About Gendis Inc.
The company began in 1931 as A. Cohen and Son (in 1934 it was renamed Confection Distributors and Agencies) when company co-founder Albert D. Cohen went into business with his father Alexander selling confectionary items on the roads of Western Canada. Albert's five brothers eventually joined the business and spread out across Canada and each one contributed to the success of the company.
From that point on the company later known as General Distributors Ltd. grew and its holdings went on to include a 51% stake in Sony of Canada, the Canadian rights to Papermate Pens and American Tourister luggage, retail chains, ownership positions in several oil, gas and pipeline companies as well as a national real estate portfolio. From 1995 to 2004 a number of sales of its retailing, electronics and oil and gas businesses occured and in 2005 Gendis Inc. (as the company was renamed in 1983) streamlined to its current structure.
Gendis' significant assets include an investment in a publicly traded company, Veresen Inc., an investment in a private company, Osum Oilsands Corp. and investments in real estate for lease. Each of these assets represent approximately 1/3rd of Gendis' asset base.
Veresen Inc. - www.vereseninc.com, has three principal businesses. A Pipeline Business comprised of interests in two pipeline systems. The Alliance Pipeline, is a 3,000 km dense phase pipeline delivering natural gas and NGL from western Canada to the Midwest United States, and Alberta, and an Ethane Gathering System, a pipeline which is an integral part of Alberta's world-class petrochemical industry. A Midstream Business which includes a significant interest in a world-class extraction facility near Chicago, Illinois, as well as gas processing and pipeline gathering facilities in Canada. A Power Business with renewable and gas-fired facilities and development projects in Canada and the United States, district energy systems in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, and waste heat power facilities.
Osum Oilsands Corp. - www.osumcorp.com, a private pure play in-situ oil sands developer operating in Alberta.
Gendis' real estate leasing assets consists of an industrial facility complex and five commercial properties which are located in Manitoba and Ontario.
2012 and Beyond
As the global population passes 7 billion people there will continue to be increased demand for a variety of energy sources and Gendis management feels confident that its investments in pipelines, oil and gas holdings and real estate will place it in a good position to take advantage of attractive investments as opportunities arise. The company is always on the lookout for situations that best fit its go forward strategy.