decades of

existence in India. From catering

to only industrial customers, the

company now reaches the retail

market in a significant way.

Having started as an experiment

in 1760 when Lewis Berger

created ‘Prussian blue’ colour in

Europe, using a secret process,

the company’s invention since

then has taken many hues.

BRAND JOURNEY

By Shivangi Asthana

1906

British Paints (Holdings), a

consortium of manufacturing

companies bought Hadfield

India. It was renamed British

Paints (India).

1965

Celanese Corporation,

USA, acquired the share

capital of British Paints

(Holdings). The controlling

interest vested with a

Celanese subsidiary.

1969

Celanese Corporation sold

its Indian interests to Berger,

Jenson & Nicholson, UK.

British Paints (India) became

a part of worldwide Berger

group.

1973

British Paints introduced

products in industrial,

marine and decorative

segments under

Dongargaokar Madhukar, the

first Indian MD.

1991

Kuldip Dhingra and

Gurbachan Dhingra acquired

controlling stake of Berger

Paints (revenue Rs 116 crore,

profit of Rs 2 crore).

1995

Started ColorBank Tinting

Systems, which allowed

customers to pick colours

online. It became the fourth-

largest paint firm in India.

1997

The company launched

several household products,

Luxol Silk, the first premium

emulsion in India, Viton

Refinish for cars.

1999

The company added

two factories in Goa and

Sikandrabad with the merger

of Rajdoot Paints. The JV

is named Berger Becker

Coatings.

2004

Berger’s decorative was

renamed Lewis Berger to

strengthen the premium

paints category. Started

Home decor with innovative

products.

2014

Launched Berger Express

Painting with automated

tools. Brought in Weather-

coat Anti Dust and Home

Shield Waterproof Putty for

the Indian market.

2017-18

Market cap touched

Rs 24, 925 crore. Ranked

India’s second-largest paint

manufacturer. It was among

the list of Asia’s top 5 and

World’s top 15 paint majors.

2019

Entered the prestigious

Bombay Stock Exchange

large-cap category with a

market cap of more than Rs

30,000 crores.

“Over the last decade, Berger

Paints has taken giant leaps to

reposition itself as an innovator, a

significant move from being just

a follower who supplied Value for

Money products.”

Abhijit Roy, MD & CEO

Berger Paints

48 l ENTREPRENEUR l JULY 2019

1976

Company’s foreign holding

was diluted to below 40%.

A portion of the shares goes

to UB Group controlled by

Vittal Mallya.

Growth