<p><span>The correct answer is </span><span>(C) acquiring.</span></p><p><span>In this sentence, the phrase "of acquiring" is used to show the CEO's intentions. The verb form that correctly follows the preposition "of" is the gerund form "acquiring" (option C). This form is used to express an ongoing or continuous action. The other options do not fit grammatically or contextually. Option A is the base form of the verb, which does not convey the intended meaning. Option B uses the infinitive form "to acquire," which is not suitable after the preposition "of." Option D is a noun form that does not fit syntactically or semantically. Therefore, the correct answer is (C) acquiring.</span></p><p><span>(A) "acquire" is the correct base form of the verb, but it is not used in the correct tense in this sentence.</span></p><div class="exp">
<p>(B) "to acquire" is an infinitive form of the verb and is not used correctly in this sentence.</p>
<p>(D) "acquirement" is a noun form of the verb and is not used correctly in this sentence.</p>
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