Adam's boss tells him that their company is pursuing the girategy of horizontal integration. Which of the following is true of this scenario?

a$.$ The company will merge with another company that belongs to a different industry.

b$.$ The company will begin to distribute its own products.

c$.$ The company will buy or merge with one of its rivals.

d$.$ The company will change the organizational structure to make it increasingly flat.

e$.$ The company will acquire one of its suppliers.