Federated Institutional Trust N-CSRS Certified semi-annual shareholder report (management investment company)

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form N-CSR

Certified Shareholder Report of Registered Management Investment Companies

811-7193

(Investment Company Act File Number)

Federated Hermes Institutional Trust

______________________________________________________________

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Federated Hermes Funds

4000 Ericsson Drive

Warrendale, PA 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: 08/31/22

Date of Reporting Period: Six months ended 02/28/22

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

February 28, 2022

 

 

Share Class | Ticker A | FGCAX Institutional | FGCIX Service | FGCSX R6 | SRBRX

Federated Hermes Short-Intermediate Total Return Bond Fund

Established 2005

A Portfolio of Federated Hermes Institutional Trust

Dear Valued Shareholder,

We are pleased to present the Semi-Annual Shareholder Report for your fund covering the period from September 1, 2021 through February 28, 2022. This report includes 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

CONTENTS 

Portfolio of Investments Summary Table	1
Portfolio of Investments	2
Financial Highlights	21
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	25
Statement of Operations	27
Statement of Changes in Net Assets	28
Notes to Financial Statements	29
Shareholder Expense Example	40
Evaluation and Approval of Advisory Contract	42
Liquidity Risk Management Program – Annual Evaluation of Adequacy and Effectiveness	52
Voting Proxies on Fund Portfolio Securities	54
Quarterly Portfolio Schedule	54

Portfolio of Investments Summary Table (unaudited)

At February 28, 2022, the Fund’s portfolio composition1 was as follows: 

Security Type	Percentage of Total Net Assets
U.S. Treasury Securities	43.1%
Corporate Debt Securities	28.3%
Bank Loan Core Fund	7.8%
Project and Trade Finance Core Fund	5.2%
Asset-Backed Securities	4.2%
Mortgage Core Fund	4.2%
High Yield Bond Core Fund	3.0%
Emerging Markets Core Fund	2.4%
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations	0.5%
Mortgage-Backed Securities2	0.1%
Cash Equivalents3	1.2%
Derivative Contracts4,5	0.0%
Other Assets and Liabilities—Net5,6	(0.0)%
TOTAL	100%

 

1	See the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for a description of the types of securities in which the Fund invests. As of the date specified above, the Fund owned shares of one or more affiliated investment companies. For purposes of this table, affiliated investment companies (other than an affiliated money market mutual fund) in which the Fund invested less than 10% of its net assets, are listed individually in the table.
2	For purposes of this table, Mortgage-Backed Securities include mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Government Sponsored Entities and adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities.
3	Cash Equivalents include any investments in money market mutual funds and/or overnight repurchase agreements.
4	Based upon net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) or value of the derivative contracts as applicable. Derivative contracts may consist of futures, forwards, options 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.
5	Represents less than 0.1%.
6	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, 2022 (unaudited)  

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	U.S. TREASURIES—   43.1%
	U.S. Treasury Notes—   43.1%
$ 7,575,592	U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Notes, 0.625%, 4/15/2023	$    7,949,323
10,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.125%, 5/15/2023	9,875,950
15,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.125%, 6/30/2023	14,776,219
50,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.125%, 7/15/2023	49,224,375
50,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.125%, 8/15/2023	49,145,875
18,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.125%, 9/15/2023	17,670,463
15,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.125%, 10/15/2023	14,699,483
2,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.125%, 12/15/2023	2,442,983
5,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.125%, 1/15/2024	4,878,083
5,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 4/15/2023	4,948,797
40,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 6/15/2023	39,500,344
20,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 9/30/2023	19,655,460
15,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 5/15/2024	14,583,615
10,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 6/15/2024	9,711,970
23,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 5/31/2025	22,432,759
65,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 6/30/2025	61,945,097
52,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 7/31/2025	50,005,184
27,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 8/31/2025	26,148,655
27,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 9/30/2025	26,114,797
10,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.250%, 10/31/2025	9,483,034
15,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.375%, 4/30/2025	14,398,475
7,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.375%, 11/30/2025	7,135,331
22,750,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.375%, 1/31/2026	21,587,830
5,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.500%, 3/15/2023	4,969,356
12,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.500%, 3/31/2025	12,066,639
30,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.625%, 10/15/2024	29,253,291
30,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.625%, 7/31/2026	28,576,029
15,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.750%, 5/31/2026	14,394,000
12,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.750%, 8/31/2026	11,965,295
10,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 0.875%, 6/30/2026	9,639,647
10,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 1.125%, 2/28/2025	9,848,284
5,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 1.375%, 10/15/2022	5,018,678
18,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 1.375%, 1/31/2025	17,863,459
50,000,000	United States Treasury Notes, 1.500%, 2/29/2024	50,044,900
6,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 1.500%, 10/31/2024	6,482,893
6,500,000	United States Treasury Notes, 1.625%, 5/31/2023	6,534,466

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

2

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		U.S. TREASURIES—   continued
		U.S. Treasury Notes—   continued
$17,000,000		United States Treasury Notes, 1.750%, 6/30/2024	$   17,086,469
7,500,000		United States Treasury Notes, 1.750%, 7/31/2024	7,537,118
1,000,000		United States Treasury Notes, 1.875%, 9/30/2022	1,006,477
50,000,000		United States Treasury Notes, 1.875%, 2/28/2027	50,347,650
4,950,000		United States Treasury Notes, 2.000%, 10/31/2022	4,988,745
3,000,000		United States Treasury Notes, 2.000%, 11/30/2022	3,023,918
9,500,000		United States Treasury Notes, 2.000%, 5/31/2024	9,597,872
10,000,000		United States Treasury Notes, 2.125%, 3/31/2024	10,129,634
7,500,000		United States Treasury Notes, 2.500%, 1/31/2024	7,646,668
5,000,000		United States Treasury Notes, 2.750%, 7/31/2023	5,103,419
7,250,000	1	United States Treasury Notes, 2.750%, 8/31/2023	7,401,901
8,000,000		United States Treasury Notes, 2.875%, 11/30/2023	8,201,927
		TOTAL U.S. TREASURIES (IDENTIFIED COST $855,353,581)	837,042,837
		CORPORATE BONDS—   28.3%
		Basic Industry - Metals & Mining—   0.3%
2,493,000		Glencore Funding LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.625%, 9/1/2025	2,405,796
425,000		Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.500%, 4/15/2023	435,008
500,000		Southern Copper Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.500%, 11/8/2022	505,905
2,543,000		Southern Copper Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.875%, 4/23/2025	2,613,339
		TOTAL	5,960,048
		Capital Goods - Aerospace & Defense—   0.9%
1,000,000		Boeing Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.875%, 6/15/2023	997,115
1,705,000		Boeing Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.950%, 2/1/2024	1,699,130
2,000,000		Boeing Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.196%, 2/4/2026	1,952,513
2,000,000		Boeing Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.508%, 5/1/2023	2,055,707
161,000		Embraer Overseas Ltd., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.696%, 9/16/2023	167,952
2,480,000		Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 0.670%, 8/16/2023	2,432,889
1,000,000		Leidos, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 2.950%, 5/15/2023	1,013,190
905,000		Leidos, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 3.625%, 5/15/2025	933,562
1,500,000		Northrop Grumman Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.930%, 1/15/2025	1,530,000
5,000,000		Teledyne Technologies, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.600%, 4/1/2026	4,833,402
40,000	2	Textron Financial Corp., Jr. Sub. Note, 144A, 2.241% (3-month USLIBOR +1.735%), 2/15/2042	31,700
		TOTAL	17,647,160
		Capital Goods - Building Materials—   0.3%
1,500,000		Allegion US Holdings Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.200%, 10/1/2024	1,520,469
5,000,000		Carrier Global Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.242%, 2/15/2025	4,990,303
		TOTAL	6,510,772

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

3

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
	Capital Goods - Construction Machinery—   0.7%
$ 2,000,000	CNH Industrial Capital America LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.450%, 7/15/2026	$    1,899,800
2,000,000	CNH Industrial Capital America LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.875%, 1/15/2026	1,949,611
1,575,000	CNH Industrial Capital America LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.950%, 7/2/2023	1,574,748
2,000,000	CNH Industrial Capital America LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.375%, 4/5/2022	2,006,316
560,000	Deere & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.750%, 4/15/2025	570,959
5,385,000	Weir Group PLC/The, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 2.200%, 5/13/2026	5,181,842
	TOTAL	13,183,276
	Capital Goods - Diversified Manufacturing—   0.6%
500,000	Honeywell International, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.483%, 8/19/2022	499,464
2,390,000	Lennox International, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.350%, 8/1/2025	2,306,158
415,000	Lennox International, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.000%, 11/15/2023	421,080
3,410,000	Roper Technologies, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.000%, 9/15/2025	3,245,228
2,000,000	Roper Technologies, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.650%, 9/15/2023	2,053,408
3,335,000	Vontier Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.800%, 4/1/2026	3,119,425
790,000	Wabtec Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.200%, 6/15/2025	797,839
	TOTAL	12,442,602
	Capital Goods - Packaging—   0.0%
250,000	WestRock Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.000%, 3/1/2023	254,487
	Communications - Cable & Satellite—   0.2%
1,000,000	CCO Safari II LLC, 4.464%, 7/23/2022	1,007,435
2,000,000	Comcast Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.700%, 4/15/2024	2,073,278
	TOTAL	3,080,713
	Communications - Media & Entertainment—   0.5%
1,336,000	Discovery Communications LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.950%, 3/20/2023	1,350,852
5,000,000	Netflix, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.375%, 11/15/2026	5,286,225
1,000,000	Paramount Global, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.500%, 1/15/2025	1,031,504
1,000,000	Paramount Global, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.750%, 5/15/2025	1,068,320
1,000,000	Walt Disney Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.750%, 1/13/2026	982,100
195,000	Walt Disney Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.000%, 10/1/2023	201,943
750,000	Walt Disney Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 1.850%, 7/30/2026	736,464
	TOTAL	10,657,408
	Communications - Telecom Wireless—   1.1%
1,565,000	American Tower Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.600%, 1/15/2024	1,524,377
1,730,000	American Tower Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.300%, 9/15/2025	1,656,659
1,055,000	American Tower Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.400%, 3/15/2025	1,052,010
1,000,000	American Tower Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.375%, 5/15/2024	1,020,810

