United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form N-CSR

Certified Shareholder Report of Registered Management Investment Companies

811-23730

(Investment Company Act File Number)

Federated Hermes ETF Trust

_______________________________________________________________

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Federated Hermes Funds

4000 Ericsson Drive

Warrendale, Pennsylvania 15086-7561

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(412) 288-1900

(Registrant's Telephone Number)

Peter J. Germain, Esquire

1001 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

(Notices should be sent to the Agent for Service)

Date of Fiscal Year End: 02/28/22

Date of Reporting Period: 02/28/22

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders

Annual Shareholder Report

February 28, 2022

 

 

Ticker | XFHYX

NYSE | FHYS

Federated Hermes Short Duration High Yield ETF

Fund Established 2021

A Portfolio of Federated Hermes ETF Trust

Dear Valued Shareholder,

We are pleased to present the Annual Shareholder Report for your fund covering the period from December 16, 2021 through February 28, 2022. This report includes Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance, a complete listing of your fund’s holdings, performance information and financial statements along with other important fund information.

As a global leader in active, responsible investment management, Federated Hermes is guided by our conviction that responsible investing is the best way to create wealth over the long term. The company provides capabilities across a wide range of asset classes to investors around the world.

In addition, FederatedInvestors.com offers quick and easy access to valuable resources that include timely fund updates, economic and market insights from our investment strategists and financial planning tools. You can also access many of those insights by following us on Twitter (@FederatedHermes) and LinkedIn.

Thank you for investing with us. We hope you find this information useful and look forward to keeping you informed.

Sincerely,
 

J. Christopher Donahue, President

Not FDIC Insured ▪ May Lose Value ▪ No Bank Guarantee

CONTENTS 

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance	1
Portfolio of Investments Summary Table	6
Portfolio of Investments	7
Financial Highlights	14
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	15
Statement of Operations	16
Statement of Changes in Net Assets	17
Notes to Financial Statements	18
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	26
Shareholder Expense Example	28
Board of Trustees and Trust Officers	30
Evaluation and Approval of Advisory Contract	36
Voting Proxies on Fund Portfolio Securities	46
Quarterly Portfolio Schedule	46

Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance (unaudited)

The total return of the Federated Hermes Short Duration High Yield ETF (the “Fund”), based on net asset value (“NAV”) for the reporting period ended February 28, 2022, since the Fund’s inception date of December 16th, 2021, was -1.74%. The -1.74% total return for the Fund during the reporting period consisted of 0.98% of dividends and reinvestments and -2.72% of price loss in the net asset value of the Fund. The total return based on the market price of the Fund’s shares was -1.42% for the same period.1 The total return for the ICE BofA 0-3 Year Duration-to-Worst US High Yield Constrained Index (IBA0-3HY),2,3 the Fund’s broad-based securities market index, was -0.98% during the same period. The Fund’s total return during the reporting period reflected actual cash flows, transaction costs and expenses which were not reflected in the total return of the IBA0-3HY.

During the reporting period, the primary components of the Fund’s investment strategy which affected performance relative to the IBA0-3HY were: (a) allocation of Fund assets among the following two broad sectors: domestic noninvestment-grade4,5 bonds and domestic noninvestment-grade loans;6 (b) allocation of the Fund’s domestic noninvestment-grade bonds to specific duration buckets;7 and (c) the selection of securities within each of the Fund’s sectors.

MARKET OVERVIEW

During the reporting period, investors’ expectations regarding inflation shifted dramatically. Inflation was no longer viewed as transitory, but instead, as something more persistent and structural. That shifted investor’s expectations about the pace of rate increases by the Federal Reserve, causing a rapid upward movement in U.S. Treasury rates which led to a negative repricing for all U.S. risk assets. In fact, the shift in inflation expectations and the subsequent move in U.S. Treasury interest rates explained most of the performance for nearly all risk asset classes during the period. Accordingly, domestic leveraged finance asset classes generated negative absolute total returns. This included both the U.S. high-yield and leveraged loan markets. Even shorter duration bonds, whose lower interest rate sensitivity helps shield their prices from the impact of interest rate moves, were not immune to the repricing. The par-weighted average price of bonds in the IBA0-3HY decreased from $103.33 to $100.92 during the reporting period. The decrease in prices was only modestly offset by the current income stream thus leading to a negative total return for the asset class.

Adding to this volatility was the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February which led to spikes in the prices of commodities, particularly oil and wheat, two key outputs from the region. Additionally, Ukraine’s production of neon gas, a critical input to the manufacturing of semiconductors, was halted.

Annual Shareholder Report

1

Ukraine produces roughly 50% of the global supply of neon gas so the stoppage of production created another unwanted constraint to the semiconductor supply chain, which had been suffering for over a year because of Covid-19. The lack of semiconductors hampered auto sales leading to significant inflation in both new and used vehicle prices. These events not only exacerbated fears of lasting inflation, but as oil moved above $100 per barrel, investors began to price in higher odds of an economic slowdown. Credit risk spreads widened materially, and asset prices decreased as prospects for a sustained recovery from the Covid-19-induced recession quickly faded.

Despite these macro and geopolitical moves, the corporate and credit fundamental factors of both leveraged loans and high-yield bonds continued to be quite strong. Robust customer end demand for goods and services had many companies reporting growing revenues and profits even in the face of higher input costs and supply chain bottlenecks. That led to few credit mishaps and pushed the issuer default rate in leveraged finance markets even lower during the reporting period.

Fund Performance

During the reporting period, the Fund invested in a portfolio that was widely diversified8 over industry sectors and issuers and was comprised of corporate bonds, floating-rate bank loans,9 collateralized loan obligations (“CLO”) and cash. The Fund’s sector allocations to leveraged loans and CLOs were a positive contributor to performance relative to the IBA0-3HY. In the early part of the reporting period, the Fund had roughly an 8% weighting to leveraged loans and that grew to roughly 14% by the end of the period. The Fund’s overweight allocation to higher duration high-yield bonds negatively impacted returns relative to the IBA0-3HY. Given the rate-driven selloff in risk asset classes, high-yield bonds with a higher duration underperformed those with a lower duration. After adjusting for duration, security selection was a negative contributor to performance during the period.

Annual Shareholder Report

2

1

This assumes the shares were purchased on December 17, 2021, the first day of trading on an exchange, and all dividends were reinvested into new shares of the Fund. The difference between the Fund’s NAV return and the Fund’s share return based on the market price reflects one fewer day in the reporting period for the shares and the premium or discount of the market price relative to the NAV.

2

Please see the footnotes to the line graphs below for definitions of, and further information about, the IBA0-3HY.

