Consider a hedge fund with $400 million in assets, $60 million in debt, and 16 million shares at the start of the year and with $500 million in assets, $40 million in debt, and 20 million shares at the end of the year. During the year, investors have received an income dividend of $.75 per share. Assuming that the total expense ratio is 2.75%, what is the rate of return on the fund?
a. 6.45%
b. 8.52%
c. 8.95%
d. 9.46%