N-CSR 1 form.htm Federated Investors, Inc.

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form N-CSR

Certified Shareholder Report of Registered Management Investment Companies

 

 

 

 

811-22217

 

(Investment Company Act File Number)

 

Federated Core Trust III

_______________________________________________________________

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Federated Investors Funds

4000 Ericsson Drive

Warrendale, Pennsylvania 15086-7561

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

(412) 288-1900

(Registrant's Telephone Number)

 

 

John W. McGonigle, Esquire

Federated Investors Tower

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: 03/31/2013

 

 

Date of Reporting Period: 03/31/2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders

 

Annual Shareholder Report
March 31, 2013
Federated Project and Trade Finance Core Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Core Trust III


Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee


Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (unaudited)
The Fund's1 total return, based on net asset value, for the 12-month reporting period ended March 31, 2013, was 5.30% compared to a return of 0.23% for the One-Month London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR).2 The Fund's total return for the most recently completed fiscal period reflected actual cash flows, transaction costs and other expenses which were not reflected in the total return of the LIBOR.
During the reporting period, the most significant factors affecting the Fund's performance relative to the LIBOR were: (1) the selection of individual securities within each sector and sector diversification; (2) the relative high spreads that continue to persist in the market; and (3) high levels of cash in the portfolio.
SECURITY SELECTION AND SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
The Fund was invested in a portfolio of trade finance-related assets that was widely diversified over sectors and geographic regions. Regionally, the portfolio as of March 31, 2013, was invested 29.7% in Asia, 30.4% in Eastern Europe, 19.2% in Latin America, 11.2%, in Middle East/Africa, 1.1% in Western Europe and held an 8.4% cash position. The sector diversification of the Fund at the end of the reporting period was as follows: 0.7% Automotive; 31.9% Basic Industry; 1.4% Capital Goods; 0.4% Consumer Cyclical; 18.1% Consumer Non-Cyclical; 25.7% Energy; 4.7% Finance, 2.1% Services; 4.3% Telecommunications; 2.3% Utilities and 8.4% Cash. The Fund's broad diversification on both a regional and sector basis made a positive contribution to Fund performance on an absolute basis and relative to the LIBOR.
MARKET SPREADS
The beginning of the reporting period continued to see the supply of credit to the trade finance market constrained as banks continued to rebuild capital ratios against an uncertain and burdensome regulatory backgroundspecifically, the uncertainty surrounding Basel II and, potentially, Basel III, caused a significant shortfall of the supply of bank risk capital to trade finance relative to the demand. Even if Basel III provisions are never implemented or amended, existing Basel II provisions meant that major global banks were not growing capital bases as fast as the demand for trade finance. In this regulatory environment, spreads remained wide, which contributed positively to Fund performance relative to the LIBOR. At the end of the reporting period, the invested portion of the Fund had a weighted average spread to the LIBOR of 465 basis points. Demand for trade finance remained high, sustained by the continued growth in world trade.
CASH LEVELS
During the reporting period, the Fund maintained a larger than forecasted cash balance which constrained returns. The larger than expected cash balance was based on two primary factors: 1) an increase in the amount of time it took banks to syndicate primary deals; and 2) unexpected prepayments on trade finance loans held by the Fund. Generally, trade finance loans do not contain provisions restricting prepayments by borrowers, and therefore lenders or holders of the loans are subject to prepayment risks.
1 Shareholders of the Fund will have a restricted ability to redeem shares of the Fund (“Shares”). When a redeeming shareholder presents Shares to the transfer agent in proper order for redemption, the Fund has up to thirty-one (31) days to make payment to the redeeming shareholder. The price of the redeemed Shares will be determined as of the closing net asset value (NAV) of the Fund twenty-four (24) days after receipt of a shareholder redemption request or if such date is a weekend or holiday, on the preceding business day (the “Redemption Pricing Date”). Under normal circumstances, the Fund will make payment to the redeeming shareholder one business day after the Redemption Pricing Date (the “Redemption Payment Date”). However, the Fund reserves the right to make payment up to seven (7) days after the Redemption Pricing Date, provided such date does not exceed thirty-one (31) days after the Shares have been presented for redemption in proper order. Shareholders that redeem Shares will incur the risk that the value of their Shares presented for redemption will be worth less on the Redemption Pricing Date than on the date they submitted their redemption request.
2 LIBOR is a daily reference rate based on the interest rates at which banks borrow unsecured funds from other banks in the London wholesale money market (or interbank market).
Annual Shareholder Report
1

FUND PERFORMANCE AND GROWTH OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT
The Average Annual Total Return table below shows returns averaged over the stated periods. The graph below illustrates the hypothetical investment of $10,0001 in the Federated Project and Trade Finance Core Fund (the “Fund”) from August 26, 2009 (start of performance) to March 31, 2013, compared to the One-Month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR).2
Average Annual Total Returns for the Period Ended 3/31/2013  
1 Year 5.30%
Start of Performance* 4.12%
* The Fund's start of performance date was August 26, 2009.
Performance data quoted represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Fund performance changes over time and current performance may be lower or higher than what is stated. For current to the most recent month-end performance and after-tax returns, current shareholders may call 1-800-341-7400. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Growth of a $10,000 Investment
1 The Fund's performance assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions.
2 The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a daily reference rate based on the interest rates at which banks borrow unsecured funds from other banks in the London wholesale money market (or interbank market).
Annual Shareholder Report
2

Portfolio of Investments Summary Table (unaudited)
At March 31, 2013, the Fund's portfolio composition1 was as follows:
Security Type Percentage of
Total Net Assets
Trade Finance Agreements 86.8%
Asset-Backed Securities 2.2%
Corporate Debt Security 1.0%
Cash Equivalents2 8.2%
Other Assets and Liabilities—Net3 1.8%
TOTAL 100.0%
1 See the Fund's Confidential Private Offering Memorandum and Part B: Information Required in a Statement of Additional Information for a description of these security types.
2 Cash Equivalents include any investments in money market mutual funds and/or overnight repurchase agreements.
3 Assets, other than investments in securities, less liabilities. See Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Annual Shareholder Report
3

