The Lorannan-Ycole Corporation owned several gas dredgers that mined gas from Jupiter. Mr Hepton worked for the Corporation.
When Thom Kelligan's ship was destroyed after he was contacted by a sentient entity from Jupiter, the Corporation held his wife Norma responsible for the ship and the deaths of the crew, and required her to captain a dredger for them until her debt was repaid. (PROSE: Jupiter)