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

4

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
		Communications - Telecom Wireless—   continued
$ 2,000,000		American Tower Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.500%, 1/31/2023	$    2,035,273
5,000,000		Bell Canada, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series US-3, 0.750%, 3/17/2024	4,866,508
1,000,000		Crown Castle International Corp., 3.150%, 7/15/2023	1,015,718
1,000,000		Crown Castle International Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.200%, 9/1/2024	1,017,370
3,500,000		T-Mobile USA, Inc., Series WI, 1.500%, 2/15/2026	3,362,398
1,000,000		T-Mobile USA, Inc., Series WI, 3.500%, 4/15/2025	1,028,457
2,000,000	2	Vodafone Group PLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.231% (3-month USLIBOR +0.990%), 1/16/2024	2,023,936
		TOTAL	20,603,516
		Communications - Telecom Wirelines—   0.6%
5,000,000		AT&T, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.700%, 3/25/2026	4,869,633
2,071,000		Verizon Communications, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.850%, 11/20/2025	1,970,934
2,000,000	2	Verizon Communications, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.211% (3-month USLIBOR +1.000%), 3/16/2022	2,000,730
2,000,000		Verizon Communications, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.625%, 8/15/2026	1,998,665
		TOTAL	10,839,962
		Consumer Cyclical - Automotive—   1.7%
5,175,000		Daimler Finance NA LLC, Sr. Unsub. Note, 144A, 1.450%, 3/2/2026	4,975,334
2,510,000		Daimler Trucks Financial NA, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 2.000%, 12/14/2026	2,423,225
550,000		General Motors Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 6.125%, 10/1/2025	608,911
3,000,000		General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 1.250%, 1/8/2026	2,832,170
2,000,000		General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.500%, 6/10/2026	1,897,213
10,000	2	General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.528% (3-month USLIBOR +1.310%), 6/30/2022	10,024
1,000,000		General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.700%, 8/18/2023	996,311
1,665,000		General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.900%, 2/26/2025	1,675,288
1,000,000		General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.550%, 7/8/2022	1,008,929
400,000		General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.150%, 6/19/2023	410,292
3,000,000		Hyundai Capital America, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.250%, 9/18/2023	2,958,819
2,480,000		Hyundai Capital America, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.300%, 1/8/2026	2,343,961
2,325,000		Stellantis Finance US, Inc., 144A, 1.711%, 1/29/2027	2,213,016
2,000,000		Toyota Motor Credit Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 0.800%, 10/16/2025	1,901,452
7,000,000		Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.250%, 11/24/2025	6,674,113
1,000,000		Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 3.350%, 5/13/2025	1,021,831
		TOTAL	33,950,889
		Consumer Cyclical - Retailers—   0.2%
605,000		AutoZone, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.625%, 4/15/2025	626,241

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

5

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
		Consumer Cyclical - Retailers—   continued
$   500,000		CVS Health Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.625%, 8/15/2024	$      506,364
2,000,000		WalMart, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.300%, 4/22/2024	2,066,060
		TOTAL	3,198,665
		Consumer Cyclical - Services—   0.3%
2,825,000		Ashtead Capital, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.500%, 8/12/2026	2,687,762
1,500,000		Cintas Corp. No. 2, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.900%, 4/1/2022	1,502,507
915,000		IHS Markit Ltd., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.125%, 8/1/2023	926,973
		TOTAL	5,117,242
		Consumer Non-Cyclical - Food/Beverage—   1.3%
2,000,000	2	Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series 5FRN, 0.978% (3-month USLIBOR +0.740%), 1/12/2024	2,007,216
4,725,000		International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.230%, 10/1/2025	4,505,486
1,400,000		Jde Peet’s B.V., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 0.800%, 9/24/2024	1,341,906
9,100,000		Kerry Group Financial Services, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 3.200%, 4/9/2023	9,212,202
2,500,000		Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.550%, 9/15/2026	2,503,041
1,413,000		Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.057%, 5/25/2023	1,450,982
1,925,000		McCormick & Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.900%, 2/15/2026	1,817,154
1,000,000		McCormick & Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.150%, 8/15/2024	1,024,201
780,000		Mondelez International, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.625%, 7/1/2022	778,756
475,000		Tyson Foods, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.500%, 6/15/2022	474,705
		TOTAL	25,115,649
		Consumer Non-Cyclical - Health Care—   1.0%
6,000,000		Alcon Finance Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 2.750%, 9/23/2026	6,032,883
4,000,000		Becton Dickinson & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.363%, 6/6/2024	4,100,959
5,720,000		DH Europe Finance II S.a.r.l., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series 5YR, 2.200%, 11/15/2024	5,727,423
2,215,000		PerkinElmer, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.850%, 9/15/2024	2,138,530
1,225,000		Stryker Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.600%, 12/1/2023	1,196,826
		TOTAL	19,196,621
		Consumer Non-Cyclical - Pharmaceuticals—   1.4%
3,720,000		Abbott Laboratories, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.400%, 11/30/2023	3,828,952
3,000,000		AbbVie, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.600%, 11/21/2024	3,030,893
1,000,000		AbbVie, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.850%, 5/14/2023	1,013,164
2,000,000		AbbVie, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.600%, 5/14/2025	2,066,913
4,440,000		AstraZeneca PLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.700%, 4/8/2026	4,172,511
1,000,000		Bayer US Finance II LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 3.875%, 12/15/2023	1,027,654
246,000		Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 2.900%, 7/26/2024	251,898

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

6

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
	Consumer Non-Cyclical - Pharmaceuticals—   continued
$   962,000	Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 3.250%, 2/20/2023	$      979,074
1,579,000	Gilead Sciences, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.750%, 9/29/2023	1,556,801
2,500,000	Gilead Sciences, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.500%, 9/1/2023	2,526,526
1,500,000	Merck & Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.750%, 2/24/2026	1,430,130
4,500,000	Shire Acquisitions Investments Ireland DAC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.875%, 9/23/2023	4,560,073
	TOTAL	26,444,589
	Consumer Non-Cyclical - Tobacco—   0.7%
4,930,000	Altria Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.350%, 5/6/2025	4,917,301
365,000	Altria Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.800%, 2/14/2024	375,824
750,000	Bat Capital Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.789%, 9/6/2024	755,140
1,000,000	Bat Capital Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.222%, 8/15/2024	1,012,678
500,000	Bat Capital Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 2.764%, 8/15/2022	502,191
3,400,000	BAT International Finance PLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.668%, 3/25/2026	3,230,755
3,000,000	Philip Morris International, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.875%, 5/1/2026	2,823,527
1,000,000	Philip Morris International, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.500%, 5/1/2025	976,531
	TOTAL	14,593,947
	Energy - Independent—   0.1%
1,000,000	Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.050%, 7/15/2025	982,575
840,000	Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.950%, 1/15/2023	848,939
	TOTAL	1,831,514
	Energy - Integrated—   0.4%
2,000,000	BP Capital Markets America, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.194%, 4/6/2025	2,051,009
500,000	Chevron Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.141%, 5/11/2023	498,356
4,000,000	Chevron Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.554%, 5/11/2025	3,941,622
1,320,000	Suncor Energy, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.100%, 5/15/2025	1,348,404
	TOTAL	7,839,391
	Energy - Midstream—   0.9%
500,000	Energy Transfer Operating, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.900%, 5/15/2025	502,478
150,000	Energy Transfer Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.900%, 2/1/2024	156,216
1,000,000	Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 3.900%, 2/15/2024	1,035,227
2,437,000	Enterprise Products Operating LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.350%, 3/15/2023	2,468,493
2,000,000	Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.150%, 2/1/2024	2,065,901
500,000	Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.300%, 5/1/2024	519,395
6,165,000	MPLX LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.750%, 3/1/2026	5,911,844
450,000	MPLX LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 3.500%, 12/1/2022	455,913
1,500,000	ONEOK Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.375%, 10/1/2022	1,510,426

