Espen Robak
Pluris Valuation Advisors LLC
212-248-4500
[email protected]
David P. Kowal, APR
Kowal Communications, Inc.
508-393-7023
[email protected]
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 26, 2010 – Pluris Valuation Advisors LLC announced today the opening of its San Francisco Bay Area office in response to strong demand for its valuation services from California-based clients. The office is located at 335 Bryant St., 2nd Floor, Palo Alto.
From its base in New York City, Pluris has experienced tremendous growth over the past three years, due to its proprietary data and unique expertise in valuing illiquid assets.
“In this economy, there are trillions of dollars in illiquid assets, and determining their value requires specialized expertise and market data,” according to President Espen Robak. “Most illiquid assets are worth less than par value, but how much less? With access to secondary market trading data, we can answer that question for our clients.”
He added that opening a Bay Area office will enable Pluris to better serve its current California-based clients and expand its overall West Coast client base.
Pluris also announced that Ori Bash will serve as Vice President in the Palo Alto office. His business background includes valuations of family-owned businesses, asset-holding entities for high-net-worth families, and public companies.
“The empirical data Pluris has collected on valuation discounts represents a huge leap forward for the valuation profession, especially in its application for estate and gift tax matters,” according to Bash. “Given today’s tax environment, the timing is ideal to join this rapidly-expanding practice and help facilitate the continued growth of Pluris on the West Coast.”
The Pluris DLOM Database, recently introduced for valuation professionals through ValuSource, is the industry’s largest market-based study of empirical data on discounts for lack of marketability. This discount is the most important valuation adjustment taken in many valuations of private entities. In addition, the proprietary LiquiStat database provides Pluris with data on the sale of a wide range of illiquid securities, including restricted stock and warrants.
Bash added that the LiquiStat database and the Pluris DLOM Database track transactions and valuation discounts in real time, providing the most accurate, up-to-date data available.
“Most users of valuations, whether they are our clients, their auditors, the IRS or the courts, don’t want unsubstantiated opinions, they want evidence,” according to Robak. “Valuations can fluctuate dramatically, given changing market conditions, so it is important to have access to the latest and best market data. Given the confidential and proprietary nature of transactions in illiquid securities, this data is not easy to come by, but Pluris has it.”
About Pluris Valuation Advisors LLC
A valuation firm with offices in New York City and Palo Alto, California, Pluris Valuation Advisors LLC specializes in hard-to-value illiquid and distressed securities, and business valuations. Pluris combines valuation and technical accounting expertise in its development and application of valuation methodology, in compliance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS. Specific assets valued include auction rate securities, collateralized debt obligations, asset-backed securities, distressed debt, bankruptcy claims, restricted securities of public companies, limited partnerships and other assets that lack liquidity. Pluris' valuations are also used for tax purposes and litigation support. Our proprietary LiquiStat™ database enables Pluris to value even the most illiquid assets based on market data. Pluris clients include public-reporting entities, hedge funds, private equity funds, and their advisors nationwide.