List of tough market sizing cases with their solutions

Questions about market size are frequently asked in case interviews in consulting because they require a blend of logic, mathematics, and common sense. They can be asked as standalone questions or as part of a larger case. Applicants who are familiar with market sizing questions can really perform here. What Are Market Sizing Cases?If you're applying to top consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, you're unlikely to escape a market estimation case. Market sizing cases are considered "back-of-the-envelope" calculations because they can be done on the back of an envelope. Despite the name, it's not just about estimating market sizes; other estimations may also be asked for.For example, if you're discussing a British clothing retailer's growth strategy, you could calculate on an envelope how large the online clothing market is and what percentage of the market the retailer already penetrates. If you perform these calculations quickly, the conversation with the client stays fluid, leaving a good impression.You can receive the question about market size as a standalone case (although this is less common) or as part of a more comprehensive problem, such as market entry. The good news: There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to the question of market size. The interviewer is less concerned about the specific number you come up with for the market than the approach you took to arrive at that number. Why Are Market Sizing Cases Commonly Used in Consulting Interviews?Market Sizing Cases are used to test your quantitative and logical abilities. The interviewer wants to ascertain whether you work well with numbers and if you can make informed assumptions and deal with ambiguities. Questions about market size aren't just about the size of markets; they also involve other types of estimations, such as the number of golf balls in a jumbo jet. As you may have noticed, math is crucial in tackling these questions since you don't have a calculator to rely on. Most importantly, you need to be comfortable dealing with large numbers like millions and billions as well as percentages. More on that later. How Do You Best Approach Market Sizing Cases?Now that we understand the theory behind Market Sizing Cases and their relevance to your case interview, let's take a closer look at the process.Segmentation – The Key to Market Sizing CasesIf you've done some reading on case interviews before delving into market sizing questions, you might have come across areas where segmentation is necessary. Segmenting data is a crucial skill you must master as both a candidate in a case interview and in your later career as a consultant. Segmentation generally refers to dividing a larger whole into smaller parts or segments. The principle you need to understand to do this correctly is the MECE principle.MECE stands for "mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive." Simply put, segmenting a group of data according to the MECE principle means forming subgroups that do not overlap but collectively cover the entirety of the data, meaning no data is missing. An example useful for market sizing questions is dividing a country's population into age groups (as different age groups often behave differently).Below is a breakdown into Group 1 in the age range 0 to 14, Group 2 in the age range 15 to 64, and Group 3 for everyone over 65: Note that none of the groups overlap, so no age is counted twice, but also no age is overlooked. Now that the population is correctly segmented, we can treat each group differently. If we had divided the population of the United Kingdom into the aforementioned groups, we could estimate clothing expenditures per person in these groups in online retail. Common sense suggests that expenditures per person in the 0-14 age group are lower than in the 15-64 age group. We can justify this estimation by noting that the majority of 0-14-year-olds do not purchase their clothing online. 

M&A cases are quite common in management consulting, especially for candidates applying to firms with a focus on strategy, corporate finance, or (of course) mergers and acquisitions. While they don’t make up the majority of cases, they are frequently used to assess your strategic thinking, ability to analyze financial data, and understanding of the impact of complex business decisions.  What Are M&A Cases?In an M&A case, you analyze whether a merger, acquisition, or divestiture makes sense for a company. To do this, you examine market conditions, financial metrics, competition, and strategic synergies to provide a well-founded recommendation.Growth strategy cases often lead to M&A considerations. Companies with excess capital may seek acquisitions to expand—whether through vertical integration (suppliers or distributors), horizontal integration (competitors), or diversification. The key factors for a successful M&A deal are value creation and cultural fit.A typical M&A case prompt:"Your client, a mid-sized retail chain, is considering acquiring a smaller competitor to expand market reach and increase profitability. Analyze the strategic rationale, financial implications, and provide a recommendation. What factors would you consider?" How Can You Approach an M&A Case – Key Areas to AnalyzeFirst of all, there is no standardized approach or pre-made framework that you can use for all M&A cases (or cases in general). It is absolutely crucial that you understand your client’s unique situation and develop a tailored solution for the task at hand.It is also possible that your M&A case does not resolve the question if a deal should be aimed for or not, but rather focuses on issues in the post merger integration process. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that you listen carefully during the case prompt, reassure yourself that you understand the problem and objective of the client correctly and adjust your approach accordingly.  1. Understand Your Client’s Company.Before you dive into your M&A analysis, you first need to understand your client’s company. In which industry does the client operate? What product or service do they offer? Who are the key customer segments, and how is the company structured? Does the client have other business units that could offer synergy potential in the context of an M&A deal?Once you truly understand your client’s business model, it will be much easier to develop a structure for your M&A analysis. Even the simple question of whether you're advising a manufacturer or a service provider can help you form solid hypotheses about the deal’s objectives. For a service company, gaining access to talent may be an obvious reason for acquiring another firm, whereas a manufacturer might be more interested in creating cost synergies through vertical integration.But be careful not to jump to conclusions too quickly. You need to understand your client’s specific situation in order to provide valuable, tailored advice. 