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

7

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
		Energy - Midstream—   continued
$ 2,000,000		ONEOK Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.900%, 3/15/2025	$    2,124,992
		TOTAL	16,750,885
		Energy - Oil Field Services—   0.1%
2,000,000		Sunoco Logistics Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.900%, 7/15/2026	2,072,997
		Energy - Refining—   0.5%
2,000,000		Marathon Petroleum Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.700%, 5/1/2025	2,125,196
1,845,000		Phillips 66, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.300%, 2/15/2026	1,756,805
2,000,000		Phillips 66, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.700%, 4/6/2023	2,043,941
2,000,000		Valero Energy Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.200%, 3/15/2024	1,946,812
2,270,000		Valero Energy Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.850%, 4/15/2025	2,287,671
		TOTAL	10,160,425
		Financial Institution - Banking—   6.1%
143,000		American Express Co., 2.650%, 12/2/2022	144,627
1,000,000		American Express Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.400%, 2/22/2024	1,029,391
1,000,000		Associated Banc-Corp., Sub. Note, 4.250%, 1/15/2025	1,043,707
1,000,000		Bank of America Corp., 3.550%, 3/5/2024	1,016,176
539,000		Bank of America Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.004%, 12/20/2023	544,003
5,000,000		Bank of America Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 0.810%, 10/24/2024	4,882,485
1,500,000	2	Bank of America Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 0.970% (3-month USLIBOR +0.790%), 3/5/2024	1,508,928
2,000,000		Bank of America Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 0.981%, 9/25/2025	1,923,438
2,000,000		Bank of America Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 1.197%, 10/24/2026	1,892,283
1,000,000		Bank of America Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 1.319%, 6/19/2026	955,994
1,500,000		Bank of America Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 2.456%, 10/22/2025	1,496,920
1,500,000		Bank of America Corp., Sub. Note, Series MTN, 4.000%, 1/22/2025	1,558,868
3,000,000		Bank of New York Mellon Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 1.600%, 4/24/2025	2,955,742
1,000,000		Bank of New York Mellon Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 2.200%, 8/16/2023	1,007,626
1,200,000		Capital One Bank, Sub. Note, 3.375%, 2/15/2023	1,219,055
2,500,000		Citigroup, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.776%, 10/30/2024	2,444,971
2,000,000		Citigroup, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.462%, 6/9/2027	1,892,145
4,290,000	2	Citigroup, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.569% (3-month USLIBOR +1.100%), 5/17/2024	4,326,732
2,500,000		Citigroup, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.678%, 5/15/2024	2,496,475
2,000,000	2	Citigroup, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.953% (3-month USLIBOR +1.430%), 9/1/2023	2,010,069

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

8

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
		Financial Institution - Banking—   continued
$   855,000		Citigroup, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.352%, 4/24/2025	$      872,375
400,000		Citigroup, Inc., Sub. Note, 4.050%, 7/30/2022	405,067
500,000		Citizens Bank, N.A., Providence, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series BKNT, 2.250%, 4/28/2025	498,610
500,000		Fifth Third Bancorp, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.375%, 1/28/2025	501,136
655,000		Fifth Third Bancorp, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.650%, 1/25/2024	673,718
1,505,000		FNB Corp. (PA), Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.200%, 2/24/2023	1,507,649
500,000		Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.905%, 7/24/2023	502,692
500,000		Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.908%, 6/5/2023	502,033
500,000		Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.272%, 9/29/2025	508,823
2,000,000		Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.500%, 1/23/2025	2,057,194
500,000		Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.625%, 1/22/2023	508,547
1,500,000		Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.625%, 2/20/2024	1,540,217
1,000,000	2	Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 2.108% (3-month USLIBOR +1.600%), 11/29/2023	1,019,309
1,000,000		Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series VAR, 0.627%, 11/17/2023	992,088
775,000		Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series VAR, 1.093%, 12/9/2026	729,409
1,000,000		Huntington Bancshares, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.625%, 8/6/2024	1,009,170
1,000,000		Huntington National Bank, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series BKNT, 3.550%, 10/6/2023	1,027,633
4,000,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.653%, 9/16/2024	3,924,855
2,000,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.045%, 11/19/2026	1,881,409
1,000,000	2	JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.489% (3-month USLIBOR +1.230%), 10/24/2023	1,006,164
2,000,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.514%, 6/1/2024	1,992,978
2,000,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.700%, 5/18/2023	2,023,164
2,000,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.125%, 1/23/2025	2,044,617
200,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.200%, 1/25/2023	203,433
2,500,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.559%, 4/23/2024	2,547,925
1,000,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.625%, 5/13/2024	1,033,437
725,000		JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sub. Note, 3.375%, 5/1/2023	738,621
5,500,000		Morgan Stanley, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.985%, 12/10/2026	5,153,755
2,000,000		Morgan Stanley, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series I, 0.864%, 10/21/2025	1,915,544
2,195,000		Morgan Stanley, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 0.560%, 11/10/2023	2,178,544
4,165,000	2	Morgan Stanley, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 1.659% (3-month USLIBOR +1.400%), 10/24/2023	4,196,920
2,000,000		Morgan Stanley, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 2.720%, 7/22/2025	2,011,217
500,000		Morgan Stanley, Sub. Note, Series MTN, 4.100%, 5/22/2023	513,329

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

9

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
		Financial Institution - Banking—   continued
$   450,000		MUFG Union Bank, N.A., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series BKNT, 3.150%, 4/1/2022	$      450,000
3,000,000		PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.200%, 11/1/2024	3,014,385
1,000,000		PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.500%, 1/23/2024	1,029,954
2,330,000		Regions Financial Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.250%, 5/18/2025	2,335,157
1,250,000		Truist Bank, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series BKNT, 1.500%, 3/10/2025	1,229,367
2,500,000		Truist Financial Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 1.200%, 8/5/2025	2,409,847
2,500,000		Truist Financial Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 1.267%, 3/2/2027	2,393,109
980,000		Truist Financial Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 2.750%, 4/1/2022	980,000
2,520,000		US Bancorp, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.450%, 5/12/2025	2,464,019
2,500,000		US Bancorp, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.400%, 7/30/2024	2,530,013
7,760,000	2	Wells Fargo & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.529% (3-month USLIBOR +1.230%), 10/31/2023	7,814,593
4,570,000		Wells Fargo & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.188%, 4/30/2026	4,511,877
1,000,000		Wells Fargo & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 3.000%, 2/19/2025	1,020,128
1,000,000		Wells Fargo & Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 3.750%, 1/24/2024	1,031,500
		TOTAL	117,785,166
		Financial Institution - Finance Companies—   0.8%
4,435,000		AerCap Ireland Capital Ltd. / AerCap Global Aviation Trust, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.750%, 1/30/2026	4,204,276
1,665,000		AerCap Ireland Capital Ltd. / AerCap Global Aviation Trust, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.450%, 10/29/2026	1,607,330
1,455,000		Air Lease Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 0.700%, 2/15/2024	1,410,629
3,500,000		Air Lease Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 2.875%, 1/15/2026	3,488,400
5,000,000		Fells Point Funding Trust, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.046%, 1/31/2027	4,958,028
		TOTAL	15,668,663
		Financial Institution - Insurance - Health—   0.6%
6,000,000		Anthem, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.500%, 3/15/2026	5,808,958
2,900,000		Centene Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.450%, 7/15/2028	2,736,208
2,000,000	2	CIGNA Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.131% (3-month USLIBOR +0.890%), 7/15/2023	2,019,715
271,000		CIGNA Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.750%, 7/15/2023	278,125
		TOTAL	10,843,006
		Financial Institution - Insurance - Life—   1.3%
1,000,000		AIA Group Ltd., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 3.200%, 3/11/2025	1,024,257
1,000,000		AIG Global Funding, Sr. Secd. Note, 144A, 0.450%, 12/8/2023	977,222
3,250,000		American International Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.500%, 6/30/2025	3,265,890
1,250,000		Mass Mutual Global Funding II, Sr. Secd. Note, 144A, 0.850%, 6/9/2023	1,238,803

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

10

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
	Financial Institution - Insurance - Life—   continued
$ 2,500,000	Met Life Global Funding I, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 0.400%, 1/7/2024	$    2,434,964
1,110,000	Met Life Global Funding I, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 0.900%, 6/8/2023	1,101,757
2,415,000	Northwestern Mutual Global, Sr. Secd. Note, 144A, 0.800%, 1/14/2026	2,298,608
2,500,000	Pacific Life Global Funding II, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 1.200%, 6/24/2025	2,415,427
3,000,000	Pacific Life Global Funding II, Term Loan - 2nd Lien, 144A, 0.500%, 9/23/2023	2,934,959
335,000	PRICOA Global Funding I, 144A, 2.450%, 9/21/2022	337,780
2,500,000	PRICOA Global Funding I, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 0.800%, 9/1/2025	2,379,805
1,000,000	PRICOA Global Funding I, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 3.450%, 9/1/2023	1,027,020
500,000	Principal Financial Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.300%, 9/15/2022	505,736
1,035,000	Principal Life Global Funding II, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 0.500%, 1/8/2024	1,008,083
2,000,000	Principal Life Global Funding II, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 1.250%, 6/23/2025	1,933,881
1,000,000	Principal Life Global Funding II, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 2.250%, 11/21/2024	1,001,078
	TOTAL	25,885,270
	Financial Institution - Insurance - P&C—   0.1%
750,000	Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 144A, 4.950%, 5/1/2022	754,824
500,000	Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 4.250%, 6/15/2023	515,731
	TOTAL	1,270,555
	Financial Institution - REIT - Other—   0.0%
300,000	WP Carey, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.600%, 4/1/2024	313,188
	Supranational—   0.1%
2,475,000	Corp Andina De Fomento, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.375%, 6/15/2022	2,493,967
	Technology—   1.1%
2,000,000	Apple, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.550%, 8/20/2025	1,905,037
1,000,000	Apple, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.125%, 5/11/2025	975,642
700,000	Apple, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.000%, 2/9/2024	717,277
2,000,000	Broadcom Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 3.625%, 1/15/2024	2,052,102
835,000	Broadcom, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.250%, 11/15/2023	838,834
1,000,000	Broadcom, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.150%, 11/15/2025	1,019,330
290,000	Broadcom, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.700%, 4/15/2025	308,801
2,520,000	CDW LLC / CDW Finance, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.670%, 12/1/2026	2,468,655
750,000	Dell International LLC / EMC Corp., 4.000%, 7/15/2024	778,722
3,450,000	Fiserv, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.750%, 7/1/2024	3,487,412
2,000,000	Oracle Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.650%, 3/25/2026	1,917,133
1,855,000	Oracle Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.500%, 4/1/2025	1,853,373
560,000	Salesforce.com, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.250%, 4/11/2023	571,683
535,000	Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.800%, 6/1/2026	511,356
150,000	Verisk Analytics, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.125%, 9/12/2022	152,442