Portfolio of Investments
March 31, 2013
Principal
Amount
or Shares
    Value
    Asset-Backed Securities—2.2%  
    Finance—2.2%  
$4,500,000   Sealane 2011-1X, Class A, 14.293%, 2/12/2016 $4,668,750
1,235,294   Yapi DPR Finance Co. 2010-1, Class A, 0.924%, 11/21/2014 1,190,206
    TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
(IDENTIFIED COST $5,700,170)
5,858,956
    CORPORATE BOND—1.0%  
    Basic Industry - Building Materials—1.0%  
2,500,000   Cemex Finance LLC, Series REGS, 9.50%, 12/14/2016 (IDENTIFIED COST $2,690,599) 2,718,750
    TRADE FINANCE AGREEMENTS—86.8%  
    Automotive—0.6%  
1,751,111   Giti Tire Co., 3.454%, 12/1/2014 1,698,578
    Basic Industry - Cement—1.6%  
4,166,667   Jambyl Cement, 0.214%, 8/8/2016 4,127,083
    Basic Industry - Fertilizers/Chemicals—5.6%  
3,000,000   Amaggi, 2.40%, 2/20/2014 2,940,000
1,500,000   Amaggi, 2.50%, 8/29/2014 1,488,750
5,000,000   Eurochem Mineral and Chemical Co. OJSC, Moscow, Floating Rate Note, 2.245%, 8/7/2016 4,857,500
5,860,465   Uralkali, 2.454%, 9/15/2016 5,793,070
    TOTAL 15,079,320
    Basic Industry - Forestry—1.3%  
4,456,798   Bakrie Sumatera Plantations, 7.283%, 10/30/2016 3,567,667
    Basic Industry - Metals/Mining Excluding Steel—16.7%  
2,656,954   African Minerals, 0.305%, 10/13/2016 2,613,114
5,028,800   Discovery Copper, 4.033%, 3/31/2015 5,006,170
4,750,000   Erdenet, 7.204%, 9/6/2014 4,714,375
4,993,421 1 Evraz Group SA, 3.004%, 11/19/2015 4,918,520
1,875,000   Glencore International, 2.004%, 6/12/2013 1,861,875
5,000,000   Masan, 0.546%, 3/7/2014 4,982,500
2,000,000   Mechel Kuzbass III, 5.283%, 8/7/2015 1,937,000
2,000,000   Mechel Yakutugol III, 5.283%, 8/7/2015 1,937,000
5,000,000   Norilsk Nickel, 2.454%, 9/29/2016 4,892,500
4,157,143 1 Solway, 6.204%, 5/30/2016 4,159,221
2,400,000   Tenex, 2.533%, 3/28/2016 2,362,800
1,875,000   Vale Intl SA, 0.50%, 1/23/2014 1,872,188
1,000,000   Vedanta 2012, 3.454%, 7/6/2013 948,000
2,748,082   Vedanta/Twinstar, 1.954%, 6/7/2013 2,617,549
    TOTAL 44,822,812
    Basic Industry - Steel Producers/Products—6.1%  
3,000,000   Hyundai Steel Co., 0.301%, 5/30/2013 2,979,000
1,395,265   JSW Duferco, 1.904%, 9/1/2013 1,374,336
5,436,957   Metalloinvest, Floating Rate Note, 3.204%, 4/4/2016 5,246,663
4,000,000   Metinvest15, 4.954%, 5/25/2015 3,926,000
2,968,069 1 Stemcor, 0.306%, 4/26/2013 2,969,554
    TOTAL 16,495,553
    Capital Goods—2.8%  
357,143 1 Azul Airlines, A 6.383%, 9/30/2013 350,536
357,143 1 Azul Airlines, B 6.383%, 9/30/2013 350,536
Annual Shareholder Report
4

Principal
Amount
or Shares
    Value
    TRADE FINANCE AGREEMENTS—continued  
    Capital Goods—continued  
$4,138,273   Braskem Intl, 2.468%, 6/24/2014 $4,117,578
2,600,000   TAAG II, Floating Rate Note, 6.033%, 6/27/2016 2,603,900
    TOTAL 7,422,550
    Consumer Cyclical - Household and Leisure Products—0.4%  
299,163   Bossa, 2.74%, 6/19/2013 293,928
313,692   Bossa, 2.74%, 7/24/2013 308,202
438,068   Bossa, 2.76%, 8/5/2013 430,401
    TOTAL 1,032,531
    Consumer Non-Cyclical—11.9%  
2,761,832 2,3,4 Arrocera Covadonga SA de CV, 8.50%, 12/17/2010 0
5,000,000   Bahia Cellulose, 3.875%, 2/14/2018 5,002,500
2,416,667   Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd., Floating Rate Note, 1.695%, 3/15/2014 2,345,375
6,000,000   Banacol, 8.00%, 6/15/2015 6,003,000
3,095,238   COCOBOD 3, 1.954%, 8/30/2013 3,085,953
879,551   Copertrading, 1.954%, 6/28/2013 878,671
297,908   ETG, 0.234%, 7/31/2013 299,099
3,235,294   GVO, 5.204%, 11/2/2015 3,288,677
2,500,000   Louis Drey May, 3.783%, 8/31/2015 2,487,500
3,428,571   Marfrig Alimentos SA, 5.704%, 11/9/2015 3,425,143
926,059   Ukrland Farming, 0.289%, 6/29/2014 918,187
4,050,000   Vicentin, 7.445%, 11/18/2015 4,045,950
    TOTAL 31,780,055
    Consumer Non-Cyclical-Food/Wholesale—3.7%  
3,000,000   Belagricola, 5.283%, 6/28/2016 2,998,500
2,500,000   Kernel Holding SA, 0.338%, 3/3/2016 2,508,750
4,500,000 1 REI Agro Ltd., 6.283%, 10/31/2014 4,509,000
    Consumer Non-Cyclical—Tobacco—0.5%  
1,192,845   Premium Tobacco, 5.25%, 5/31/2013 1,189,863
    TOTAL 10,016,250
    Energy—14.1%  
2,195,000   BTC. Pipeline, 3.204%, 12/15/2013 2,135,735
3,854,167   Canbaikal Resources, 5.704%, 4/10/2016 3,832,969
402,156   EGPC Pel V Tr A, 3.533%, 3/31/2015 383,456
1,562,500   Estrella De Oro Mobile Home, 8.283%, 11/30/2015 1,487,500
4,166,274   Gunvor Group, 3.704%, 11/30/2016 4,070,450
2,000,000   PT Energi Mega Persada Tbk, 12.204%, 9/12/2013 1,930,000
5,000,000   Rompetrol, 0.318%, 2/28/2017 4,980,000
6,000,000   Shunkhlai LLC, 4.283%, 2/19/2014 5,997,000
2,556,391   Sonangol 2014, 1.204%, 7/31/2014 2,487,368
2,781,818   Sonangol III, 3.704%, 7/31/2017 2,741,482
3,571,428   SUEK OJSC, 3.454%, 9/8/2015 3,523,214
270,833   SV Oil & Natural Gas Ltd., 4.204%, 9/14/2013 268,531
240,000   Tatneft, 3.304%, 6/23/2013 238,680
3,318,182   Tuscany International Drilling, Inc., 6.783%, 8/15/2016 3,317,518
530,303   Tuscany Revolver, 6.783%, 8/15/2015 530,303
    TOTAL 37,924,206
    Energy/Exploration and Production—10.7%  
5,000,000   Gazprom Neft, 1.60%, 7/17/2015 4,942,500
4,000,000   Kazmunaigas, 2.304%, 7/15/2016 3,960,000
Annual Shareholder Report
5

