7. Company A manufactures men's shoes in the US which it sells to retail outlets (including online) which then sell them to the ultimate consumer. Company A has a share of all US sales to retail outlets (including online) of men's shoes of 15%.. Company B manufactures men's shoes in the US which it also sells to retail outlets (including online) which then sell them to the ultimate consumer. Company B has a share of all US sales to retail outlets (including online) of men's shoes of 10%. Company C is the dominant manufacturer of men's shoes in the US and also sells its shoes to retail outlets (including online). Company B has a 10% share of all US sales to retail outlets (including online) in the US. Company C has a share of 65% of the sale of men's shoes to retail outlets (including online) in the US. The remaining 10% of sales of men's shoes to retail outlets in the US is comprised of very small US manufactures and some foreign manufactures who import shoes into the US. Answer each of the following questions and explain your answer:

a. What is the relevant product market to analyze whether a proposed merger of Company A and Company B may substantially lessen competition?

b. What is your assessment of the antitrust risk of a proposed acquisition of Company B by Company A?

c. In light of your assessment of antitrust risk in response to question b above, what deal protection provisions would you advise Company B to attempt to negotiate and why?

d. In light of you assessment of antitrust risk in response to question b above, what deal protection provisions would you advise Company A to accept if requested by Company B and which deal protection provisions would you advise Company A to reject if requested by Company B and why?