2. Understand the Objectives of the M&A Deal.Begin by clarifying the objectives of the M&A deal. Analogous to making a purchase at a grocery store, M&A can generally be viewed as a "buying decision". We know that a consumer first determines the "need" to buy a product. There are various objectives that a company may have for pursuing an M&A deal and understanding the strategic rationale behind the acquisition is crucial. Let’s take a look at potential reasons for M&A deals:Strategic acquisitions generally aim at improving the market position and realizing growth opportunities. Entering new geographic markets or industries, diversifying into new product lines, or reaching new customer segments are common ways to broaden market reach and strengthen the market position.Defensive acquisitions, also known as "defensive mergers" or "defensive takeovers," refer to strategic actions taken by a company to proactively protect itself against potential threats or risks. These acquisitions are typically pursued to secure the company's competitive position and reduce specific vulnerabilities. An example for a defensive acquisition would be purchasing or merging with competitors in the industry to consolidate market share and increase barriers to entry. By eliminating rivals or reducing competitive pressures, the acquiring company can protect its market dominance and pricing power.Synergies and value creationWhilst most mergers and acquisitions are evaluated with mid- to long-term objectives, opportunity-driven M&A deals are also an option. If a company is undervalued due to ineffective management or an unfavorable market, it may become an attractive acquisition target for a buyer with the power to bring it back to its potential value.It becomes clear that the reasons for M&A deals are diverse and it is impossible to list them all. So, when identifying the objectives of your client, start at a high level, dig deeper when you receive the feedback from your interviewer that you are on the right track and communicate your hypothesis and logical thinking very clearly. 3. Analyze the Target Industry.Once it's clear why the client is interested in acquiring a particular company, start by looking at the industry the client wants to buy. This analysis is crucial since the outlook of the industry might overshadow the target's ability to play in it. For instance, small/unprofitable targets in a growing market can be attractive in the same way as great targets can be unattractive in a dying market.Potential questions to assess are:How big is the market?What are the market’s growth figures?Can the market be segmented, and does the target only play in one of the segments of the market?What is the focus? Is it a high volume/low margin or a low volume/high margin market?Are there barriers to entry?Who are the key competitors in the market?How profitable are the competitors?What are possible threats?Porter's Five Forces can be a good starting point for a structured market analysis, but don’t use this framework as it is (and absolutely never mention its name in the interview; just think of what would happen if a company paid McKinsey for a market analysis and the $4,000 daily rate consultant came back with Porter’s Five Forces). Understand the framework as a helpful tool and adjust it to the individual scenario and market conditions your client is facing. 4. Analyze the Target Company.After analyzing the target industry, understand the target company. Try to determine its strengths and weaknesses (see SWOT analysis) and perform a financial valuation to determine the attractiveness of the potential target. You are technically calculating the NPV of the company, but this calculation is most likely not going to be asked for in the case interview. However, having the knowledge of when it is used (e.g., financial valuation) is crucial. The following information can be analyzed to determine the target attractiveness:The company’s market shareThe company’s growth figures as compared to that of competitorsThe company’s profitability as compared to that of competitorsHow can current businesses from the client leverage revenues and profitability from the business to be acquired (keyword synergies)?Does the company possess any relevant patents or other useful intangibles?Which parts of the company to be acquired can benefit from synergies?The company’s key customersValuationHow much is the target company asking for, and is the price fair (see cost-benefit analysis)?Can the acquiring company afford to pay the valuation?Financial valuation will generally include industry & company analysis. 5. Analyze the Feasibility of the M&A.Finally, make sure to investigate the feasibility of the acquisition. Take a look at the challenges and risks associated with the deal and get a clearer picture of the concrete conditions for a potential acquisition or merger.Important questions here are:Is the target open for an acquisition or merger in the first place? If not, can the competition acquire it?Are there enough funds available (have a look at the balance sheet or cash flow statement)? Is there a chance of raising funds in the case of insufficient funds through loans etc.?Is the client experienced in the integration of acquired companies? Could a merger pose organizational/management problems for the client?Are there other risks associated with a merger? (For example, think of political implications and risks of failure, like with the failed merger of Daimler and Chrysler.) 6. Give a Recommendation.At the end of your analysis, give your client a solid recommendation of what to do. Start with your answer first: Should the client acquire the target company or not? Should a merger be pursued or not? Then go on with the reasons behind and structure your recommendation logically. In most cases, three arguments to support your recommendation will be a good number. Prioritize them and communicate them on point.But note: Even though you want to give a clear recommendation at the end of your case, answers to M&A questions are usually more complex than a simple “yes” or “no”. If you want to shine in your interview, demonstrate that you are aware of the risks and challenges the decision of your client may entail. Mention them shortly and give an outlook on further analysis you would conduct to confirm your recommendation.