3

High-yield, lower-rated securities generally entail greater market, credit and liquidity risks than investment-grade securities and may include higher volatility and a higher risk of default.

4

Investment-grade securities are securities that are rated at least “BBB” or unrated securities of a comparable quality. Noninvestment-grade securities are securities that are not rated at least “BBB” or unrated securities of a comparable quality. Credit ratings are an indication of the risk that a security will default. They do not protect a security from credit risk. Lower-rated bonds typically offer higher yields to help compensate investors for the increased risk associated with them. Among these risks are lower creditworthiness, greater price volatility, more risk to principal and income that with higher-rated securities and increased possibilities of default.

5

Bond prices are sensitive to changes in interest rates, and a rise in interest rates can cause a decline in their prices. Issuers of fixed-income securities may fail to pay interest or principal on those securities when due, which may reduce the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, its share price and its performance.

6

In addition to the risks generally associated with debt instruments, such as credit, market, interest rate, liquidity and derivatives risks, bank loans are also subject to the risk that the value of the collateral securing a loan may decline, be insufficient to meet the obligations of the borrower, or be difficult to liquidate.

7

Duration is a measure of a security’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Securities with longer durations are more sensitive to changes in interest rates than securities of shorter durations.

8

Diversification does not assure a profit nor protect against loss.

9

Variable and floating rate loans and securities generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much or as quickly as interest rates in general. Conversely, variable and floating rate loans and securities generally will not increase in value as much as fixed rate debt instruments if interest rates decline.

Annual Shareholder Report

3

FUND PERFORMANCE AND GROWTH OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT

The graph below illustrates the hypothetical investment of $10,0001 in the Federated Hermes Short Duration High Yield ETF (the “Fund”) from December 16, 2021 to February 28, 2022, compared to the ICE BofA 0-3 Year Duration-to-Worst US High Yield Constrained Index (IBA0-3HY).2 The Average Annual Total Return table below shows returns averaged over the stated periods.

Growth of a $10,000 Investment

Growth of $10,000 as of February 28, 2022
 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Period Ended 2/28/2022 

	Since Inception
Market Price	-1.42%
NAV	-1.74%
IBA0-3HY	-0.98%

Annual Shareholder Report

4

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, visit FederatedInvestors.com or call 1-800-341-7400. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Funds are not obligations of or guaranteed by any bank and are not federally insured. 

1

The Fund’s performance assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The IBA0-3HY has been adjusted to reflect reinvestment of dividends on securities in the index and the average.

2

The IBA0-3HY tracks the performance of short-term U.S. dollar denominated below investment-grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have a duration-to-worst less than three years, a remaining to final maturity of at least one month, at least 18 months to final maturity at point of issuance, a below investment-grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch), a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $250 million. The IBA0-3HY is not adjusted to reflect sales charges, expenses or other fees that the Securities and Exchange Commission requires to be reflected in the Fund’s performance. The index is unmanaged and, unlike the Fund, is not affected by cash flows. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Annual Shareholder Report

5

Portfolio of Investments Summary Table (unaudited)

At February 28, 2022, the Fund’s index classification1 was as follows: 

Index Classification	Percentage of Total Net Assets
Health Care	8.1%
Technology	7.8%
Media Entertainment	6.6%
Gaming	6.5%
Chemicals	6.2%
Insurance - P&C	5.8%
Midstream	5.4%
Cable Satellite	4.7%
Building Materials	4.7%
Automotive	4.5%
Packaging	3.9%
Consumer Products	3.7%
Independent Energy	3.6%
Other2	26.7%
Bank Loan Core Fund	6.0%
Cash Equivalents3	2.0%
Other Assets and Liabilities - Net4	(6.2)%
Total	100%

 

1	Index classifications are based upon, and individual portfolio securities are assigned to, the classifications and sub-classifications of the ICE BofA 0-3 Year Duration-to-Worst US High Yield Constrained Index (IBA0-3HY). Individual portfolio securities that are not included in the IBA0- 3HY are assigned to an index classification by the Fund’s Adviser.
2	For purposes of this table, index classifications which constitute less than 3.5% of the Fund’s total net assets have been aggregated under the designation “Other.”
3	Cash Equivalents include any investments in money market mutual funds and/or overnight repurchase agreements.
4	Assets, other than investments in securities, less liabilities. See Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

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6

Portfolio of Investments

February 28, 2022 

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   89.4%
	Aerospace/Defense—   1.1%
$300,000	TransDigm, Inc., Sr. Sub., Series WI, 5.500%, 11/15/2027	$   298,815
	Airlines—   1.3%
350,000	American Airlines, Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd., 144A, 5.500%, 4/20/2026	358,239
	Automotive—   4.5%
250,000	Dornoch Debt Merger Sub, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.625%, 10/15/2029	231,875
250,000	J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.125%, 4/15/2026	259,500
270,000	KAR Auction Services, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.125%, 6/1/2025	273,407
250,000	Panther BF Aggregator 2 LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 8.500%, 5/15/2027	260,625
250,000	Real Hero Merger Sub 2, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.250%, 2/1/2029	235,625
	TOTAL	1,261,032
	Building Materials—   4.7%
250,000	Cp Atlas Buyer, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.000%, 12/1/2028	225,313
250,000	Interface, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.500%, 12/1/2028	251,250
250,000	Srs Distribution, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.125%, 7/1/2029	238,865
350,000	Standard Industries, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.000%, 2/15/2027	352,205
250,000	White Cap Parent LLC, Sr. Sub. Secd. Note, 144A, 8.250%, 3/15/2026	251,892
	TOTAL	1,319,525
	Cable Satellite—   4.7%
250,000	CSC Holdings LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.500%, 4/15/2027	249,375
350,000	DIRECTV Holdings LLC, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 5.875%, 8/15/2027	349,881
300,000	DISH DBS Corp., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 5.250%, 12/1/2026	294,094
250,000	Doyla Holdco 18 Designated Activity Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.000%, 7/15/2028	238,290
200,000	Telenet Finance Luxembourg, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 5.500%, 3/1/2028	198,000
	TOTAL	1,329,640
	Chemicals—   6.2%
250,000	Compass Minerals International, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.750%, 12/1/2027	259,588
270,000	Herens Holdco S.a.r.l., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 4.750%, 5/15/2028	252,450
200,000	Illuminate Buyer LLC/Illuminate Holdings IV, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 9.000%, 7/1/2028	211,588
300,000	Koppers, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.000%, 2/15/2025	301,092
250,000	Olympus Water US Holding Corp., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 4.250%, 10/1/2028	233,150
250,000	Polar US Borrower LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.750%, 5/15/2026	227,500
250,000	WR Grace Holdings LLC, 144A, 4.875%, 6/15/2027	249,755
	TOTAL	1,735,123

