N-CSR 1 form784.htm EDGAR HTML

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form N-CSR

Certified Shareholder Report of Registered Management Investment Companies

 

 

 

 

811-23259

 

(Investment Company Act File Number)

 

Federated Hermes Adviser Series

_______________________________________________________________

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Federated Hermes Funds

4000 Ericsson Drive

Warrendale, Pennsylvania 15086-7561

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

(412) 288-1900

(Registrant's Telephone Number)

 

 

Peter J. Germain, Esquire

1001 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

(Notices should be sent to the Agent for Service)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date of Fiscal Year End: 12/31/22

 

 

Date of Reporting Period: 12/31/22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.Reports to Stockholders

 

Annual Shareholder Report
December 31, 2022
 
 
Share Class | Ticker
A | QAMNX
Institutional | QQMNX
 
 
Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund
Successor to the Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/Short Fund Established 2008
A Portfolio of Federated Hermes Adviser Series
Dear Valued Shareholder,
We are pleased to present the Annual Shareholder Report for your fund covering the period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. This report includes Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance, a complete listing of your fund’s holdings, performance information and financial statements along with other important fund information.
As a global leader in active, responsible investment management, Federated Hermes is guided by our conviction that responsible investing is the best way to create wealth over the long term. The company provides capabilities across a wide range of asset classes to investors around the world.
In addition, FederatedInvestors.com offers quick and easy access to valuable resources that include timely fund updates, economic and market insights from our investment strategists and financial planning tools. You can also access many of those insights by following us on Twitter (@FederatedHermes) and LinkedIn.
Thank you for investing with us. We hope you find this information useful and look forward to keeping you informed.
Sincerely,
 
J. Christopher Donahue, President
Not FDIC Insured ▪ May Lose Value ▪ No Bank Guarantee
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance (unaudited)
The total return of Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund (the “Fund”), based on net asset value, for the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2022, was 9.24% for Class A Shares and 9.52% for Institutional Shares. The total return of the ICE BofA US 3-Month Treasury Bill Index (IBA3MT),1 the Fund’s non-equity benchmark index, was 1.46% for the same period. The total return of the HFRX Equity Hedge Index (HFRXEHI)2 over that period was -3.18%. The Lipper Alternative Long/Short Equity Funds Average (LALSEFA)3 returned -5.36% during the same period. The Fund’s and LALSEFA’s total returns for the most recently completed fiscal year reflected actual cash flows, transaction costs and expenses, which were not reflected in the total return of the IBA3MT or the HFRXEHI.
During the reporting period, the Fund’s investment strategy focused on stock selection. Stock selection was the most significant factor affecting the Fund’s performance relative to the IBA3MT during the period.
The following discussion will focus on the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Shares relative to the IBA3MT.
Market Overview
The equity market had a turbulent year in 2022. The market changed direction several times, with positive returns only to be followed by negative ones. Largely, these changes were driven by shifts in market expectations around the Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) future Federal Funds target rate increases. The summer rally of cyclical growth stocks was sparked by hope that the Fed would ease the rate hikes, and then the autumn rally came when it was thought that a lower consumer price index might motivate the Fed to announce lower future rate hikes. In each case, the market was disappointed.
By the end of the year, the Fed had increased interest rates seven times and the broader domestic market, as represented by the Russell 3000® Index (R3000),4 was down -19.21%. Within the R3000, the value style far outperformed the growth style and the Russell 3000 Value Index returned -7.98% in 2022 while the Russell 3000 Growth Index returned -28.97%. The capitalization ranges were much more tightly grouped, with the mid-cap range leading (the Russell Midcap Index5 returned -17.32% in 2022), and the small-cap range trailing (the Russell 2000 Index6 returned -20.44% in 2022).
STOCK SELECTION
Stock selection on the short side of the portfolio was the biggest contributor to the Fund’s performance relative to the IBA3MT.7 On the short side, the Fund looked for stocks with specific combinations of fundamental and technical factors that internal research has shown to predict underperformance relative to the R3000, the equity universe from which the Fund selects its long and short holdings.8 The two largest contributors to the Fund’s outperformance from the
Annual Shareholder Report
1
short side were, first, the poor performance of stocks that required significant amounts of incremental debt or equity financing as well as having negative analyst conviction, and second, stock selection among stocks without strong one-year returns and structural (repeatable) earnings that were not high.
The Fund strives to maintain minimal net exposure to each sector to avoid macroeconomic shocks that often affect sectors differently. At the end of the reporting period, the Fund was roughly sector neutral on a net long-short basis. Favorable stock selection in the Information Technology, Communication Services and Health Care sectors contributed most to Fund performance relative to the IBA3MT.
Individual stocks enhancing the Fund’s performance included weak performers held short (Okta, Inc. (Class A), Unity Software, Inc., Carvana Co., Guardant Health, Inc. and DocuSign, Inc.) and one strong performer held long, CONSOL Energy, Inc. Individual stocks detracting from the Fund’s performance included a strong performer held short, Las Vegas Sands Corp., and weak performers held long, Expedia Group, Inc. and EPAM Systems, Inc.
1
Please see the footnotes to the line graph below for definitions of, and further information about, the IBA3MT.
2
Please see the footnotes to the line graph below for definitions of, and further information about, the HFRXEHI.
3
Please see the footnotes to the line graph below for definitions of, and further information about, the Lipper peer group.
4
The Russell 3000® Index (R3000) measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies representing approximately 96% of the investable U.S. equity market. The R3000 is constructed to provide a comprehensive, unbiased and stable barometer of the broad market and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure new and growing equities are reflected.*
5
The Russell Midcap Index (RMCI) measures the performance of the mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The RMCI is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index (as well as a subset of the Russell 1000® Index). It includes approximately 800 securities which, based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership, followed the 200 securities that were chosen for the Russell Top 200 Index. As of December 31, 2022, the RMCI represents approximately 27% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 1000® companies. The RMCI is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the mid-cap segment. The RMCI is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the true mid-cap opportunity set.*
6
The Russell 2000 Index (R2000) measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The R2000 is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 7% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The R2000 is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased small-cap barometer and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the true small-cap opportunity set.*
7
The Fund may make short sales of securities, which involves unlimited risk including the possibility that losses may exceed the original amount invested.
8
The quantitative models and analysis used by the Fund may perform differently than expected and negatively affect Fund performance. There is no guarantee that the use of long and short positions will succeed in limiting the Fund’s exposure to domestic stock market movements, capitalization, sector-swings or other risk factors.
*
The index is unmanaged, and it is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Annual Shareholder Report
2
FUND PERFORMANCE AND GROWTH OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT
The graph below illustrates the hypothetical investment of $10,0001 in the Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund (the “Fund”) from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2022, compared to the ICE BofA 3-Month Treasury Bill Index (IBA3MT),2 HFRX Equity Hedge Index (HFRXEHI),3,4 and the Lipper Alternative Long/Short Equity Funds Average (LALSEFA).4,5 The Average Annual Total Return table below shows returns for each class averaged over the stated periods.
Growth of a $10,000 Investment
Growth of $10,000 as of December 31, 2022
 
◾ Total returns shown for the Class A Shares include the maximum sales charge of 5.50% ($10,000 investment minus $550 sales charge = $9,450). 
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year Ended 12/31/2022
(returns reflect all applicable sales charges as specified below in footnote #1) 
 
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Class A Shares
3.25%
5.06%
6.80%
Institutional Shares
9.52%
6.39%
7.57%
IBA3MT
1.46%
1.26%
0.76%
HFRXEHI
-3.18%
2.63%
3.27%
LALSEFA
-5.36%
3.61%
4.90%
Annual Shareholder Report
3
Performance data quoted represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Mutual fund performance changes over time and current performance may be lower or higher than what is stated. For current to the most recent month-end performance and after-tax returns, visit FederatedInvestors.com or call 1-800-341-7400. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Mutual funds are not obligations of or guaranteed by any bank and are not federally insured. 
1
Represents a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund after deducting applicable sales charges: for Class A Shares, the maximum sales charge of 5.50% ($10,000 investment minus $550 sales charge = $9,450). The Fund’s performance assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The IBA3MT, HRFXEHI and the LALSEFA have been adjusted to reflect reinvestment of dividends of securities.
2
The IBA3MT is comprised of a single issue purchased at the beginning of the month and held for a full month. At the end of the month, that issue is sold and rolled into a newly selected issue. The issue selected at each month-end rebalancing is the outstanding Treasury Bill that matures closest to, but not beyond, three months from the rebalancing date. To qualify for selection, an issue must have settled on or before the month-end rebalancing date. The IBA3MT is not adjusted to reflect sales charges, expenses or other fees that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires to be reflected in the Fund’s performance. The index is unmanaged and, unlike the Fund, is not affected by cash flows. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
3
HFRX Equity Hedge strategies maintain positions both long and short in primarily equity and equity derivative securities. A wide variety of investment processes can be employed to arrive at an investment decision, including both quantitative and fundamental techniques; strategies can be broadly diversified or narrowly focused on specific sectors and can range broadly in terms of levels of net exposure, leverage employed, holding period, concentrations of market capitalizations and valuation ranges of typical portfolios. Equity Hedge managers would typically maintain at least 50%, and may in some cases be substantially entirely invested in equities, both long and short. Hedge Fund Research, Inc. (HFR) utilizes a UCITSIII compliant methodology to construct the HFRX Hedge Fund Indices. The methodology is based on defined and predetermined rules and objective criteria to select and rebalance components to maximize representation of the Hedge Fund Universe. HFRX Indices utilize state-of-the-art quantitative techniques and analysis; multi-level screening, cluster analysis, Monte-Carlo simulations and optimization techniques ensure that each Index is a pure representation of its corresponding investment focus. The HRFXEHI is not adjusted to reflect sales charges, expenses or other fees that the SEC requires to be reflected in the Fund’s performance. The index is unmanaged and, unlike the Fund, is not affected by cash flows. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Annual Shareholder Report
4
4
The HFRX Equity Hedge Index and the Lipper Alternative Long/Short Equity Funds Average were included in the Fund’s initial registration statement as the Predecessor Fund had historically compared its performance to these indices. As the Predecessor Fund pursued different investment strategies than the Fund, the Adviser does not believe these indexes are reflective of the current investment strategy of the Fund, and these indices will be removed in 2024.
5
Lipper figures represent the average of the total returns reported by all funds designated by Lipper, Inc., as falling into the respective category and are not adjusted to reflect any sales charges. The Lipper figures in the Growth of a $10,000 Investment line graph are based on historical return information published by Lipper and reflect the return of the funds comprising the category in the year of publication. Because the funds designated by Lipper as falling into the category can change over time, the Lipper figures in the line graph may not match the Lipper figures in the Average Annual Total Returns table, which reflect the return of the funds that currently comprise the category.
Annual Shareholder Report
5
Portfolio of Investments Summary Tables (unaudited)
At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s portfolio composition was as follows: 
 
Percentage of
Total Net Assets
Securities Sold Short
(79.0)%
Common Stocks
81.6%
Cash Equivalents1
5.7%
Collateral on Deposit for Securities Sold Short
84.6%
Other Assets and Liabilities—Net2
7.1%
TOTAL
100%
 
1
Cash Equivalents include any investments in money market mutual funds and/or overnight
repurchase agreements.
2
Assets, other than investments in securities, securities sold short and collateral on deposit for
securities sold short, less liabilities. See Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
At December 31, 2022, the Fund’s sector composition1 for its short positions was as follows: 
Sector Composition
Percentage of Total
Securities Sold Short
Information Technology
32.4%
Consumer Discretionary
18.5%
Health Care
17.2%
Financials
10.9%
Industrials
6.6%
Communication Services
5.2%
Consumer Staples
2.6%
Materials
2.5%
Energy
2.3%
Real Estate
1.3%
Utilities
0.5%
TOTAL
100%
 
1
Sector classifications are based upon, and individual portfolio securities are assigned to, the
classifications of the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) except that the Adviser
assigns a classification to securities not classified by the GICS and to securities for which the
Adviser does not have access to the classification made by the GICS.
Annual Shareholder Report
6
Portfolio of Investments
December 31, 2022  
Shares
 
 
Value
          
 
COMMON STOCKS—   81.6%
 
 
 
Communication Services—   5.5%
 
118,544
1
Altice USA, Inc.
$    545,302
37,697
1
CarGurus, Inc.
    528,135
22,755
1
DISH Network Corp., Class A
    319,480
4,686
1
EverQuote, Inc.
     69,072
28,799
1
Meta Platforms, Inc.
  3,465,672
62,330
1
Roku, Inc.
  2,536,831
69,595
1
Spotify Technology SA
  5,494,525
18,835
1
Yelp, Inc.
    514,949
 
 
TOTAL
13,473,966
 
 
Consumer Discretionary—   14.7%
 
23,172
1
1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.
    221,524
17,889
1
2U, Inc.
    112,164
31,971
1
Airbnb, Inc.
  2,733,521
41,160
1
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.
  2,597,196
5,113
1
Children’s Place, Inc./The
    186,215
8,123
 
eBay, Inc.
    336,861
69,829
1
Expedia Group, Inc.
  6,117,020
25,500
 
Ford Motor Co.
    296,565
107,642
 
Gap (The), Inc.
  1,214,202
14,398
 
General Motors Co.
    484,349
5,578
1
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
     56,617
31,336
1
Groupon, Inc.
    268,863
3,958
 
Hasbro, Inc.
    241,478
43,625
 
International Game Technology PLC
    989,415
708
 
Murphy USA, Inc.
    197,914
79
1
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
     66,678
9,052
1
Overstock.com, Inc.
    175,247
27,746
1
PlayAGS, Inc.
    141,505
47,834
 
PVH Corp.
  3,376,602
69,907
1
Revolve Group, Inc.
  1,556,130
7,626
 
Shutterstock, Inc.
    402,043
58,591
1
Sonos, Inc.
    990,188
77,881
1
Stitch Fix, Inc.
    242,210
24,201
1
Tesla, Inc.
  2,981,079
7,525
 
Tractor Supply Co.
  1,692,899
2,978
1
Ulta Beauty, Inc.
  1,396,890
152,455
1
Under Armour, Inc., Class A
  1,548,943
103,149
 
V.F. Corp.
  2,847,944
30,350
1
Wayfair, Inc.
    998,212
4,370
 
Wingstop, Inc.
    601,399
Annual Shareholder Report
7
Shares
 
 
Value
          
 
COMMON STOCKS—   continued
 
 
 
