Exhibit 11
Reed Smith LLP
Federated Investors Tower
12th Floor
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
412.288.3131
Fax 412.288.3063
________, 2010 Form of Opinion
The Trustees of
Federated Equity Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, Pennsylvania 15086-7561
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Federated Mid Cap Growth Strategies Fund (the “Fund”), a portfolio of Federated Equity Funds, a Massachusetts business trust, proposes to acquire the assets of Federated MDT Mid Cap Growth Fund, a portfolio of Federated MDT Series, in exchange for shares of the Fund (“Shares”) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganizations dated _______, 2010 ("Agreement"), included as an exhibit to the registration statement of the Fund filed on Form N-14 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("N-14 Registration").
As counsel to the Fund we have reviewed the appropriate documents relating to the organization of the Fund, its registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registration of its securities on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and participated in the drafting of the N-14 Registration. Specifically, we have examined and are familiar with the Declaration of Trust dated August 15, 1995 (“Declaration”), the Bylaws of the Fund, and such other documents and records deemed relevant for the purpose of rendering this opinion. We have also reviewed questions of law as deemed necessary or appropriate by us for the purposes of this opinion.
Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:
1. | The Fund is duly organized and validly existing pursuant to the Declaration. |
2. | The Shares which are currently being registered by the N-14 Registration may be legally and validly issued in accordance with the Declaration upon receipt of consideration sufficient to comply with the provisions of the Declaration and subject to compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and applicable state laws regulating the sale of securities. Such Shares, when so issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the N-14 Registration referred to above and to any application or registration statement filed under the securities laws of any of the States of the United States.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Reed Smith LLP
TPZ
JSP