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Medium Profitability Post-Acquisition Integration Merger & Acquisition

Rubicon Co.

#Transportation

Practice this intermediate profitability case interview question in the Transportation sector. Includes detailed problem prompt, clarifying questions, structured framework, and expert recommendation. Part of ProHub's 835+ consulting case library.

ProHub Comment

This case requires candidates to conduct a detailed financial analysis of pre- and post-acquisition performance, identify cost synergy opportunities, and develop operational recommendations. The case tests both quantitative skills (financial modeling, route profitability analysis) and qualitative thinking (competitive positioning, strategic trade-offs like route discontinuation versus cost reduction).

Estimated Time 26 minutes
Difficulty Medium
Source ROSS
10 / 100
Your client is Rubicon Co, a low-cost airline operating in the US. A couple of years ago, Rubicon Co completed the acquisition of Scarlet Air, an airline based primarily on the West Coast. The post acquisition profits do not meet the executive committee’s expectations, and the CEO of Rubicon Co has brought you in to understand the causes and improve profitability.

Clarifying Information

  1. The CEO wants to increase profit by $100M
  2. Assume Rubicon Co operates a single aircraft type across their fleet with similar seat layouts
  3. Rubicon Co is an all economy airline, not looking to change the business model
  4. At this point Rubicon Co is not looking to expand operations internationally
  5. The industry has remained relatively stable, with single digit profit % growth YoY
Mock Interview
Interviewer

Your client is Rubicon Co, a low-cost airline operating in the US. A couple of years ago, Rubicon Co completed the acquisition of Scarlet Air, an airline based primarily on the West Coast. The post acquisition profits do not meet the executive committee's expectations, and the CEO of Rubicon Co has brought you in to understand the causes and improve profitability.

You

Thanks. Before analyzing, I'd like to clarify a few key questions...

Interviewer

Good question. Let me provide some background information...

You

Based on this, I suggest analyzing from these dimensions...

AI Score
Structure Analysis Communication Business Sense Quantitative
Practicing...
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Practice this case with AI Mock Interview

Rubicon Co acquired Scarlet Air but post-acquisition profits fell short of expectations. The $100M profit improvement target can be addressed through: (1) Marketing and IT cost reductions of ~$59M by matching 25% savings achieved in HR and Property; and (2) improving Pacific Northwest route profitability by reducing costs to match competitors’ cost structure for an additional ~$62M in potential net improvement.

Key Insights:

  1. Post-merger cost synergies should be systematically identified across all functions, not just assumed to be captured—candidates must recognize that Marketing and IT costs doubled to the sum of individual airlines despite being consolidation opportunities
  2. Route-level profitability analysis is critical in airlines—the case shows that Seattle-Denver generates $45.5M profit while Portland-Seattle and Denver-Portland are loss-making, requiring targeted cost reduction rather than blanket elimination decisions
  3. Qualitative factors must accompany quantitative recommendations—cutting loss-making routes risks losing connecting passenger traffic, creating political complications, and triggering contractual issues, requiring a nuanced solution of cost reduction rather than elimination

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