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Gladstone Place Partners: 2026 Tulane Market Sentiment Survey
To inform the M&A and the Media Panel at the Tulane Corporate Law Institute on March 19-20, 2026
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1.
Last year, dealmakers were spot on in our survey of deal activity for 2025, with a clear majority expecting a boost in M&A. Please pick your expectation for the M&A market in 2026 compared to 2025.
(Required.)
a. Down sharply
b. Down modestly
c. Flat
d. Up modestly
e. Up sharply
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2.
What kinds of deals will drive M&A in 2026?
(Required.)
a. Vertical integration
b. Horizontal integration
c. Private equity
d. Breakups / Bust-ups
e. Hostile takeovers
f. Activism-driven
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3.
What industries are ripe for M&A activity in 2026? (Select all that apply)
(Required.)
a. Media
b. Energy
c. Healthcare / Pharma / Biotech
d. Consumer
e. Industrials
f. Technology
g. Banking / Finance
h. Metals and Mining
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4.
What macro factors will have the most significant impact on deal-making activity for 2026? (Select top two choices)
(Required.)
a. Stock market
b. Tariff expectations
c. Cost of capital
d. CEO and Board confidence
e. Antitrust
f. Shareholder activism
g. Trump administration
h. Geopolitical instability
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5.
What will be the most prominent activism trend during the 2026 proxy season?
(Required.)
a. Attempts to oust CEOs
b. Proxy fights that go to a vote
c. New entrants
d. Activists winning a greater percentage of Board seats
e. M&A demands
f. Settlements
6.
In your view, how is AI changing or set to change dealmaking?
7.
What other topics would you like the panel to cover?