Annual Shareholder Report

7

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
	Consumer Cyclical Services—   2.2%
$100,000	Allied Universal Holdco LLC, Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 6.625%, 7/15/2026	$   102,430
300,000	Allied Universal Holdings Co. LLC / Allied Universal Finance Corp., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 4.625%, 6/1/2028	284,910
250,000	Garda World Security Corp., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 4.625%, 2/15/2027	242,188
	TOTAL	629,528
	Consumer Products—   3.7%
250,000	BCPE Empire Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.625%, 5/1/2027	237,625
300,000	Diamond BC BV, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 4.625%, 10/1/2029	273,063
300,000	Edgewell Personal Care Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.500%, 6/1/2028	301,500
250,000	Energizer Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 4.750%, 6/15/2028	236,250
	TOTAL	1,048,438
	Diversified Manufacturing—   1.9%
250,000	Gates Global LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.250%, 1/15/2026	255,645
250,000	WESCO Distribution, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.250%, 6/15/2028	268,415
	TOTAL	524,060
	Finance Companies—   1.7%
250,000	United Shore Financial Services, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.500%, 11/15/2025	240,625
250,000	United Wholesale Mortgage, LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.500%, 4/15/2029	228,750
	TOTAL	469,375
	Food & Beverage—   1.8%
250,000	Aramark Services, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.000%, 4/1/2025	251,797
250,000	Post Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.625%, 1/15/2028	250,938
	TOTAL	502,735
	Gaming—   5.6%
250,000	Affinity Gaming LLC, 144A, 6.875%, 12/15/2027	246,250
250,000	Boyd Gaming Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.750%, 12/1/2027	250,981
250,000	MGM Resorts International, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.500%, 4/15/2027	257,988
350,000	Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, 144A, 8.000%, 2/1/2026	353,500
250,000	Scientific Games International, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 8.250%, 3/15/2026	261,125
200,000	Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Finance Corp., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 5.875%, 5/15/2025	197,500
	TOTAL	1,567,344
	Health Care—   6.3%
300,000	Ardent Health Services, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.750%, 7/15/2029	283,608
250,000	CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 5.625%, 3/15/2027	252,050
250,000	Global Medical Response, Inc., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 6.500%, 10/1/2025	245,275
250,000	LifePoint Health, Inc., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 4.375%, 2/15/2027	236,875
250,000	MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, Sr. Note, 144A, 5.500%, 9/1/2028	242,513

Annual Shareholder Report

8

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
	Health Care—   continued
$300,000	Team Health Holdings, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.375%, 2/1/2025	$   272,080
250,000	Tenet Healthcare Corp., Sr. Secd. Note, 4.625%, 7/15/2024	250,772
	TOTAL	1,783,173
	Independent Energy—   3.6%
250,000	Antero Resources Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.000%, 3/1/2025	253,125
250,000	Centennial Resource Production, LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.375%, 1/15/2026	241,250
250,000	Range Resources Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 4.875%, 5/15/2025	253,750
250,000	Tap Rock Resources LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.000%, 10/1/2026	251,525
	TOTAL	999,650
	Industrial - Other—   1.0%
300,000	Madison Iaq LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.875%, 6/30/2029	272,250
	Insurance - P&C—   4.9%
265,937	Ardonagh Midco 2 PLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 11.500% / 12.750% PIK, 1/15/2027	285,882
250,000	AssuredPartners, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.000%, 8/15/2025	247,500
250,000	Hub International Ltd., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.000%, 5/1/2026	251,675
325,000	NFP Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.875%, 8/15/2028	302,169
300,000	USIS Merger Subsidiary, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.875%, 5/1/2025	301,263
	TOTAL	1,388,489
	Media Entertainment—   5.7%
250,000	Audacy Capital Corp., 144A, 6.500%, 5/1/2027	237,500
300,000	Cumulus Media News Holdings, Inc., 144A, 6.750%, 7/1/2026	305,250
300,000	iHeartCommunications, Inc., 144A, 5.250%, 8/15/2027	298,813
250,000	Scripps Escrow, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.875%, 7/15/2027	249,514
250,000	Tegna, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 4.625%, 3/15/2028	249,833
250,000	Terrier Media Buyer, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 8.875%, 12/15/2027	256,250
	TOTAL	1,597,160
	Metals & Mining—   0.9%
250,000	HudBay Minerals, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 4.500%, 4/1/2026	241,563
	Midstream—   5.4%
250,000	Antero Midstream Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.750%, 3/1/2027	254,635
250,000	NuStar Logistics LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.625%, 4/28/2027	250,224
250,000	Rattler Midstream Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.625%, 7/15/2025	254,375
250,000	Solaris Midstream Holdings LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.625%, 4/1/2026	256,250
250,000	Suburban Propane Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.875%, 3/1/2027	254,688
250,000	Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 5.375%, 2/1/2027	257,187
	TOTAL	1,527,359

Annual Shareholder Report

9

Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
	Oil Field Services—   2.5%
$200,000	Archrock Partners LP / Archrock Partners Finance Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.250%, 4/1/2028	$   200,000
250,000	Nabors Industries, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 7.375%, 5/15/2027	258,125
250,000	USA Compression Partners LP, Sr. Unsecd. Note, Series WI, 6.875%, 4/1/2026	251,062
	TOTAL	709,187
	Packaging—   3.9%
250,000	Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.250%, 8/15/2027	237,641
350,000	Flex Acquisition Co., Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.875%, 1/15/2025	350,763
250,000	Trident Merger Subsidiary, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.625%, 11/1/2025	247,491
250,000	Trivium Packaging Finance BV, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 8.500%, 8/15/2027	256,420
	TOTAL	1,092,315
	Paper—   1.1%
300,000	Clearwater Paper Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.375%, 2/1/2025	310,107
	Pharmaceuticals—   3.4%
250,000	Bausch Health Cos, Inc., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 5.500%, 11/1/2025	250,880
250,000	Bausch Health Cos, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.000%, 1/30/2028	209,375
250,000	Grifols Escrow Issuer SA, 144A, 4.750%, 10/15/2028	236,250
250,000	Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 7.500%, 4/1/2027	250,411
	TOTAL	946,916
	Restaurant—   0.7%
200,000	1011778 BC Unltd. Liability Co./New Red Finance, Inc., 144A, 4.375%, 1/15/2028	196,250
	Retailers—   1.1%
300,000	NMG Holding Co., Inc., 144A, 7.125%, 4/1/2026	309,000
	Technology—   6.1%
250,000	Centerfield Media Parent, Sr. Note, 144A, 6.625%, 8/1/2026	241,875
250,000	Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.000%, 10/15/2026	249,440
250,000	II-VI, Inc., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.000%, 12/15/2029	249,730
250,000	Logan Merger Sub, Inc., Sr. Secd. Note, 144A, 5.500%, 9/1/2027	237,730
250,000	NCR Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.000%, 10/1/2028	245,610
200,000	Rackspace Technology, Inc., 144A, 3.500%, 2/15/2028	181,500
300,000	Veritas US, Inc./Veritas Bermuda, Ltd., Sr. Secd. Note, 144A, 7.500%, 9/1/2025	296,586
	TOTAL	1,702,471
	Transportation Services—   1.8%
250,000	Stena International S.A., Sec. Fac. Bond, 144A, 6.125%, 2/1/2025	253,750
250,000	Watco Cos LLC/Finance Co., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.500%, 6/15/2027	252,500
	TOTAL	506,250