Consumer Discretionary—   continued
 
26,126
1
WW International, Inc.
$    100,846
10,033
1
YETI Holdings, Inc.
    414,463
 
 
TOTAL
35,587,182
 
 
Consumer Staples—   1.3%
 
37,970
1
Beyond Meat, Inc.
    467,411
21,954
1
elf Beauty, Inc.
  1,214,056
37,452
1
Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
    605,973
2,005
 
Hershey Foods Corp.
    464,298
7,907
 
Kroger Co.
    352,494
 
 
TOTAL
3,104,232
 
 
Energy—   3.0%
 
2,423
 
APA Corp.
    113,106
26,006
 
CONSOL Energy, Inc.
  1,690,390
24,968
 
Marathon Petroleum Corp.
  2,906,026
1,722
1
Nabors Industries Ltd.
    266,686
44,261
1
Oceaneering International, Inc.
    774,125
11,277
 
PBF Energy, Inc.
    459,876
27,767
1
Propetro Holding Corp.
    287,944
16,110
 
Ranger Oil Corp.
    651,327
3,882
1
Weatherford International PLC
    197,671
 
 
TOTAL
7,347,151
 
 
Financials—   9.7%
 
6,309
 
American International Group, Inc.
    398,981
4,332
 
Assured Guaranty Ltd.
    269,710
14,990
 
Bank of New York Mellon Corp.
    682,345
47,490
 
Carlyle Group LP/The
  1,417,102
6,007
 
Cboe Global Markets, Inc.
    753,698
100,963
1
Coinbase Global, Inc.
  3,573,081
11,267
1
eHealth, Inc.
     54,532
81,393
1
Green Dot Corp.
  1,287,637
1,816
 
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
    137,707
4,054
 
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A
    293,307
2,891
 
Janus Henderson Group PLC
     67,996
143,079
1
LendingClub Corp.
  1,259,095
15,878
1
LendingTree, Inc.
    338,678
27,810
 
Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.
    839,862
4,909
 
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.
  1,061,179
620
 
Marketaxess Holdings, Inc.
    172,912
87,690
1
Open Lending
    591,907
11,723
 
ProAssurance Corp.
    204,801
32,712
1
PROG Holdings, Inc.
    552,506
9,671
 
Progressive Corp., OH
  1,254,425
51,440
1
Rocket Companies, Inc.
    360,080
49,553
 
Signature Bank
  5,709,497
Annual Shareholder Report
8
Shares
 
 
Value
          
 
COMMON STOCKS—   continued
 
 
 
Financials—   continued
 
4,858
1
Silvergate Capital Corp.
$     84,529
7,355
1
SVB Financial Group
  1,692,680
4,955
 
Tradeweb Markets, Inc.
    321,728
3,162
1
Triumph Financial, Inc.
    154,527
4,329
 
Virtu Financial, Inc.
     88,355
 
 
TOTAL
23,622,857
 
 
Health Care—   14.1%
 
25,759
1
10X Genomics, Inc.
    938,658
125,054
1
Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp.
    955,413
12,363
1
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    347,153
16,625
1
Alector, Inc.
    153,449
28,575
1
Align Technology, Inc.
  6,026,467
845
1
Amedisys, Inc.
     70,591
2,190
1
Arvinas, Inc.
     74,920
157
1
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A
     66,017
58,160
1
CareDx, Inc.
    663,606
10,699
1
Centene Corp.
    877,425
47,852
1
Community Health Systems, Inc.
    206,721
7,435
1
Editas Medicine, Inc.
     65,948
92,820
1
Elanco Animal Health, Inc.
  1,134,260
929
 
Elevance Health, Inc.
    476,549
12,351
1
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.
    145,865
4,923
1
Enovis Corp.
    263,479
41,370
1
Fulgent Genetics, Inc.
  1,231,999
674
1
Heska Corp.
     41,896
2,727
 
Humana, Inc.
  1,396,742
4,310
1
iTeos Therapeutics, Inc.
     84,174
7,696
1
Lantheus Holdings, Inc.
    392,188
21,266
1
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
    304,316
2,281
1
Molina Healthcare, Inc.
    753,232
9,688
1
Myriad Genetics, Inc.
    140,573
38,764
1
NanoString Technologies, Inc.
    308,949
132,194
1
NeoGenomics, Inc.
  1,221,473
73,691
1
Nevro Corp.
  2,918,164
19,436
1
Novavax, Inc.
    199,802
55,561
1
Omnicell, Inc.
  2,801,386
3,203
1
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
     65,758
22,549
1
Privia Health Group, Inc.
    512,088
11,619
1
Prometheus Biosciences, Inc.
  1,278,090
29,891
1
Puma Biotechnology, Inc.
    126,439
9,154
1
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    179,144
3,491
1
Shockwave Medical, Inc.
    717,784
53,365
1
Syneos Health, Inc.
  1,957,428
183,810
1
Teladoc Health, Inc.
  4,347,106
Annual Shareholder Report
9
Shares
 
 
Value
          
 
COMMON STOCKS—   continued
 
 
 
Health Care—   continued
 
15,354
1
The Joint Corp.
$    214,649
3,955
1
TransMedics Group, Inc.
    244,103
413
1
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    119,266
3,030
1
Xencor, Inc.
     78,901
 
 
TOTAL
34,102,171
 
 
Industrials—   5.7%
 
14,217
 
Apogee Enterprises, Inc.
    632,088
32,080
1
Astronics Corp.
    330,424
3,257
1
Atkore, Inc.
    369,409
18,213
1
BlueLinx Holdings, Inc.
  1,295,126
26,454
1
CIRCOR International, Inc.
    633,838
10,105
1
DXP Enterprises, Inc.
    278,393
5,824
 
Ennis, Inc.
    129,060
9,861
1
Generac Holdings, Inc.
    992,608
54,948
1
Lyft, Inc.
    605,527
29,715
 
Pitney Bowes, Inc.
    112,917
62,494
1
Plug Power, Inc.
    773,051
24,675
1
Proto Labs, Inc.
    629,953
2,140
 
Robert Half International, Inc.
    157,996
41,751
1
SkyWest, Inc.
    689,309
16,948
 
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
  1,273,134
7,541
1
TPI Composites, Inc.
     76,466
70,069
1
Trex Co., Inc.
  2,966,021
8,221
1
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
    309,931
45,897
1
XPO, Inc.
  1,527,911
 
 
TOTAL
13,783,162
 
 
Information Technology—   25.0%
 
22,588
1
3D Systems Corp.
    167,151
6,987
1
Adobe, Inc.
  2,351,335
22,766
1
Ambarella, Inc.
  1,872,048
101,126
1
AppLovin Corp.
  1,064,857
16,770
1
Arista Networks, Inc.
  2,035,040
42,680
1
C3.AI, Inc.
    477,589
45,913
1
Cerence, Inc.
    850,768
14,235
1
Clear Secure, Inc.
    390,466
2,587
 
Cognex Corp.
    121,874
7,063
 
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.
    403,933
957
1
Commvault Systems, Inc.
     60,138
1,458
1
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc.
    153,513
34,674
1
Duck Creek Technologies LLC
    417,822
34,344
1
Dynatrace Holdings LLC
  1,315,375
1,702
1
Enphase Energy, Inc.
    450,962
579
1
EPAM Systems, Inc.
    189,761
31,292
1
Everbridge, Inc.
    925,617
Annual Shareholder Report
10
Shares
 
 
Value
          
 
COMMON STOCKS—   continued
 
 
 
Information Technology—   continued
 
11,393
1
F5, Inc.
$  1,635,009
7,776
1
FormFactor, Inc.
    172,860
2,875
1
Guidewire Software, Inc.
    179,860
545
1
Impinj, Inc.
     59,503
19,207
1
IPG Photonics Corp.
  1,818,327
4,463
 
Jabil, Inc.
    304,377
28,745
1
LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.
    673,783
77,526
 
Marvell Technology, Inc.
  2,871,563
17,751
1
MaxLinear, Inc.
    602,646
11,503
1
Nutanix, Inc.
    299,653
86,513
1
PayPal Holdings, Inc.
  6,161,456
129,724
 
Pegasystems, Inc.
  4,441,750
35,790
1
Pure Storage, Inc.
    957,740
46,604
1
Q2 Holdings, Inc.
  1,252,249
2,568
1
Qorvo, Inc.
    232,764
2,462
1
Qualys, Inc.
    276,310
9,868
1
RingCentral, Inc.
    349,327
26,873
1
Salesforce, Inc.
  3,563,091
213,284
1
Semtech Corp.
  6,119,118
24,945
 
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
  2,273,238
205,215
1
StoneCo Ltd.
  1,937,230
14,906
1
Synaptics, Inc.
  1,418,455
30,274
1
Telos Corp.
    154,095
67,026
1
Twilio, Inc.
  3,281,593
679
1
Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A
    174,102
89,412
1
Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
  6,056,769
 
 
TOTAL
60,515,117
 
 
Materials—   1.1%
 
8,735
 
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
    744,222
4,199
 
Koppers Holdings, Inc.
    118,412
32,118
 
Mosaic Co./The
  1,409,017
16,147
 
United States Steel Corp.
    404,482
 
 
TOTAL
2,676,133
 
 
Real Estate—   1.5%
 
4,606
 
Crown Castle International Corp.
    624,758
5,528
 
eXp World Holdings, Inc.
     61,250
20,936
 
Macerich Co. (The)
    235,739
10,966
 
Outfront Media, Inc.
    181,816
2,319
 
Public Storage
    649,761
50,153
1
Redfin Corp.
    212,649
52,350
1
Zillow Group, Inc.
  1,633,843
 
 
TOTAL
3,599,816
 
 
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(IDENTIFIED COST $206,450,004)
197,811,787
Annual Shareholder Report
11
Shares
 
 
Value
 
 
INVESTMENT COMPANY—   5.7%
 
13,814,692
 
Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Value Obligations Fund, Institutional
Shares, 4.36%2
(IDENTIFIED COST $13,810,229)
$13,811,929
 
 
TOTAL INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES—87.3%
(IDENTIFIED COST $220,260,233)3
211,623,716
 
 
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - NET—12.7%4
30,803,487
 
 
TOTAL NET ASSETS—100%
$242,427,203
SECURITIES SOLD SHORT—(79.0)%  
Shares
 
 
Value
 
 
Communication Services—   (4.1)%
 
2,981
 
ATN International, Inc.
$    135,069
2,020
1
Bandwidth, Inc.
     46,359
35,542
1
E.W. Scripps Co.
    468,799
10,539
1
Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.
    268,534
2,594
1
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
    116,652
155,382
1
Magnite, Inc.
  1,645,495
3,904
 
New York Times Co., Class A
    126,724
67,109
1
Pinterest, Inc.
  1,629,406
98,739
1
ROBLOX Corp.
  2,810,112
16,803
 
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
    260,615
19,314
1
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
  2,011,167
83,637
1
Vimeo Holdings, Inc.
    286,875
8,172
1
ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.
    246,059
 
 
TOTAL
10,051,866
 
 
Consumer Discretionary—   (14.6)%
 
69,556
1
Amazon.com, Inc.
  5,842,704
10,240
1
Bally’s Corp.
    198,451
4,946
1
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.
    309,224
13,625
1
Burlington Stores, Inc.
  2,762,605
16,078
1
Caesars Entertainment Corp.
    668,845
21,929
1
CarMax, Inc.
  1,335,257
1,212
 
Churchill Downs, Inc.
    256,253
7,354
1
Crocs, Inc.
    797,394
53,367
 
D. R. Horton, Inc.
  4,757,134
7,651
1
DoorDash, Inc.
    373,522
62,809
1
DraftKings, Inc.
    715,395
4,485
1
Five Below, Inc.
    793,262
15,721
1
Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.
  1,094,653
7,254
 
Franchise Group, Inc.
    172,790
3,069
1
Grand Canyon Education, Inc.
    324,271
5,162
 
Guess ?, Inc.
    106,802
7,746
1
Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.
    298,531
36,595
1
Las Vegas Sands Corp.
  1,759,122
Annual Shareholder Report
12
Shares
 
 
Value
 
 
Consumer Discretionary—   continued
 
1,495
 
Lear Corp.
$    185,410
1,075
1
LGI Homes, Inc.
     99,545
3,932
 
Lithia Motors, Inc.
    805,038
3,777
1
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
     46,230
29,187
1
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holding, Inc.
  1,367,119
63,628
1
Peloton Interactive, Inc.
    505,206
2,463
1
Planet Fitness, Inc.
    194,084
14,547
 
Polaris, Inc., Class A
  1,469,247
2,687
1
RH
    717,940
142,766
1
Rivian Automotive, Inc.
  2,631,177
13,512
1
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
    667,898
27,066
1
Skechers USA, Inc., Class A
  1,135,419
15,959
 
Target Corp.
  2,378,529
18,340
1
The RealReal, Inc.
     22,925
580
1
TopBuild Corp.
     90,764
662
 
Vail Resorts, Inc.
    157,788
33,291
1
Vroom, Inc.
     33,957
4,951
1
Wynn Resorts Ltd.
    408,309
 
 
TOTAL
35,482,800
 
 
Consumer Staples—   (2.1)%
 
6,308
1
Beauty Health Co./The
     57,403
4,096
1
Celsius Holdings, Inc.
    426,148
2,418
1
Darling Ingredients, Inc.
    151,343
4,836
 
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc., Class A
  1,199,860
22,133
1
Freshpet, Inc.
  1,167,958
7,762
 
Hormel Foods Corp.
    353,559
14,409
1
Monster Beverage Corp.
  1,462,946
6,671
 
Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    199,996
 
 
TOTAL
5,019,213
 
 
Energy—   (1.8)%
 
12,866
1
CNX Resources Corp.
    216,663
2,838
1
DMC Global, Inc.
     55,171
28,927
 
Enviva, Inc.
  1,532,263
46,225
 
Equitrans Midstream Corp.
    309,707
10,151
1
Expro Group Holdings NV
    184,038
17,890
1
Green Plains, Inc.
    545,645
41,978
1
Liberty Energy, Inc.
    672,068
7,588
 
New Fortress Energy, Inc.
    321,883
6,673
1
Noble Corp. PLC
    251,639
10,749
1
Peabody Energy Corp.
    283,988
 
 
TOTAL
4,373,065
 
 
Financials—   (8.6)%
 
4,338
 
Ameris Bancorp
    204,493
3,700
1
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B
  1,142,930
32,294
 
