The San Tan Times
With a case filed on May 31, 2019 Johnson Utilities is putting forth allegations that in May of 2019 that EPCOR “sought to purchase Johnson Utilities by making an offer at a substantially less than reasonable value.” The lawsuit continues, “On May 22, 2019 the Arizona Attorney General, on behalf of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”), filed an action against Johnson Utilities, seeking to recover substantial civil penalties for violations that allegedly occurred during the appointment of EPCOR as Interim Manager (the “ADEQ” Lawsuit”).”
“During a telephone call between Joe Gysel, President of EPCOR, USA, and Goerge Johnson, Trustee of the Trust which owns Johnson Utilities that occurred on May 24, 2019, Mr. Gysel urged Mr. Johnson to accept EPCOR’s below market purchase offer, and represented that if accepted, he had been told that the onslaught of regulatory actions against Johnson Utilities -insinuating even the ADEQ Lawsuit – would end”
“Also on the telephone call referenced in the previous paragraph were Gary Drummond, Manager of Johnson Utilities and Troy Day, Vice President of Engineering and Commercial Services at EPCOR.”