2026 M&A Playbook: Opportunities For Mid-Market Growth
Strategic M&A is no longer just about scale—it’s a lever for resilience, growth and long-term succession. Here’s how business owners can turn market optimism into opportunity.
Strategic M&A is no longer just about scale—it’s a lever for resilience, growth and long-term succession. Here’s how business owners can turn market optimism into opportunity.
Despite uncertain economic conditions, tariffs and regulatory scrutiny, a spate of strategic acquisitions suggests the tide may finally be turning on deal-making.
These tips can help you start to build M&A advantages today—even if your first acquisition is still years away.
For companies navigating the complex terrain of M&As, a strategic and proactive approach to cultural integration can be the difference between a successful merger and a missed opportunity. Here are key strategies to align cultures effectively from the outset.
Tariffs may have cooled early 2025’s M&A momentum, but CEOs should watch for renewed activity driven by private equity, AI adoption, and strategic recalibration in global markets.
The logjam of the past couple of years is poised to break—and mid-market deals will lead the way.
A seasoned negotiator shares tactics for getting the deal you want.
With due diligence, it’s often said that you can prioritize cost, quality or speed, but you can rarely achieve all three. Yet robust Phase One hits all these markers—keeping costs manageable, ensuring high quality information, and providing a swift and effective initial assessment.
With careful navigation and strategic foresight, U.S. companies stand poised to capitalize on the promise of a more vibrant M&A market in the year ahead.
Your team should address the following key elements to ensure a successful transition.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.