BGC Partners, Inc., Class A
    121,748
Annual Shareholder Report
13
Shares
 
 
Value
 
 
Financials—   continued
 
3,846
 
BlackRock, Inc.
$  2,725,391
9,508
1
Cannae Holdings, Inc.
    196,340
39,079
 
Citigroup, Inc.
  1,767,543
35,087
 
Equitable Holdings, Inc.
  1,006,997
2,975
 
Erie Indemnity Co.
    739,942
543
1
GoHealth, Inc.
      5,676
3,419
 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
  1,174,016
3,295
1
Goosehead Insurance, Inc.
    113,150
1,494
 
Kemper Corp.
     73,505
34,668
 
Morgan Stanley
  2,947,473
29,665
 
Redwood Trust, Inc.
    200,535
14,874
1
Ryan Specialty Group Holdings, Inc.
    617,420
17,643
 
S&P Global, Inc.
  5,909,347
10,404
 
SEI Investments Co.
    606,553
6,136
1
StoneX Group, Inc.
    584,761
2,852
1
Trupanion, Inc.
    135,556
11,913
 
Webster Financial Corp. Waterbury
    563,944
 
 
TOTAL
20,837,320
 
 
Health Care—   (13.6)%
 
4,763
1
Accolade, Inc.
     37,104
34,079
1
AdaptHealth Corp.
    654,998
30,138
1
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  1,558,436
4,049
1
Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
     68,671
11,838
1
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    480,149
9,924
 
Azenta, Inc.
    577,775
28,848
 
Baxter International, Inc.
  1,470,383
1,878
 
Becton Dickinson & Co.
    477,575
2,819
1
BioAtla, Inc.
     23,257
5,301
1
Coherus Biosciences, Inc.
     41,984
21,232
1
Cryoport, Inc.
    368,375
11,765
1
Davita, Inc.
    878,493
2,312
1
Dexcom, Inc.
    261,811
2,362
1
Evolent Health, Inc.
     66,325
13,319
1
Exact Sciences Corp.
    659,424
7,406
1
Glaukos Corp.
    323,494
18,145
1
HealthEquity, Inc.
  1,118,458
21,601
1
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
     54,003
9,605
1
ICU Medical, Inc.
  1,512,595
8,504
1
Inari Medical, Inc.
    540,514
2,567
1
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
    646,576
8,207
1
Insulet Corp.
  2,416,059
1,539
1
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
    144,158
19,736
1
Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc.
     67,102
3,446
1
Kodiak Sciences, Inc.
     24,673
6,962
1
Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.
    315,448
Annual Shareholder Report
14
Shares
 
 
Value
 
 
Health Care—   continued
 
3,213
1
Moderna, Inc.
$    577,119
29,293
1
Natera, Inc.
  1,176,700
25,057
1
Novocure Ltd.
  1,837,931
15,219
1
Outset Medical, Inc.
    392,955
15,261
 
Owens & Minor, Inc.
    298,047
8,357
1
Penumbra, Inc.
  1,859,098
5,333
1
PetIQ, Inc.
     49,170
39,958
1
Progyny, Inc.
  1,244,692
3,972
1
Pulmonx Corp.
     33,484
6,255
1
QuidelOrtho Corp.
    535,866
121,199
1
R1 RCM, Inc.
  1,327,129
11,294
1
Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    429,059
9,361
1
REGENXBIO, Inc.
    212,308
828
1
Repligen Corp.
    140,189
5,057
 
Stryker Corp.
  1,236,386
8,072
1
Surgery Partners, Inc.
    224,886
29,117
1
Tenet Healthcare Corp.
  1,420,619
6,719
 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
  3,700,086
30,957
1
Twist Bioscience Corp.
    737,086
8,591
1
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.
    398,021
4,476
1
Vapotherm, Inc.
     12,085
12,202
 
Viatris, Inc.
    135,808
4,317
1
Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, LLC
     86,944
 
 
TOTAL
32,853,508
 
 
Industrials—   (5.2)%
 
6,938
1
Aerovironment, Inc.
    594,309
68,405
 
Air Lease Corp.
  2,628,120
4,393
1
Ameresco, Inc.
    251,016
1,682
 
Arcosa, Inc.
     91,400
14,681
1
Boeing Co.
  2,796,584
2,986
1
FTI Consulting, Inc.
    474,177
3,270
1
GXO Logistics, Inc.
    139,596
6,020
 
Heartland Express, Inc.
     92,347
6,732
1
Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.
     10,435
4,867
1
Kirby Corp.
    313,191
5,865
1
Mastec, Inc.
    500,460
2,534
 
Otis Worldwide Corp.
    198,438
8,938
1
Star Peak Energy Transition Corp.
     79,906
100,580
1
SunRun, Inc.
  2,415,932
24,599
 
TransUnion
  1,395,993
44,475
1
Upwork, Inc.
    464,319
15,146
 
Vertiv Holdings Co.
    206,894
 
 
TOTAL
12,653,117
 
 
Information Technology—   (25.6)%
 
6,777
1
ACM Research, Inc.
     52,251
Annual Shareholder Report
15
Shares
 
 
Value
 
 
Information Technology—   continued
 
92,517
1
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
$  5,992,326
79,088
1
Affirm Holdings, Inc.
    764,781
13,672
1
Alteryx, Inc.
    692,760
6,620
1
Appian Corp.
    215,547
10,511
 
Apple, Inc.
  1,365,694
2,254
1
Asana, Inc.
     31,038
17,358
1
Atlassian Corp. PLC
  2,233,627
47,812
 
Bentley Systems, Inc.
  1,767,131
23,026
1
BigCommerce Holdings, Inc.
    201,247
16,838
1
Bill.Com Holdings, Inc.
  1,834,668
98,854
1
Block, Inc.
  6,211,985
66,840
1
CloudFlare, Inc.
  3,021,836
50,575
1
Confluent, Inc.
  1,124,788
9,576
1
Digitalocean Holdings, Inc.
    243,901
52,049
 
Entegris, Inc.
  3,413,894
25,884
1
Five9, Inc.
  1,756,488
5,767
 
Intuit, Inc.
  2,244,632
2,402
 
Lam Research Corp.
  1,009,561
4,252
 
Microsoft Corp.
  1,019,715
8,194
 
MKS Instruments, Inc.
    694,278
15,095
1
MongoDB, Inc.
  2,971,300
64,499
1
nCino, Inc.
  1,705,353
5,424
1
Okta, Inc.
    370,622
23,251
1
ON Semiconductor Corp.
  1,450,165
21,113
1
Par Technology Corp.
    550,416
22,729
1
PTC, Inc.
  2,728,389
3,262
1
Rapid7, Inc.
    110,843
16,687
1
Rogers Corp.
  1,991,427
525
1
ServiceNow, Inc.
    203,842
17,204
1
Shift4 Payments, Inc.
    962,220
3,701
1
Sitime Corp.
    376,096
2,225
 
TD SYNNEX Corp.
    210,730
3,213
 
Texas Instruments, Inc.
    530,852
75,844
1
Toast, Inc.
  1,367,467
33,703
1
Trade Desk, Inc./The
  1,510,905
78,253
1
Unity Software, Inc.
  2,237,253
60,026
1
Veeco Instruments, Inc.
  1,115,283
17,695
1
ViaSat, Inc.
    560,047
37,596
1
Wolfspeed, Inc.
  2,595,628
9,125
1
Workday, Inc.
  1,526,886
49,464
1
Yext, Inc.
    323,000
7,317
1
Zscaler, Inc.
    818,772
 
 
TOTAL
62,109,644
 
 
Materials—   (2.0)%
 
11,940
 
Alcoa Corp.
    542,912
Annual Shareholder Report
16
Shares
 
 
Value
 
 
Materials—   continued
 
20,421
1
Arconic Corp.
$    432,108
5,584
 
Carpenter Technology Corp.
    206,273
4,428
 
DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
    303,894
38,930
 
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
  1,479,340
5,175
 
Quaker Chemical Corp.
    863,707
15,245
 
Southern Copper Corp.
    920,646
 
 
TOTAL
4,748,880
 
 
Real Estate—   (1.0)%
 
23,359
 
Americold Realty Trust, Inc.
    661,293
21,180
 
Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.
    408,139
13,888
1
Howard Hughes Corp.
  1,061,321
4,844
 
Realty Income Corp.
    307,255
 
 
TOTAL
2,438,008
 
 
Utilities—   (0.4)%
 
4,475
 
Brookfield Renewable Corp.
    123,241
6,580
 
Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
    407,170
23,760
1
Sunnova Energy International, Inc.
    427,918
 
 
TOTAL
958,329
 
 
Total Securities Sold Short
(PROCEEDS $206,008,820)
$191,525,750
The Value of Securities Sold Short is included in “Other Assets and Liabilities—Net”.
Annual Shareholder Report
17
An affiliated company is a company in which the Fund, alone or in combination with other Federated Hermes funds, has ownership of at least 5% of the voting shares. Transactions with affiliated companies during the period ended December 31, 2022, were as follows:  
Affiliated
Value as of
12/31/2021
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from Sales
Health Care:
 
 
 
Alector, Inc.
$—
$171,027
$—
Affiliated Issuers no longer in the portfolio at period end
$655,607
$—
$(486,766)
TOTAL OF AFFILIATED COMPANIES
TRANSACTIONS
$655,607
$171,027
$(486,766)
Annual Shareholder Report
18
 
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
Net
Realized Gain/
(Loss)
Value as of
12/31/2022
Shares
Held as of
12/31/2022
Dividend
Income
 
 
 
 
 
$(17,578)
$—
$153,449
16,625
$—
$90,794
$(259,635)
$—
—
$—
$73,216
$(259,635)
$153,449
16,625
$—
Annual Shareholder Report
19
Affiliated fund holdings are investment companies which are managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. Transactions with affiliated fund holdings during the period ended December 31, 2022, were as follows:  
 
Federated Hermes
Institutional
Prime Value
Obligations Fund,
Institutional Shares
Value as of 12/31/2021
$3,036,673
Purchases at Cost
$304,252,177
Proceeds from Sales
$(293,479,058)
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation
$1,915
Net Realized Gain/(Loss)
$222
Value as of 12/31/2022
$13,811,929
Shares Held as of 12/31/2022
13,814,692
Dividend Income
$197,473
 
1
Non-income-producing security.
2
7-day net yield.
3
The cost of investments for federal tax purposes amounts to $227,394,352.
4
Assets, other than investments in securities, less liabilities. See Statement of Assets and
Liabilities.
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). Also includes securities valued at amortized cost.
Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
At December 31, 2022, all investments of the Fund utilized Level 1 inputs in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value.
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
20
Financial Highlights–Class A Shares
(formerly, Investor Class Shares)
(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)1 
 
Year Ended December 31,
Period Ended
December 31,
20203
Year Ended January 31,
 
2022
20212
2020
2019
2018
Net Asset Value, Beginning of
Period
$17.75
$17.47
$17.94
$17.06
$19.54
$17.82
Income From Investment
Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss)4
0.08
(0.07)
(0.07)
(0.05)
0.105
0.035
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss)
1.48
4.04
(0.40)
1.02
(1.24)
1.95
Total From Investment
Operations
1.56
3.97
(0.47)
0.97
(1.14)
1.98
Less Distributions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from net investment
income
—
—
—
(0.09)
(0.07)
—
Distributions from net realized gain
(2.03)
(3.69)
—
—
(1.27)
(0.26)
Total Distributions
(2.03)
(3.69)
—
(0.09)
(1.34)
(0.26)
Net Asset Value, End of Period
$17.28
$17.75
$17.47
$17.94
$17.06
$19.54
Total Return6
9.24%
23.16%
(2.62)%
5.69%
(5.42)%5
11.18%5
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net expenses7
1.85%
1.26%
1.61%
1.50%
1.35%
1.34%
Net expenses excluding dividends
and other expenses related to short
sales
1.33%
0.93%
1.43%
1.34%
1.22%
1.24%
Net investment income (loss)
0.43%
(0.36)%
(0.47)%
(0.28)%
0.51%5
0.15%5
Expense waiver/reimbursement8
0.15%
0.13%
—%
—%
—%
—%
Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (000
omitted)
$10,276
$2,554
$2,765
$12,667
$14,875
$19,994
Portfolio turnover9
270%
204%
74%
83%
84%
104%
 
1
Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/Short Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”) was reorganized into
Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund (the “Fund”), a portfolio of the Federated Hermes
Adviser Series as of the close of business on September 24, 2021. The Fund is the successor to
the Predecessor Fund. The performance information and financial information presented
incorporates the operations of the Predecessor Fund, which, as a result of the reorganization,
are the Fund’s operations.
2
Beginning with the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund was audited by KPMG LLP. The
previous years were audited by other independent registered public accounting firms.
3
For the period February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Effective July 31, 2020, the Predecessor
Fund changed its fiscal year end to December 31.
4
Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
5
For the years ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, amounts included reimbursement for payments
of prior years’ Shareholder Servicing fees as follows: Net Investment Income Per Share of $0.00
and $0.05, Net Investment Income Ratio of 0.02% and 0.18%, and Total Returns of 0.02% and
0.26%, respectively.
6
Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge, redemption fee or contingent
deferred sales charge, if applicable. Total returns for periods of less than one year are
not annualized.
Annual Shareholder Report
21
7
Amount does not reflect net expenses incurred by investment companies in which the Fund
may invest.
8
This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income
(loss) ratios shown above. Amount does not reflect expense waiver/reimbursement recorded by
investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
9
Securities that mature are considered sales for purposes of this calculation.
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
22
Financial Highlights–Institutional Shares
(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)1 
 
Year Ended December 31,
Period Ended
December 31,
20203
Year Ended January 31,
 
2022
20212
2020
2019
2018
Net Asset Value, Beginning of
Period
$18.16
$17.84
$18.36
$17.48
$19.97
$18.23
Income From Investment
Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income (loss)4
0.10
(0.11)
(0.04)
0.11
0.12
0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss)
1.55
4.12
(0.40)
0.91
(1.24)
1.97
Total From Investment
Operations
1.65
4.01
(0.44)
1.02
(1.12)
2.00
Less Distributions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from net investment
income
(0.02)
—
(0.08)
(0.14)
(0.10)
—
Distributions from net realized gain
(2.03)
(3.69)
—
—
(1.27)
(0.26)
Total Distributions
(2.05)
(3.69)
(0.08)
(0.14)
(1.37)
(0.26)
Net Asset Value, End of Period
$17.76
$18.16
$17.84
$18.36
$17.48
$19.97
Total Return5
9.52%
22.90%
(2.37)%
5.83%
(5.21)%
11.04%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net expenses6
1.60%
1.44%
1.37%
1.25%
1.20%
1.14%
Net expenses excluding dividends
and other expenses related to short
sales
1.08%
1.12%
1.19%
1.08%
1.07%
1.04%
Net investment income (loss)
0.55%
(0.55)%
(0.29)%
0.63%
0.64%
0.18%
Expense waiver/reimbursement7
0.16%
0.14%
—%
—%
—%
—%
Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets, end of period (000
omitted)
$232,152
$85,310
$79,415
$120,650
$114,494
$141,821
Portfolio turnover8
270%
204%
74%
83%
84%
104%
 