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

11

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
	Technology—   continued
$ 2,660,000	VMware, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.400%, 8/15/2026	$    2,522,605
	TOTAL	22,080,404
	Technology Services—   0.3%
4,130,000	Fortinet, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.000%, 3/15/2026	3,874,590
3,000,000	Global Payments, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.650%, 2/15/2025	3,014,749
	TOTAL	6,889,339
	Transportation - Airlines—   0.1%
1,825,000	Southwest Airlines Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.750%, 5/4/2023	1,887,102
770,000	Southwest Airlines Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.250%, 5/4/2025	832,942
	TOTAL	2,720,044
	Transportation - Railroads—   0.1%
2,505,000	Canadian Pacific Railway Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.750%, 12/2/2026	2,431,031
	Transportation - Services—   0.7%
5,555,000	GXO Logistics, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.650%, 7/15/2026	5,287,461
6,755,000	Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP & PTL Finance Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.200%, 11/15/2025	6,407,955
1,735,000	Ryder System, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 1.750%, 9/1/2026	1,669,789
485,000	Ryder System, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series MTN, 2.875%, 6/1/2022	486,538
	TOTAL	13,851,743
	Utility - Electric—   2.4%
790,000	American Electric Power Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series N, 1.000%, 11/1/2025	748,363
2,060,000	Avangrid, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.200%, 4/15/2025	2,106,907
3,155,000	Black Hills Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.037%, 8/23/2024	3,066,654
2,690,000	CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.700%, 3/2/2023	2,662,694
610,000	Dominion Energy, Inc., Jr. Sub. Note, 3.071%, 8/15/2024	621,255
2,000,000	Dominion Energy, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series A, 3.300%, 3/15/2025	2,041,056
2,000,000	Duke Energy Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.750%, 4/15/2024	2,064,427
1,915,000	Emera US Finance LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.833%, 6/15/2024	1,847,904
2,665,000	Enel Finance International NV, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.375%, 7/12/2026	2,518,999
1,000,000	Enel Finance International NV, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 2.650%, 9/10/2024	1,005,415
5,000,000	EverSource Energy, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series Q, 0.800%, 8/15/2025	4,724,499
2,180,000	Exelon Generation Co. LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.250%, 6/1/2025	2,226,918
245,000	FirstEnergy Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series A, 1.600%, 1/15/2026	230,699
1,445,000	Florida Power & Light Co., Sec. Fac. Bond, 2.850%, 4/1/2025	1,476,449
460,000	National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.950%, 2/7/2024	467,749
3,935,000	NiSource, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.950%, 8/15/2025	3,719,471

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

12

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
	Utility - Electric—   continued
$ 2,095,000	OGE Energy Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.703%, 5/26/2023	$    2,063,983
2,695,000	Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 0.550%, 10/1/2025	2,527,156
4,080,000	Public Service Enterprises Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.800%, 8/15/2025	3,877,482
365,000	Public Service Enterprises Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.875%, 6/15/2024	372,305
1,000,000	Southern Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.950%, 7/1/2023	1,012,649
4,000,000	WEC Energy Group, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.550%, 9/15/2023	3,921,748
1,160,000	Xcel Energy, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.500%, 10/15/2023	1,136,700
	TOTAL	46,441,482
	Utility - Natural Gas—   0.7%
2,945,000	Atmos Energy Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 0.625%, 3/9/2023	2,912,569
255,000	Eastern Energy Gas Holdings, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series A, 2.500%, 11/15/2024	255,407
1,500,000	Enbridge, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 2.500%, 1/15/2025	1,503,026
1,200,000	National Fuel Gas Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 3.750%, 3/1/2023	1,215,203
1,985,000	National Fuel Gas Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.500%, 1/15/2026	2,152,260
5,000,000	ONE Gas, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 1.100%, 3/11/2024	4,892,137
	TOTAL	12,930,602
	Utility - Natural Gas Distributor—   0.1%
1,700,000	The East Ohio Gas Company, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 1.300%, 6/15/2025	1,642,503
	TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (IDENTIFIED COST $565,607,362)	550,699,721
	ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES—   4.2%
	Auto Receivables—   2.9%
1,940,000	AmeriCredit Automobile Receivables Trust 2020-2, Class A3, 0.660%, 12/18/2024	1,935,329
3,750,000	AmeriCredit Automobile Receivables Trust 2020-3, Class A3, 0.530%, 6/18/2025	3,734,639
2,345,225	BMW Vehicle Owner Trust 2020-A, Class A3, 0.480%, 10/25/2024	2,332,845
1,900,000	Fifth Third Auto Trust 2019-1, Class A4, 2.690%, 11/16/2026	1,920,394
487,218	Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust 2019-B, Class A3, 2.230%, 10/15/2023	488,800
2,425,000	General Motors 2019-1, Class A, 2.700%, 4/15/2024	2,431,325
3,200,000	General Motors 2020-1, Class A, 0.680%, 8/15/2025	3,149,460
4,650,000	General Motors 2020-2, Class A, 0.690%, 10/15/2025	4,598,234
1,225,377	GM Financial Automobile Leasing Trust 2020-2, Class A3, 0.800%, 7/20/2023	1,225,140
925,000	Honda Auto Receivables Owner Trust 2019-2, Class A4, 2.540%, 3/21/2025	933,326
2,250,000	Hyundai Auto Receivables Trust 2020-C, Class A3, 0.380%, 5/15/2025	2,218,841

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

13

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES—   continued
		Auto Receivables—   continued
$ 1,200,000		Mercedes-Benz Master Owner Trust 2019-BA, Class A, 2.610%, 5/15/2024	$    1,204,798
3,450,000	2	Navistar Financial Dealer Note Master Trust 2020-1, Class A, 1.137% (1-month USLIBOR +0.950%), 7/25/2025	3,455,582
1,309,390		Nissan Auto Receivables Owner Trust 2020-A, Class A3, 1.380%, 12/16/2024	1,308,875
2,582,376		Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Trust 2020-B, Class A3, 0.460%, 8/15/2024	2,578,965
2,000,000		Tesla Auto Lease Trust 2020-A, Class A3, 0.680%, 12/20/2023	1,992,606
4,000,000		Toyota Auto Receivables Owner Trust 2019-B, Class A4, 2.600%, 11/15/2024	4,046,337
769,442		Toyota Auto Receivables Owner Trust 2020-B, Class A3, 1.360%, 8/15/2024	769,966
6,375,000		Volkswagen Auto Lease Trust 2020-A, Class A3, 0.390%, 1/22/2024	6,348,797
1,600,000		World Omni Auto Receivables Trust 2019-B, Class A4, 2.640%, 6/16/2025	1,622,444
933,052		World Omni Auto Receivables Trust 2020-B, Class A3, 0.630%, 5/15/2025	929,064
7,500,000		World Omni Auto Receivables Trust 2020-C, Class A3, 0.480%, 11/17/2025	7,412,274
		TOTAL	56,638,041
		Communications - Telecom Wireless—   0.2%
5,000,000		Verizon Owner Trust 2020-C, Class A, 0.410%, 4/21/2025	4,949,572
		Credit Card—   0.1%
2,000,000		Master Credit Card Trust 2020-1A, Class A, 1.990%, 9/21/2024	2,013,497
		Equipment Lease—   0.7%
288,553		CNH Equipment Trust 2019-B, Class A3, 2.520%, 8/15/2024	290,086
3,400,000		Dell Equipment Finance Trust 2020-2, Class A3, 0.570%, 10/23/2023	3,383,593
1,650,000		John Deere Owner Trust 2019-B, Class A4, 2.320%, 5/15/2026	1,665,749
648,506		Kubota Credit Owner Trust 2020-1A, Class A3, 1.960%, 3/15/2024	649,580
1,875,000		MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2020-A, Class A3, 0.970%, 4/9/2027	1,830,060
5,500,000		MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2020-BA, Class A3, 0.490%, 8/14/2025	5,392,358
		TOTAL	13,211,426
		Other—   0.1%
2,125,000		PFS Financing Corp. 2020-G, Class A, 0.970%, 2/15/2026	2,092,477
		Student Loans—   0.2%
1,499,377		Navient Student Loan Trust 2020-GA, Class A, 1.170%, 9/16/2069	1,478,173
1,883,678		Navient Student Loan Trust 2020-HA, Class A, 1.310%, 1/15/2069	1,849,043
		TOTAL	3,327,216
		TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (IDENTIFIED COST $82,675,118)	82,232,229

