THE CHAIRS CIRCLE



 The Art of the Possible: The Board’s Role in Shaping M&A Strategy for 2026 and Beyond 

Agenda  

Wednesday October 7 - Friday October 9 2026 



Day Zero Tuesday October 6 2026

6pm No-host dinner for early arrivals (loc TBD, cost $100 pp)



Day One Wednesday October 7 2026

Pre-program                Arrivals in Healdsburg / Luggage storage at hotels

11:00am - 1:00pm      Transportation Shuttles to Limerick Lane (11:00/11:30/noon/12:30/1)

Pick-ups at Harmon Guest House curbside / Healdsburg Avenue



11:15am – 12:45pm   Lunch Buffet in the Vineyard at Limerick Lane Cellars, 1023 Limerick Lane

12:45pm - 1:00pm      Break / Walk over to the Vineyard Farmhouse



1:00pm – 1:30pm       Welcome at Vineyard Farmhouse / Participant Introductions

1:30pm - 3:00pm        SESSION 1 Morgan Stanley

What's Behind the 2026 Surge in M&A and How Are Boards Driving It

3:00pm - 3:15pm        Break 

3:15pm - 4:45pm        SESSION 2 Carlyle

Private Equity as Competitor, Partner, and Buyer

Sponsors’ Record Dry Powder and Their Expanding Role in the M&A Ecosystem

4:45/ 5:00/5:15pm      Shuttle Transportation to Healdsburg Group Hotels 

5:00pm - 5:45pm        Additional check-ins to hotels

5:30pm – 6:30pm       Reception at Valette (outside) 

6:30pm -9:00pm         Dinner Fireside chat with Robin Washington (outside)

9:00pm                         Walk to hotels



Day Two Thursday October 8 2026

7:00am - 7:45am         Healdsburg Downtown Fitness Walk led by Jenn, Owner of Yoga on Center

7:00 am – 8:30am       Continental Breakfast at h2 Hotel (warm breakfast selections upon request)

8:00 am – 8:45am      Transportation Shuttles to The Hilltop Estate House on Limerick Lane (8:00/8:15/8:30/8:45)

Pick-ups at Harmon Guest House curbside / Healdsburg Avenue



9:00am - 10:30am      SESSION 3 Paul Weiss

Activism, Defense, and Strategic Pressure on Boards

Record Activism, Faster Settlements, and Break-Up Demands – What Boards Must Prepare For

10:30am – 10:45am Break

10:45am – 11:45am    DISCUSSION TOPIC? Addl speaker maybe

11:45pm - 1:30pm      Lunch in the Vineyard / Group Topics by Table (6 per table)

1:30pm – 3:00pm       SESSION 4 Joele Frank

M&A and Communications

3:15pm  – 3:30pm      Break

3:15pm – 4:15pm       SESSION 6 - Q&A with all Sponsors



4:15pm – 4:30pm       Walk to Wine Tasting in the Vineyard

4:30pm - 6:00pm        Wine Tasting with Karen and Winemaker in the Cellar

6:00pm / 6:15pm        Transportation Shuttles to The Hilltop Estate House

6:00pm - 7:00pm        Reception Poolside

7:00pm - 9:00pm        Dinner in the Olive Grove

9:00pm                       Transportation back to the Healdsburg hotels



Day Three Friday October 9 2026

7:00am - 7:45am         Active Stretch Class (all levels) in the Green Room H2 Hotel

Meet in lobby of H2 Hotel

7:00am - 8:15am         Continental Breakfast available at H2 Hotel

8:15am – 8:30am         Hotel Checkout / Walk to Merritt Hall at Harmon Guest House



8:30am – 10:00am      SESSION 7 with Morgan Stanley

Big Tech & AI Implications for Corporate Strategy and M&A

10:00am – 10:30pm   Wrap up and Feedback

10:45am Shuttle to SFO Pickup Harmon Guest House curbside