1
The Predecessor Fund was reorganized into the Fund, a portfolio of the Federated Hermes
Adviser Series as of the close of business on September 24, 2021. The Fund is the successor to
the Predecessor Fund. The performance information and financial information presented
incorporates the operations of the Predecessor Fund, which, as a result of the reorganization,
are the Fund’s operations.
2
Beginning with the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund was audited by KPMG LLP. The
previous years were audited by other independent registered public accounting firms.
3
For the period February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Effective July 31, 2020, the Predecessor
Fund changed its fiscal year end to December 31.
4
Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
5
Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge, redemption fee or contingent
deferred sales charge, if applicable. Total returns for periods of less than one year are
not annualized.
6
Amount does not reflect net expenses incurred by investment companies in which the Fund
may invest.
Annual Shareholder Report
23
7
This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income
(loss) ratios shown above. Amount does not reflect expense waiver/reimbursement recorded by
investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
8
Securities that mature are considered sales for purposes of this calculation.
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
24
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2022
 
Assets:
 
Investment in securities, at value including $13,811,929 of investments in affiliated
holdings and $153,449 of investments in affiliated companies* (identified cost
$220,260,233)
$211,623,716
Due from broker (Note 2)
12,000,000
Deposit at broker for short sales
205,205,872
Income receivable
18,230
Income receivable from affiliated holdings
57,261
Interest receivable on short positions
468,074
Receivable for investments sold
6,683,670
Receivable for shares sold
2,715,309
Total Assets
438,772,132
Liabilities:
 
Securities sold short, at value (proceeds $206,008,820)
191,525,750
Dividends payable on short positions
50,468
Payable for investments purchased
4,386,549
Payable for shares redeemed
302,267
Payable for investment adviser fee (Note 5)
10,438
Payable for administrative fee (Note 5)
1,032
Payable for other service fees (Notes 2 and 5)
3,258
Accrued expenses (Note 5)
65,167
Total Liabilities
196,344,929
Net assets for 13,664,997 shares outstanding
$242,427,203
Net Assets Consist of:
 
Paid-in capital
$234,331,986
Total distributable earnings (loss)
8,095,217
Total Net Assets
$242,427,203
Annual Shareholder Report
25
Statement of Assets and Liabilities–continued
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Proceeds Per Share:
 
Class A Shares:
 
Net asset value per share ($10,275,692 ÷ 594,758 shares outstanding), no par value,
unlimited shares authorized
$17.28
Offering price per share (100/94.50 of $17.28)
$18.29
Redemption proceeds per share
$17.28
Institutional Shares:
 
Net asset value per share ($232,151,511 ÷ 13,070,239 shares outstanding), no par
value, unlimited shares authorized
$17.76
Offering price per share
$17.76
Redemption proceeds per share
$17.76
 
*
See information listed after the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
26
Statement of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2022
 
Investment Income:
 
Interest
$1,680,226
Dividends (including $197,473 received from affiliated holdings*)
750,615
TOTAL INCOME
2,430,841
Expenses:
 
Investment adviser fee (Note 5)
900,089
Administrative fee (Note 5)
93,449
Custodian fees
74,737
Transfer agent fees
90,784
Directors’/Trustees’ fees (Note 5)
783
Auditing fees
43,793
Legal fees
10,254
Portfolio accounting fees
60,808
Other service fees (Notes 2 and 5)
12,922
Share registration costs
86,005
Printing and postage
14,087
Miscellaneous (Note 5)
24,853
Expenses related to short positions
580,890
TOTAL EXPENSES
1,993,454
Waiver/reimbursement of investment adviser fee (Note 5)
(179,011)
Net expenses
1,814,443
Net investment income
616,398
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Short Sales:
 
Net realized loss on investments (including net realized loss of $(259,413) on sales of
investments in affiliated companies and holdings*)
(319,846)
Net realized gain on short sales
16,982,106
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments (including net change in
unrealized depreciation of $75,131 of investments in affiliated companies and
holdings*)
(12,244,156)
Net change in unrealized appreciation of securities sold short
8,392,865
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and short sales
12,810,969
Change in net assets resulting from operations
$13,427,367
 
*
See information listed after the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
27
Statement of Changes in Net Assets 
 
Year Ended December 31
2022
2021
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
 
 
Operations:
 
 
Net investment income (loss)
$616,398
$(451,904)
Net realized gain (loss)
16,662,260
26,661,477
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
(3,851,291)
(9,026,736)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS
13,427,367
17,182,837
Distributions to Shareholders:
 
 
Class A Shares
(962,936)
(442,439)
Institutional Shares
(17,134,281)
(14,836,176)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM DISTRIBUTIONS
TO SHAREHOLDERS
(18,097,217)
(15,278,615)
Share Transactions:
 
 
Proceeds from sale of shares
241,868,426
8,890,987
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in payment of
distributions declared
17,504,346
15,125,053
Cost of shares redeemed
(100,139,711)
(20,235,768)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM
SHARE TRANSACTIONS
159,233,061
3,780,272
Change in net assets
154,563,211
5,684,494
Net Assets:
 
 
Beginning of period
87,863,992
82,179,498
End of period
$242,427,203
$87,863,992
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
28
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2022
1. ORGANIZATION
Federated Hermes Adviser Series (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust consists of 13 portfolios. The financial statements included herein are only those of Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund (the “Fund”), a diversified portfolio. The financial statements of the other portfolios are presented separately. The assets of each portfolio are segregated and a shareholder’s interest is limited to the portfolio in which shares are held. Each portfolio pays its own expenses. The Fund offers two classes of shares: Class A Shares and Institutional Shares. All shares of the Fund have equal rights with respect to voting, except on class-specific matters. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to provide long-term capital appreciation while limiting exposure to general stock market risk.
Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/Short Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”) was reorganized into the Fund as of the close of business on September 24, 2021. The Fund is the successor to the Predecessor Fund and assumed all of its net assets pursuant to a tax-free reorganization involving the Fund and the Predecessor Fund. The Fund is the legal entity survivor and the Predecessor Fund is the accounting and tax survivor of the reorganization. In connection with the reorganization, Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares of the Predecessor Fund were exchanged for Class A Shares and Institutional Shares, respectively, of the Fund. Prior to September 24, 2021, the Fund had no investment operations and accordingly, the performance and financial information presented incorporates the operations of the Predecessor Fund, which, as a result of the reorganization, are the Fund’s operations.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Investment Valuation
In calculating its net asset value (NAV), the Fund generally values investments as follows:
◾
Equity securities including shares of exchange-traded funds listed on an exchange or traded through a regulated market system are valued at their last reported sale price or official closing price in their principal exchange or market.
◾
Fixed-income securities are fair valued using price evaluations provided by a pricing service approved by Federated MDTA LLC (the “Adviser”).
◾
Shares of other mutual funds or non-exchange traded investment companies are valued based upon their reported NAVs, or NAV per share practical expedient, as applicable.
◾
Derivative contracts listed on exchanges are valued at their reported settlement or closing price, except that options are valued at the mean of closing bid and ask quotations.
◾
Over-the-counter (OTC) derivative contracts are fair valued using price evaluations provided by a pricing service approved by the Adviser.
Annual Shareholder Report
29
◾
For securities that are fair valued in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Adviser, certain factors may be considered such as: the last traded or purchase price of the security, information obtained by contacting the issuer or dealers, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents, fundamental analytical data, the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition, the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded, public trading in similar securities or derivative contracts of the issuer or comparable issuers, movement of a relevant index, or other factors including but not limited to industry changes and relevant government actions.
If any price, quotation, price evaluation or other pricing source is not readily available when the NAV is calculated, if the Fund cannot obtain price evaluations from a pricing service or from more than one dealer for an investment within a reasonable period of time as set forth in the Adviser’s valuation policies and procedures for the Fund, or if information furnished by a pricing service, in the opinion of the Adviser’s valuation committee (“Valuation Committee”), is deemed not representative of the fair value of such security, the Fund uses the fair value of the investment determined in accordance with the procedures described below. There can be no assurance that the Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it sold the investment at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its NAV per share, and the actual value obtained could be materially different.
Fair Valuation and Significant Events Procedures
Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Act, the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”) has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to perform any fair value determinations for securities and other assets held by the Fund. The Adviser is subject to the Trustees’ oversight and certain reporting and other requirements intended to provide the Trustees the information needed to oversee the Adviser’s fair value determinations.
The Adviser, acting through its Valuation Committee, is responsible for determining the fair value of investments for which market quotations are not readily available. The Valuation Committee is comprised of officers of the Adviser and certain of the Adviser’s affiliated companies and determines fair value and oversees the calculation of the NAV. The Valuation Committee is also authorized to use pricing services to provide fair value evaluations of the current value of certain investments for purposes of calculating the NAV. The Valuation Committee employs various methods for reviewing third-party pricing-service evaluations including periodic reviews of third-party pricing services’ policies, procedures and valuation methods (including key inputs, methods, models and assumptions), transactional back-testing, comparisons of evaluations of different pricing services, and review of price challenges by the Adviser based on recent market activity. In the event that market quotations and price evaluations are not available for an investment, the Valuation Committee determines the fair value of the investment in accordance with procedures adopted by the Adviser. The Trustees periodically review the fair valuations made by the Valuation Committee. The Trustees have also approved the Adviser’s fair valuation and significant events procedures as part of the Fund’s compliance program and will review any changes made to the procedures.
Annual Shareholder Report
30
Factors considered by pricing services in evaluating an investment include the yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, call rights and other potential prepayments, terms and type, reported transactions, indications as to values from dealers and general market conditions. Some pricing services provide a single price evaluation reflecting the bid-side of the market for an investment (a “bid” evaluation). Other pricing services offer both bid evaluations and price evaluations indicative of a price between the prices bid and ask for the investment (a “mid” evaluation). The Fund normally uses bid evaluations for any U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities. The Fund normally uses mid evaluations for any other types of fixed-income securities and any OTC derivative contracts. In the event that market quotations and price evaluations are not available for an investment, the fair value of the investment is determined in accordance with procedures adopted by the Adviser.
The Adviser has also adopted procedures requiring an investment to be priced at its fair value whenever the Valuation Committee determines that a significant event affecting the value of the investment has occurred between the time as of which the price of the investment would otherwise be determined and the time as of which the NAV is computed. An event is considered significant if there is both an affirmative expectation that the investment’s value will change in response to the event and a reasonable basis for quantifying the resulting change in value. Examples of significant events that may occur after the close of the principal market on which a security is traded, or after the time of a price evaluation provided by a pricing service or a dealer, include:
◾
With respect to securities traded principally in foreign markets, significant trends in U.S. equity markets or in the trading of foreign securities index futures contracts;
◾
Political or other developments affecting the economy or markets in which an issuer conducts its operations or its securities are traded;
◾
Announcements concerning matters such as acquisitions, recapitalizations, litigation developments, or a natural disaster affecting the issuer’s operations or regulatory changes or market developments affecting the issuer’s industry.
The Adviser has adopted procedures whereby the Valuation Committee uses a pricing service to provide factors to update the fair value of equity securities traded principally in foreign markets from the time of the close of their respective foreign stock exchanges to the pricing time of the Fund. For other significant events, the Fund may seek to obtain more current quotations or price evaluations from alternative pricing sources. If a reliable alternative pricing source is not available, the Valuation Committee will determine the fair value of the investment in accordance with the fair valuation procedures approved by the Adviser. The Trustees periodically review fair valuations made in response to significant events.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements for short-term liquidity purposes. It is the policy of the Fund to require the other party to a repurchase agreement to transfer to the Fund’s custodian or sub-custodian eligible securities or cash with a market value (after transaction costs) at least equal to the repurchase price to be paid under the repurchase agreement. The eligible securities are transferred to accounts with the custodian or sub-custodian in which the Fund holds a “securities entitlement” and exercises “control” as those terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code. The
Annual Shareholder Report
31
Fund has established procedures for monitoring the market value of the transferred securities and requiring the transfer of additional eligible securities if necessary to equal at least the repurchase price. These procedures also allow the other party to require securities to be transferred from the account to the extent that their market value exceeds the repurchase price or in exchange for other eligible securities of equivalent market value.
The insolvency of the other party or other failure to repurchase the securities may delay the disposition of the underlying securities or cause the Fund to receive less than the full repurchase price. Under the terms of the repurchase agreement, any amounts received by the Fund in excess of the repurchase price and related transaction costs must be remitted to the other party.
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements in which eligible securities are transferred into joint trading accounts maintained by the custodian or sub-custodian for investment companies and other clients advised by the Fund’s Adviser and its affiliates. The Fund will participate on a pro rata basis with the other investment companies and clients in its share of the securities transferred under such repurchase agreements and in its share of proceeds from any repurchase or other disposition of such securities.
Investment Income, Gains and Losses, Expenses and Distributions
Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade-date basis. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified-cost basis. Interest income and expenses are accrued daily. Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Foreign dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date or when the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Distributions of net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at fair value. Amortization/accretion of premium and discount is included in investment income. Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and certain fund-level expenses are allocated to each class based on relative average daily net assets, except that select classes will bear certain expenses unique to those classes. The detail of the total fund expense waiver and reimbursement of $179,011 is disclosed in Note 5.
Dividends are declared separately for each class. No class has preferential dividend rights; differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses.
Other Service Fees
The Fund may pay other service fees up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class A Shares to financial intermediaries or to Federated Shareholder Services Company (FSSC) for providing services to shareholders and maintaining shareholder accounts. Subject to the terms described in the Expense Limitation note, FSSC may voluntarily reimburse the Fund for other service fees.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, other service fees for the Fund were as follows:  
 
