Overview:
In an uncertain economy, corporate development best practices are more important than ever. At the outset, finding and valuing deal targets remains critical. How can you be sure to take advantage of the opportunities created by the downturn? What criteria must you consider in this climate? Among the issues to discuss, monitoring the state of the targets on your watch lists; working with business leaders effectively; understand critical valuation methods and the reviewing the latest trends.
So, be sure to attend this, the first in our 3-part series on Corporate Development best practices in a downturn. After listening for just 60 minutes of in-depth discussion with our editor and leading corporate development experts, you'll have a refreshed perspective on the key factors that will make the difference to your deal sourcing and valuation success in this uncertain economy.
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Moderator:
 KENNETH KLEE
Editor, Corporate Dealmaker
The Deal LLC
Kenneth Klee leads editorial operations for Corporate Dealmaker, launched by The Deal LLC in November 2003. A blog and quarterly report published in The Deal, Corporate Dealmaker provides a deeper understanding and a unique perspective on the trends that drive corporate growth.
Klee's previous editorial post was at Newsweek International, where he oversaw the magazine's business section as a senior editor. He wrote on international business topics for Newsweek's domestic and international editions and orchestrated various special sections on international economic and business trends. For much of the 1990's, Klee was the managing editor of Institutional Investor's international editions, responsible for coverage in Europe and Asia. He began his tenure at Institutional Investor in 1987 as a senior editor focused on commercial banking and Wall Street.
Klee started his journalism career at Forbes, working on the copy desk. Shortly thereafter, he moved to a technology publication, Datamation, as features editor and later to Venture Magazine as managing editor. Klee earned a bachelors of arts degree in English literature from the University of Wisconsin.
Speakers:
 ANTHONY V. AARON
CFA, ASA, Valuation and Business Modeling Principal
Ernst & Young
Tony Aaron is a principal and serves as Americas Leader of Quality and Risk Management for the Ernst & Young Transaction Advisory Services' Valuation and Business Modeling Practice. He also serves numerous clients nationwide, including many major Fortune 100 and global accounts.
In his role as QRM Leader, Tony acts as a key liaison between Ernst & Young's National Accounting and Advisory Business Services Professional Practice Group and National Valuation Practice. He has served on a number of different task forces and working groups involved with best practices in Fair Value measurements for financial reporting. He is currently chair of an Appraisal Foundation Task Force regarding contributory asset charges and is co-chair of an AICPA task force to update the IPR&D practice aid. Tony is often consulted by client engagement teams around the country when a valuation matter relating to financial accounting arises as part of interactions between the SEC and a public registrant. He has provided assistance, including direct consultations with the SEC staff, to resolve questions regarding valuation models, methodology, theory, assumptions and conclusions.
As a major account executive, Tony oversees teams engaged in performing valuation and business modeling services for a myriad of purposes, including financial accounting, tax strategy and compliance, bankruptcy and corporate reorganization, litigation matters, strategic advisory and mergers and acquisitions. These projects involve valuing businesses, tangible and intangible assets as well as providing valuation education and advice, including reviews of valuations performed by company managers and other third party advisors.
From an industry prospective, Tony has had significant involvement in a number of sectors including Aerospace & Defense, Media, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment, Technology and Life Sciences.
Tony began his career in 1981 as Director of Research for a West Coast based investment advisory firm. In 1985, he joined Ernst & Young's predecessor Firm, Arthur Young & Co. in the Valuation Services Group, where he continues to practice today in what is now the Ernst & Young Transaction Advisory Services' Valuation and Business Modeling Group.
Education
Tony holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, with concentrations of corporate finance and real estate. His Masters of Business Administration was earned from the University of California at Los Angeles, with concentrations of finance, management science and computers and information systems.
Professional Designations and Society Affiliations
He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with the CFA Institute and an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation with the American Society of Appraisers. Tony currently is serving his second term as a member of the Business Valuation Committee (BVC) of the ASA.
 GARY FRANTZEN
Senior Vice President
American Appraisal
Mr. Frantzen has more than 20 years of experience performing valuation services for clients in a wide variety of industries, entailing the valuation of business and business interests including equity and debt securities, options, partnership interests, joint venture interests, intellectual property, and other tangible and intangible assets. His work has been used to advise management, board members and special committees, attorneys, individuals, and the courts.
He has provided advice and rendered independent opinions for many purposes such as acquisitions; divestitures; fairness opinions; business and strategic plan reviews; business unit performance measurement; SEC filings; U.S. GAAP, IFRS and other financial reporting requirements; U.S. federal, state, and non-U.S. tax reporting requirements; and various claims and dispute resolutions.
Mr. Frantzen has also developed economic value measurement frameworks for developing strategic and financial alternatives, measuring business unit value contributions, and analyzing pro forma performance of potential business combinations.
Prior to joining American Appraisal in 2005, Mr. Frantzen served as a Managing Director for Standard & Poor's Corporate Value Consulting and as a Director for Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin. He was a Partner at Arthur Andersen L.L.P. where he was a co-leader of the Strategic Valuation Services Group in Chicago and led the financial valuation practice for Andersen's Central Region.
 OLIVER MAIER
Vice President, Deputy Head of M&A
Degussa AG
Oliver Maier has been Vice President and Deputy Head of M&A for Degussa AG since 2001 and since the beginning of 2007, after Degussa's integration into RAG, of the newly formed Evonik Industries AG. In this capacity, he has executive project lead and overall responsibility for the Americas. As of June 2008, Mr. Maier took on the additional role of Head of Business Development, Americas.
Previously he was Vice President of Legal and Corporate Development for Veba Oil from 1999-2001 with a focus on South American projects. Prior to that he held several corporate legal counsel positions with Stinnes AG and Veba Oil AG from 1996-1999.
Mr. Maier is an Attorney-at-Law and holds a J.D. and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Munich University. He serves as management board member of Stinnes Interoil AG.
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