Principal
Amount
or Shares
    Value
    TRADE FINANCE AGREEMENTS—continued  
    Energy/Exploration and Production—continued  
$5,000,000   Navigat Energy, 5.783%, 10/5/2017 $4,992,500
4,332,692   Ptmitraperk, 6.204%, 11/30/2015 4,358,688
666,666   Rosneft Oil Co., 1.154%, 7/12/2013 664,334
5,000,000   Rosneft Oil III, 2.683%, 4/24/2017 4,912,500
5,000,000   TNK-BP Finance SA, 1.583%, 8/23/2015 4,865,000
    TOTAL 28,695,522
    Finance—0.9%  
1,200,000   International Bank of Azerbaijan, 5.195%, 7/23/2013 1,170,600
1,200,000   Utd Bank Africa, 4.945%, 11/29/2013 1,200,000
    TOTAL 2,370,600
    Finance/Banks/Brokers—1.5%  
3,000,000   Afrexim, 0.226%, 6/29/2014 2,982,000
1,000,000   Islami Bank IV, 3.445%, 9/18/2013 1,000,000
    TOTAL 3,982,000
    Services/Railroads—2.0%  
2,165,016   Azeri RR Tran B, 4.204%, 1/9/2015 2,108,726
3,322,034   Eastcomtrans, Floating Rate Note, 6.203%, 4/1/2016 3,288,813
    TOTAL 5,397,539
    Telecommunications & Cellular—4.2%  
3,995,195 4 Brightstar VIII, 3.430%, 5/25/2013 3,991,998
2,285,800   Digicel Ltd., 3.783%, 3/31/2015 2,286,943
2,142,857   MCS Holdings LLC, 6.204%, 11/23/2015 2,116,071
2,857,143   MCS Holdings LLC, 7.704%, 11/23/2017 2,818,572
    TOTAL 11,213,584
    Utility/Electricity Generation—2.2%  
3,444,446   Empower, 2.954%, 12/6/2015 3,428,945
2,500,000 1 MOF Angola, 0.338%, 2/16/2018 2,478,750
    TOTAL 5,907,695
    TOTAL TRADE FINANCE AGREEMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $236,386,232)
232,723,408
    MUTUAL FUND—8.2%  
22,011,085 5,6 Federated Prime Value Obligations Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.12%
(AT NET ASSET VALUE)
22,011,085
    TOTAL INVESTMENTS—98.2%
(IDENTIFIED COST $266,788,086)7
263,312,199
    OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - NET—1.8%8 4,826,274
    TOTAL NET ASSETS—100% $268,138,473
1 Denotes a restricted security 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) is subject to a contractual restriction on public sales. At March 31, 2013, these restricted securities amounted to $19,736,117, which represented 7.4% of total net assets.
2 Issuer in default. Principal amount and interest were not paid upon final maturity.
3 Market quotations and price evaluations are not available. Fair value determined in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Board Trustees (the “Trustees” ).
4 Non-income producing security.
5 Affiliated holding.
6 7-day net yield.
7 The cost of investments for federal tax purposes amounts to $266,789,340.
8 Assets, other than investments in securities, less liabilities. See Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Note: The categories of investments are shown as a percentage of total net assets at March 31, 2013.
Annual Shareholder Report
6

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, including investment companies with daily net asset values, if applicable.
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.
The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of March 31, 2013, in valuing the Fund's assets carried at fair value:
Valuation Inputs        
  Level 1—
Quoted
Prices and
Investments in
Mutual Funds
Level 2—
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
Level 3—
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Total
Debt Securities:        
Asset-Backed Securities $$$5,858,956 $5,858,956
Corporate Bond 2,718,750 2,718,750
Trade Finance Agreements 232,723,408 232,723,408
Mutual Fund 22,011,085 22,011,085
TOTAL SECURITIES $22,011,085 $2,718,750 $238,582,364 $263,312,199
The Fund uses a pricing service to provide price evaluations for Level 3 asset backed securities and trade finance agreements. The quantitative unobservable inputs used by the pricing service are proprietary and not provided to the Fund and therefore the disclosure that would address these inputs is not included above.
Following is a reconciliation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
  Investments in
Asset-Backed
Securities
Investments in
Trade Finance
Agreements
Balance as of April 1, 2012 $9,813,971 $199,844,936
Accrued discount/premiums 39,197 1,089,435
Realized gain (loss) 89,725 (531,177)
Change in unrealized appreciation 156,956 364,391
Purchases 518,260 174,010,466
(Sales) (4,759,153) (142,054,643)
Balance as of March 31, 2013 $5,858,956 $232,723,408
The total change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in the Statement of Operations attributable to investments still held at March 31, 2013. $157,058 $(740,677)
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
7

Financial Highlights
(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)
  Year Ended March 31, Period
Ended
3/31/20101
2013 2012 2011
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period $9.77 $9.95 $9.93 $10.00
Income From Investment Operations:        
Net investment income 0.492 0.53 0.45 0.15
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions 0.01 (0.16) 0.04 (0.07)
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS 0.50 0.37 0.49 0.08
Less Distributions:        
Distributions from net investment income (0.46) (0.51) (0.45) (0.15)
Distributions from net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions (0.04) (0.04) (0.02) (0.00)3
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS (0.50) (0.55) (0.47) (0.15)
Net Asset Value, End of Period $9.77 $9.77 $9.95 $9.93
Total Return4 5.30% 3.76% 5.05% 0.76%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:        
Net expenses5 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%6
Net investment income 5.02% 5.35% 4.58% 2.13%6
Expense waiver/reimbursement7 0.35% 0.35% 0.45% 0.83%6
Supplemental Data:        
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) $268,138 $224,842 $143,710 $97,645
Portfolio turnover 62% 38% 72% 21%
1 Reflects operations for the period from August 26, 2009 (date of initial investment) to March 31, 2010.
2 Per share number has been calculated using the average shares method.
3 Represents less than $0.01.
4 Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.
5 The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reimburse all operating expenses incurred by the Fund. This arrangement has no fixed term.
6 Computed on an annualized basis.
7 This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income ratios shown above.
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
8

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
March 31, 2013
Assets:    
Total investment in securities, at value including $22,011,085 of investment in an affiliated holding (Note 5)
(identified cost $266,788,086)
  $263,312,199
Cash   3,572,921
Income receivable   155,799
Receivable for investments sold   6,618,183
Receivable for shares sold   100,000
Bank loan receivable   1,215,821
TOTAL ASSETS   274,974,923
Liabilities:    
Payable for investments purchased $4,117,582  
Payable for shares redeemed 2,500,000  
Income distribution payable 40,837  
Capital gain distribution payable 61,317  
Payable to adviser (Note 5) 3,594  
Payable for Directors'/Trustees' fees (Note 5) 989  
Accrued expenses (Note 5) 112,131  
TOTAL LIABILITIES   6,836,450
Net assets for 27,442,412 shares outstanding   $268,138,473
Net Assets Consist of:    
Paid-in capital   $271,854,711
Net unrealized depreciation of investments   (3,475,887)
Accumulated net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions   (280,755)
Undistributed net investment income   40,404
TOTAL NET ASSETS   $268,138,473
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Proceeds Per Share:    
$268,138,473 ÷ 27,442,412 shares outstanding, no par value, unlimited shares authorized   $9.77
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
9