Other Service
Fees Incurred
Class A Shares
$12,922
Annual Shareholder Report
32
Federal Taxes
It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the Subchapter M provision of the Internal Revenue Code and to distribute to shareholders each year substantially all of its income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income tax is necessary. As of and during the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund did not have a liability for any uncertain tax positions. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to tax liabilities as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2022, tax years 2019 through 2022 remain subject to examination by the Fund’s major tax jurisdictions, which include the United States of America, the State of Delaware and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by governments of countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on either income or gains earned or repatriated. The Fund accrues and applies such taxes to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized gains as income and/or gains are earned.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions
The Fund may engage in when-issued or delayed-delivery transactions. The Fund records when-issued securities on the trade date and maintains security positions such that sufficient liquid assets will be available to make payment for the securities purchased. Securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis are marked to market daily and begin earning interest on the settlement date. Losses may occur on these transactions due to changes in market conditions or the failure of counterparties to perform under the contract.
Foreign Currency Translation
The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. All assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the rates of exchange of such currencies against U.S. dollars on the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of securities, income and expenses are translated at the rate of exchange quoted on the respective date that such transactions are recorded. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.
Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities at fiscal year end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate.
Short Sales
In a short sale, the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the fair market value of the security. When the Fund sells a security short, it must borrow the security in order to deliver it at the completion of the sale. A gain, limited to the price at which the Fund sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited in size, will be recognized upon the termination of the short sale.
Annual Shareholder Report
33
The Fund has an obligation to replace the borrowed security (e.g., to purchase the security at a future date and deliver it to the lender of the security). While the security is borrowed, the proceeds from the sale are deposited with the lender (“Prime Broker”). The Fund may incur two types of expenses from short sales: borrowing expenses and dividend expenses. Borrowing expenses may occur because the Fund may be obligated to pay fees to the Prime Broker on borrowed securities. This fee is normally based upon the market value of the borrowed security and is dependent upon the availability of the security. Dividend expenses may occur because the Fund has to pay the Prime Broker the equivalent of any dividends earned on the borrowed security.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the net realized gain (loss) and the net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on short sales was $16,982,106 and $8,392,865, respectively.
Restricted Securities
The Fund may purchase securities which are considered restricted. Restricted securities are securities that either: (a) cannot be offered for public sale without first being registered, or being able to take advantage of an exemption from registration, under the Securities Act of 1933; or (b) are subject to contractual restrictions on public sales. In some cases, when a security cannot be offered for public sale without first being registered, the issuer of the restricted security has agreed to register such securities for resale, at the issuer’s expense, either upon demand by the Fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Many such restricted securities may be resold in the secondary market in transactions exempt from registration. Restricted securities may be determined to be liquid under criteria established by the Trustees. The Fund will not incur any registration costs upon such resales. The Fund’s restricted securities, like other securities, are priced in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Adviser.
Other
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets, liabilities, expenses and revenues reported in the financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimated. The Fund applies investment company accounting and reporting guidance.
3. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
The following tables summarize share activity:  
 
Year Ended
12/31/2022
Year Ended
12/31/2021
Class A Shares:
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Shares sold
631,129
$11,406,989
13,465
$258,463
Shares issued to shareholders in payment of
distributions declared
56,612
962,404
25,262
439,806
Shares redeemed
(236,875)
(4,237,683)
(53,154)
(963,074)
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM CLASS A
SHARE TRANSACTIONS
450,866
$8,131,710
(14,427)
$(264,805)
Annual Shareholder Report
34
 
Year Ended
12/31/2022
Year Ended
12/31/2021
Institutional Shares:
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Shares sold
12,696,076
$230,461,437
458,771
$8,632,524
Shares issued to shareholders in payment of
distributions declared
945,640
16,541,942
824,088
14,685,247
Shares redeemed
(5,268,822)
(95,902,028)
(1,037,340)
(19,272,694)
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM
INSTITUTIONAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
8,372,894
$151,101,351
245,519
$4,045,077
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM TOTAL FUND
SHARE TRANSACTIONS
8,823,760
$159,233,061
231,092
$3,780,272
4. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION
The tax character of distributions as reported on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, was as follows:  
 
2022
2021
Ordinary income1
$14,774,680
$—
Long-term capital gains
$3,322,537
$15,278,615
 
1
For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions are considered ordinary
income distributions.
As of December 31, 2022, the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:  
Undistributed ordinary income1
$9,100,056
Net unrealized depreciation
$(1,287,566)
Undistributed long-term capital gains
$282,727
TOTAL
$8,095,217
 
1
For tax purposes, short-term capital gains are considered ordinary income in determining
distributable earnings.
At December 31, 2022, the cost of investments for federal tax purposes was $227,394,352. The net unrealized depreciation of investments for federal tax purposes was $1,287,566. This consists of net unrealized appreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of value over cost of $22,662,857 and net unrealized depreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of cost over value of $23,950,423. The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized depreciation is attributable to differing treatments for the deferral of losses on wash sales.
Annual Shareholder Report
35
5. INVESTMENT ADVISER FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
Investment Adviser Fee
The advisory agreement between the Fund and the Adviser provides for an annual fee equal to 0.80% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Subject to the terms described in the Expense Limitation note, the Adviser may voluntarily choose to waive any portion of its fee and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund for competitive reasons such as to maintain the Fund’s expense ratio, or as and when appropriate, to maintain positive or zero net yields. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Adviser voluntarily waived $169,725 of its fee.
The Adviser has agreed to reimburse the Fund for certain investment adviser fees as a result of transactions in other affiliated investment companies. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Adviser reimbursed $9,286.
Administrative Fee
Federated Administrative Services (FAS), under the Administrative Services Agreement, provides the Fund with administrative personnel and services. For purposes of determining the appropriate rate breakpoint, “Investment Complex” is defined as all of the Federated Hermes Funds subject to a fee under the Administrative Services Agreement. The fee paid to FAS is based on the average daily net assets of the Investment Complex as specified below:  
Administrative Fee
Average Daily Net Assets
of the Investment Complex
0.100%
on assets up to $50 billion
0.075%
on assets over $50 billion
Subject to the terms described in the Expense Limitation note, FAS may voluntarily choose to waive any portion of its fee. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the annualized fee paid to FAS was 0.083% of average daily net assets of the Fund.
In addition, FAS may charge certain out-of-pocket expenses to the Fund.
Sales Charges
Front-end sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSC) do not represent expenses of the Fund. They are deducted from the proceeds of sales of Fund shares prior to investment or from redemption proceeds prior to remittance, as applicable. For the year ended December 31, 2022, FSC did not retain any sales charges from the sale of the Class A Shares.
Other Service Fees
For the year ended December 31, 2022, FSSC did not receive any of the other service fees disclosed in Note 2.
Expense Limitation
The Adviser and certain of its affiliates (which may include FSC, FAS and FSSC) on their own initiative have agreed to waive certain amounts of their respective fees and/or reimburse expenses. Total annual fund operating expenses (as shown in the financial highlights, excluding dividends and other expenses related to short sales, interest expense, extraordinary expenses and proxy-related expenses paid by the Fund, if any)
Annual Shareholder Report
36
paid by the Fund’s Class A Shares and Institutional Shares (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 1.33% and 1.08% (the “Fee Limit”), respectively, up to but not including the later of (the “Termination Date”): (a) March 1, 2024 or (b) the date of the Fund’s next effective Prospectus. While the Adviser and its applicable affiliates currently do not anticipate terminating or increasing these arrangements prior to the Termination Date, these arrangements may only be terminated or the Fee Limit increased prior to the Termination Date with the agreement of the Trustees.
Directors’/Trustees’ and Miscellaneous Fees
Certain Officers and Trustees of the Fund are Officers and Directors or Trustees of certain of the above companies. To efficiently facilitate payment, Independent Directors’/Trustees’ fees and certain expenses related to conducting meetings of the Directors/Trustees and other miscellaneous expenses are paid by an affiliate of the Adviser which in due course are reimbursed by the Fund. These expenses related to conducting meetings of the Directors/Trustees and other miscellaneous expenses may be included in Accrued and Miscellaneous Expenses on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations, respectively.
6. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Purchases and sales of investments, excluding long-term U.S. government securities and short-term obligations, for the year ended December 31, 2022, were as follows:  
Purchases
$401,475,195
Sales
$267,688,576
7. CONCENTRATION OF RISK
A substantial portion of the Fund’s portfolio may be comprised of securities deemed by the Adviser to be in similar sectors. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to any economic, business, political or other developments which generally affect these entities.
8. LINE OF CREDIT
The Fund participates with certain other Federated Hermes Funds, on a several basis, in an up to $500,000,000 unsecured, 364-day, committed, revolving line of credit (LOC) agreement dated June 22, 2022. The LOC was made available to temporarily finance the repurchase or redemption of shares of the Fund, failed trades, payment of dividends, settlement of trades and for other short-term, temporary or emergency general business purposes. The Fund cannot borrow under the LOC if an inter-fund loan is outstanding. The Fund’s ability to borrow under the LOC also is subject to the limitations of the Act and various conditions precedent that must be satisfied before the Fund can borrow. Loans under the LOC are charged interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to (a) the highest, on any day, of (i) the federal funds effective rate, (ii) the published secured overnight financing rate plus an assigned percentage, and (iii) 0.0%, plus (b) a margin. Any fund eligible to borrow under the LOC pays its pro rata share of a commitment fee based on the amount of the lenders’ commitment that has not been utilized, quarterly in arrears and at maturity. As of December 31, 2022, the Fund had no outstanding loans. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund did not utilize the LOC.
Annual Shareholder Report
37
9. INTERFUND LENDING
Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund, along with other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Hermes, Inc., may participate in an interfund lending program. This program provides an alternative credit facility allowing the Fund to borrow from other participating affiliated funds. As of December 31, 2022, there were no outstanding loans. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the program was not utilized.
10. INDEMNIFICATIONS
Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its Officers and Directors/Trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund (other than liabilities arising out of their willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties to the Fund). In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund provides certain indemnifications under arrangements with third parties. Typically, obligations to indemnify a third party arise in the context of an arrangement entered into by the Fund under which the Fund agrees to indemnify such third party for certain liabilities arising out of actions taken pursuant to the arrangement, provided the third party’s actions are not deemed to have breached an agreed-upon standard of care (such as willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties under the contract). The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet arisen. The Fund does not anticipate any material claims or losses pursuant to these arrangements at this time, and accordingly expects the risk of loss to be remote.
11. OTHER MATTERS
An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in late 2019 and subsequently spread globally. As of the date of the issuance of these financial statements, this coronavirus has resulted in, and may continue to result in, closed borders, enhanced health screenings, disruptions to healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, and disruptions to supply chains, workflow operations and consumer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus has resulted in substantial economic volatility. Health crises caused by outbreaks, such as the coronavirus outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could continue to negatively affect the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, individual companies (including certain Fund service providers and issuers of the Fund’s investments) and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. In addition, governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions in response to the pandemic, including significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, that may affect the instruments in which the Fund invests or the issuers of such investments. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
12. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the amount of long-term capital gains designated by the Fund was $3,322,537.
Annual Shareholder Report
38
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, 1.11% of total ordinary income (including short-term capital gain) distributions made by the Fund are qualifying dividends which may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Act of 2003. Complete information is reported in conjunction with the reporting of your distributions on Form 1099-DIV.
Of the ordinary income (including short-term capital gain) distributions made by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2022, 1.14% qualify for the dividend received deduction available to corporate shareholders.
Annual Shareholder Report
39
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of Federated Hermes Adviser Series and the Shareholders of Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund (the Fund), a portfolio of Federated Hermes Adviser Series, including the portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years in the two-year period then ended. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2022, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The financial highlights for the period from February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, were audited by other independent registered public accountants whose report, dated February 25, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial highlights. The financial highlights for the years ended January 31, 2020, were audited by other independent registered public accountants whose report, dated March 31, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial highlights.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
Annual Shareholder Report
40
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022, by correspondence with custodians and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
We have served as the auditor for one or more of Federated Hermes’ investment companies since 2006.
Boston, Massachusetts
February 22, 2023
Annual Shareholder Report
41
Shareholder Expense Example (unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase or redemption payments; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and to the extent applicable, distribution (12b-1) fees and/or other service fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you to understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. It is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.
ACTUAL EXPENSES
The first section of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you incurred over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses attributable to your investment during this period.
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES
The second section of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. Thus, you should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate the actual ending account balance or your expenses for the period. Rather, these figures are required to be provided to enable you to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Annual Shareholder Report
42
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as sales charges (loads) on purchase or redemption payments. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.  
 