Annual Shareholder Report

10

Principal Amount or Shares			Value
		CORPORATE BONDS—   continued
		Utility - Electric—   1.6%
$250,000		Enviva Partners LP/Enviva Partners Finance Corp., Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 6.500%, 1/15/2026	$   257,775
200,000		TerraForm Power Operating LLC, Sr. Unsecd. Note, 144A, 5.000%, 1/31/2028	200,500
		TOTAL	458,275
		TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (IDENTIFIED COST $25,799,091)	25,084,269
	1	FLOATING RATE LOANS—   8.0%
		Consumer Cyclical Services—   0.9%
250,000		AP Core Holdings II LLC, Term Loan - 1st Lien, Series B2, 6.250% (1-month USLIBOR +5.500%), 9/1/2027	249,063
		Financial Institutions—   0.9%
250,000	2	Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc., Term Loan - 1st Lien, Series B3, TBD, 9/3/2026	249,375
		Gaming—   0.9%
250,000	2	Great Canadian Gaming Corp., Term Loan - 1st Lien, Series B, TBD, 11/1/2026	249,062
		Health Care—   1.7%
250,000	2	Curium BidCo S.a r.l., Term Loan - 1st Lien, TBD, 9/10/2027	247,657
250,000	2	MH Sub I LLC, Term Loan - 2nd Lien, TBD, 2/23/2029	249,415
		TOTAL	497,072
		Insurance - P&C—   0.9%
250,000	2	Asurion LLC, Term Loan - 2nd Lien, Series B3, TBD, 2/3/2028	246,813
		Media Entertainment—   0.9%
250,000	2	NEP/NCP Holdco, Inc., Term Loan - 1st Lien, Series B, TBD, 10/19/2025	246,875
		Technology—   1.8%
250,000	2	Milano Acquisition Corp., Term Loan - 1st Lien, Series B, TBD, 10/1/2027	249,167
250,000	2	UKG, Inc., Term Loan - 2nd Lien, TBD, 5/3/2027	248,710
		TOTAL	497,877
		TOTAL FLOATING RATE LOANS (IDENTIFIED COST $2,247,187)	2,236,137
		ASSET-BACKED SECURITY—   0.9%
		Finance Companies—   0.9%
$250,000		Aimco 2020-12A, Class ER, 6.333%, 1/17/2032 (IDENTIFIED COST $250,000)	249,827
		INVESTMENT COMPANIES—   7.9%
177,209		Bank Loan Core Fund	1,687,027

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Principal Amount or Shares		Value
	INVESTMENT COMPANIES—   continued
540,405	Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Value Obligations Fund, Institutional Shares, 0.07%3	$   540,297
	TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (IDENTIFIED COST $2,246,796)	2,227,324
	TOTAL INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES—106.2% (IDENTIFIED COST $30,543,074)4	29,797,557
	OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - NET—(6.2)%5	(1,728,921)
	TOTAL NET ASSETS—100%	$28,068,636

Affiliated fund holdings are investment companies which are managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. Transactions with affiliated fund holdings during the period ended February 28, 2022, were as follows: 

	Bank Loan Core Fund	Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Value Obligations Fund, Institutional Shares	Total of Affiliated Transactions
Value as of 2/28/2021	$—	$—	$—
Purchases at Cost	$2,482,000	$1,197,206	$3,679,206
Proceeds from Sales	$(769,000)	$(656,920)	$(1,425,920)
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation	$(19,493)	$21	$(19,472)
Net Realized Gain/(Loss)	$(6,480)	$(10)	$(6,490)
Value as of 2/28/2022	$1,687,027	$540,297	$2,227,324
Shares Held as of 2/28/2022	177,209	540,405	717,614
Dividend Income	$21,540	$27	$21,567

 

1	Floating/variable note with current rate and current maturity or next reset date shown.
2	All or a portion of the security represents unsettled loan commitments at February 28, 2022 where the rate will be determined at time of settlement.
3	7-day net yield.
4	The cost of investments for federal tax purposes amounts to $30,580,993.
5	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 February 28, 2022.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). Also includes securities valued at amortized cost.

Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

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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 February 28, 2022, in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value: 

Valuation Inputs
	Level 1— Quoted Prices	Level 2— Other Significant Observable Inputs	Level 3— Significant Unobservable Inputs	Total
Debt Securities:
Corporate Bonds	$—	$25,084,269	$—	$25,084,269
Floating Rate Loans	—	2,236,137	—	2,236,137
Asset-Backed Security	—	249,827	—	249,827
Investment Companies	2,227,324	—	—	2,227,324
TOTAL SECURITIES	$2,227,324	$27,570,233	$—	$29,797,557

 

The following acronym(s) are used throughout this portfolio:
LIBOR	—London Interbank Offered Rate
PIK	—Payment in Kind
TBD	—To Be Determined

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

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Financial Highlights

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period) 

	Period Ended 2/28/2022 1
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period	$25.02
Income From Investment Operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.43
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(0.86)
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS	(0.43)
Less Distributions:
Distributions from net investment income	(0.27)
Net Asset Value, End of Period	$24.32
Total Return2	(1.74)%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
Net expenses3	0.50%4
Net investment income	4.67%4
Expense waiver/reimbursement5	0.14%4
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)	$28,069
Portfolio turnover6	7%

 

1	Reflects operations for the period from December 16, 2021 (commencement of operations) to February 28, 2022.
2	Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.
3	Amount does not reflect net expenses incurred by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
4	Computed on an annualized basis.
5	This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income ratios shown above. Amount does not reflect expense waiver/reimbursement recorded by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.
6	Securities that mature are considered sales for purposes of this calculation.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
February 28, 2022

 

