Hazel Morrison, a mutual fund manager, has a $40 million portfolio with a beta of 1.00. The risk-free rate is 4.25%, and the market risk premium is 6.00%. Hazel expects to receive an additional $24.50 million, which she plans to invest in additional stocks. After investing the additional funds, she wants the fund's required and expected return to be 13.00%. What must the average beta of the new stocks be to achieve the target required rate of return?

Select the correct answer.

a. 2.13b. 2.21c. 2.17d. 2.25e. 2.29