Like most epic journeys, the VST group's saga begins with a single step, simple, but with far-reaching consequences. In 1909, group founder V.S. Thiruvengadaswamy Mudaliar (1881-1949) was a sub-agent for Asiatic Petroleum Company (APC) in the Bangalore Cantonment area. An unfortunate misunderstanding precipitated the termination of this arrangement, leaving Mr. Mudaliar with the dilemma of fulfilling orders that had already been paid for in advance despite the lack of stocks. He solved this problem by purchasing equivalent products from agents of the Standard Oil Company and supplying them to his customers.