Avail Consulting Celebrates 30 Percent Growth in Second Year and Adds Property Tax Solutions Service.

Business Editors

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2004

Nearly two years after they established Avail Consulting, LLC, Founders and Managing Directors E.J. Huntley and Warren K. White are expanding the services portfolio offered by their firm, which has posted 30 percent growth during its first 18 months in business.

Avail began in 2002 as the only sanctioned valuation transaction resulting from Arthur Andersen's collapse. Avail was able to retain 90 percent of the Houston practice staff, virtually all of its clients and all of the intellectual property of the practice.

Though they were offered opportunities to go with other Final Four accounting firms and rating agencies, Huntley and White elected to launch Avail as an independent consulting firm with a principal office in Houston.

"Our decision to establish Avail as an independent consulting organization was driven by a real desire to work more efficiently with our clients without ties to an auditing practice or a rating function. Our choice was validated when regulatory issues mandated separations between auditors, rating agencies and consulting firms," Huntley said.

This month, Dean M. Price joined the firm as a director to lead Avail's Property Tax Solution Services. His expertise further broadens the firm's comprehensive and integrated portfolio of financial advisory, real estate valuation, tax depreciation, litigation support and equipment valuation services and solutions.

Price, formerly a director with Deloitte, has 23 years of experience providing property tax savings and valuation solutions, primarily in the energy, utilities, chemical and telecommunications industries. He and his team will be employing Avail's proprietary valuation process that enables clients to realize above-the-line savings and annually recurring benefits.

Huntley and White report increased interest in Avail coming from financial services professionals that are attracted to the firm's entrepreneurial spirit.

"Now, we are further validated by the overwhelming attention we're getting from industry professionals wanting to join our firm. By selectively adding talent like Dean Price, we will continue to serve the needs of our clients and grow our business with new services, expand geographically when the right opportunity comes and give our people ways to develop additional skills," said White. "We have a business model that is working very well, drawing attention from both potential clients and professionals that want to work with Avail."

About Avail

Avail Consulting, LLC is an independent valuation consulting firm, with principal offices in Houston. Specializing in financial advisory, real estate consulting, tax depreciation and equipment valuation services, Avail Consulting offers creative strategies that help clients make informed decisions based on clear understanding and recognition of the full value of their business and its assets, both real and intangible. Contact Avail at 713-292-2828 or visit www.avail-usa.com.