Tarpon continues to strengthen its presence in Saskatchewan with the acquisition of Velocity Controls Ltd. on January 31, 2008. As Tarpon's second location in Saskatchewan and 28th E&C field office, the new Swift Current branch shows great market potential.

Situated midway between Regina and Medicine Hat on the Trans-Canada Highway, Swift Current is a booming city of 16,000 and the major population centre for southwest Saskatchewan. In the past few years, Swift Current has seen a large influx of new residents, many of them from Alberta.

The Saskatchewan oil and gas market is flourishing due to the high price of oil and the new Alberta royalty regime. In the southwest regions, forecasts indicate rapid growth with the Swift Current area expanding at a rate never seen before. In 2007, Saskatchewan achieved a record year for oil and gas rights. Weyburn and Estevan were the Crown land leaders and Swift Current rounded out the top six regions.

Rick Wickland, Sr. VP Electric & Controls Division, believes the new location will capitalize on the Saskatchewan oil and gas market. "This was a strategic acquisition based on geographic expansion," says Wickland, describing the acquisition of the family-owned business held by Dory and Chrissy Wilson. "It's a long way between Medicine Hat and Estevan and now we have a branch in the middle which will complement both operations."

Dory Wilson, who is now Tarpon's Swift Current Branch Manager, is enthusiastic about Tarpon's future in southwest Saskatchewan. "The royalty rate increase in Alberta has definitely shifted a lot of oil companies' interest onto the Saskatchewan side," he notes. "Our new Premier was in Calgary a few weeks ago to promote the growing oil and gas market here. I think that's going to create more opportunities and open the doors for development across the region."

In light of the expanding oil and gas market and heavy investment in Saskatchewan, the E&C division management team believes that significant opportunities exist to expand Velocity's current business, which includes instrumentation and burner services.

Acquiring Velocity brings industry knowledge and experience to the Tarpon team. "It's the perfect acquisition for expanding our Saskatchewan operations," says Jason Nolan, Director, Operations. He also has high praise for Wilson, Velocity's original owner. "I think he will really fit in with our team because he's got the perfect qualities of what we're looking for," Nolan says.

It is the local management team who provides the foundation for these opportunities. "When we are looking for strategic or geographic expansion by acquisition, it comes down to the quality of the management team and a culture in the company that will fit with Tarpon," says Wickland. "We believe we've found both in Velocity."