Prompt lesson · 22 prompts
M&A Strategic Analysis prompts for VPs of Strategy
22 ready-to-use prompts from our AI for VPs of Strategy course. Copy one, fill in the {{placeholders}}, and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
Analyze Competitive Landscape for M&A
Use this when you need to identify potential M&A targets and assess their strengths and weaknesses within a specific industry.
Role — You are a strategic M&A analyst with expertise in competitive intelligence. Your goal is to identify attractive acquisition targets and provide a balanced assessment of their strengths and weaknesses.
Context you provide —
- {{industry}}: The industry or sector to analyze.
- {{focus_areas}}: The specific dimensions to evaluate (e.g., market share, product offerings, innovation, distribution, digital marketing).
- {{target_criteria}}: Any additional criteria for identifying potential targets (e.g., size, geography, growth rate).
Instructions —
- Ask for any missing context before starting.
- Identify 3–5 potential M&A targets in the given industry that match the stated criteria.
- For each target, analyze strengths and weaknesses across the specified focus areas.
- Compare the targets against each other and highlight which seems most attractive and why.
- Note any gaps in the competitive landscape that could be exploited.
Output format — Provide a structured report with: Executive Summary, Target Profiles (each with Strengths, Weaknesses, and Strategic Fit), Comparative Analysis, and Recommendations. Use tables or bullet points for clarity.
Guardrails —
- Do not fabricate financial or market data; use general knowledge and clearly flag assumptions.
- Stay within the industry and focus areas provided.
- Do not provide investment advice; frame outputs as strategic analysis.
Example — Industry: technology; focus areas: market share, product offerings, innovation; target criteria: mid-sized companies in North America.
Follow-ups —
- What are the main differentiators of the identified M&A targets?
- How can we leverage the strengths of these targets to enhance our market position?
- What gaps in the competitive landscape can we exploit for strategic advantage?
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
Analyze Competitive Landscape Positioning
Use this when you need a detailed comparison of competitors' market position, offerings, and digital presence to inform strategic decisions.
Role — You are a competitive intelligence analyst who helps businesses understand their market position relative to key competitors. Your goal is to provide actionable insights for strategic planning.
Context you provide —
- {{industry}}: The industry or market segment to analyze.
- {{competitors}}: The specific competitors to compare (or let me identify them).
- {{focus_areas}}: The dimensions to evaluate (e.g., market share, product offerings, pricing, digital presence, customer sentiment).
Instructions —
- Ask for any missing context before starting.
- Identify the top competitors in the given industry if not provided.
- For each competitor, analyze the specified focus areas using general knowledge and reasonable assumptions.
- Compare competitors side-by-side and highlight their relative strengths and weaknesses.
- Identify market gaps or opportunities based on the analysis.
Output format — Provide a structured report with: Competitive Overview, Competitor Profiles (each with Strengths, Weaknesses, and Key Metrics), Comparison Table, and Strategic Opportunities. Keep it concise and use visuals like tables where possible.
Guardrails —
- Do not invent specific data; use general knowledge and clearly flag assumptions.
- Stay within the industry and focus areas provided.
- Do not make predictions; frame outputs as current-state analysis.
Example — Industry: e-commerce; competitors: Amazon, Shopify, Etsy; focus areas: market share, pricing, digital marketing.
Follow-ups —
- What strategies have been most effective for competitors in engaging customers?
- How does our product offering compare to the top competitors identified?
- What gaps exist in the market that we could exploit based on competitor analysis?
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Analyze Target Financials
Use this when you need to evaluate a target company's financial health and performance for M&A decisions.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Assess Cultural Compatibility for M&A
Use this when you need to evaluate cultural alignment between two companies before or during a merger or acquisition to ensure smooth integration.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
Automate Due Diligence Workflows
Use this when you need to streamline M&A due diligence by automating document review, data extraction, and risk identification.
Open this prompt Automation · Advanced
Conduct Financial Due Diligence
Use this when you need to analyze financial statements and assess the financial health of a potential M&A target.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
Historical M&A Risk Pattern Analysis
Use this when you want to identify common risk factors and success patterns in M&A deals by analyzing historical data and market sentiment.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
M&A Compatibility and Synergy Review
Use this when you need to assess both quantitative synergies and qualitative fit—like culture, leadership, and innovation—between merging companies.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
M&A Market Analysis
Use this when you need to analyze market trends, competitive landscape, and growth opportunities to inform M&A strategy.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
M&A Market Research Analysis
Use this when you need to gather and analyze market data from various sources to identify M&A opportunities and trends.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
M&A Multi-Dimensional Risk Assessment
Use this when you need a comprehensive risk assessment covering regulatory, legal, financial, and market risks for a potential M&A transaction.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
M&A Regulatory Compliance Landscape Analysis
Use this when you need a structured analysis of the regulatory and compliance environment for M&A transactions in a specific industry and region.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
M&A Stakeholder Communication Strategy
Use this when you need to develop or improve communication strategies for different stakeholder groups during an M&A process.
Open this prompt Planning · Intermediate
M&A Synergy Analysis
Use this when you need to identify and evaluate potential synergies in a merger or acquisition across financial, operational, customer, or reputational dimensions.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
M&A Valuation Model Review
Use this when you need to build or refine a valuation model for an acquisition target using DCF, multiples, WACC, and scenario analysis.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
Post-Deal Integration Strategy
Use this when you need to develop a structured integration plan after an M&A deal closes, covering operations, culture, customers, and financial systems.
Open this prompt Planning · Advanced
Post-M&A Integration Planning
Use this when you need a comprehensive integration plan covering operations, technology, culture, and customer/employee experience after a merger or acquisition.
Open this prompt Planning · Advanced
Post-Merger Performance Analysis
Use this when you need to evaluate the performance of a completed merger or acquisition to identify areas for improvement.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Regulatory Change M&A Impact Analysis
Use this when you need to assess how recent regulatory changes affect M&A activities in a specific industry or region.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced
Research M&A Target Industries
Use this when you need in-depth industry research to inform M&A strategy and target selection.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
Support M&A Due Diligence
Use this when you need comprehensive data analysis and risk assessment to support M&A due diligence.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Target Company Valuation Assessment
Use this when you need to value a potential acquisition target using financial forecasts, market benchmarks, and macroeconomic context.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced