Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund Fund Established 2019
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Semi-Annual Shareholder Report February 28, 2021 Share Class | Ticker Institutional | FHHIX Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund Fund Established 2019 A Portfolio of Federated Hermes Adviser Series (formerly, Federated Adviser Series) Dear Valued Shareholder, I am pleased to present the Semi-Annual Shareholder Report for your fund covering the period from September 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021. The fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of high yield fixed-income securities that, in its view, provide the potential for current income and long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through our pioneering engagement group, EOS at Federated Hermes, we engage with company leaders with the aim of improving on their environmental, social and governance factors, as well as gaining a deep understanding of their business strategy and purpose to ensure company behaviors align with the long-term interests of our clients. While the pandemic continues to present challenges to our lives, families and businesses, I want you to know that Federated Hermes remains dedicated to helping you successfully navigate the markets ahead. You can count on us for the insights, investment management knowledge and client service that you have come to expect. Please refer to our website, FederatedInvestors.com, for timely updates on this and other economic and market matters. Thank you for investing with us. I 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 CONTENTS Portfolio of Investments Summary Table .................................................. 1 Portfolio of Investments ....................................................................... 2 Financial Highlights............................................................................. 12 Statement of Assets and Liabilities.......................................................... 13 Statement of Operations...................................................................... 14 Statement of Changes in Net Assets ....................................................... 15 Notes to Financial Statements ............................................................... 16 Shareholder Expense Example .............................................................. 28 Evaluation and Approval of Advisory Contract ........................................... 30 Liquidity Risk Management Program – Annual Evaluation of Adequacy and Effectiveness....................................... 39 Voting Proxies on Fund Portfolio Securities ............................................... 41 Quarterly Portfolio Schedule ................................................................. 41 Portfolio of Investments Summary Table (unaudited) At February 28, 2021, the Fund’s sector composition1 was as follows: Percentage of Sector Composition Total Net Assets Banking 13.4% Capital Goods 10.1% Basic Industries 9.9% Telecommunications 8.3% Energy 6.4% Health Care 5.0% Utilities 4.6% Media 3.7% Real Estate 3.1% Automotive 2.8% Consumer Non-Cyclical 2.6% Technology & Electronics 2.4% Insurance 2.1% Consumer Goods 2.0% Financial Services 1.0% Retail 0.6% Services 0.6% U.S. Treasury 16.3% 2 Derivatives 1.2% 3 Other Assets and Liabilities—Net 3.9% 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. 2 Based upon net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) or value of the derivative contracts as applicable. Derivative contracts may consist of futures, forwards and swaps. The impact of a derivative contract on the Fund’s performance may be larger than its unrealized appreciation (depreciation) or value may indicate. In many cases, the notional value or amount of a derivative contract may provide a better indication of the contract’s significance to the portfolio. More complete information regarding the Fund’s direct investments in derivative contracts, including unrealized appreciation (depreciation), value and notional values or amounts of such contracts, can be found in the table at the end of the Portfolio of Investments included in this Report. 3 Assets, other than investments in securities and derivative contracts, less liabilities. See Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Semi-Annual Shareholder Report 1 Portfolio of Investments February 28, 2021 (unaudited) Foreign Currency Par Amount or Principal Value in Amount U.S. Dollars CORPORATE BONDS—78.6% Automotive—2.8% $60,000 Ford Motor Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.750%, 1/15/2043 $ 60,909 157,000 1 General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Jr. Sub. Deb., Series A, 5.750%, 9/30/2027 165,148 300,000 1 General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Jr. Sub. Note, Series B, 6.500%, 9/30/2028 328,313 325,000 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.875%, 3/15/2027 340,234 EUR 225,000 Volvo Car AB, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series