Assets:
Investment in securities, at value including $2,227,324 of investment in affiliated holdings* (identified cost $30,543,074)	$29,797,557
Income receivable	394,305
Income receivable from affiliated holdings	8,496
Total Assets	30,200,358
Liabilities:
Payable for investments purchased	1,994,688
Income distribution payable	126,132
Payable for investment adviser fee (Note 5)	8,227
Accrued expenses (Note 5)	2,675
Total Liabilities	2,131,722
Net assets for 1,154,000 shares outstanding	$28,068,636
Net Assets Consist of:
Paid-in capital	$28,858,696
Total distributable earnings (loss)	(790,060)
Total Net Assets	$28,068,636
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Proceeds Per Share:
$28,068,636 ÷ 1,154,000 shares outstanding, no par value, unlimited shares authorized	$24.32

 

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

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

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Statement of Operations
Period Ended February 28, 20221

 

Investment Income:
Interest	$262,608
Dividends received from affiliated holdings*	21,567
TOTAL INCOME	284,175
Expenses:
Investment adviser fee (Note 5)	32,564
Share registration costs	2,675
TOTAL EXPENSES	35,239
Waiver/reimbursement of investment adviser fee (Note 5)	(7,836)
Net expenses	27,403
Net investment income	256,772
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments:
Net realized loss on investments (including net realized loss of $(6,490) on sales of investments in affiliated holdings*)	(5,474)
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments (including net change in unrealized appreciation of $(19,472) on investments in affiliated holdings*)	(745,517)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(750,991)
Change in net assets resulting from operations	$(494,219)

 

*	See information listed after the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
1	Reflects operations for the period from December 16, 2021 (commencement of operations) to February 28, 2022.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

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Statement of Changes in Net Assets 

 

	Period Ended 2/28/20221
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:
Net investment income	$256,772
Net realized gain (loss)	(5,474)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation	(745,517)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS	(494,219)
Distributions to Shareholders	(295,841)
Share Transactions:
Proceeds from sale of shares	28,858,696
Cost of shares redeemed	—
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM SHARE TRANSACTIONS	28,858,696
Change in net assets	28,068,636
Net Assets:
Beginning of period	—
End of period	$28,068,636

 

1 Reflects operations for the period from December 16, 2021 (commencement of operations) to February 28, 2022.

See Notes which are an integral part of the Financial Statements

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Notes to Financial Statements

February 28, 2022

1. ORGANIZATION

Federated Hermes ETF Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on August 24, 2011 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust consists of two portfolios. The financial statements included herein are only those of Federated Hermes Short Duration High Yield ETF (the “Fund”). The Fund’s investment objective is to seek high current income.

Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on a national securities exchange during the trading day. The Fund’s primary listing exchange is NYSE Arca. Any amount of shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like shares of other publicly traded companies, and when you buy or sell the Fund’s shares in the secondary market, you will pay or receive the market price. However, there can be no guarantee that an active trading market will develop or be maintained, or that the Fund shares listing will continue or remain unchanged.

Shares of the Fund may only be acquired through the Fund’s distributor and redeemed directly with the Fund by or through an Authorized Participant in large blocks called Creation Units or multiples thereof. Authorized Participants are registered clearing agents that enter into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor to transact in Creation Units. Purchases and redemptions of Creation Units will take place in-kind and/or for cash at the discretion of the Fund. The determination of whether purchases and redemptions of Creation Units will be for cash or in-kind depends primarily on the regulatory requirements and settlement mechanisms relevant to the Fund’s portfolio holdings and the Fund is not limited to engaging in in-kind transactions to any particular market circumstances.

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

◾

Shares of mutual funds or non-exchange-traded investment companies are valued based upon their reported NAVs, or NAV per share practical expedient, as applicable.

◾

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.

◾

Derivative contracts listed on exchanges are valued at their reported settlement or closing price, except that options are valued at the mean of closing bid and asked quotations.

◾

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

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◾

For securities that are fair valued in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees, certain factors may be considered, such as: the last traded or purchase price of the security, information obtained by contacting the issuer or dealers, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents, fundamental analytical data, the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition, the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded, public trading in similar securities or derivative contracts of the issuer or comparable issuers, movement of a relevant index, or other factors including but not limited to industry changes and relevant government actions.

If any price, quotation, price evaluation or other pricing source is not readily available when the NAV is calculated, if the Fund cannot obtain price evaluations from a pricing service or from more than one dealer for an investment within a reasonable period of time as set forth in the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures, or if information furnished by a pricing service, in the opinion of the valuation committee (“Valuation Committee”), is deemed not representative of the fair value of such security, the Fund uses the fair value of the investment determined in accordance with the procedures described below. There can be no assurance that the Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it sold the investment at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its NAV per share, and the actual value obtained could be materially different. The trading prices of the Fund’s shares listed on its exchange may differ from the Fund’s NAV and will normally be affected by market forces, such as supply and demand, economic conditions, the market value of the Fund’s disclosed portfolio holdings and other factors. As a result, trading prices may be lower, higher or the same as the Fund’s NAV; and investors may pay more than NAV when buying shares and receive less than NAV when selling shares through the exchange.

Fair Valuation and Significant Events Procedures

The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for determining the fair value of investments for which market quotations are not readily available. The Trustees have appointed a Valuation Committee comprised of officers of the Fund, Federated Investment Management Company (the “Adviser”) and certain of the Adviser’s affiliated companies to assist in determining fair value and in overseeing the calculation of the NAV. The Trustees have also authorized the use of pricing services recommended by the Valuation Committee to provide fair value evaluations of the current value of certain investments for purposes of calculating the NAV. The Valuation Committee employs various methods for reviewing third-party pricing-service evaluations including periodic reviews of third-party pricing services’ policies, procedures and valuation methods (including key inputs, methods, models and assumptions), transactional back-testing, comparisons of evaluations of different pricing services, and review of price challenges by the Adviser based on recent market activity. In the event that market quotations and price evaluations are not available for an investment, the Valuation Committee determines the fair value of the investment in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees. The Trustees periodically review and approve the fair valuations made by the Valuation Committee and any changes made to the procedures.

Factors considered by pricing services in evaluating an investment include the yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, call rights and other potential prepayments, terms and type, reported transactions, indications as to values from dealers and general market conditions. Some pricing services provide a single

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price evaluation reflecting the bid-side of the market for an investment (a “bid” evaluation). Other pricing services offer both bid evaluations and price evaluations indicative of a price between the prices bid and asked for the investment (a “mid” evaluation). The Fund normally uses bid evaluations for any U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities. The Fund normally uses mid evaluations for any other types of fixed-income securities and any OTC derivative contracts. In the event that market quotations and price evaluations are not available for an investment, the fair value of the investment is determined in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees.