Beginning
Account Value
7/1/2022
Ending
Account Value
12/31/2022
Expenses Paid
During Period1
Actual:
 
 
 
Class A Shares
$1,000
$1,051.60
$9.412
Institutional Shares
$1,000
$1,052.30
$8.073
Hypothetical (assuming a 5% return
before expenses):
 
 
 
Class A Shares
$1,000
$1,016.03
$9.252
Institutional Shares
$1,000
$1,017.34
$7.933
 
1
Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratios, multiplied by the average
account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half-year period). The
annualized net expense ratios are as follows:
 
Class A Shares
1.82%
Institutional Shares
1.56%
 
2
Actual and Hypothetical expenses paid during the period utilizing the Fund’s Class A Shares
current Fee Limit of 1.33% (as reflected in the Notes to Financial Statements, Note 5 under
Expense Limitation), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by
184/365 (to reflect expenses paid as if they had been in effect throughout the most recent
one-half-year period) would be $6.88 and $6.77, respectively.
3
Actual and Hypothetical expenses paid during the period utilizing the Fund’s Institutional Shares
current Fee Limit of 1.08% (as reflected in the Notes to Financial Statements, Note 5 under
Expense Limitation), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by
184/365 (to reflect expenses paid as if they had been in effect throughout the most recent
one-half-year period) would be $5.59 and $5.50, respectively.
Annual Shareholder Report
43
Board of Trustees and Trust Officers
The Board of Trustees is responsible for managing the Trust’s business affairs and for exercising all the Trust’s powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The following tables give information about each Trustee and the senior officers of the Fund. Where required, the tables separately list Trustees who are “interested persons” of the Fund (i.e., “Interested” Trustees) and those who are not (i.e., “Independent” Trustees). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779. The address of all Independent Trustees listed is 4000 Ericsson Drive, Warrendale, PA 15086-7561; Attention: Mutual Fund Board. As of December 31, 2022, the Trust comprised 13 portfolio(s), and the Federated Hermes Fund Family consisted of 33 investment companies (comprising 102 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Officer is elected annually. Unless otherwise noted, each Trustee oversees all portfolios in the Federated Hermes Fund Family and serves for an indefinite term. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about Trust Trustees and is available, without charge and upon request, by calling 1-800-341-7400, Option #4.
Interested TRUSTEES Background 
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Position(s)
J. Christopher Donahue*
Birth Date: April 11, 1949
President and Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Principal Executive Officer and President of
certain of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Director or
Trustee of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Fund Family; President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Hermes, Inc.;
Chairman and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company;
Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; Chairman and Director,
Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; Chairman and
Trustee, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania;
Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director,
Federated Services Company.
Previous Positions: President, Federated Investment Counseling;
President and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Investment
Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management
Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd; Chairman, Passport Research, Ltd.
Annual Shareholder Report
44
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Position(s)
John B. Fisher*
Birth Date: May 16, 1956
Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Principal Executive Officer and President of
certain of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Director or
Trustee of certain of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Fund Family;
Director and Vice President, Federated Hermes, Inc.; President,
Director/Trustee and CEO, Federated Advisory Services Company,
Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania, Federated
Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment
Counseling, Federated Investment Management Company, and
Federated MDTA LLC; Director, Federated Investors Trust Company.
Previous Positions: President and Director of the Institutional Sales
Division of Federated Securities Corp.; President and CEO of Passport
Research, Ltd.; Director and President, Technology, Federated
Services Company.
*
Reasons for “interested” status: J. Christopher Donahue and John B. Fisher are interested due to their beneficial ownership of shares of Federated Hermes, Inc. and due to positions they hold with Federated Hermes, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES Background 
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications
John T. Collins
Birth Date: January 24, 1947
Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee, and Chair of the Board
of Directors or Trustees, of the Federated Hermes Fund Family;
formerly, Chairman and CEO, The Collins Group, Inc. (a private equity
firm) (Retired).
Other Directorships Held: Director, KLX Energy Services Holdings,
Inc. (oilfield services); former Director of KLX Corp. (aerospace).
Qualifications: Mr. Collins has served in several business and financial
management roles and directorship positions throughout his career.
Mr. Collins previously served as Chairman and CEO of The Collins
Group, Inc. (a private equity firm) and as a Director of KLX Corp.
Mr. Collins serves as Chairman Emeriti, Bentley University. Mr. Collins
previously served as Director and Audit Committee Member, Bank of
America Corp.; Director, FleetBoston Financial Corp.; and Director,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard University
Affiliate Hospital).
Annual Shareholder Report
45
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications
G. Thomas Hough
Birth Date: February 28, 1955
Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee, Chair of the Audit
Committee of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; formerly, Vice
Chair, Ernst & Young LLP (public accounting firm) (Retired).
Other Directorships Held: Director, Chair of the Audit Committee,
Equifax, Inc.; Lead Director, Member of the Audit and Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committees, Haverty Furniture Companies,
Inc.; formerly, Director, Member of Governance and Compensation
Committees, Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Qualifications: Mr. Hough has served in accounting, business
management and directorship positions throughout his career.
Mr. Hough most recently held the position of Americas Vice Chair of
Assurance with Ernst & Young LLP (public accounting firm). Mr. Hough
serves on the President’s Cabinet and Business School Board of
Visitors for the University of Alabama. Mr. Hough previously served on
the Business School Board of Visitors for Wake Forest University, and
he previously served as an Executive Committee member of the
United States Golf Association.
Maureen Lally-Green
Birth Date: July 5, 1949
Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes
Fund Family; Adjunct Professor Emerita of Law, Duquesne University
School of Law; formerly, Dean of the Duquesne University School of
Law and Professor of Law and Interim Dean of the Duquesne
University School of Law; formerly, Associate General Secretary and
Director, Office of Church Relations, Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Other Directorships Held: Director, CNX Resources Corporation
(natural gas).
Qualifications: Judge Lally-Green has served in various legal and
business roles and directorship positions throughout her career. Judge
Lally-Green previously held the position of Dean of the School of Law
of Duquesne University (as well as Interim Dean). Judge Lally-Green
previously served as Associate General Secretary of the Diocese of
Pittsburgh, a member of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and as a
Professor of Law, Duquesne University School of Law. Judge Lally-
Green was appointed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to serve
on the Supreme Court’s Board of Continuing Judicial Education and
the Supreme Court’s Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee.
Judge Lally-Green also currently holds the positions on not for profit
or for profit boards of directors as follows: Director and Chair, UPMC
Mercy Hospital; Regent, Saint Vincent Seminary; Member,
Pennsylvania State Board of Education (public); Director, Catholic
Charities, Pittsburgh; and Director CNX Resources Corporation
(natural gas). Judge Lally-Green has held the positions of: Director,
Auberle; Director, Epilepsy Foundation of Western and Central
Pennsylvania; Director, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh; Director, Saint
Thomas More Society; Director and Chair, Catholic High Schools of
the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Inc.; Director, Pennsylvania Bar Institute;
Director, St. Vincent College; Director and Chair, North Catholic High
School, Inc.; Director and Vice Chair, Our Campaign for the Church
Alive!, Inc.; and Director and Vice Chair, Saint Francis University.
Annual Shareholder Report
46
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications
Thomas M. O’Neill
Birth Date: June 14, 1951
Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes
Fund Family; Sole Proprietor, Navigator Management Company
(investment and strategic consulting).
Other Directorships Held: None.
Qualifications: Mr. O’Neill has served in several business, mutual fund
and financial management roles and directorship positions throughout
his career. Mr. O’Neill serves as Director, Medicines for Humanity.
Mr. O’Neill previously served as Chief Executive Officer and President,
Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Fleet Investment
Advisors; President and Chief Executive Officer, Aeltus Investment
Management, Inc.; General Partner, Hellman, Jordan Management
Co., Boston, MA; Chief Investment Officer, The Putnam Companies,
Boston, MA; Credit Analyst and Lending Officer, Fleet Bank; Director
and Consultant, EZE Castle Software (investment order management
software); Director, Midway Pacific (lumber); and Director, The
Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, Florida.
Madelyn A. Reilly
Birth Date: February 2, 1956
Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving:
November 2020
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes
Fund Family; formerly, Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs,
General Counsel and Secretary of Board of Directors, Duquesne
University (Retired).
Other Directorships Held: None.
Qualifications: Ms. Reilly has served in various business and legal
management roles throughout her career. Ms. Reilly previously served
as Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs, General Counsel and
Secretary of Board of Directors and Director of Risk Management and
Associate General Counsel, Duquesne University. Prior to her work at
Duquesne University, Ms. Reilly served as Assistant General Counsel
of Compliance and Enterprise Risk as well as Senior Counsel of
Environment, Health and Safety, PPG Industries. Ms. Reilly currently
serves as a member of the Board of Directors of UPMC
Mercy Hospital.
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47
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications
P. Jerome Richey
Birth Date: February 23, 1949
Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes
Fund Family; Retired; formerly, Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Legal
Officer, University of Pittsburgh and Executive Vice President and
Chief Legal Officer, CONSOL Energy Inc. (now split into two separate
publicly traded companies known as CONSOL Energy Inc. and CNX
Resources Corp.).
Other Directorships Held: None.
Qualifications: Mr. Richey has served in several business and legal
management roles and directorship positions throughout his career.
Mr. Richey most recently held the positions of Senior Vice Chancellor
and Chief Legal Officer, University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Richey previously
served as Chairman of the Board, Epilepsy Foundation of Western
Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Board, World Affairs Council of
Pittsburgh. Mr. Richey previously served as Chief Legal Officer and
Executive Vice President, CONSOL Energy Inc. and CNX Gas
Company; and Board Member, Ethics Counsel and Shareholder,
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC (a law firm).
John S. Walsh
Birth Date:
November 28, 1957
Trustee
Indefinite Term
Began serving: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes
Fund Family; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer
of construction temporary heaters); President and Director,
Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction
heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers
Products, Inc.
Other Directorships Held: None.
Qualifications: Mr. Walsh has served in several business management
roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Walsh
previously served as Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc.
(paving contractors).
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48
OFFICERS 
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years
and Previous Position(s)
Lori A. Hensler
Birth Date: January 6, 1967
TREASURER
Officer since: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of the
Federated Hermes Fund Family; Senior Vice President, Federated
Administrative Services; Financial and Operations Principal for
Federated Securities Corp.; and Assistant Treasurer, Federated
Investors Trust Company. Ms. Hensler has received the Certified
Public Accountant designation.
Previous Positions: Controller of Federated Hermes, Inc.; Senior Vice
President and Assistant Treasurer, Federated Investors Management
Company; Treasurer, Federated Investors Trust Company; Assistant
Treasurer, Federated Administrative Services, Federated
Administrative Services, Inc., Federated Securities Corp., Edgewood
Services, Inc., Federated Advisory Services Company, Federated
Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania, Federated Global
Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Counseling,
Federated Investment Management Company, Passport Research,
Ltd., and Federated MDTA, LLC; Financial and Operations Principal for
Federated Securities Corp., Edgewood Services, Inc. and Southpointe
Distribution Services, Inc.
Peter J. Germain
Birth Date:
September 3, 1959
CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER,
SECRETARY and EXECUTIVE
VICE PRESIDENT
Officer since: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Mr. Germain is Chief Legal Officer, Secretary
and Executive Vice President of the Federated Hermes Fund Family.
He is General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Executive
Vice President, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Trustee and Senior Vice
President, Federated Investors Management Company; Trustee and
President, Federated Administrative Services; Director and President,
Federated Administrative Services, Inc.; Director and Vice President,
Federated Securities Corp.; Director and Secretary, Federated Private
Asset Management, Inc.; Secretary, Federated Shareholder Services
Company; and Secretary, Retirement Plan Service Company of
America. Mr. Germain joined Federated Hermes, Inc. in 1984 and is a
member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Previous Positions: Deputy General Counsel, Special Counsel,
Managing Director of Mutual Fund Services, Federated Hermes, Inc.;
Senior Vice President, Federated Services Company; and Senior
Corporate Counsel, Federated Hermes, Inc.
Stephen Van Meter
Birth Date: June 5, 1975
CHIEF COMPLIANCE
OFFICER AND SENIOR
VICE PRESIDENT
Officer since: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance
Officer of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Vice President and
Chief Compliance Officer of Federated Hermes, Inc. and Chief
Compliance Officer of certain of its subsidiaries. Mr. Van Meter joined
Federated Hermes, Inc. in October 2011. He holds FINRA licenses
under Series 3, 7, 24 and 66.
Previous Positions: Mr. Van Meter previously held the position of
Compliance Operating Officer, Federated Hermes, Inc. Prior to joining
Federated Hermes, Inc., Mr. Van Meter served at the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission in the positions of Senior
Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, Division of Investment Management
and Senior Counsel, Division of Enforcement.
Annual Shareholder Report
49
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years
and Previous Position(s)
Stephen F. Auth
Birth Date:
September 13, 1956
101 Park Avenue
41st Floor
New York, NY 10178
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Officer since: May 2017
Principal Occupations: Stephen F. Auth is Chief Investment Officer of
various Funds in the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Executive Vice
President, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global
Investment Management Corp. and Federated Equity Management
Company of Pennsylvania.
Previous Positions: Executive Vice President, Federated Investment
Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd. (investment
advisory subsidiary of Federated); Senior Vice President, Global
Portfolio Management Services Division; Senior Vice President,
Federated Investment Management Company and Passport
Research, Ltd.; Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager,
Prudential Investments.
 