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14

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS—   0.5%
		Commercial Mortgage—   0.5%
$ 1,750,000		Benchmark Mortgage Trust 2019-B12, Class A2, 3.001%, 8/15/2052	$    1,769,394
2,885,000		Benchmark Mortgage Trust 2021-B26, Class A2, 1.957%, 6/15/2054	2,831,779
1,300,000		Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust 2013-GC11, Class B, 3.732%, 4/10/2046	1,306,718
750,000		Commercial Mortgage Trust 2013-CR8, Class B, 3.928%, 6/10/2046	750,998
1,425,000		GS Mortgage Securities Trust 2019-GC39, Class A2, 3.457%, 5/10/2052	1,441,594
1,750,000		GS Mortgage Securities Trust 2019-GC40, Class A2, 2.971%, 7/10/2052	1,766,979
		TOTAL	9,867,462
		Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation—   0.0%
17,549	2	FHLMC REMIC, Series 3397, Class FC, 0.791% (1-month USLIBOR +0.600%), 12/15/2037	17,758
		TOTAL COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (IDENTIFIED COST $10,168,830)	9,885,220
		MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES—   0.1%
		Federal National Mortgage Association—   0.1%
751,720		FNMA, Pool AS2976, 4.000%, 8/1/2044	796,885
335,797		FNMA, Pool AW0029, 3.500%, 7/1/2044	351,282
		TOTAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (IDENTIFIED COST $1,136,768)	1,148,167
		INVESTMENT COMPANIES—   23.8%
15,941,841		Bank Loan Core Fund	151,766,328
5,127,566		Emerging Markets Core Fund	46,660,849
23,665,865		Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Value Obligations Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.07%3	23,661,132
9,420,676		High Yield Bond Core Fund	57,089,294
8,616,984		Mortgage Core Fund	81,861,353
11,641,294		Project and Trade Finance Core Fund	101,512,086
		TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (IDENTIFIED COST $473,071,844)	462,551,042
		TOTAL INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES—100.0% (IDENTIFIED COST $1,988,013,503)4	1,943,559,216
		OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - NET—(0.0)%5	(3,537)
		TOTAL NET ASSETS—100%	$1,943,555,679

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15

At February 28, 2022, the Fund had the following outstanding futures contracts:  

Description	Number of Contracts	Notional Value	Expiration Date	Value and Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)
Long Futures:
6United States Treasury Notes 5-Year Long Futures	725	$85,753,906	June 2022	$372,197
Short Futures:
6United States Treasury Notes 2-Year Short Futures	175	$37,664,648	June 2022	$(64,643)
NET UNREALIZED APPRECIATION ON FUTURES CONTRACTS				$307,554

Net Unrealized Appreciation on Futures Contracts is included in “Other Assets and Liabilities—Net.”

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16

 

[PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

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17

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 February 28, 2022, were as follows:  

Affiliates	Value as of 8/31/2021	Purchases at Cost	Proceeds from Sales
Bank Loan Core Fund	$152,725,702	$6,328,569	$(5,000,000)
Emerging Markets Core Fund	$71,882,612	$14,693,177	$(32,000,000)
Federated Hermes Government Obligations Fund, Premier Shares*	$1,986,555	$162,927,035	$(164,913,590)
Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Value Obligations Fund, Institutional Shares	$38,063,977	$382,328,905	$(396,728,333)
High Yield Bond Core Fund	$76,278,512	$9,558,926	$(25,000,000)
Mortgage Core Fund	$89,839,975	$21,004,398	$(25,000,000)
Project and Trade Finance Core Fund	$96,122,528	$7,117,892	$—
TOTAL OF AFFILIATED TRANSACTIONS	$526,899,861	$603,958,902	$(648,641,923)

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18

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ Depreciation	Net Realized Gain/ (Loss)	Value as of 2/28/2022	Shares Held as of 2/28/2022	Dividend Income	Gain Distributions Received
$(1,916,680)	$(371,263)	$151,766,328	15,941,841	$3,828,385	$—
$(5,692,150)	$(2,222,790)	$46,660,849	5,127,566	$2,193,020	$—
N/A	N/A	$—	—	$395	$—
$(354)	$(3,063)	$23,661,132	23,665,865	$7,809	$1,885
$(3,482,987)	$(265,157)	$57,089,294	9,420,676	$2,058,722	$—
$(2,925,804)	$(1,057,216)	$81,861,353	8,616,984	$1,004,398	$—
$(1,728,334)	$—	$101,512,086	11,641,294	$2,118,513	$—
$(15,746,309)	$(3,919,489)	$462,551,042	74,414,226	$11,211,242	$1,885

 

* All or a portion of the balance/activity for the fund relates to cash collateral received on securities lending transactions.

 

1	Includes U.S. Treasuries pledged as collateral to ensure the Fund is able to satisfy the obligations of its outstanding futures contracts.
2	Floating/variable note with current rate and current maturity or next reset date shown.
3	7-day net yield.
4	Also represents cost of investments for federal tax purposes.
5	Assets, other than investments in securities, less liabilities. See Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
6	Non-income-producing security.

Note: The categories of investments are shown as a percentage of total net assets at February 28, 2022.

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.

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

19

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of February 28, 2022, in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value:  

Valuation Inputs
	Level 1— Quoted Prices	Level 2— Other Significant Observable Inputs	Level 3— Significant Unobservable Inputs	Total
Debt Securities:
U.S. Treasury Securities	$—	$837,042,837	$—	$837,042,837
Corporate Bonds	—	550,699,721	—	550,699,721
Asset-Backed Securities	—	82,232,229	—	82,232,229
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations	—	9,885,220	—	9,885,220
Mortgage-Backed Securities	—	1,148,167	—	1,148,167
Investment Companies1	361,038,956	—	—	462,551,042
TOTAL SECURITIES	$361,038,956	$1,481,008,174	$—	$1,943,559,216
Other Financial Instruments:2
Assets	$372,197	$—	$—	$372,197
Liabilities	(64,643)	—	—	(64,643)
TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	$307,554	$—	$—	$307,554

 

1

As permitted by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), an Investment Company valued at $101,512,086 is measured at fair value using the net asset value (NAV) per share practical expedient and has not been categorized in the chart above but is included in the Total column. The price of shares redeemed of Project and Trade Finance Core Fund may be determined as of the closing NAV of the fund up to twenty-four days after receipt of a shareholder redemption request.

2

Other financial instruments are futures contracts.

 

The following acronym(s) are used throughout this portfolio:
BKNT	—Bank Notes
FHLMC	—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
FNMA	—Federal National Mortgage Association
LIBOR	—London Interbank Offered Rate
MTN	—Medium Term Note
REIT	—Real Estate Investment Trust
REMIC	—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

20

Financial Highlights–Class A Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period) 

	Six Months Ended (unaudited) 2/28/2022	Year Ended August 31,
		2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period	$10.69	$10.73	$10.45	$10.13	$10.37	$10.43
Income From Investment Operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.07	0.11	0.18	0.22	0.191	0.18
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(0.33)	(0.04)	0.28	0.32	(0.24)	(0.06)
Total From Investment Operations	(0.26)	0.07	0.46	0.54	(0.05)	0.12
Less Distributions:
Distributions from net investment income	(0.07)	(0.11)	(0.18)	(0.22)	(0.19)	(0.18)
Net Asset Value, End of Period	$10.36	$10.69	$10.73	$10.45	$10.13	$10.37
Total Return2	(2.48)%	0.68%	4.41%	5.35%	(0.44)%	1.16%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
Net expenses3	0.62%4	0.62%	0.62%	0.62%	0.63%	0.61%
Net investment income	1.26%4	1.06%	1.18%	2.10%	1.89%	1.73%
Expense waiver/reimbursement5	0.07%4	0.08%	0.20%	0.17%	0.15%	0.16%
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)	$1,029,906	$1,420,469	$835,680	$23,774	$25,078	$27,334
Portfolio turnover6	12%	19%	20%	33%	27%	11%

 

1	Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
2	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.
3	Amount does not reflect net expenses incurred by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
4	Computed on an annualized basis.
5	This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income ratios shown above. Amount does not reflect expense waiver/reimbursement recorded by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
6	Securities that mature are considered sales for purposes of this calculation.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

21

Financial Highlights–Institutional Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period) 

	Six Months Ended (unaudited) 2/28/2022	Year Ended August 31,
		2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period	$10.69	$10.72	$10.45	$10.13	$10.37	$10.43
Income From Investment Operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.08	0.14	0.20	0.24	0.221	0.20
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(0.33)	(0.03)	0.27	0.32	(0.24)	(0.06)
Total From Investment Operations	(0.25)	0.11	0.47	0.56	(0.02)	0.14
Less Distributions:
Distributions from net investment income	(0.08)	(0.14)	(0.20)	(0.24)	(0.22)	(0.20)
Net Asset Value, End of Period	$10.36	$10.69	$10.72	$10.45	$10.13	$10.37
Total Return2	(2.35)%	1.03%	4.58%	5.61%	(0.19)%	1.41%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
Net expenses3	0.37%4	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%	0.38%	0.36%
Net investment income	1.52%4	1.31%	1.87%	2.36%	2.15%	1.98%
Expense waiver/reimbursement5	0.09%4	0.10%	0.16%	0.15%	0.16%	0.20%
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)	$709,655	$560,396	$449,201	$289,131	$278,385	$266,383
Portfolio turnover6	12%	19%	20%	33%	27%	11%

 

1	Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
2	Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.
3	Amount does not reflect net expenses incurred by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
4	Computed on an annualized basis.
5	This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income ratios shown above. Amount does not reflect expense waiver/reimbursement recorded by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
6	Securities that mature are considered sales for purposes of this calculation.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

22

Financial Highlights–Service Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period) 

	Six Months Ended (unaudited) 2/28/2022	Year Ended August 31,
		2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period	$10.68	$10.72	$10.44	$10.12	$10.36	$10.42
Income From Investment Operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.07	0.11	0.19	0.21	0.191	0.18
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(0.33)	(0.04)	0.27	0.32	(0.24)	(0.06)
Total From Investment Operations	(0.26)	0.07	0.46	0.53	(0.05)	0.12
Less Distributions:
Distributions from net investment income	(0.07)	(0.11)	(0.18)	(0.21)	(0.19)	(0.18)
Net Asset Value, End of Period	$10.35	$10.68	$10.72	$10.44	$10.12	$10.36
Total Return2	(2.48)%	0.68%	4.42%	5.35%	(0.43)%	1.16%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
Net expenses3	0.62%4	0.62%	0.62%	0.62%	0.63%	0.61%
Net investment income	1.26%4	1.05%	1.62%	2.10%	1.84%	1.72%
Expense waiver/reimbursement5	0.10%4	0.11%	0.17%	0.15%	0.16%	0.18%
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)	$15,627	$17,757	$18,388	$12,477	$12,525	$34,375
Portfolio turnover6	12%	19%	20%	33%	27%	11%