The Trustees also have adopted procedures requiring an investment to be priced at its fair value whenever the Adviser determines that a significant event affecting the value of the investment has occurred between the time as of which the price of the investment would otherwise be determined and the time as of which the NAV is computed. An event is considered significant if there is both an affirmative expectation that the investment’s value will change in response to the event and a reasonable basis for quantifying the resulting change in value. Examples of significant events that may occur after the close of the principal market on which a security is traded, or after the time of a price evaluation provided by a pricing service or a dealer, include:

◾

With respect to securities traded principally in foreign markets, significant trends in U.S. equity markets or in the trading of foreign securities index futures contracts;

◾

Political or other developments affecting the economy or markets in which an issuer conducts its operations or its securities are traded;

◾

Announcements concerning matters such as acquisitions, recapitalizations, litigation developments, or a natural disaster affecting the issuer’s operations or regulatory changes or market developments affecting the issuer’s industry.

The Trustees have adopted procedures whereby the Valuation Committee uses a pricing service to provide factors to update the fair value of equity securities traded principally in foreign markets from the time of the close of their respective foreign stock exchanges to the pricing time of the Fund. For other significant events, the Fund may seek to obtain more current quotations or price evaluations from alternative pricing sources. If a reliable alternative pricing source is not available, the Fund will determine the fair value of the investment in accordance with the fair valuation procedures approved by the Trustees. The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for any fair valuations made in response to a significant event.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements for short-term liquidity purposes. It is the policy of the Fund to require the other party to a repurchase agreement to transfer to the Fund’s custodian or sub-custodian eligible securities or cash with a market value (after transaction costs) at least equal to the repurchase price to be paid under the repurchase agreement. The eligible securities are transferred to accounts with the custodian or sub-custodian in which the Fund holds a “securities entitlement” and exercises “control” as those terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code. The Fund has established procedures for monitoring the market value of the transferred

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securities and requiring the transfer of additional eligible securities if necessary to equal at least the repurchase price. These procedures also allow the other party to require securities to be transferred from the account to the extent that their market value exceeds the repurchase price or in exchange for other eligible securities of equivalent market value.

The insolvency of the other party or other failure to repurchase the securities may delay the disposition of the underlying securities or cause the Fund to receive less than the full repurchase price. Under the terms of the repurchase agreement, any amounts received by the Fund in excess of the repurchase price and related transaction costs must be remitted to the other party.

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements in which eligible securities are transferred into joint trading accounts maintained by the custodian or sub-custodian for investment companies and other clients advised by the Fund’s Adviser and its affiliates. The Fund will participate on a pro rata basis with the other investment companies and clients in its share of the securities transferred under such repurchase agreements and in its share of proceeds from any repurchase or other disposition of such securities.

Investment Income, Gains and Losses, Expenses and Distributions

Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade-date basis. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified-cost basis. Interest income and expenses are accrued daily. Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Foreign dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date or when the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Distributions of net investment income, if any, are declared and paid monthly. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at fair value. Amortization/accretion of premium and discount is included in investment income. The detail of the total fund expense waiver and reimbursement of $7,836 is disclosed in Note 5.

Federal Taxes

It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the Subchapter M provision of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and to distribute to shareholders each year substantially all of its income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income tax is necessary. As of and during the period ended February 28, 2022, the Fund did not have a liability for any uncertain tax positions. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to tax liabilities as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. As of February 28, 2022, tax years 2021 through 2022 remain subject to examination by the Fund’s major tax jurisdictions, which include the United States of America and the State of Delaware.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions

The Fund may engage in when-issued or delayed-delivery transactions. The Fund records when-issued securities on the trade date and maintains security positions such that sufficient liquid assets will be available to make payment for the securities purchased. Securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis are marked to market daily and begin earning interest on the settlement date. Losses may occur on these transactions due to changes in market conditions or the failure of counterparties to perform under the contract.

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Restricted Securities

The Fund may purchase securities which are considered restricted. Restricted securities are securities that either: (a) cannot be offered for public sale without first being registered, or being able to take advantage of an exemption from registration, under the Securities Act of 1933; or (b) are subject to contractual restrictions on public sales. In some cases, when a security cannot be offered for public sale without first being registered, the issuer of the restricted security has agreed to register such securities for resale, at the issuer’s expense, either upon demand by the Fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Many such restricted securities may be resold in the secondary market in transactions exempt from registration. Restricted securities may be determined to be liquid under criteria established by the Trustees. The Fund will not incur any registration costs upon such resales. The Fund’s restricted securities, like other securities, are priced in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees.

Other

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets, liabilities, expenses and revenues reported in the financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimated. The Fund applies investment company accounting and reporting guidance.

3. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

The following tables summarize share activity with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units: 

	Period Ended 2/28/20221
Shares sold	1,154,000
Shares issued to shareholders in payment of distributions declared	—
Shares redeemed	—
NET CHANGE RESULTING FROM FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS	1,154,000

 

1 Reflects operations for the period from December 16, 2021 (commencement of operations) to February 28, 2022.

4. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

The tax character of distributions as reported on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the period ended February 28, 2022 was as follows: 

	2022
Ordinary income	$295,841

As of February 28, 2022, the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows: 

Distributions payable	$(188)
Net unrealized depreciation	$(783,436)
Capital loss carryforwards	$(6,436)

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The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized depreciation is attributable to differing treatments for discount accretion/premium amortization on debt securities.

At February 28, 2022, the cost of investments for federal tax purposes was $30,580,993. The net unrealized depreciation of investments for federal tax purposes was $783,436. This consists of net unrealized appreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of value over cost of $5,912 and net unrealized depreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of cost over value of $789,348.

As of February 28, 2022, the Fund had a capital loss carryforward of $6,436 which will reduce the Fund’s taxable income arising from future net realized gains on investments, if any, to the extent permitted by the Code, thereby reducing the amount of distributions to shareholders which would otherwise be necessary to relieve the Fund of any liability for federal income tax. Pursuant to the Code, these net capital losses retain their character as either short-term or long-term and do not expire.

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

Short-Term	Long-Term	Total
$6,436	$—	$6,436

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 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Under the advisory agreement, the Adviser has contractually agreed to pay all operating expenses of the Fund under a unitary fee structure, except (i) interest and taxes (including, but not limited to, income, excise, transaction, transfer and withholding taxes) and registration fees and expenses; (ii) expenses of the Fund incurred with respect to the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities and the execution of portfolio transactions, including brokerage commissions and short sale dividend or interest expense; (iii) expenses incurred in connection with any distribution plan adopted by the Trust in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, including distribution fees; (iv) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses; (v) litigation expenses; (vi) proxy-related expenses; (vii) tax reclaim recovery expenses; and (viii) any expenses determined to be extraordinary expenses. Subject to the terms described in the Expense Limitation note, the Adviser may voluntarily choose to waive any portion of its fee and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund for competitive reasons such as to maintain the Fund’s expense ratio, or as and when appropriate, to maintain positive or zero net yields. For the period ended February 28, 2022, the Adviser voluntarily waived $7,817 of its fee and voluntarily reimbursed $19 of other operating expenses.