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50
Evaluation and Approval of Advisory Contract–May 2022
Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund (the “Fund”)
At its meetings in May 2022 (the “May Meetings”), the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and unanimously approved the continuation of the investment advisory contract between the Fund and Federated MDTA LLC (the “Adviser”) with respect to the Fund (the “Contract”) for an additional one-year term. The Board’s determination to approve the continuation of the Contract reflects the exercise of its business judgment after considering all of the information and factors believed to be relevant and appropriate on whether to approve the continuation of the existing arrangement. The information, factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board’s approval are summarized below.
Information Received and Review Process
At the request of the Independent Trustees, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”) furnished to the Board in advance of its May Meetings an independent written evaluation presenting on the topics discussed below. The Board considered the CCO’s independent written evaluation (the “CCO Fee Evaluation Report”), along with other information, in evaluating the reasonableness of the Fund’s management fee and in determining to approve the continuation of the Contract. The CCO, in preparing the CCO Fee Evaluation Report, has the authority to retain consultants, experts or staff as reasonably necessary to assist in the performance of his duties, reports directly to the Board, and can be terminated only with the approval of a majority of the Independent Trustees. At the request of the Independent Trustees, the CCO Fee Evaluation Report followed the same general approach and covered the same topics as that of the report that had previously been delivered by the CCO in his capacity as “Senior Officer” prior to the elimination of the Senior Officer position in December 2017.
In addition to the extensive materials that comprise and accompany the CCO Fee Evaluation Report, the Board considered information specifically prepared in connection with the approval of the continuation of the Contract that was presented at the May Meetings. In this regard, in the months preceding the May Meetings, the Board requested and reviewed written responses and supporting materials prepared by the Adviser and its affiliates (collectively, “Federated Hermes”) in response to requests posed to Federated Hermes by independent legal counsel on behalf of the Independent Trustees encompassing a wide variety of topics, including those summarized below. The Board also considered such additional matters as the Independent Trustees deemed
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reasonably necessary to evaluate the Contract, which included detailed information about the Fund and Federated Hermes furnished to the Board at its meetings throughout the year and in between regularly scheduled meetings on particular matters as the need arose.
The Board’s consideration of the Contract included review of materials and information covering the following matters, among others: the nature, quality and extent of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Advisers and their affiliates; Federated Hermes’ business and operations; the Adviser’s investment philosophy, personnel and processes; the Fund’s investment objectives and strategies; the Fund’s short-term and long-term performance (in absolute terms, both on a gross basis and net of expenses, and relative to the Fund’s particular investment program and a group of its peer funds and/or its benchmark, as appropriate); the Fund’s fees and expenses, including the advisory fee and the overall expense structure of the Fund (both in absolute terms and relative to a group of its peer funds), with due regard for contractual or voluntary expense limitations (if any); the financial condition of Federated Hermes; the Adviser’s profitability with respect to the Fund; distribution and sales activity for the Fund; and the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities (if any).
The Board also considered judicial decisions concerning allegedly excessive investment advisory fees charged to other registered funds in determining to approve the Contract. Using these judicial decisions as a guide, the Board observed that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s fiduciary duty with respect to its receipt of compensation from a fund: (1) the nature and quality of the services provided by the adviser to the fund and its shareholders, including the performance of the fund, its benchmark and comparable funds; (2) the adviser’s cost of providing the services and the profitability to the adviser of providing advisory services to the fund; (3) the extent to which the adviser may realize “economies of scale” as the fund grows larger and, if such economies of scale exist, whether they have been appropriately shared with the fund and its shareholders or the family of funds; (4) any “fall-out” benefits that accrue to the adviser because of its relationship with the fund, including research services received from brokers that execute fund trades and any fees paid to affiliates of the adviser for services rendered to the fund; (5) comparative fee and expense structures, including a comparison of management fees paid to the adviser with those paid by similar funds both internally and externally as well as management fees charged to institutional and other advisory clients of the adviser for what might be viewed as like services; and (6) the extent of care, conscientiousness and independence with which the fund’s board members perform their duties and their expertise, including whether they are fully informed about all facts the board deems relevant to its consideration of the adviser’s services and fees. The Board noted that the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) disclosure requirements
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regarding the basis for a fund board’s approval of the fund’s investment advisory contract generally align with the factors listed above. The Board was guided by these factors in its review of the Contract to the extent it considered them to be appropriate and relevant, as discussed further below. The Board considered and weighed these factors in light of its substantial accumulated experience in governing the Fund and working with Federated Hermes on matters relating to the oversight of the other funds advised by Federated Hermes (each, a “Federated Hermes Fund” and, collectively, the “Federated Hermes Funds”).
In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board was mindful of the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders and the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew the Contract. In particular, the Board recognized that many shareholders likely have invested in the Fund on the strength of Federated Hermes’ industry standing and reputation and with the expectation that Federated Hermes will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund. Thus, the Board observed that in the marketplace there are a range of investment options available to the Fund’s shareholders and such shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have effectively selected Federated Hermes by virtue of investing in the Fund.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Contract, the members of the Board reviewed and evaluated information and factors they believed to be relevant and appropriate through the exercise of their reasonable business judgment. While individual members of the Board may have weighed certain factors differently, the Board’s determination to approve the continuation of the Contract was based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Board throughout the year and specifically with respect to the continuation of the Contract. The Board recognized that its evaluation process is evolutionary and that the factors considered and emphasis placed on relevant factors may change in recognition of changing circumstances in the registered fund marketplace. The Independent Trustees were assisted throughout the evaluation process by independent legal counsel. In connection with their deliberations at the May Meetings, the Independent Trustees met separately in executive session with their independent legal counsel and without management present to review the relevant materials and consider their responsibilities under applicable laws. In addition, senior management representatives of Federated Hermes also met with the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel to discuss the materials and presentations furnished to the Board at the May Meetings. The Board considered the approval of the Contract for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the family of Federated Hermes Funds, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis.
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Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and the resources of Federated Hermes dedicated to the Fund. In this regard, the Board evaluated, among other things, the terms of the Contract and the range of services provided to the Fund by Federated Hermes. The Board considered the Adviser’s personnel, investment philosophy and process, investment research capabilities and resources, trade operations capabilities, experience and performance track record. The Board reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the portfolio management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and Federated Hermes’ ability and experience in attracting and retaining qualified personnel to service the Fund. The Board also considered the Adviser’s ability to deliver competitive investment performance for the Fund when compared to the Fund’s Performance Peer Group (as defined below), which was deemed by the Board to be a useful indicator of how the Adviser is executing the Fund’s investment program.
In addition, the Board considered the financial resources and overall reputation of Federated Hermes and its willingness to consider and make investments in personnel, infrastructure, technology, cybersecurity, business continuity planning and operational enhancements that are designed to benefit the Federated Hermes Funds. The Board noted the significant acquisition of Hermes Fund Managers Limited by Federated Hermes, which has deepened the organization’s investment management expertise and capabilities and expanded the investment process for all of the Federated Hermes Funds to have access to analytical resources related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors and issuer engagement on ESG matters. The Board considered Federated Hermes’ oversight of the securities lending program for the Federated Hermes Funds that engage in securities lending and noted the income earned by the Federated Hermes Funds that participate in such program. In addition, the Board considered the quality of Federated Hermes’ communications with the Board and responsiveness to Board inquiries and requests made from time to time with respect to the Fund and other Federated Hermes Funds. In this regard, the Board took into account Federated Hermes’ communications with the Board in light of the pandemic. The Board also considered that Federated Hermes is responsible for providing the Federated Hermes Funds’ officers.
The Board received and evaluated information regarding Federated Hermes’ regulatory and compliance environment. The Board considered Federated Hermes’ compliance program and compliance history and reports from the CCO about Federated Hermes’ compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including responses to regulatory developments and any compliance or other issues raised by regulatory agencies. The Board also noted Federated Hermes’ support of the Federated Hermes Funds’ compliance control structure and the compliance-related resources devoted by Federated
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Hermes in support of the Fund’s obligations pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, including Federated Hermes’ commitment to respond to rulemaking and other regulatory initiatives of the SEC. The Board considered Federated Hermes’ approach to internal audits and risk management with respect to the Federated Hermes Funds and its day-to-day oversight of the Federated Hermes Funds’ compliance with their investment objectives and policies as well as with applicable laws and regulations, noting that regulatory and other developments had over time led to an increase in the scope of Federated Hermes’ oversight in this regard, including in connection with the designation of the Federated Hermes Funds’ investment advisers as the administrators of the Federated Hermes Funds’ liquidity risk management program.
The Board also considered the implementation of Federated Hermes’ business continuity plans and recognized steps taken by Federated Hermes to continue to provide the same nature, extent and quality of services to the Federated Hermes Funds during the pandemic. In addition, the Board noted Federated Hermes’ commitment to maintaining high quality systems and expending substantial resources to prepare for and respond to ongoing changes due to the market, regulatory and control environments in which the Fund and its service providers operate, including changes associated with the pandemic.
The Board considered Federated Hermes’ efforts to provide shareholders in the Federated Hermes Funds with a comprehensive array of funds with different investment objectives, policies and strategies. The Board considered the expenses that Federated Hermes had incurred, as well as the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by Federated Hermes, in sponsoring and providing on-going services to new funds to expand these opportunities for shareholders. The Board noted the benefits to shareholders of being part of the family of Federated Hermes Funds, which include the general right to exchange investments between the same class of shares without the incurrence of additional sales charges.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund.
Fund Investment Performance
The Board considered the investment performance of the Fund. In evaluating the Fund’s investment performance, the Board considered performance results in light of the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered detailed investment reports on, and the Adviser’s analysis of, the Fund’s performance over different time periods that were provided to the Board throughout the year and in connection with the May Meetings. These reports include, among other items, information on the Fund’s
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gross and net returns, the Fund’s investment performance compared to one or more relevant categories or groups of peer funds and the Fund’s benchmark index, performance attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions.
The Board also reviewed comparative information regarding the performance of other registered funds in the category of peer funds selected by Morningstar, Inc. (the “Morningstar”), an independent fund ranking organization (the “Performance Peer Group”). The Board noted the CCO’s view that comparisons to fund peer groups may be helpful, though not conclusive, in evaluating the performance of the Adviser in managing the Fund. The Board considered, in evaluating such comparisons, that in some cases there may be differences in the funds’ objectives or investment management techniques, or the costs to implement the funds, even within the same Performance Peer Group. In this connection, the Board considered that the quantitative focus of the management of the Fund makes fee and expense comparisons particularly difficult as the funds in the Performance Peer Group varied widely in terms of the complexity of their management, and the management of the Fund is among the more complex relative to its Performance Peer Group. The Board also considered a report comparing the performance of the Fund solely to other funds with a quantitative focus in the Performance Peer Group.
For the periods ended December 31, 2021, the Fund’s performance for the one-year period was above the median of the Performance Peer Group, and the Fund’s performance fell below the median of the Performance Peer Group for the three-year and five-year periods. In addition, the Board was informed by the Adviser that, for the same periods, the Fund outperformed its benchmark index for the one-year, three-year and five-year periods. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Adviser and recognized the efforts being taken by the Adviser in the context of other factors considered relevant by the Board.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that it had continued confidence in the Adviser’s overall capabilities to manage the Fund.
Fund Expenses
The Board considered the advisory fee, and overall expense structure of the Fund and the comparative fee and expense information that had been provided in connection with the May Meetings. In this regard, the Board was presented with, and considered, information regarding the contractual advisory fee rates, net advisory fee rates,, total expense ratios and each element of the Fund’s total expense ratio (i.e., gross and net advisory fees, administrative fees, custody fees, portfolio accounting fees and transfer agency fees) relative to an appropriate group of peer funds compiled by Federated Hermes from the category of peer funds selected by Morningstar (the “Expense Peer Group”).
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The Board received a description of the methodology used to select the Expense Peer Group from the overall Morningstar category. The Board also reviewed comparative information regarding the fees and expenses of the broader group of funds in the overall Morningstar category.
While mindful that courts have cautioned against giving too much weight to comparative information concerning fees charged by other advisers for managing funds with comparable investment programs, the Board noted that it found the use of such comparisons to be relevant to its evaluation. The Board focused on comparisons with other similar registered funds more heavily than non-registered fund products or services because such comparisons are believed to be more relevant. The Board considered that other registered funds are the products most like the Fund, in that they are readily available to Fund shareholders as alternative investment vehicles, and they are the type of investment vehicle, in fact, chosen and maintained by the Fund’s shareholders. The Board noted that the range of such other registered funds’ fees and expenses, therefore, appears to be a relevant indicator of what investors have found to be reasonable in the marketplace in which the Fund competes.
The Board reviewed the contractual advisory fee rate, and other expenses of the Fund and noted the position of the Fund’s fee rates relative to its Expense Peer Group. In this regard, the Board noted that the contractual advisory fee rate was below the median of the Expense Peer Group, and the Board was satisfied that the overall expense structure of the Fund remained competitive.
The Board also received and considered information about the fees charged by Federated Hermes for providing advisory services to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Federated Hermes Funds, including non-registered fund clients (such as institutional separate accounts) and third-party unaffiliated registered funds for which the Adviser or its affiliates serve as sub-adviser. The Board noted the CCO’s conclusion that non-registered fund clients are inherently different products due to the following differences, among others: (i) different types of targeted investors; (ii) different applicable laws and regulations; (iii) different legal structures; (iv) different average account sizes and portfolio management techniques made necessary by different cash flows and different associated costs; (v) the time spent by portfolio managers and their teams (among other personnel across various departments, including legal, compliance and risk management) in reviewing securities pricing and fund liquidity; (vi) different administrative responsibilities; (vii) different degrees of risk associated with management; and (viii) a variety of different costs. The Board also considered information regarding the differences in the nature of the services required for Federated Hermes to manage its proprietary registered fund business versus managing a discrete pool of assets as a sub-adviser to another institution’s registered fund, noting the CCO’s view that Federated Hermes generally performs significant additional services and assumes substantially greater risks in managing the Fund and other Federated Hermes Funds than in its role as sub-adviser to an
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unaffiliated third-party registered fund. The Board noted that the CCO did not consider the fees for providing advisory services to other types of clients to be determinative in judging the appropriateness of the Federated Hermes Funds’ advisory fees.
Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the fees and total operating expenses of the Fund, in conjunction with other matters considered, are reasonable in light of the services provided.
Profitability
The Board received and considered profitability information furnished by Federated Hermes, as requested by the CCO. Such profitability information included revenues reported on a fund-by-fund basis and estimates of the allocation of expenses made on a fund-by-fund basis, using allocation methodologies specified by the CCO and described to the Board. The Board considered the CCO’s view that, while these cost allocation reports apply consistent allocation processes, the inherent difficulties in allocating costs on a fund-by-fund basis continues to cause the CCO to question the precision of the process and to conclude that such reports may be unreliable because a single change in an allocation estimate may dramatically alter the resulting estimate of cost and/or profitability of a Federated Hermes Fund and may produce unintended consequences. In addition, the Board considered the CCO’s view that the allocation methodologies used by Federated Hermes in estimating profitability for purposes of reporting to the Board in connection with the continuation of the Contract are consistent with the methodologies previously reviewed by an independent consultant. The Board noted that the independent consultant had previously conducted a review of the allocation methodologies and reported that, although there is no single best method to allocate expenses, the methodologies used by Federated Hermes are reasonable.
The Board also reviewed information compiled by Federated Hermes comparing its profitability information to other publicly held fund management companies, including information regarding profitability trends over time. The Board considered the CCO’s conclusion that, based on such profitability information, Federated Hermes’ profit margins did not appear to be excessive. The Board also considered the CCO’s view that Federated Hermes appeared financially sound, with the resources necessary to fulfill its obligations under its contracts with the Federated Hermes Funds.
Economies of Scale
The Board received and considered information about the notion of possible realization of “economies of scale” as a fund grows larger, the difficulties of calculating economies of scale at an individual fund level, and the extent to which potential scale benefits are shared with shareholders. In this regard, the Board considered that Federated Hermes has made significant and long-term investments in areas that support all of the Federated Hermes Funds, such as: personnel, processes and tools for portfolio management, including the use of
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market data on which portfolio managers make investment decisions; trading operations; ESG integration and issuer engagement on ESG matters; shareholder services; compliance; business continuity; cybersecurity; internal audit and risk management functions; and technology that supports the provision of investment management services. The Board noted that Federated Hermes’ investments in these areas are extensive and are designed to provide enhanced services to the Federated Hermes Funds and their shareholders. The Board considered that the benefits of these investments are likely to be shared with the family of Federated Hermes Funds as a whole. In addition, the Board considered that fee waivers and expense reimbursements are another means for potential economies of scale to be shared with shareholders and can provide protection from an increase in expenses if a Federated Hermes Fund’s assets decline. The Board considered that, in order for the Federated Hermes Funds to remain competitive in the marketplace, Federated Hermes has frequently waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses for the Federated Hermes Funds and has disclosed to shareholders and/or reported to the Board its intention to do so (or continue to do so) in the future. The Board also considered Federated Hermes’ reductions in contractual management fees for certain Federated Hermes Funds during the prior year, including in response to the CCO’s recommendations in the prior year’s CCO Fee Evaluation Report, which have resulted in benefits being realized by shareholders.
The Board also considered reports on adviser-paid fees (commonly referred to as “revenue sharing”) that were provided to the Board throughout the year and in connection with the May Meetings. The Board considered that Federated Hermes and the CCO believe that this information should be viewed to determine if there was an incentive to either not apply breakpoints, or to apply breakpoints at higher levels, and should not be viewed to evaluate the reasonableness of advisory fees. The Board also noted the absence of any applicable regulatory or industry guidelines on this subject, which is compounded by the lack of any uniform methodology or pattern with respect to structuring fund advisory fees with breakpoints that serve to reduce the fees as a fund attains a certain size.
Other Benefits
The Board considered information regarding the compensation and other ancillary (or “fall-out”) benefits that Federated Hermes derived from its relationships with the Federated Hermes Funds. The Board noted that, in addition to receiving advisory fees under the Federated Hermes Funds’ investment advisory contracts, Federated Hermes’ affiliates also receive fees for providing other services to the Federated Hermes Funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the Federated Hermes Funds’ administrator and distributor). In this regard, the Board considered that certain of Federated Hermes’ affiliates provide distribution and shareholder services to the Federated Hermes Funds, for which they may be compensated through
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distribution and servicing fees paid pursuant to Rule 12b-1 plans or otherwise. The Board also received and considered information detailing any indirect benefit that Federated Hermes may derive from its receipt of research services from brokers who execute portfolio trades for the Federated Hermes Funds.
Conclusions
The Board considered: (i) the CCO’s conclusion that his observations and the information accompanying the CCO Fee Evaluation Report show that the management fee for the Fund is reasonable; and (ii) the CCO’s recommendation that the Board approve the management fee. The Board noted that, under these circumstances, no changes were recommended to, and no objection was raised to the continuation of, the Contract by the CCO. The CCO also recognized that the Board’s evaluation of the Federated Hermes Funds’ advisory and sub-advisory arrangements is a continuing and ongoing process that is informed by the information that the Board requests and receives from management throughout the course of the year and, in this regard, the CCO noted certain items for future reporting to the Board or further consideration by management as the Board continues its ongoing oversight of the Federated Hermes Funds.
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Board, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, unanimously voted to approve the continuation of the Contract. The Board based its determination to approve the Contract on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors and with a view of past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations identified above were necessarily deemed to be relevant to the Fund, nor did the Board consider any one of them to be determinative. With respect to the factors that were deemed to be relevant, the Board’s determination to approve the continuation of the Contract reflects its view that Federated Hermes’ performance and actions provided a satisfactory basis to support the determination to approve the continuation of the existing arrangement.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program–
Annual Evaluation of Adequacy and Effectiveness
In accordance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”), Federated Hermes Adviser Series (the “Trust”) has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) for Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund (the “Fund” and, collectively with the other non-money market open-end funds advised by Federated Hermes, the “Federated Hermes Funds”). The Program seeks to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk. “Liquidity risk” is defined under the Liquidity Rule as the risk that the Fund is unable to meet redemption requests without significantly diluting remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) has approved the designation of each Federated Hermes Fund’s investment adviser as the administrator for the Program (the “Administrator”) with respect to that Fund. The Administrator, in turn, has delegated day-to-day responsibility for the administration of the Program to multiple Liquidity Risk Management Committees, which are comprised of representatives from certain divisions within Federated Hermes.
The Program is comprised of various components designed to support the assessment and/or management of liquidity risk, including: (1) the periodic assessment (no less frequently than annually) of certain factors that influence the Fund’s liquidity risk; (2) the periodic classification (no less frequently than monthly) of the Fund’s investments into one of four liquidity categories that reflect an estimate of their liquidity under current market conditions; (3) a 15% limit on the acquisition of “illiquid investments” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule); (4) to the extent a Fund does not invest primarily in “highly liquid investments” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule), the determination of a minimum percentage of the Fund’s assets that generally will be invested in highly liquid investments (an “HLIM”); (5) if a Fund has established an HLIM, the periodic review (no less frequently than annually) of the HLIM and the adoption of policies and procedures for responding to a shortfall of the Fund’s highly liquid investments below its HLIM; and (6) periodic reporting to the Board.
At its meetings in May 2022, the Board received and reviewed a written report (the “Report”) from the Federated Hermes Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Risk Officer, on behalf of the Administrator, concerning the operation of the Program for the period from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022 (the “Period”). The Report addressed the operation of the Program and assessed its adequacy and effectiveness, including, where applicable, the operation of any HLIM established for a Federated Hermes Fund and each Federated Hermes Fund’s access to other available funding sources such as the Federated Hermes Funds’ interfund lending facility, redemptions in-kind, reverse repurchase agreement transactions, redemptions
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61
delayed beyond the normal T+1 settlement, but within seven days of the redemption request, and committed lines of credit. There were no material changes to the Program during the Period. The Report summarized the operation of the Program and the information and factors considered by the Administrator in assessing whether the Program has been adequately and effectively implemented with respect to the Federated Hermes Funds. Such information and factors included, among other things:
◾ confirmation that it was not necessary for the Fund to utilize, and the Fund did not utilize, alternative funding sources during the Period;
◾ the periodic classifications of the Fund’s investments into one of four liquidity categories and the methodologies and inputs used to classify the investments, including the Fund’s reasonably anticipated trade size;
◾ the analysis received from a third-party liquidity assessment vendor that is taken into account in the process of determining the liquidity classifications of the Fund’s investments and the results of an evaluation of the services performed by the vendor in support of this process;
◾ the fact that the Fund invested primarily in highly liquid investments during the Period and, therefore, was not required to establish, and has not established, an HLIM and the procedures for monitoring the status of the Fund as investing primarily in highly liquid investments;
◾ the fact that the Fund invested no more than 15% of its assets in illiquid investments during the Period and the procedures for monitoring this limit;
◾ the fact that there were no liquidity events during the Period, that materially affected the Fund’s liquidity risk;
◾ the impact on liquidity and management of liquidity risk caused by extended non-U.S. market closures and confirmation that there were no issues for any of the affected Federated Hermes Funds in meeting shareholder redemptions at any time during these temporary non-U.S. market closures;
◾ circumstances during the Period under which the Administrator convened meetings of the Liquidity Risk Management Committees more frequently than normal to conduct enhanced liquidity risk monitoring, including prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Based on this review, the Administrator concluded that the Program is operating effectively to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, and that the Program has been and continues to be adequately and effectively implemented to monitor and, as applicable, respond to the Fund’s liquidity developments.
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62
Voting Proxies on Fund Portfolio Securities
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies, if any, relating to securities held in the Fund’s portfolio is available, without charge and upon request, by calling 1-800-341-7400, Option #4. A report on “Form N-PX” of how the Fund voted any such proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available via the Proxy Voting Record (Form N-PX) link associated with the Fund and share class name at FederatedInvestors.com/FundInformation. Form N-PX filings are also available at the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Schedule
Each fiscal quarter, the Fund will file with the SEC a complete schedule of its monthly portfolio holdings on “Form N-PORT.” The Fund’s holdings as of the end of the third month of every fiscal quarter, as reported on Form N-PORT, will be publicly available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov within 60 days of the end of the fiscal quarter upon filing. You may also access this information via the link to the Fund and share class name at FederatedInvestors.com.
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63
Mutual funds are not bank deposits or obligations, are not guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency. Investment in mutual funds involves investment risk, including the possible loss of principal.
This Report is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by the Fund’s Prospectus, which contains facts concerning its objective and policies, management fees, expenses and other information.
  
