One definition for the word “domestication” means to tame a wild animal, turning it into a farm animal. Another definition means “to bring into use in one’s own country : to bring into domestic use” (Merriam-Webster). It is that later definition Epsilon Energy had in mind when using the term “domestication” to describe a vote by the company’s shareholders to move Epsilon’s base of operations/HQ from Canada to the United States. From time to time we check in Epsilon, both a driller and midstream/pipeline company. Epsilon, largely focused on the Marcellus, had a shareholder rebellion in 2013 and threw out the sitting board of directors (see Shareholder Rebellion at Epsilon Energy – New Board as of Today). Epsilon CEO Michael Raleigh announced at the time that the company had embarked on a turnaround strategy of focusing on the Marcellus Shale–less than a year after saying they would scale back in the Marcellus (see Epsilon Energy Makes “About-Face” on Marcellus Drilling). Epsilon has been and remains a relatively small player in the Marcellus. Last year they bought leases in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma (see Epsilon Energy: “Focused” on Marcellus, Buying Land in Anadarko). In a recent vote, shareholders voted 99.99% in favor of moving the company from Canada to Houston, TX. Epsilon, in their own press release, called the move “domestication”–which we found amusing. The wild beast of Canada will be tamed and domiciled in Texas–in order to drill in the Marcellus and Oklahoma. Too bad Pittsburgh couldn’t tame this wild beast. There’s plenty of empty office space in Southpointe…