Administrative Fee

Federated Administrative Services (FAS), under the Administrative Services Agreement, provides the Fund with administrative personnel and services. The Adviser not the Fund, pays FAS.

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Distribution Services Fee

The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. Under the terms of the Plan, the Fund will compensate Federated Securities Corp. (FSC), the principal distributor, from the daily net assets of the Fund to finance activities intended to result in the sale of these shares. The Plan provides that the Fund may incur distribution expenses of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets, annually, to compensate FSC. Subject to the terms described in the Expense Limitation note, FSC may voluntarily choose to waive any portion of its fee.

For the period ended February 28, 2022, the Fund did not incur a distribution services fee; however, it may begin to incur this fee upon approval of the Trustees.

Expense Limitation

The Adviser and certain of its affiliates (which may include FAS or FSC) on their own initiative have agreed to waive certain amounts of their respective fees and/or reimburse expenses. Total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, taxes, litigation expenses, extraordinary expenses and proxy-related expenses paid by the Fund, if any) paid by the Fund (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 0.50% (the “Fee Limit”) up to but not including the later of (the “Termination Date”): (a) January 1, 2023; or (b) the date of the Fund’s next effective Prospectus. These arrangements may only be terminated or the Fee Limit increased prior to the Termination Date with the agreement of the Fund’s Trustees.

Directors’/Trustees’ and Miscellaneous Fees

Certain Officers and Trustees of the Fund are Officers and Directors or Trustees of certain of the above companies.

Affiliated Shares of Beneficial Interest

As of February 28, 2022, a majority of the shares of beneficial interest outstanding are owned by an affiliate of the Adviser.

6. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding long-term U.S. government securities and short-term obligations, for the period ended February 28, 2022, were as follows: 

Purchases	$32,531,943
Sales	$1,944,515

Purchases include $26,060,050 in connection with in-kind purchases of the Fund’s Creation Units.

7. INTERFUND LENDING

Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund, along with other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Hermes, Inc., may participate in an interfund lending program. This program provides an alternative credit facility allowing the Fund to borrow from other participating affiliated funds. As of February 28, 2022, there were no outstanding loans. During the period ended February 28, 2022, the program was not utilized.

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8. OTHER MATTERS

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in late 2019 and subsequently spread globally. As of the date of the issuance of these financial statements, this coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, disruptions to healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, and disruptions to supply chains, workflow operations and consumer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus may continue for an extended period of time and has resulted in substantial economic volatility. Health crises caused by outbreaks, such as the coronavirus outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could continue to negatively affect the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, individual companies (including certain Fund service providers and issuers of the Fund’s investments) and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

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

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF FEDERATED HERMES ETF TRUST AND SHAREHOLDERS OF FEDERATED HERMES SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD ETF:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Federated Hermes Short Duration High Yield ETF (the “Fund”) (one of the portfolios constituting Federated Hermes ETF Trust (the “Trust”)), including the portfolio of investments, as of February 28, 2022, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets and financial highlights for the period from December 16, 2021 (commencement of operations) through February 28, 2022 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund (one of the portfolios constituting Federated Hermes ETF Trust) at February 28, 2022, and the results of its operations, changes in net assets and financial highlights for the period from December 16, 2021 (commencement of operations) through February 28, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

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Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of February 28, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian and others, or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from others were not received. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 

We have served as the auditor of one or more Federated Hermes investment companies since 1979.

Boston, Massachusetts
April 22, 2022 

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Shareholder Expense Example (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include creation and redemption fees and brokerage commissions; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and to the extent applicable, distribution (12b-1) fees and/or other service fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you to understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds. It is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from September 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022.

ACTUAL EXPENSES

The first section of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you incurred over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses attributable to your investment during this period.

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

The second section of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. Thus, you should not use the hypothetical account values and expenses to estimate the actual ending account balance or your expenses for the period. Rather, these figures are required to be provided to enable you to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

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Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as creation and redemption fees and brokerage commissions. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher. 

	Beginning Account Value 9/1/2021	Ending Account Value 2/28/2022	Expenses Paid During Period1
Actual	$1,000	$982.60	$1.02
Hypothetical (assuming a 5% return before expenses)	$1,000	$1,022.32	$2.51

 

1 “Actual” expense information for the Fund is for the period from December 16, 2021 (commencement of operations) to February 28, 2022. Actual expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratio of 0.50%, multiplied by 75/365 (to reflect the period from the commencement of operations to February 28, 2022). “Hypothetical” expense information for the Fund is presented on the basis of the full one-half year period to enable comparison to other funds. It is based on assuming the same net expense ratio and average account value over the period, but it is multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the full half-year period).

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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 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779. The address of all Independent Trustees listed is 4000 Ericsson Drive, Warrendale, PA 15086-7561; Attention: Federated Hermes ETF Trust Board. As of December 31, 2021, the Trust comprised two portfolio(s), and the Federated Hermes Fund Family consisted of 33 investment companies (comprising 102 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Officer is elected annually. Unless otherwise noted, each Trustee oversees all portfolios in the Federated Hermes Fund Family and serves for an indefinite term. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about Trust Trustees and is available, without charge and upon request, by calling 1-800-341-7400, Option #4.

Interested TRUSTEES Background 

Name Birth Date Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years, Other Directorships Held and Previous Position(s)

J. Christopher Donahue* Birth Date: April 11, 1949 President and Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021

Principal Occupations: Principal Executive Officer and President of certain of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Director or Trustee of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Fund Family; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Chairman and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; Chairman and Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; Chairman and Trustee, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company. Previous Positions: President, Federated Investment Counseling; President and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd; Chairman, Passport Research, Ltd.

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Name Birth Date Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years, Other Directorships Held and Previous Position(s)

Thomas R. Donahue* Birth Date: October 20, 1958 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of certain of the funds in the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Chairman and Trustee, Federated Administrative Services; Chairman and Director, Federated Administrative Services, Inc.; Trustee and Treasurer, Federated Advisory Services Company; Director or Trustee and Treasurer, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Counseling, and Federated Investment Management Company; Director, MDTA LLC; Director, Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Federated Securities Corp.; Director or Trustee and Chairman, Federated Services Company and Federated Shareholder Services Company; and Director and President, FII Holdings, Inc. Previous Positions: Director, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Assistant Secretary, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Company and Passport Research, LTD; Treasurer, Passport Research, LTD; Executive Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; and Treasurer, FII Holdings, Inc.