 
Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral Fund
Federated Hermes Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086-7561
Contact us at FederatedInvestors.com
or call 1-800-341-7400.
Federated Securities Corp., Distributor
CUSIP 31423A440
CUSIP 31423A432
Q455470 (2/23)
© 2023 Federated Hermes, Inc.
 
Item 2.Code of Ethics

 

(a) As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the "Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies - Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers") that applies to the registrant's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer; the registrant's Principal Financial Officer also serves as the Principal Accounting Officer.

(c) There was no amendment to the registrant’s code of ethics described in Item 2(a) above during the period covered by the report.

(d) There was no waiver granted, either actual or implicit, from a provision to the registrant’s code of ethics described in Item 2(a) above during the period covered by the report.

(e) Not Applicable

(f)(3) The registrant hereby undertakes to provide any person, without charge, upon request, a copy of the code of ethics. To request a copy of the code of ethics, contact the registrant at 1-800-341-7400, and ask for a copy of the Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies - Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert

The registrant's Board has determined that each of the following members of the Board's Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert,” and is "independent," for purposes of this Item:   G. Thomas Hough and Thomas M. O'Neill. 

 

Item 4.Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

(a)       Audit Fees billed to the registrant for the two most recent fiscal years:

Fiscal year ended 2022 – $420,678

Fiscal year ended 2021 - $422,525

(b)       Audit-Related Fees billed to the registrant for the two most recent fiscal years:

Fiscal year ended 2022 - $3,000

Fiscal year ended 2021 - $21,070

Fiscal year ended 2022- Audit consent from prior auditor for N-1A financial highlights.

Fiscal year ended 2021- Audit consent fees for N-1A filings.

Amount requiring approval of the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, $0 and $0 respectively.

(c)        Tax Fees billed to the registrant for the two most recent fiscal years:

Fiscal year ended 2022 - $0

Fiscal year ended 2021 - $0

Amount requiring approval of the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, $0 and $0 respectively.

(d)       All Other Fees billed to the registrant for the two most recent fiscal years:

Fiscal year ended 2022 - $0

Fiscal year ended 2021 - $0

Amount requiring approval of the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, $74,628 and $73,423 respectively. Fiscal year ended 2022- Service fees for analysis of potential Passive Foreign Investment Company holdings. Fiscal year ended 2021- Service fees for analysis of potential Passive Foreign Investment Company holdings.

(e)(1) Audit Committee Policies regarding Pre-approval of Services.

The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve audit and non-audit services performed by the independent auditor in order to assure that the provision of such services do not impair the auditor’s independence. Unless a type of service to be provided by the independent auditor has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

Certain services have the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The term of the general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee specifically provides for a different period. The Audit Committee will annually review the services that may be provided by the independent auditor without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee and may grant general pre-approval for such services. The Audit Committee will revise the list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations. The Audit Committee will not delegate to management its responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the independent auditor.

The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its chairman (the “Chairman”) for services that do not exceed a specified dollar threshold. The Chairman or Chief Audit Executive will report any such pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Committee will designate another member with such pre-approval authority when the Chairman is unavailable.

AUDIT SERVICES

The annual audit services engagement terms and fees will be subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will approve, if necessary, any changes in terms, conditions and fees resulting from changes in audit scope, registered investment company (RIC) structure or other matters.

In addition to the annual audit services engagement specifically approved by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval for other audit services, which are those services that only the independent auditor reasonably can provide. The Audit Committee has pre-approved certain audit services; with limited exception, all other audit services must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

AUDIT-RELATED SERVICES

Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the RIC’s financial statements or that are traditionally performed by the independent auditor. The Audit Committee believes that the provision of audit-related services does not impair the independence of the auditor, and has pre-approved certain audit-related services; all other audit-related services must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

TAX SERVICES

The Audit Committee believes that the independent auditor can provide tax services to the RIC such as tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice without impairing the auditor’s independence. However, the Audit Committee will not permit the retention of the independent auditor in connection with a transaction initially recommended by the independent auditor, the purpose of which may be tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported in the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations. The Audit Committee has pre-approved certain tax services; with limited exception, all tax services involving large and complex transactions must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

ALL OTHER SERVICES

With respect to the provision of permissible services other than audit, review or attest services the pre-approval requirement is waived if:

(1)With respect to such services rendered to the Funds, the aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than five percent of the total amount of revenues paid by the audit client to its accountant during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; and,

 

(2)With respect to such services rendered to the Fund’s investment adviser ( the “Adviser”)and any entity controlling, controlled by to under common control with the Adviser such as affiliated non-U.S. and U.S. funds not under the Audit Committee’s purview and which do not fall within a category of service which has been determined by the Audit Committee not to have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the RIC, the aggregate amount of all services provided constitutes no more than five percent of the total amount of revenues paid to the RIC’s auditor by the RIC, its Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; and

 

(3)Such services were not recognized by the issuer or RIC at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and

 

(4)Such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Audit Committee or by one or more members of the Audit Committee who are members of the Board of Directors to whom authority to grant such approvals has been delegated by the Audit Committee.

 

The Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to those permissible non-audit services which qualify for pre-approval and which it believes are routine and recurring services, and would not impair the independence of the auditor.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) rules and relevant guidance should be consulted to determine the precise definitions of these services and applicability of exceptions to certain of the prohibitions.

PRE-APPROVAL FEE LEVELS

Pre-approval fee levels for all services to be provided by the independent auditor will be established annually by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding these levels will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

PROCEDURES

Requests or applications to provide services that require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by the Fund’s Principal Accounting Officer and/or the Chief Audit Executive of Federated Hermes, Inc., only after those individuals have determined that the request or application is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.

(e)(2) Percentage of services identified in items 4(b) through 4(d) that were approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X:

4(b)

Fiscal year ended 2022 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2021 - 0%

Percentage of services provided to the registrant’s Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, 0% and 0% respectively.

4(c)

Fiscal year ended 2022 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2021 – 0%

Percentage of services provided to the registrant’s Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, 0% and 0% respectively.

4(d)

Fiscal year ended 2022 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2021 – 0%

Percentage of services provided to the registrant’s Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, 0% and 0% respectively.

(f)NA

 

(g)Non-Audit Fees billed to the registrant, the registrant’s Adviser, and certain entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser:

 

Fiscal year ended 2022 - $241,989

Fiscal year ended 2021 - $148,584

(h)The registrant’s Audit Committee has considered that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s Adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
Item 5.Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 6.Schedule of Investments

 

(a) The registrant’s Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

(b) Not Applicable; Fund had no divestments during the reporting period covered since the previous Form N-CSR filing.

 

Item 7.Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 8.Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 9.Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 10.Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

No Changes to Report

 

Item 11.Controls and Procedures

 

(a) The registrant’s President and Treasurer have concluded that the

registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Act) are effective in design and operation and are sufficient to form the basis of the certifications required by Rule 30a-(2) under the Act, based on their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of the filing date of this report on Form N-CSR.

 

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12.Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 13.Exhibits

 

(a)(1) Code of Ethics- Not Applicable to this Report.

 

(a)(2) Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer.

 

(a)(3) Not Applicable.

 

(b) Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Registrant Federated Hermes Adviser Series

 

By /S/ Lori A. Hensler

 

Lori A. Hensler, Principal Financial Officer

 

Date February 22, 2023

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

By /S/ J. Christopher Donahue

 

J. Christopher Donahue, Principal Executive Officer

 

Date February 22, 2023

 

 

By /S/ Lori A. Hensler

 

Lori A. Hensler, Principal Financial Officer

 

Date February 22, 2023