Statement of Operations
Year Ended March 31, 2013
Investment Income:      
Interest     $11,694,585
Dividends received from an affiliated holding (Note 5)     37,514
TOTAL INCOME     11,732,099
Expenses:      
Investment adviser fee (Note 5)   $233,498  
Administrative fee (Note 5)   73,324  
Custodian fees   18,950  
Transfer and dividend disbursing agent fees and expenses   19,631  
Directors'/Trustees' fees (Note 5)   8,833  
Auditing fees   110,000  
Legal fees   116,144  
Portfolio accounting fees   203,148  
Printing and postage   9,771  
Insurance premiums (Note 5)   4,329  
Miscellaneous (Note 5)   9,780  
TOTAL EXPENSES   807,408  
Waivers and Reimbursements (Note 5):      
Waiver/reimbursement of investment adviser fee $(233,498)    
Waiver of administrative fee (73,324)    
Reimbursement of other operating expenses (500,586)    
TOTAL WAIVERS AND REIMBURSEMENTS   (807,408)  
Net expenses    
Net investment income     11,732,099
Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments and Foreign Currency Transactions:      
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions     100,301
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currency     148,793
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions     249,094
Change in net assets resulting from operations     $11,981,193
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
10

Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year Ended March 31 2013 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets    
Operations:    
Net investment income $11,732,099 $10,351,264
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions 100,301 120,715
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currency 148,793 (3,605,133)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS 11,981,193 6,866,846
Distributions to Shareholders:    
Distributions from net investment income (11,060,212) (9,992,583)
Distributions from net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions (996,528) (744,182)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (12,056,740) (10,736,765)
Share Transactions:    
Proceeds from sale of shares 39,980,000 118,801,951
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in payment of distributions declared 10,963,724 9,978,537
Cost of shares redeemed (7,571,889) (43,778,542)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM SHARE TRANSACTIONS 43,371,835 85,001,946
Change in net assets 43,296,288 81,132,027
Net Assets:    
Beginning of period 224,842,185 143,710,158
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $40,404 and $42,571, respectively) $268,138,473 $224,842,185
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
11

Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended March 31, 2013
Operating Activities:  
Change in net assets resulting from operations $11,981,193
Adjustments to Reconcile Change in Net Assets Resulting From Operations to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities:  
Purchase of investment securities (199,832,419)
Proceeds from disposition of investment securities 168,845,069
Purchase of short-term investments, net (13,659,959)
Increase in income receivable (331,049)
Increase in receivable for investments sold (3,239,559)
Increase in payable for investments purchased 4,117,582
Increase in accrued expenses 69,145
Net realized gain on investments (100,301)
Change in unrealized depreciation of investments (148,793)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES (32,299,091)
Financing Activities:  
Proceeds from shares sold 39,880,000
Payments of shares redeemed (5,071,889)
Distributions paid in cash (1,061,718)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES 33,746,393
Net increase in cash 1,447,302
Cash at beginning period $2,125,619
Cash at end of period $3,572,921
Non-cash financing activities not included herein consist of reinvestment of dividends and distributions of $10,963,724.
See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements
Annual Shareholder Report
12

Notes to Financial Statements
March 31, 2013
1. ORGANIZATION
Federated Project and Trade Finance Core Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified portfolio of Federated Core Trust III (the “Trust”). The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund operates as an open-end extended payment fund. The Fund's investment objective is to provide total return. Currently, the Fund is only available for purchase by organizations or entities that are “accredited investors” within the meaning of Regulation D of the 1993 Act and “qualified purchasers”as defined in Section 2(a)(51) of the Act. The Fund is not a mutual fund, and its shares are offered pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Investment Valuation
In calculating its net asset value (NAV), the Fund generally values investments as follows:
 Fixed-income securities, including trade finance agreements acquired with remaining maturities greater than 60 days are fair valued using price evaluations provided by a pricing service approved by the Trustees.
 Fixed-income securities acquired with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at their cost (adjusted for the accretion of any discount or amortization of any premium), which approximates market value.
 Equity securities listed on an exchange or traded through a regulated market system are valued at their last reported sale price or official closing price in their principal exchange or market.
 Shares of other mutual funds are valued based upon their reported NAVs.
 Derivative contracts listed on exchanges are valued at their reported settlement or closing price.
 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 purchase price of the security, information obtained by contacting the issuer, 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 and public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable issuers.
If the Fund cannot obtain a price or price evaluation from a pricing service for an investment, the Fund may attempt to value the investment based upon the mean of bid and asked quotations or fair value the investment based on price evaluations, from one or more dealers. If any price, quotation, price evaluation or other pricing source is not readily available when the NAV is calculated, or if the Fund cannot obtain price evaluations from a pricing service or from more than one dealer for an investment within a reasonable time (for example, within five business days after a new security is delivered to the Fund), the Fund uses the fair value of the investment determined in accordance with the procedures described below. There can be no assurance that the Fund could purchase or sell an investment at the price used to calculate the Fund's NAV.
Fair Valuation and Significant Events Procedures
The Trustees have appointed a Valuation Committee comprised of officers of the Fund, Federated Investment Management Company (“Adviser”) and the Adviser's affiliated companies to determine fair value of securities 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 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.
The pricing service bases their evaluations for the majority of Fund investments on indications of values from banks that make project and trade finance loans, weighted based on the accuracy of their historical indications and other factors to arrive at a price evaluation. Factors considered by pricing services in evaluating the remainder of investments include the yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, call rights and other potential prepayments, terms and type and general market conditions. Although the factors on which pricing services base their evaluations generally consist of observable inputs, certain fixed-income securities, such as trade finance agreements, are typically held to maturity by investors and therefore do not trade on a consistent basis. Accordingly, pricing services frequently cannot rely on executed trade prices to support their evaluations of these securities and must necessarily rely more heavily on unobservable inputs. In such circumstances, the Fund may classify securities as having a Level 3 valuation due to a lack of observable market transactions. 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 U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, and mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities. The Fund normally uses mid evaluations for trade finance agreement, other types of fixed-income securities and 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.
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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 in foreign markets, significant trends in U.S. equity markets or in the trading of foreign securities index futures contracts;
 Political or other developments affecting the economy or markets in which an issuer conducts its operations or its securities are traded; and
 Announcements concerning matters such as acquisitions, recapitalizations, litigation developments, a natural disaster affecting the issuer's operations or regulatory changes or market developments affecting the issuer's industry.
The Trustees have approved the use of a pricing service to determine the fair value of equity securities traded principally in foreign markets when the Adviser determines that there has been a significant trend in the U.S. equity markets or in index futures trading. 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 using another method approved by the Trustees.
Investment Income, Gains and Losses, Expenses and Distributions
Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade-date basis. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified-cost basis. Interest income and expenses are accrued daily. Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Foreign dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date or when the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Distributions of net investment income are declared daily and paid monthly. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at fair value.
Premium and Discount Amortization
All premiums and discounts on fixed-income securities are amortized/accreted using the effective interest rate method.
Federal Taxes
It is the Fund's policy to comply with the Subchapter M provision of the Internal Revenue Code and to distribute to shareholders each year substantially all of its income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income tax is necessary. As of and during the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund did not have a liability for any uncertain tax positions. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to tax liabilities as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. As of March 31, 2013, tax years 2010 through 2013 remain subject to examination by the Fund's major tax jurisdictions, which include the United States of America and the state of Delaware.
Foreign Exchange Contracts
The Fund enters into foreign exchange contracts for the delayed-delivery of securities or foreign currency exchange transactions. The Fund enters into foreign exchange contracts to protect assets against adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations. Purchased contracts are used to acquire exposure to foreign currencies, whereas, contracts to sell are used to hedge the Fund's securities against currency fluctuations. Risks may arise upon entering into these transactions from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their commitments and from unanticipated movements in security prices or foreign exchange rates. The foreign exchange contracts are adjusted by the daily exchange rate of the underlying currency and any gains or losses are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized until the settlement date.
At March 31, 2013, the Fund had no outstanding foreign exchange contracts.
The average value at settlement date payable and receivable of foreign exchange contracts purchased and sold by the Fund throughout the period was $92,481 and $27,375, respectively. This is based on the contracts held as of each month-end throughout the fiscal period.
Foreign Currency Translation
The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. All assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies (FCs) are translated into U.S. dollars based on the rates of exchange of such currencies against U.S. dollars on the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of securities, income and expenses are translated at the rate of exchange quoted on the respective date that such transactions are recorded. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.
Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of portfolio securities, sales and maturities of short-term securities, sales of FCs, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities at fiscal year-end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate.
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
Annual Shareholder Report
14

