CPG Beer

Looking for case interview practice cases? Try this M&A Corporate Buyer case on for size.

Prompt

Our client is a CPG company.  Assume they make beer.  They are going through a merger. Assume our client is Firm A (acquirer) and the target is Firm B.  Firm A holds 20% of the market and Firm B holds 10% of the market.  

A major player, Firm C, holds a leading share of the market at 45%.  The rest of the market is comprised of fringe players.

The companies (Firms A, B, C) each have only one major manufacturing facility.

Each company has one major brand in each of 3 areas:

• • • Flagship brands which are highly profitable
    • Maintenance brands which are marginally profitable 
    • Cash cows / “milk” brands which are non-growth but provide a steady source of revenue to the companies.

Can you find the cost synergies in the merger and discuss their relative importance?

Case Study Overview

Your client is a beer manufacturer looking to grow their market share by acquiring a competitor who holds a substantial share of the market. In this Booz Allen style case, you are being asked to delve into and understand the potential cost synergies the merger would produce and discuss them.

Are you preparing for a first round Booz Allen interview? This is one of our many case interview practice cases that are available to help you get ready. We suggest using the M&A Framework to help structure your approach to the problem and also pull on other basic frameworks to strengthen your solution. Remember that corporate and financial buyers have different goals, so make sure you pay attention to which type of client you are serving.

With a qualitative difficulty level of 2 (out of 4), this case study will set your up for success in your first round at Booz Hamilton. The case does not have any math exhibits.

Booz Allen Hamilton Interview Tips

What does BAH look for in its case interview candidates? A polished presentation and strong interpersonal skills.

BAH is more concerned about personality and communication style, so make sure you concentrate on those areas as you walk through the case.

Focus on coming away with 1 or 2 takeaways that you can improve on in your next case. In addition, time yourself as you go through the case: 4min for creating and presenting your structure, 5min for math, 2min for brainstorming, and 2min for a recommendation.

Again, there are different types of case study. We recommend trying multiple case interview practice cases as you prepare for your interviews (market study, M&A, profitability, etc.)

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