 

1	Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
2	Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.
3	Amount does not reflect net expenses incurred by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
4	Computed on an annualized basis.
5	This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income ratios shown above. Amount does not reflect expense waiver/reimbursement recorded by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
6	Securities that mature are considered sales for purposes of this calculation.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

23

Financial Highlights–Class R6 Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period) 

	Six Months Ended (unaudited) 2/28/2022	Year Ended August 31,
		2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period	$10.69	$10.72	$10.45	$10.13	$10.37	$10.43
Income From Investment Operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.08	0.14	0.20	0.24	0.221	0.21
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(0.33)	(0.03)	0.27	0.32	(0.24)	(0.06)
Total From Investment Operations	(0.25)	0.11	0.47	0.56	(0.02)	0.15
Less Distributions:
Distributions from net investment income	(0.08)	(0.14)	(0.20)	(0.24)	(0.22)	(0.21)
Net Asset Value, End of Period	$10.36	$10.69	$10.72	$10.45	$10.13	$10.37
Total Return2	(2.35)%	1.04%	4.59%	5.62%	(0.18)%	1.42%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
Net expenses3	0.36%4	0.36%	0.36%	0.36%	0.37%	0.35%
Net investment income	1.53%4	1.33%	1.87%	2.37%	2.16%	2.00%
Expense waiver/reimbursement5	0.06%4	0.06%	0.13%	0.12%	0.12%	0.15%
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)	$188,367	$179,432	$76,732	$48,105	$28,523	$28,306
Portfolio turnover6	12%	19%	20%	33%	27%	11%

 

1	Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
2	Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.
3	Amount does not reflect net expenses incurred by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
4	Computed on an annualized basis.
5	This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income ratios shown above. Amount does not reflect expense waiver/reimbursement recorded by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
6	Securities that mature are considered sales for purposes of this calculation.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

24

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
February 28, 2022 (unaudited)

 

Assets:
Investment in securities, at value including $462,551,042 of investment in affiliated holdings* (identified cost $1,988,013,503)	$1,943,559,216
Income receivable	4,031,394
Income receivable from affiliated holdings	1,566,275
Receivable for investments sold	1,502,423
Receivable for shares sold	985,299
Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts	488,681
Total Assets	1,952,133,288
Liabilities:
Payable for investments purchased	1,560,219
Payable for shares redeemed	4,916,836
Bank overdraft	1,506,531
Income distribution payable	132,423
Payable to adviser (Note 5)	12,765
Payable for administrative fee (Note 5)	4,158
Payable for Directors’/Trustees’ fees (Note 5)	717
Payable for other service fees (Notes 2 and 5)	201,110
Accrued expenses (Note 5)	242,850
Total Liabilities	8,577,609
Net assets for 187,551,156 shares outstanding	$1,943,555,679
Net Assets Consist of:
Paid-in capital	$2,000,027,707
Total distributable earnings (loss)	(56,472,028)
Total Net Assets	$1,943,555,679

Semi-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 ($1,029,906,343 ÷ 99,365,434 shares outstanding), no par value, unlimited shares authorized	$10.36
Offering price per share (100/99.00 of $10.36)	$10.46
Redemption proceeds per share	$10.36
Institutional Shares:
Net asset value per share ($709,655,003 ÷ 68,493,753 shares outstanding), no par value, unlimited shares authorized	$10.36
Offering price per share	$10.36
Redemption proceeds per share	$10.36
Service Shares:
Net asset value per share ($15,627,156 ÷ 1,509,391 shares outstanding), no par value, unlimited shares authorized	$10.35
Offering price per share	$10.35
Redemption proceeds per share	$10.35
Class R6 Shares:
Net asset value per share ($188,367,177 ÷ 18,182,578 shares outstanding), no par value, unlimited shares authorized	$10.36
Offering price per share	$10.36
Redemption proceeds per share	$10.36

 

* See information listed after the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

26

Statement of Operations
Six Months Ended February 28, 2022 (unaudited)

 

Investment Income:
Dividends received from affiliated holdings*	$11,210,847
Interest	8,246,435
Net income on securities loaned (includes $395 earned from affiliated holdings* related to cash collateral balances) (Note 2)	3,330
TOTAL INCOME	19,460,612
Expenses:
Investment adviser fee (Note 5)	3,092,682
Administrative fee (Note 5)	809,606
Custodian fees	32,499
Transfer agent fees (Note 2)	359,858
Directors’/Trustees’ fees (Note 5)	6,674
Auditing fees	15,876
Legal fees	4,090
Portfolio accounting fees	114,250
Other service fees (Notes 2 and 5)	1,617,151
Share registration costs	158,997
Printing and postage	29,228
Miscellaneous (Note 5)	13,776
TOTAL EXPENSES	6,254,687
Waiver and Reimbursements:
Waiver/reimbursement of investment adviser fee (Note 5)	(597,234)
Reimbursement of other operating expenses (Notes 2 and 5)	(184,557)
TOTAL WAIVER AND REIMBURSEMENTS	(781,791)
Net expenses	5,472,896
Net investment income	13,987,716
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Futures Contracts:
Net realized loss on investments (including net realized loss of $(3,919,489) on sales of investments in affiliated holdings*)	(3,429,935)
Net realized loss on futures contracts	(394,691)
Realized gain distribution from affiliated investment company shares	1,885
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments (including net change in unrealized appreciation of $(15,746,309) on investments in affiliated holdings*)	(59,111,749)
Net change in unrealized appreciation of futures contracts	300,997
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and futures contracts	(62,633,493)
Change in net assets resulting from operations	$(48,645,777)

 

* See information listed after the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

27

Statement of Changes in Net Assets 

 

	Six Months Ended (unaudited) 2/28/2022	Year Ended 8/31/2021
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:
Net investment income	$13,987,716	$22,494,699
Net realized gain (loss)	(3,822,741)	(1,259,843)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation	(58,810,752)	(5,838,462)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS	(48,645,777)	15,396,394
Distributions to Shareholders:
Class A Shares	(8,054,968)	(13,741,246)
Institutional Shares	(4,422,179)	(7,128,308)
Service Shares	(102,211)	(193,588)
Class R6 Shares	(1,409,371)	(1,459,522)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS	(13,988,729)	(22,522,664)
Share Transactions:
Proceeds from sale of shares	561,272,009	1,974,878,520
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in payment of distributions declared	13,089,863	21,939,823
Cost of shares redeemed	(746,225,856)	(1,191,638,505)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM SHARE TRANSACTIONS	(171,863,984)	805,179,838
Change in net assets	(234,498,490)	798,053,568
Net Assets:
Beginning of period	2,178,054,169	1,380,000,601
End of period	$1,943,555,679	$2,178,054,169

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

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Notes to Financial Statements

February 28, 2022 (unaudited)

1. ORGANIZATION

Federated Hermes Institutional Trust (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 three diversified portfolios. The financial statements included herein are only those of Federated Hermes Short-Intermediate Total Return Bond Fund (the “Fund”). 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 four classes of shares: Class A Shares, Institutional Shares, Service Shares, and Class R6 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 provide total return.

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 GAAP.

Investment Valuation

In calculating its NAV, the Fund generally values investments as follows:

◾

Fixed-income securities are fair valued using price evaluations provided by a pricing service approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”).

◾

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 asked quotations.

◾

Over-the-counter (OTC) derivative contracts are fair valued using price evaluations provided by a pricing service approved by the Trustees.

◾

For securities that are fair valued in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees, 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 Fund’s valuation policies and procedures, or if information furnished by a pricing service, in the opinion of the valuation committee (“Valuation Committee”), is deemed not representative of the fair value of such security, the Fund

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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

The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for determining the fair value of investments for which market quotations are not readily available. The Trustees have appointed a Valuation Committee comprised of officers of the Fund, Federated Investment Management Company (the “Adviser”) and certain of the Adviser’s affiliated companies to assist in determining fair value and in overseeing the calculation of the NAV. The Trustees have also authorized the use of pricing services recommended by the Valuation Committee 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 Trustees. The Trustees periodically review and approve the fair valuations made by the Valuation Committee and any changes made to the procedures.

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 asked 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 Trustees.

The Trustees also have adopted procedures requiring an investment to be priced at its fair value whenever the Adviser 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;

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◾

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 Trustees have 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 Fund will determine the fair value of the investment in accordance with the fair valuation procedures approved by the Trustees. The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for any fair valuations made in response to a significant event.

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 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. Positive or negative inflation adjustments on Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities are included in interest income.

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Distributions of net investment income, if any, are declared daily and paid monthly. 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. Gains and losses realized on principal payment of mortgage-backed securities (paydown gains and losses) are classified as part of 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 reimbursements of $781,791 is disclosed in various locations in this Note 2 and 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.

Transfer Agent Fees

For the six months ended February 28, 2022, transfer agent fees for the Fund were as follows:  

	Transfer Agent Fees Incurred	Transfer Agent Fees Reimbursed
Class A Shares	$196,807	$(83,141)
Institutional Shares	150,580	(97,815)
Service Shares	5,168	(3,601)
Class R6 Shares	7,303	—
TOTAL	$359,858	$(184,557)

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 and Service Shares to unaffiliated 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 six months ended February 28, 2022, other service fees for the Fund were as follows:  

	Other Service Fees Incurred
Class A Shares	$1,596,968
Service Shares	20,183
TOTAL	$1,617,151

Federal Taxes

It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the Subchapter M provision of the Internal Revenue Code (the “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 six months ended February 28, 2022, the Fund did not have a liability for any uncertain tax positions. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to tax

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liabilities as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. As of February 28, 2022, tax years 2018 through 2021 remain subject to examination by the Fund’s major tax jurisdictions, which include the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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.

