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

Option (E)

Explanation:

Merger strategies are usually undertaken by an organization in order to form a strategic merger with several other organizations so as to accelerate the growth, instead of growing organically. Acquisition strategy tends to involves the finding methodology for acquisition of the target organization which generates the value for acquirer.

150

By inventory, we mean a complete list of items at the end of a business day. In the case of a cook who is required to conduct a food inventory at the end of every week, inventory should include the 25 steaks in the front refrigerator and the 125 in the back freezer. The 18  marinated for tonight's dinner should not be included  because it will be consumed that night.  The inventory of steaks therefore is 25+125=150.