Big Yellow Bus

Case Video Walkthrough

Case Study Prompt

Your client is a private equity fund considering the acquisition of Big Yellow Bus Co, one of the leading manufacturers of school buses in the US. It is the #1 player in the market by revenue, #2 by volume. There are only 3 competitors in the market with relatively equal share but BYB was the clear leader 5 years ago.

The client has engaged Bain to help determine whether or not to proceed with the investment.

What framework would you use to crack this case?

Case Study Overview

The client needs your help to determine whether or not to acquire a school bus manufacturer. In this Bain case study, it’s up to you to give the client a strong yes/no recommendation on how to move forward. In an M&A case, pay attention to the type of buyer you’re serving – corporate or financial. They have different goals!

Are you preparing for a final round Bain interview? We recommend that you use the M&A Framework to solve this case study, but keep in mind that the top interviewers blend frameworks and their own business acumen to create a custom framework.

There is one math exhibit in this case. The qualitative difficulty is 4 out of 4, which makes this a more advanced case interview you would more likely see in a Bain final round.

Bain Interview Tips

What does Bain look for in its case interview candidates? Practicality.

When building a structure, it may be helpful to think of yourself as a Manager needing to assign out work-streams to a team of analysts.

In this case, focus on a couple of things:

1. Time yourself throughout the case (2min to build structure and 2min to present it; 2min each for a brainstorming question; 2min for final recommendation)
2. Focus on your overall polish as you walk through the case
3. Concentrate on your communication; is it clear and concise?

For out-loud practice with an expert, book an hour with an ex-MBB coach.