Futures Contracts

The Fund purchases and sells financial futures contracts to manage duration risk and yield curve risk. Upon entering into a financial futures contract with a broker, the Fund is required to deposit with a broker, either U.S. government securities or a specified amount of cash, which is shown as due from broker in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are valued daily and unrealized gains or losses are recorded in a “variation margin” account. The Fund receives from or pays to the broker a specified amount of cash based upon changes in the variation margin account. When a contract is closed, the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss. Futures contracts have market risks, including the risk that the change in the value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in the value of the underlying securities. There is minimal counterparty risk to the Fund since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures contracts, guarantees the futures contracts against default.

Futures contracts outstanding at period end are listed after the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.

The average notional value of long and short futures contracts held by the Fund throughout the period was $87,357,777 and $39,119,675, respectively. This is based on amounts held as of each month-end throughout the six-month period.

Additional Disclosure Related to Derivative Instruments  

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
	Assets
	Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location	Fair Value
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments under ASC Topic 815
Interest rate contracts	Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts	$307,554*

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation of futures contracts as reported in the footnotes to the Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

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The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Operations for the Six Months Ended February 28, 2022  

Amount of Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income
	Futures Contracts
Interest rate contracts	$(394,691)

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income
	Futures Contracts
Interest rate contracts	$300,997

Securities Lending

The Fund participates in a securities lending program providing for the lending of corporate bonds and government securities to qualified brokers. The term of the loans within the program is one year or less. The Fund normally receives cash collateral for securities loaned that is invested in an affiliated money market fund or in affiliated money market funds, other money market instruments and/or repurchase agreements. Investments in money market funds may include funds with a “floating” NAV that can impose redemption fees and liquidity gates, impose certain operational impediments to investing cash collateral, and, if the investee fund’s NAV decreases, result in the Fund recognizing losses and being required to cover the decrease in the value of the cash collateral. Collateral is maintained at a minimum level of 100% of the market value of investments loaned, plus interest, if applicable. In accordance with the Fund’s securities lending agreement, the market value of securities on loan is determined each day at the close of business and any additional collateral required to cover the value of securities on loan is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. Earnings on collateral are allocated between the borrower of the security, the securities lending agent, as a fee for its services under the program and the Fund, according to agreed-upon rates. The Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan. However, the Fund will attempt to terminate a loan in an effort to reacquire the securities in time to vote on matters that are deemed to be material by the Adviser. There can be no assurance that the Fund will have sufficient notice of such matters to be able to terminate the loan in time to vote thereon.

As of February 28, 2022, the Fund had no outstanding securities on loan.

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

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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 Trustees.

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:  

	Six Months Ended 2/28/2022		Year Ended 8/31/2021
Class A Shares:	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	21,144,208	$224,262,277	135,470,573	$1,451,321,741
Shares issued to shareholders in payment of distributions declared	762,635	8,037,467	1,281,270	13,710,828
Shares redeemed	(55,401,095)	(584,194,335)	(81,789,712)	(875,338,258)
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM CLASS A SHARE TRANSACTIONS	(33,494,252)	$(351,894,591)	54,962,131	$589,694,311
	Six Months Ended 2/28/2022		Year Ended 8/31/2021
Institutional Shares:	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	27,687,222	$289,676,481	34,799,026	$372,399,483
Shares issued to shareholders in payment of distributions declared	398,831	4,197,866	649,384	6,947,901
Shares redeemed	(12,025,110)	(126,891,912)	(24,900,567)	(266,344,034)
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM INSTITUTIONAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS	16,060,943	$166,982,435	10,547,843	$113,003,350
	Six Months Ended 2/28/2022		Year Ended 8/31/2021
Service Shares:	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	171,063	$1,801,657	539,616	$5,768,663
Shares issued to shareholders in payment of distributions declared	9,627	101,280	17,930	191,703
Shares redeemed	(334,148)	(3,535,805)	(610,616)	(6,523,077)
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM SERVICE SHARE TRANSACTIONS	(153,458)	$(1,632,868)	(53,070)	$(562,711)

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	Six Months Ended 2/28/2022		Year Ended 8/31/2021
Class R6 Shares:	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	4,322,182	$45,531,594	13,592,153	$145,388,633
Shares issued to shareholders in payment of distributions declared	71,574	753,250	101,839	1,089,391
Shares redeemed	(3,001,855)	(31,603,804)	(4,059,399)	(43,433,136)
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM CLASS R6 SHARE TRANSACTIONS	1,391,901	$14,681,040	9,634,593	$103,044,888
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM TOTAL FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS	(16,194,866)	$(171,863,984)	75,091,497	$805,179,838

4. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

At February 28, 2022, the cost of investments for federal tax purposes was $1,988,013,503. The net unrealized depreciation of investments for federal tax purposes was $44,454,287. This consists of net unrealized appreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of value over cost of $4,346,036 and net unrealized depreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of cost over value of $48,800,323. The amounts presented are inclusive of derivative contracts.

As of August 31, 2021, the Fund had a capital loss carryforward of $8,138,239 which will reduce the Fund’s taxable income arising from future net realized gains on investments, if any, to the extent permitted by the Code, thereby reducing the amount of distributions to shareholders which would otherwise be necessary to relieve the Fund of any liability for federal income tax. Pursuant to the Code, these net capital losses retain their character as either short-term or long-term and do not expire.

The following schedule summarizes the Fund’s capital loss carryforwards: 

Short-Term	Long-Term	Total
$4,273,984	$3,864,255	$8,138,239

At August 31, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, the Fund had $349,335 in straddle loss deferrals.

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 0.30% 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 six months ended February 28, 2022, the Adviser voluntarily waived $590,005 of its fee and voluntarily reimbursed $184,557 of transfer agent fees.

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 six months ended February 28, 2022, the Adviser reimbursed $7,229.

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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 six months ended February 28, 2022, the annualized fee paid to FAS was 0.079% of average daily net assets of the Fund.

In addition, FAS may charge certain out-of-pocket expenses to the Fund.

Distribution Services Fee

The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. Under the terms of the Plan, the Fund will compensate Federated Securities Corp. (FSC), the principal distributor, from the daily net assets of the Fund’s Class A Shares to finance activities intended to result in the sale of these shares. The Plan provides that the Fund may incur distribution expenses at 0.05% of average daily net assets, annually, to compensate FSC. Subject to the terms described in the Expense Limitation note, FSC may voluntarily choose to waive any portion of its fee.

When FSC receives fees, it may pay some or all of them to financial intermediaries whose customers purchase shares. For the six months ended February 28, 2022, the Fund’s Class A Shares did not incur a distribution services fee; however, it may begin to incur this fee upon approval of the Trustees.

Sales Charges

Front-end sales charges do not represent expenses of the Fund.

They are deducted from the proceeds of sales of Fund shares prior to investment. For the six months ended February 28, 2022, FSC retained $1,632 in sales charges from the sale of Class A Shares.

Other Service Fees

For the six months ended February 28, 2022, FSSC received $755 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 interest expense, extraordinary expenses and proxy-related expenses paid by the Fund, if any) paid by the Fund’s Class A Shares, Institutional Shares, Service Shares and Class R6 Shares (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 0.62%, 0.37%, 0.62% and 0.36% (the “Fee Limit”),

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respectively, up to but not including the later of (the “Termination Date”): (a) November 1, 2022; 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 six months ended February 28, 2022, were as follows:  

Purchases	$87,429,411
Sales	$270,232,373

7. 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 23, 2021. 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 the highest, on any day, of (a) (i) the federal funds effective rate, (ii) the one month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), or a replacement rate as appropriate, 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 February 28, 2022, the Fund had no outstanding loans. During the six months ended February 28, 2022, the Fund did not utilize the LOC.

8. 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 February 28, 2022, there were no outstanding loans. During the six months ended February 28, 2022, the program was not utilized.

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9. 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 closing 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 may continue for an extended period of time and 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. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2021-01 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)”. ASU No. 2021-01 updates and clarifies ASU No. 2020-04, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates. The temporary relief provided by ASU No. 2021-01 is effective immediately for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur through December 31, 2022. Management does not expect ASU No. 2021-01 to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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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 September 1, 2021 to February 28, 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.