transactions exempt from registration. Restricted securities may be determined to be liquid under criteria established by the Trustees. The Fund will not incur any registration costs upon such resales. The Fund's restricted securities are valued at the price provided by dealers in the secondary market or, if no market prices are available, at the fair value as determined in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees.
Additional information on restricted securities, excluding securities purchased under Rule 144A that have been deemed liquid by the Trustees, if applicable, held at March 31, 2013, is as follows:
Security Acquisition Date Cost Market Value
Azul Airlines, A 6.383%, 9/30/2013 5/10/2010 $342,870 $350,536
Azul Airlines, B 6.383%, 9/30/2013 5/10/2010 $342,870 $350,536
Evraz Group SA, 3.004%, 11/19/2015 12/9/2010 $4,925,862 $4,918,520
MOF Angola, 0.338%, 2/16/2018 6/20/2012 $2,475,000 $2,478,750
REI Agro Ltd., 6.283%, 10/31/2014 10/31/2012 $4,455,000 $4,509,000
Solway, 6.204%, 5/30/2016 11/7/2012 $4,109,134 $4,159,221
Stemcor, 0.306%, 4/26/2013 8/9/2012 $2,954,629 $2,969,554
Additional Disclosure Related to Derivative Instruments
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Operations for the Year Ended March 31, 2013
Amount of Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income
  Forward
Currency
Contracts
Foreign exchange contracts $561,399
Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income
  Forward
Currency
Contracts
Foreign exchange contracts $(405,764)
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 from those estimated.
3. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Shareholders of the Fund will have a restricted ability to redeem shares of the Fund. When a redeeming shareholder presents Shares to the transfer agent in proper order for redemption, the Fund has up to 31 days to make payment to the redeeming shareholder.
The following table summarizes share activity:
Year Ended March 31 2013 2012
Shares sold 4,085,296 11,919,505
Shares issued to shareholders in payment of distributions declared 1,120,234 1,005,140
Shares redeemed (774,900) (4,356,235)
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS 4,430,630 8,568,410
4. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION
The timing and character of income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These differences are due to differing treatments for foreign cash and foreign currency reclasses.
For the year ended March 31, 2013, permanent differences identified and reclassified among the components of net assets were as follows:
Increase (Decrease)
Undistributed
Net Investment
Income (Loss)
Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
$(674,054) $674,054
Net investment income (loss), net realized gains (losses), and net assets were not affected by this reclassification.
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15

The tax character of distributions as reported on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, was as follows:
  2013 2012
Ordinary income1 $11,582,270 $10,659,500
Long-term capital gains $474,470 $77,265
1 For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions are considered ordinary income distributions.
As of March 31, 2013, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income $2,414
Net unrealized depreciation $(3,477,141)
Capital loss deferrals $(241,511)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized appreciation/depreciation is attributable to defaulted securities.
At March 31, 2013, the cost of investments for federal tax purposes was $266,789,340. The net unrealized depreciation of investments for federal tax purposes was $3,477,141. This consists of net unrealized appreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of value over cost of $907,897 and net unrealized depreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of cost over value of $4,385,038.
Under current tax regulations, capital losses realized after October 31 may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year. As of March 31, 2013, for federal income tax purposes, post October losses of $241,511 were deferred to April 1, 2013.
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 0.10% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser may voluntarily choose to waive any portion of its fee and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund. The Adviser can modify or terminate this voluntary waiver and/or reimbursement at any time at its sole discretion. For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Adviser voluntarily waived $208,294 of its fee and voluntarily reimbursed $500,586 of other operating expenses.
Certain of the Fund's assets are managed by GML Capital LLP (the “Sub-Adviser”). Under the terms of a sub-advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser receives a fee. The fee is paid by the Adviser out of its resources and is not an incremental Fund expense. For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Sub-Adviser earned a fee of $500,000.
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 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, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses:
Administrative Fee Average Daily Net Assets
of the Investment Complex
0.150% on the first $5 billion
0.125% on the next $5 billion
0.100% on the next $10 billion
0.075% on assets in excess of $20 billion
Effective September 1, 2012, FAS receives no compensation for providing administrative services to the Fund. Prior to September 1, 2012, the administrative fee received during any fiscal year was at least $150,000 per portfolio and $40,000 per each additional class of Shares. For the year ended March 31, 2013, FAS waived its entire fee of $73,324.
General
Certain Officers and Trustees of the Fund are Officers and Directors or Trustees of the above companies. To efficiently facilitate payment, 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.
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Transactions Involving Affiliated Holdings
Affiliated holdings are mutual funds which are managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. The Adviser has agreed to reimburse the Fund for certain investment adviser fees as a result of transactions in other affiliated mutual funds. For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Adviser reimbursed $25,204. Transactions involving the affiliated holding during the year ended March 31, 2013, were as follows:
  Federated
Prime Value
Obligations Fund,
Institutional Shares
Balance of Shares Held 3/31/2012 8,351,126
Purchases/Additions 191,504,842
Sales/Reductions 177,844,883
Balance of Shares Held 3/31/2013 22,011,085
Value $22,011,085
Dividend Income $37,514
6. Investment TRANSACTIONS
Purchases and sales of investments, excluding long-term U.S. government securities and short-term obligations, for the year ended March 31, 2013, were as follows:
Purchases $151,476,383
Sales $120,880,231
7. CONCENTRATION OF RISK
The Fund invests in securities of non-U.S. issuers. Political or economic developments may have an effect on the liquidity and volatility of portfolio securities and currency holdings.
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17

