Merger and acquisition strategiesa) are often driven by such strategic objectives as to expand a company's geographic coverage or extend its business into new product categories. b) provide superior means for firms to rapidly increase the vertical scope of their core business. c) tend to be the most often used and most effective strategic options available to multi-business companies. d) are one of the best ways for a company strongly differentiate its product offering. e) are aimed at facilitating a company's shift from a broad differentiation strategy to a low-cost provider strategy.