Historically,courts seeking to determine the legality of vertical mergers have first tended to look at:

A) the increase in market entry barriers for new competitors.
B) the elimination of potential competition in the acquired firm's market.
C) the economic efficiency of such vertical integration.
D) the share of the relevant market foreclosed to competition.

Vertical Mergers

A type of merger between companies that operate at different stages within the same industry's supply chain.

Market Entry

The strategy or process employed by a company to start selling goods or services in a new market.

Economic Efficiency

A situation in which resources are allocated in the most beneficial way from the standpoint of society, maximizing production and minimizing waste.