At March 31, 2013, the diversification of countries was as follows:
Country Percentage of
Net Assets
Russia 20.5%
Brazil 11.3%
Mongolia 5.8%
Indonesia 5.5%
Kazakhstan 4.9%
India 4.5%
Angola 3.9%
Colombia 3.7%
Argentina 3.6%
Ukraine 2.7%
Cayman Islands 2.2%
Botswana 1.9%
Romania 1.9%
Vietnam 1.9%
Macedonia 1.5%
Singapore 1.5%
Egypt 1.3%
United Arab Emirates 1.3%
Azerbaijan 1.2%
Turkey 1.2%
Ghana 1.1%
Korea 1.1%
United Kingdom 1.1%
Sierra Leone 1.0%
United States 1.0%
Jamaica 0.9%
China 0.6%
Bangladesh 0.4%
Nigeria 0.4%
South Africa 0.1%
Mexico 0.0%
8. LINE OF CREDIT
The Fund participates in a $100,000,000 unsecured, uncommitted revolving line of credit (LOC) agreement with PNC Bank. The LOC was made available for extraordinary or emergency purposes, primarily for financing redemption payments. Borrowings are charged interest at a rate offered to the Fund by PNC Bank at the time of the borrowing. As of March 31, 2013, there were no outstanding loans. During the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund did not utilize the LOC.
9. INTERFUND LENDING
Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund, along with other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Investors, 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 March 31, 2013, there were no outstanding loans. During the year ended March 31, 2013, the program was not utilized.
10. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
For the year ended March 31, 2013, the amount of long-term capital gains designated by the Fund was $474,470.
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18

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF The FEDERATED Core TRUSt III AND The SHAREHOLDERS OF Federated Project and trade finance core Fund:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Federated Project and Trade Finance Core Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the Federated Core Trust III, as of March 31, 2013, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three year period then ended and for the period from August 26, 2009 (commencement of investment operations) through March 31, 2010. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2013 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Federated Project and Trade Finance Core Fund as of March 31, 2013, the results of its operations and its cash flows, the changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the periods described above, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Boston, Massachusetts
May 23, 2013
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Shareholder Expense Example (unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and to the extent applicable, distribution (12b-1) fees and/or shareholder services 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 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 October 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.
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.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only. 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.
  Beginning
Account Value
10/1/2012
Ending
Account Value
3/31/2013
Expenses Paid
During Period1
Actual $1,000.00 $1,023.10 $0.00
Hypothetical (assuming a 5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,024.93 $0.00
1 Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized net expense ratio of 0.00%, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/365 (to reflect the one-half-year period). The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reimburse all operating expenses incurred by the Fund. This arrangement has no fixed term.
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Board of Trustees and Trust Officers
The Board of Trustees is responsible for managing the Trust's business affairs and for exercising all the Trust's powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The following tables give information about each Trustee and the senior officers of the Fund. Where required, the tables separately list Trustees who are “interested persons” of the Fund (i.e., “Interested” Trustees) and those who are not (i.e., “ Independent” Trustees). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. The address of all Independent Trustees listed is 4000 Ericsson Drive, Warrendale, PA 15086-7561; Attention: Mutual Fund Board. As of December 31, 2012, the Trust comprised one portfolio(s), and the Federated Fund Family consisted of 42 investment companies (comprising 137 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Officer is elected annually. Unless otherwise noted, each Trustee oversees all portfolios in the Federated Fund Family and serves for an indefinite term. The Fund's Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about Trust Trustees and is available, without charge and upon request, by calling 1-800-341-7400.
Interested Trustees Background
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Position(s)
John F. Donahue*
Birth Date: July 28, 1924
Trustee
Began serving: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Family; Chairman and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman of the Federated Fund Family's Executive Committee.
Previous Positions: Chairman of the Federated Fund Family; Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Chairman and Director, Federated Investment Counseling.
J. Christopher Donahue*
Birth Date: April 11, 1949
President and Trustee
Began serving: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Principal Executive Officer and President of certain of the Funds in the Federated Fund Family; Director or Trustee of certain of the Funds in the Federated Fund Family; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; Chairman and Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; Chairman, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania and Passport Research, Ltd. (investment advisory subsidiary of Federated); Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company.
Previous Positions: President, Federated Investment Counseling; President and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.
* Family relationships and reasons for “interested” status: John F. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue; both are “interested” due to their beneficial ownership of shares of Federated Investors, Inc. and the positions they hold with Federated and its subsidiaries.
INDEPENDENT Trustees Background
Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications
John F. Cunningham
Birth Date: March 5, 1943
Trustee
Began serving: February 2008
Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Family.
Other Directorships Held: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cunningham & Co., Inc. (strategic business consulting); Trustee Associate, Boston College.
Previous Positions: President and Chief Operating Officer, Wang Laboratories; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Consoles, Inc.; Director, First National Bank of Boston; Director, EMC Corporation (computer storage systems); Director, Apollo Computer, Inc.; Director, Redgate Communications.
Qualifications: Business management and director experience.
Maureen Lally-Green
Birth Date: July 5, 1949
Trustee
Began serving: August 2009
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Family; Director, Office of Church Relations, and Associate General Secretary, Diocese of Pittsburgh; Adjunct Professor of Law, Duquesne University School of Law.
Other Directorships Held: Director, Auberle; Member, Pennsylvania State Board of Education; Director, Saint Vincent College; Director, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh; Chair and Director, UPMC Mercy Hospital; Regent, St. Vincent Seminary; Director, Epilepsy Foundation of Western and Central Pennsylvania; Director, Saint Thomas More Society, Allegheny County; Director, Our Campaign for the Church Alive, Inc.
Previous Position: Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge.
Qualifications: Legal and director experience.
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Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications
Peter E. Madden
Birth Date: March 16, 1942
Trustee
Began serving: February 2008
Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee, and Chairman of the Board of Directors or Trustees, of the Federated Fund Family.
Previous Positions: Representative, Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Court; President, Chief Operating Officer and Director, State Street Bank and Trust Company and State Street Corporation (retired); Director, VISA USA and VISA International; Chairman and Director, Massachusetts Bankers Association; Director, Depository Trust Corporation; Director, The Boston Stock Exchange.
Qualifications: Business management, mutual fund services and director experience.
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.
Birth Date: April 10, 1945
Trustee
Began serving: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Family; Management Consultant.
Previous Positions: Chief Executive Officer, PBTC International Bank; Partner, Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young LLP); Chief Financial Officer of Retail Banking Sector, Chase Manhattan Bank; Senior Vice President, HSBC Bank USA (formerly Marine Midland Bank); Vice President, Citibank; Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance, Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University; Executive Vice President, DVC Group, Inc. (marketing, communications and technology).
Qualifications: Banking, business management, education and director experience.
Thomas M. O'Neill
Birth Date: June 14, 1951
Trustee
Began serving: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee, Vice Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Federated Fund Family; Sole Proprietor, Navigator Management Company (investment and strategic consulting).
Other Directorships Held: Board of Overseers, Children's Hospital of Boston; Visiting Committee on Athletics, Harvard College; Board of Directors, Medicines for Humanity; Board of Directors, The Golisano Children's Museum of Naples, Florida.
Previous Positions: Chief Executive Officer and President, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Fleet Investment Advisors; President and Chief Executive Officer, Aeltus Investment Management, Inc.; General Partner, Hellman, Jordan Management Co., Boston, MA; Chief Investment Officer, The Putnam Companies, Boston, MA; Credit Analyst and Lending Officer, Fleet Bank; Director and Consultant, EZE Castle Software (investment order management software); Director, Midway Pacific (lumber).
Qualifications: Business management, mutual fund, director and investment experience.
John S. Walsh
Birth Date: November 28, 1957
Trustee
Began serving: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee, Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Federated Fund Family; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer of construction temporary heaters); President and Director, Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers Products, Inc.
Previous Position: Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc.
Qualifications: Business management and director experience.
OFFICERS
Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years
and Previous Position(s)
John W. McGonigle
Birth Date: October 26, 1938
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
Officer since: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Federated Fund Family; Vice Chairman, Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.
Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Federated Investment Counseling; Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Services Company and Federated Securities Corp.
Richard B. Fisher
Birth Date: May 17, 1923
VICE CHAIRMAN
Officer since: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Vice Chairman or Vice President of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Family; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Securities Corp.
Previous Positions: President and Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Family; Executive Vice President, Federated Investors, Inc.; Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Securities Corp.
Lori A. Hensler, CPA
Birth Date: January 6, 1967
TREASURER
Officer since: April 2013
Principal Occupations: Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Federated Fund Family; Senior Vice President, Federated Administrative Services; Financial and Operations Principal for Federated Securities Corp. and Edgewood Services, Inc.; and Assistant Treasurer, Federated Investors Trust Company.
Previous Positions: Controller of Federated Investors, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, Federated Investors Management Company; Treasurer, Federated Investors Trust Company; Assistant Treasurer, Federated Administrative Services, Federated Administrative Services, Inc., Federated Securities Corp., Edgewood Services, Inc., Federated Advisory Services Company, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Investment Management Company, Passport Research, Ltd., and Federated MDTA, LLC; Financial and Operations Principal for Federated Securities Corp., Edgewood Services, Inc. and Southpointe Distribution Services, Inc.
Annual Shareholder Report
22

Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years
and Previous Position(s)
Peter J. Germain
Birth Date: September 3, 1959
CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER
Officer since: January 2008
Principal Occupations: Mr. Germain is Chief Legal Officer of the Federated Fund Family. He is General Counsel and Vice President, Federated Investors, Inc.; President, Federated Administrative Services and Federated Administrative Services, Inc.; Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; Secretary, Federated Private Asset Management, Inc.; and Secretary, Retirement Plan Service Company of America. Mr. Germain joined Federated in 1984 and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Previous Positions: Deputy General Counsel, Special Counsel, Managing Director of Mutual Fund Services, Federated Investors, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Federated Services Company; and Senior Corporate Counsel, Federated Investors, Inc.
Brian P. Bouda
Birth Date: February 28, 1947
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Officer since: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Federated Fund Family; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Federated Investors, Inc. and Chief Compliance Officer of its subsidiaries. Mr. Bouda joined Federated in 1999 and is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar Association of Wisconsin.
Previous Positions: Served in Senior Management positions with a large regional banking organization.
Robert J. Ostrowski
Birth Date: April 26, 1963
Chief Investment Officer
Officer since: February 2008
Principal Occupations: Robert J. Ostrowski joined Federated in 1987 as an Investment Analyst and became a Portfolio Manager in 1990. He was named Chief Investment Officer of taxable fixed-income products in 2004 and also serves as a Senior Portfolio Manager. Mr. Ostrowski became an Executive Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in 2009 and served as a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1997 to 2009. Mr. Ostrowski has received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He received his M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.
Ihab Salib
Birth Date: December 14, 1964
VICE PRESIDENT
Officer since: June 2012
Portfolio Manager since: August 2009
Principal Occupations: Ihab Salib has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since August 2009. He is Vice President of the Trust with respect to the Fund. Mr. Salib joined Federated in April 1999 as a Senior Fixed-Income Trader/Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser. In July 2000, he was named a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser and in January 2007 he was named a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser. He has served as a Portfolio Manager since January 2002. From January 1994 through March 1999, Mr. Salib was employed as a Senior Global Fixed-Income Analyst with UBS Brinson, Inc. Mr. Salib received his B.A. with a major in Economics from Stony Brook University.
Annual Shareholder Report
23

Evaluation and Approval of Advisory ContractMay 2012
Federated Project and Trade Finance Core Fund (the “Fund”)
Following a review and recommendation of approval by the Fund's independent trustees, the Fund's Board reviewed and approved at its May 2012 meetings the Fund's investment advisory and subadvisory contracts for an additional one-year period. The Board's decision regarding the contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to continue the existing arrangements. The Fund is distinctive in that it is designed for the efficient management of a particular asset class and is made available for investment only to other Federated funds and a limited number of other accredited investors. Although the Adviser charges the Fund an investment advisory fee for its services, the Adviser has agreed to waive its fee and/or reimburse the Fund so that total fund expenses are zero. The Adviser or its affiliates may, however, receive compensation for managing assets invested in the Fund.
The Federated Funds' Board had previously appointed a Senior Officer, whose duties include specified responsibilities relating to the process by which advisory fees are to be charged to a Federated fund. The Senior Officer has the authority to retain consultants, experts, or staff as may be reasonably necessary to assist in the performance of his duties, reports directly to the Board, and may be terminated only with the approval of a majority of the independent members of the Board. The Senior Officer prepared and furnished to the Board an independent, written evaluation that covered topics discussed below (the “Evaluation”). The Board considered that Evaluation, along with other information, in deciding to approve the advisory and subadvisory contracts.
As previously noted, the Adviser charges the Fund an investment advisory fee for its services but has agreed to waive its fee and/or reimburse the Fund so that total fund expenses are zero; however, the Board did consider compensation and benefits received by the Adviser and subadviser, including fees received for services provided to the Fund by other entities in the Federated organization and research services received by the Adviser from brokers that execute Federated fund trades. The Board is also familiar with and considered judicial decisions concerning allegedly excessive investment advisory fees which have indicated that the following factors may be relevant to an Adviser's fiduciary duty with respect to its receipt of compensation from a fund: the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to a fund and its shareholders, including the performance and expenses of the fund and of comparable funds; the Adviser's cost of providing the services, including the profitability to the Adviser of providing advisory services to a fund; the extent to which the Adviser may realize “economies of scale” as a fund grows larger and, if such economies exist, whether they have been shared with a fund and its shareholders; any “fall-out financial benefits” that accrue to the 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 the Adviser for services rendered to a fund); comparative fee structures, including a comparison of fees paid to the Adviser with those paid by similar funds; and the extent to which the Board members are fully informed about all facts the Board deems relevant to its consideration of the Adviser's services and fees. Consistent with these judicial decisions, the Board also considered management fees (including any components thereof) charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for what might be viewed as like services. The Board was aware of these factors and was guided by them in its review of the Fund's advisory and subadvisory contracts to the extent it considered them to be appropriate and relevant, as discussed further below.
The Board considered and weighed these circumstances in light of its substantial accumulated experience in governing the Fund and working with Federated on matters relating to the Federated funds, and was assisted in its deliberations by independent legal counsel. Throughout the year and in connection with its May meetings, the Board requested and received substantial and detailed information about the Fund and the Federated organization that was in addition to the extensive materials that comprise and accompany the Senior Officer's Evaluation. Federated provided much of this information at each regular meeting of the Board, and furnished additional substantial information in connection with the May meeting at which the Board's formal review of the advisory and subadvisory contracts occurred. At this May meeting, senior management of the Adviser also met with the independent trustees and their counsel to discuss the materials presented and any other matters thought relevant by the Adviser or the trustees. Between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board has received information on particular matters as the need arose. Thus, the Board's consideration of the advisory and subadvisory contracts included review of the Senior Officer's Evaluation, accompanying data and additional information covering such matters as: the Adviser's and subadviser's investment philosophy, personnel and processes; investment and operating strategies; the Fund's short- and long-term performance, and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund's investment objectives; the Fund's overall expense structure; 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 risk assumed by the Adviser in sponsoring the funds; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry and market practices; the Fund's relationship to the Federated family of funds which include a comprehensive array of funds with different investment objectives, policies and strategies which are available for exchange without the incurrence of additional sales charges; compliance and audit reports concerning the Federated funds and the
Annual Shareholder Report
24