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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 9/1/2021	Ending Account Value 2/28/2022	Expenses Paid During Period1
Actual:
Class A Shares	$1,000	$975.20	$3.04
Institutional Shares	$1,000	$976.50	$1.81
Service Shares	$1,000	$975.20	$3.04
Class R6 Shares	$1,000	$976.50	$1.76
Hypothetical (assuming a 5% return before expenses):
Class A Shares	$1,000	$1,021.72	$3.11
Institutional Shares	$1,000	$1,022.96	$1.86
Service Shares	$1,000	$1,021.72	$3.11
Class R6 Shares	$1,000	$1,023.01	$1.81

 

1 Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half-year period). The annualized net expense ratios are as follows:

 

Class A Shares	0.62%
Institutional Shares	0.37%
Service Shares	0.62%
Class R6 Shares	0.36%

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41

Evaluation and Approval of Advisory Contract–May 2021

Federated Hermes Short-Intermediate Total Return Bond Fund (the “Fund”)

At its meetings in May 2021 (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 Investment Management Company (the “Adviser”) (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 on behalf of the Independent Trustees encompassing a wide variety of topics, including those summarized below. The Board also considered such additional

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matters as the Independent Trustees deemed 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 Adviser’s investment philosophy, revenue, profitability, personnel and processes; investment and operating 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) and comments on the reasons for the Fund’s performance; the Fund’s investment objectives; the Fund’s 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 use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities (if any); and the nature, quality and extent of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates. The Board also considered the preferences and expectations of Fund shareholders; the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by the Adviser in sponsoring and managing the Fund; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry and market practices; the range of comparable fees for similar funds in the mutual fund industry; the Fund’s relationship to the other funds advised by Federated Hermes (each, a “Federated Hermes Fund” and, collectively, the “Federated Hermes Funds”), which include a comprehensive array of funds with different investment objectives, policies and strategies, and 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; compliance and audit reports concerning the Federated Hermes Funds and Federated Hermes’ affiliates that service them (including communications from regulatory agencies), as well as Federated Hermes’ responses to any issues raised therein; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Federated Hermes Funds and/or Federated Hermes may be responding to them. The Board noted that its evaluation process is evolutionary and that the criteria considered and the emphasis placed on relevant criteria may change in recognition of changing circumstances in the mutual fund marketplace.

The Board also considered judicial decisions concerning allegedly excessive investment advisory fees 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 an adviser to a fund and its shareholders (including the performance of the

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fund, its benchmark, and comparable funds); (2) an adviser’s cost of providing the services (including the profitability to an adviser of providing advisory services to a fund); (3) the extent to which an adviser may realize “economies of scale” as a fund grows larger and, if such economies of scale exist, whether they have been appropriately shared with a fund and its shareholders or the family of funds; (4) any “fall-out” benefits that accrue to an adviser because of its relationship with a fund (including research services received from brokers that execute fund trades and any fees paid to affiliates of an adviser for services rendered to a fund); (5) comparative fee and expense structures (including a comparison of fees paid to an 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 an adviser’s services and fees). The Board noted that the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) disclosure requirements 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 Federated Hermes Funds.

In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board was mindful of 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 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 Independent Trustees were assisted throughout the evaluation process by independent legal counsel. In connection

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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 Federated Hermes Funds family, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis.

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 the Adviser and its affiliates 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 the Adviser and its affiliates. The Board considered the Adviser’s personnel, investment philosophy and process, investment research capabilities and resources, trade execution 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 the Adviser’s ability and experience in attracting and retaining qualified personnel to service the Fund. The Fund’s ability to deliver competitive performance when compared to its Performance Peer Group (as defined below) was also deemed to be relevant by the Board as 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 in 2018, 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 the quality of the Adviser’s 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 the Adviser’s communications with the Board in light of the market volatility amidst the pandemic. The Board also considered that Federated Hermes is responsible for providing the Federated Hermes Funds’ officers.

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The Board received and evaluated information regarding the Adviser’s regulatory and compliance environment. The Board considered the Adviser’s compliance program, compliance history, and reports from the CCO about the Adviser’s 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, in particular, the compliance-related resources devoted by the Adviser and its affiliates in support of the Fund’s obligations pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, including the Adviser’s commitment to respond to rulemaking and other regulatory initiatives of the SEC. The Board considered Federated Hermes’ 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 discussions with Federated Hermes regarding the implementation of its 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.

Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the Adviser’s investment management and related services warrant the continuation of the Contract.

Fund Investment Performance

In evaluating the Fund’s investment performance, the Board considered performance results in light of the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and risks, as disclosed in the Fund’s prospectus. The Board also 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 gross and net returns, the Fund’s investment performance compared to one or more relevant investment categories and the Fund’s benchmark index, portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of current and recent market conditions.

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The Board also reviewed comparative information regarding the performance of other mutual funds in the category of peer funds selected by Morningstar, Inc. (the “Morningstar”), an independent fund ranking organization (the “Performance Peer Group”), noting 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.

For the one-year, three-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2020, the Fund’s performance was above the median of the relevant Performance Peer Group.

Following such evaluation and full deliberations, the Board concluded that the performance of the Fund supported renewal of the Contract.

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”). 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 deliberations. The Board focused on comparisons with other similar mutual funds more heavily than non-mutual fund products or services because such comparisons are believed to be more relevant. The Board considered that other mutual 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 mutual funds’ fees and expenses, therefore, appears to be a relevant indicator of what consumers have found to be reasonable in the marketplace in which the Fund competes.

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The Board reviewed the contractual advisory fee rate, net 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-mutual fund clients (such as institutional separate accounts) and third-party unaffiliated mutual funds for which the Adviser or its affiliates serve as sub-adviser. The Board noted the CCO’s conclusion that non-mutual 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, addressing different administrative responsibilities, and addressing different degrees of risk associated with management; and (vi) 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 mutual fund business versus managing a discrete pool of assets as a sub-adviser to another institution’s mutual 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 unaffiliated third-party mutual 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.

Following such evaluation and full deliberations, the Board concluded that the fees and expenses of the Fund are reasonable and supported renewal of the Contract.

Profitability and Other Benefits

The Board also received financial information about Federated Hermes, including information regarding the compensation and ancillary (or “fall-out”) benefits that Federated Hermes derived from its relationships with the Federated Hermes Funds. This information covered not only the fees under the Federated Hermes Funds’ investment advisory contracts, but also fees received by Federated Hermes’ affiliates for providing other services to the Federated Hermes Funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the

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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 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. In addition, the Board considered that, in order for the Federated Hermes Funds to remain competitive in the marketplace, the Adviser and its affiliates frequently waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses and have disclosed to Federated Hermes Fund shareholders and/or reported to the Board their intention to do so (or continue to do so) in the future. Moreover, the Board received and considered regular reports from Federated Hermes throughout the year as to the institution, adjustment or elimination of these voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements.

The Board received and considered information furnished by Federated Hermes, as requested by the CCO, that reported revenues on a fund-by-fund basis and made estimates of the allocation of expenses 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 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. The allocation information, including the CCO’s view that cost allocations on a fund-by-fund basis may be unreliable, was considered in the evaluation by the Board. 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.

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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 and processes for the portfolio management (including market data on which portfolio managers make investment decisions), trading operations, issuer engagement (including with respect to ESG matters), shareholder services, compliance, business continuity, internal audit and risk management functions, as well as systems technology (including technology relating to cybersecurity) and use of data. 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 (as well as the benefits of any economies of scale, should they exist) are likely to be shared with the family of Federated Hermes Funds as a whole. In addition, the Board considered that the Adviser and its affiliates have frequently waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses for the Federated Hermes Funds and that such waivers and 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 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 the beliefs of Federated Hermes and the CCO 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 determine the appropriateness 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 common industry practice or general pattern with respect to structuring fund advisory fees with “breakpoints” that serve to reduce the fees as a fund attains a certain size.

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 was 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

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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 Institutional Trust (the “Trust”) has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) for Federated Hermes Short-Intermediate Total Return Bond 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 the Fund’s investment adviser as the administrator for the Program with respect to the Fund (the “Administrator”). Each affiliated Federated Hermes advisory subsidiary (including the Fund’s investment adviser) that serves as investment adviser to a Federated Hermes Fund (including the Fund) has been approved as the administrator of the Program with respect to each Federated Hermes Fund that is managed by such advisory subsidiary (collectively, the “Administrator”). 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 2021, 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, 2020 through March 31, 2021 (the “Period”). The Report addressed the operation of the

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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 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 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; and

◾ liquidity events during the Period, including the impact on liquidity caused by extended non-U.S. market closures and the March-April 2020 market conditions, and the fact that there were no specific liquidity events during the Period that materially affected the Fund’s liquidity risk.

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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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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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.

 
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT FUND DOCUMENT DELIVERY 

In an effort to reduce costs and avoid duplicate mailings, the Fund(s) intend to deliver a single copy of certain documents to each household in which more than one shareholder of the Fund(s) resides (so-called “householding”), as permitted by applicable rules. The Fund’s “householding” program covers its/their Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and supplements to each, as well as Semi-Annual and Annual Shareholder Reports and any Proxies or information statements. Shareholders must give their written consent to participate in the “householding” program. The Fund is also permitted to treat a shareholder as having given consent (“implied consent”) if (i) shareholders with the same last name, or believed to be members of the same family, reside at the same street address or receive mail at the same post office box, (ii) the Fund gives notice of its intent to “household” at least sixty (60) days before it begins “householding” and (iii) none of the shareholders in the household have notified the Fund(s) or their agent of the desire to “opt out” of “householding.” Shareholders who have granted written consent, or have been deemed to have granted implied consent, can revoke that consent and opt out of “householding” at any time: shareholders who purchased shares through an intermediary should contact their representative; other shareholders may call the Fund at 1-800-341-7400, Option #4.

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Federated Hermes Short-Intermediate Total Return Bond Fund
Federated Hermes Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086-7561

Contact us atFederatedInvestors.com
or call 1-800-341-7400.

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

CUSIP 31420B870
CUSIP 31420B607
CUSIP 31420B508
CUSIP 31420B862

34586 (4/22)

© 2022 Federated Hermes, Inc.

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics

Not Applicable

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert

Not Applicable

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Not Applicable

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 7Management 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 Institutional Trust

By /S/ Lori A. Hensler

Lori A. Hensler

Principal Financial Officer

Date April 22, 2022

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 April 22, 2022

By /S/ Lori A. Hensler

Lori A. Hensler

Principal Financial Officer

Date April 22, 2022