Suppose the transit system of a large city has a lost and found department that keeps detailed records, including the estimated value in dollars of each lost item. each year the department publishes a report with a histogram showing the proportion of items lost in various price ranges.

Fortress international, a large conglomerate, procures a few component parts from external suppliers and also manufactures some of the key raw materials in its own subsidiaries. aside from this, the company does not solely depend on outside distributors to reach its customers. in fact, it has its own retail stores to distribute its products. in this scenario, which of the following alternatives to vertical integration is fortress international applying? a. concentric integration b. taper integration c. horizontal integration d. conglomerate integration