Federated companies that service them (including communications from regulatory agencies), as well as Federated's responses to any issues raised therein; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Federated funds and/or Federated are responding to them. The Board's evaluation process is evolutionary. The criteria considered and the emphasis placed on relevant criteria change in recognition of changing circumstances in the mutual fund marketplace.
The Fund's performance when compared to its benchmark index was also deemed to be relevant by the Board as a useful indicator of how the Adviser is executing the Fund's investment program, which in turn assisted the Board in reaching a conclusion that the nature, extent, and quality of the Adviser's investment management services were such as to warrant continuation of the advisory and subadvisory contracts.
The Board was informed by the Adviser that, for the periods covered by the Evaluation, the Fund outperformed its benchmark index for the one-year period.
Because the Fund's expenses will remain at zero due to waiver of the investment advisory fee and/or reimbursement of other expenses, the Fund's Board does not consider fee comparisons to other mutual funds or other institutional or separate accounts to be relevant.
The Board also received financial information about Federated, including information regarding the compensation and benefits Federated derived from its relationships with the Federated funds. This information covered not only the fees under the advisory contracts, but also fees received by Federated's subsidiaries for providing other services to the Federated funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the Federated funds' administrator). The information also detailed any indirect benefit Federated may derive from its receipt of research services from brokers who execute Federated fund trades. In addition, the Board considered the fact that, in order for a fund to be competitive in the marketplace, Federated and its affiliates frequently waive non-advisory fees and/or reimburse other expenses and have disclosed to fund investors and/or indicated to the Board their intention to do so in the future, where appropriate. Moreover, the Board receives regular reporting as to the institution or elimination of these voluntary waivers.
The Board and the Senior Officer also reviewed information compiled by Federated comparing profitability information for Federated to other publicly held fund management companies. In this regard, the Senior Officer noted the limited availability of such information, but nonetheless concluded that Federated's profit margins did not appear to be excessive.
The Senior Officer noted that, considering the totality of the circumstances, and all of the factors referenced within his Evaluation, he had concluded that, subject to comments and recommendations made within his Evaluation, his observations and the information accompanying the Evaluation supported a finding by the Board that the management fees for each of the funds was reasonable and that Federated appeared to provide appropriate advisory and administrative services to the Fund for the fees paid. Under these circumstances, no changes were recommended to, and no objection was raised to, the continuation of the Fund's advisory and subadvisory contracts.
The Board based its decision to approve the advisory and subadvisory contracts on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations identified above were necessarily relevant to the Fund, nor did the Board consider any one of them to be determinative. In particular, due to the unusual nature of the Fund as primarily an internal product with no net advisory fee, the Board does not consider the assessment of whether economies of scale would be realized if the Fund were to grow to some sufficient size to be relevant. With respect to the factors that were relevant, the Board's decision to approve the contracts reflects its determination that Federated's performance and actions provided a satisfactory basis to support the decision to continue the existing arrangements.
Annual Shareholder Report
25

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, as well as a report on “Form N-PX” of how the Fund voted any such proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended March 31, are available, without charge and upon request, by calling 1-800-341-7400. These materials are also available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Schedule
The Fund files with the SEC a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings, as of the close of the first and third quarters of its fiscal year, on “Form N-Q.” These filings are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. (Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the operation of the Public Reference Room.)
Annual Shareholder Report
26

The Fund is not a bank deposit or obligation, is not guaranteed by any bank and is 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 the Fund 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 Confidential Private Offering Memorandum, which contains facts concerning its objective and policies, management fees, expenses and other information.
Federated Project and Trade Finance Core Fund
Federated Investors Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086-7561
Contact us at FederatedInvestors.com
or call 1-800-341-7400.
Federated Securities Corp., Placement Agent
CUSIP 31415N103
Q450320 (5/13)
Federated is a registered trademark of Federated Investors, Inc.
2013 ©Federated Investors, Inc.

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics

 

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

(c) Not Applicable

(d) Not Applicable

(e) Not Applicable

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

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert

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

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

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

Fiscal year ended 2013 - $123,000

Fiscal year ended 2012 – $29,000

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

Fiscal year ended 2013 - $0

Fiscal year ended 2012 - $0

 

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

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

Fiscal year ended 2013 - $0

Fiscal year ended 2012 – $0

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

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

Fiscal year ended 2013 - $0

Fiscal year ended 2012 – $0

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

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

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

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

The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its Chairman. The Chairman will report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Committee will designate another member with such pre-approval authority when the Chairman is unavailable.

 

AUDIT SERVICES

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

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

AUDIT-RELATED SERVICES

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

TAX SERVICES

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

ALL OTHER SERVICES

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

(1)The aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than five percent of the total amount of revenues paid by the registrant, the registrant’s adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant to its accountant during the fiscal year in which the services are provided;

 

(2)Such services were not recognized by the registrant, the registrant’s adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and

 

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

 

The Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to those permissible non-audit services classified as All Other services that it believes are routine and recurring services, and would not impair the independence of the auditor.

The SEC’s rules and relevant guidance should be consulted to determine the precise definitions of prohibited non-audit services and the applicability of exceptions to certain of the prohibitions.

PRE-APPROVAL FEE LEVELS

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

PROCEDURES

Requests or applications to provide services that require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the independent auditor and the Principal Accounting Officer and/or Internal Auditor, and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.

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

4(b)

Fiscal year ended 2013 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2012 – 0%

Percentage of services provided to the registrants investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were approved by the registrants audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, 0% and NA respectively.

4(c)

Fiscal year ended 2013 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2012 – 0%

Percentage of services provided to the registrants investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were approved by the registrants audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, 0% and NA respectively.

4(d)

Fiscal year ended 2013 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2012 – 0%

Percentage of services provided to the registrants investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were approved by the registrants audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, 0% and NA respectively.

(f)NA

 

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

Fiscal year ended 2013 - $20,770

Fiscal year ended 2012 - $13,609

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

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Not Applicable

 

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

 

Not Applicable

 

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

 

Not Applicable

 

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

 

Not Applicable

 

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 second fiscal quarter of 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. 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 Core Trust III

 

By /S/ Lori A. Hensler

 

Lori A. Hensler, Principal Financial Officer

 

Date May 22, 2013

 

 

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 May 22, 2013

 

 

By /S/ Lori A. Hensler

 

Lori A. Hensler, Principal Financial Officer

 

Date May 22, 2013