On September 10, Art Mertes moderated a Private Directors Association (PDA) panel, “Ready, Set, Ready: M&A Preparedness Through the Lens of Private Equity, Family Office, and Strategic Buyers,” a signature event sponsored by Tucker Ellis in Chicago. Focusing on the middle-market M&A community, Art and the panel of industry leaders – Duane Jackson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Author Capital Partners; Kevin A. Price, Board Director of Paychex; and Reagan Hogerty, Managing Partner of H&H Industries – provided their critical insights on the types of deals that are getting done; what additional steps are advisable to be considered an attractive middle-market company in today’s M&A and geopolitical environments; and what directors, executives, owners, and investors need to know to help position their companies for an exit or acquisition, among other key topics.