EMTN, 2.000%, 1/24/2025 280,351 TOTAL 1,174,955 Banking—13.4% 200,000 1 ABN Amro Bank NV, Jr. Sub. Deb., 4.750%, 9/22/2027 260,011 $200,000 Akbank TAS, Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 5.125%, 3/31/2025 204,886 250,000 Ally Financial, Inc., Sr. Sub. Note, 5.750%, 11/20/2025 286,738 58,000 Ally Financial, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.800%, 5/1/2025 68,098 200,000 1 Argentum Netherlands B.V., Sub., 4.625%, 8/15/2022 204,500 200,000 Banco Btg Pactual/Cayman, Sub., REGS, 7.750%, 2/15/2029 217,052 200,000 1 Banco Mercantil De Norte, Jr. Sub. Deb., REGS, 7.500%, 6/27/2029 223,250 400,000 Bank of Ireland Group PLC, Sub., Series EMTN, 4.125%, 9/19/2027 411,126 200,000 1 BNP Paribas, Jr. Sub. Note, REGS, 4.500%, 2/25/2030 196,853 EUR 200,000 1 Caixa Geral de Depositos S.A. (CGD), Jr. Sub. Deb., 10.750%, 3/30/2022 262,352 $175,000 CIT Group, Inc., Sub., 6.125%, 3/9/2028 217,185 EUR 400,000 1 Commerzbank AG, Jr. Sub. Note, 6.125%, 10/9/2025 509,164 200,000 1 Cooperatieve Rabobank UA, Jr. Sub. Note, 3.250%, 12/29/2026 244,628 $400,000 1 Credit Suisse Group AG, Jr. Sub. Deb., REGS, 5.100%, 1/24/2030 408,500 EUR 100,000 Deutsche Bank AG, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series EMTN, 5.625%, 5/19/2031 139,486 $200,000 1 DNB Bank ASA, Jr. Sub. Note, 4.875%, 11/12/2024 209,875 480,000 Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Sub. Deb., 5.710%, 1/15/2026 541,204 200,000 Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Sub. Deb., REGS, 4.500%, 11/21/2029 204,252 480,000 1,2 National Westminster Bank plc, Jr. Sub. Deb., Series C, 0.483% (3-month USLIBOR +0.250%), 5/28/2021 465,600 Semi-Annual Shareholder Report 2 Foreign Currency Par Amount or Principal Value in Amount U.S. Dollars CORPORATE BONDS—continued Banking—continued $200,000 UniCredit SpA, Jr. Sub. Deb., 8.000%, 6/3/2168 $ 221,500 TOTAL 5,496,260 Basic Industries—9.9% 325,000 Alcoa Nederland Holding B.V., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.125%, 5/15/2028 353,234 GBP 100,000 Anglo American Capital PLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series EMTN, 3.375%, 3/11/2029 151,124 EUR 250,000 Ashland Services B.V., Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 2.000%, 1/30/2028 302,135 $200,000 Cemex SAB de CV, Sec. Fac. Bond, REGS, 5.450%, 11/19/2029 218,930 200,000 Cemex SAB de CV, Sec. Fac. Bond, REGS, 7.375%, 6/5/2027 224,880 200,000 CF Industries Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.150%, 3/15/2034 242,217 40,000 Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.000%, 3/15/2027 39,900 330,000 Domtar, Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 6.250%, 9/1/2042 414,660 200,000 GTL Trade Finance, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 7.250%, 4/16/2044 281,625 320,000 Huntsman International LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.500%, 5/1/2029 362,686 367,000 KB HOME, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.800%, 11/15/2029 395,213 210,000 Novelis Corporation, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 4.750%, 1/30/2030 219,256 200,000 Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV, Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 5.500%, 1/15/2048 230,400 EUR 100,000 Sappi Papier Holding GmbH, Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 3.125%, 4/15/2026 121,783 $450,000 Suzano Austria GmbH, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.000%, 1/15/2030 505,688 TOTAL 4,063,731 Capital Goods—10.1% GBP 600,000 Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings, Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 4.750%, 7/15/2027 869,560 EUR 400,000 Ball Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.500%, 3/15/2027 495,016 $205,000 Ball Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.875%, 8/15/2030 199,362 EUR 300,000 Berry Global, Inc., Sec. Fac. Bond, REGS, 1.500%, 1/15/2027 371,482 500,000 Crown European Holdings SA, Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 2.875%, 2/1/2026 645,202 $250,000 Klabin Austria Gmbh, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 3.200%, 1/12/2031 247,937 345,000 Sealed Air Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 4.000%, 12/1/2027 361,480 EUR 102,000 Sig Combibloc Purchaser, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 2.125%, 6/18/2025 129,532 Semi-Annual Shareholder Report 3 Foreign Currency Par Amount or Principal Value in Amount U.S. Dollars CORPORATE BONDS—continued Capital Goods—continued EUR 150,000 Sig Combibloc Purchaser, Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 2.125%, 6/18/2025 $ 190,488 100,000 Silgan Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.250%, 6/1/2028 122,175 300,000 Smurfit Kappa Treasury Unlimited Company, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.500%, 9/15/2027 380,237 100,000 Trivium Packaging Finance BV, Sec. Fac. Bond, REGS, 3.750%, 8/15/2026 123,370 TOTAL 4,135,841 Consumer Goods—2.0% $200,000 Arcelik AS, Sr. Unsecd. Note, REGS, 5.000%, 4/3/2023 207,963 200,000 Coca-Cola Icecek AS, Sr.