*

Family relationships and reasons for “interested” status: J. Christopher Donahue and Thomas R. Donahue are brothers. Both are “interested” due to their beneficial ownership of shares of Federated Hermes, Inc. and the positions they hold with Federated Hermes, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES Background 

Name Birth Date Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years, Other Directorships Held, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications

John T. Collins Birth Date: January 24, 1947 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee, and Chair of the Board of Directors or Trustees, of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; formerly, Chairman and CEO, The Collins Group, Inc. (a private equity firm) (Retired). Other Directorships Held: Director, KLX Energy Services Holdings, Inc. (oilfield services); former Director of KLX Corp. (aerospace). Qualifications: Mr. Collins has served in several business and financial management roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Collins previously served as Chairman and CEO of The Collins Group, Inc. (a private equity firm) and as a Director of KLX Corp. Mr. Collins serves as Chairman Emeriti, Bentley University. Mr. Collins previously served as Director and Audit Committee Member, Bank of America Corp.; Director, FleetBoston Financial Corp.; and Director, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard University Affiliate Hospital).

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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
G. Thomas Hough Birth Date: February 28, 1955 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee, Chair of the Audit Committee of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; formerly, Vice Chair, Ernst & Young LLP (public accounting firm) (Retired). Other Directorships Held: Director, Chair of the Audit Committee, Equifax, Inc.; Lead Director, Member of the Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.; formerly, Director, Member of Governance and Compensation Committees, Publix Super Markets, Inc. Qualifications: Mr. Hough has served in accounting, business management and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Hough most recently held the position of Americas Vice Chair of Assurance with Ernst & Young LLP (public accounting firm). Mr. Hough serves on the President’s Cabinet and Business School Board of Visitors for the University of Alabama. Mr. Hough previously served on the Business School Board of Visitors for Wake Forest University, and he previously served as an Executive Committee member of the United States Golf Association.
Maureen Lally-Green Birth Date: July 5, 1949 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Adjunct Professor Emerita of Law, Duquesne University School of Law; formerly, Dean of the Duquesne University School of Law and Professor of Law and Interim Dean of the Duquesne University School of Law; formerly, Associate General Secretary and Director, Office of Church Relations, Diocese of Pittsburgh. Other Directorships Held: Director, CNX Resources Corporation (formerly known as CONSOL Energy Inc.). Qualifications: Judge Lally-Green has served in various legal and business roles and directorship positions throughout her career. Judge Lally-Green previously held the position of Dean of the School of Law of Duquesne University (as well as Interim Dean). Judge Lally-Green previously served as a member of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and as a Professor of Law, Duquesne University School of Law. Judge Lally-Green was appointed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to serve on the Supreme Court’s Board of Continuing Judicial Education and the Supreme Court’s Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee. Judge Lally-Green also currently holds the positions on not for profit or for profit boards of directors as follows: Director and Chair, UPMC Mercy Hospital; Regent, Saint Vincent Seminary; Member, Pennsylvania State Board of Education (public); Director, Catholic Charities, Pittsburgh; and Director CNX Resources Corporation (formerly known as CONSOL Energy Inc.). Judge Lally-Green has held the positions of: Director, Auberle; Director, Epilepsy Foundation of Western and Central Pennsylvania; Director, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh; Director, Saint Thomas More Society; Director and Chair, Catholic High Schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Inc.; Director, Pennsylvania Bar Institute; Director, St. Vincent College; Director and Chair, North Catholic High School, Inc.; Director and Vice Chair, Our Campaign for the Church Alive!, Inc.; and Director, Saint Francis University.

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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
Thomas M. O’Neill Birth Date: June 14, 1951 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Sole Proprietor, Navigator Management Company (investment and strategic consulting). Other Directorships Held: None. Qualifications: Mr. O’Neill has served in several business, mutual fund and financial management roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. O’Neill serves as Director, Medicines for Humanity. Mr. O’Neill previously served as Chief Executive Officer and President, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Fleet Investment Advisors; President and Chief Executive Officer, Aeltus Investment Management, Inc.; General Partner, Hellman, Jordan Management Co., Boston, MA; Chief Investment Officer, The Putnam Companies, Boston, MA; Credit Analyst and Lending Officer, Fleet Bank; Director and Consultant, EZE Castle Software (investment order management software); Director, The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, Florida; and Director, Midway Pacific (lumber).
Madelyn A. Reilly Birth Date: February 2, 1956 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; formerly, Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Directors, Duquesne University. Other Directorships Held: None. Qualifications: Ms. Reilly has served in various business and legal management roles throughout her career. Ms. Reilly previously served as Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Directors and Assistant General Counsel and Director of Risk Management, Duquesne University. Prior to her work at Duquesne University, Ms. Reilly served as Assistant General Counsel of Compliance and Enterprise Risk as well as Senior Counsel of Environment, Health and Safety, PPG Industries.
P. Jerome Richey Birth Date: February 23, 1949 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Management Consultant; Retired; formerly, Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Legal Officer, University of Pittsburgh and Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, CONSOL Energy Inc. (now split into two separate publicly traded companies known as CONSOL Energy Inc. and CNX Resources Corp.). Other Directorships Held: None. Qualifications: Mr. Richey has served in several business and legal management roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Richey most recently held the positions of Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Legal Officer, University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Richey previously served as Chairman of the Board, Epilepsy Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Board, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. Mr. Richey previously served as Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, CONSOL Energy Inc. and CNX Gas Company; and Board Member, Ethics Counsel and Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC (a law firm).

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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

John S. Walsh Birth Date: November 28, 1957 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: February 2021

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer of construction temporary heaters); President and Director, Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers Products, Inc. Other Directorships Held: None. Qualifications: Mr. Walsh has served in several business management roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Walsh previously served as Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc. (paving contractors).

OFFICERS 

Name Birth Date Address Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years and Previous Position(s)

Lori A. Hensler Birth Date: January 6, 1967 TREASURER Officer since: February 2021

Principal Occupations: Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Senior Vice President, Federated Administrative Services; Financial and Operations Principal for Federated Securities Corp.; and Assistant Treasurer, Federated Investors Trust Company. Ms. Hensler has received the Certified Public Accountant designation. Previous Positions: Controller of Federated Hermes, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, Federated Investors Management Company; Treasurer, Federated Investors Trust Company; Assistant Treasurer, Federated Administrative Services, Federated Administrative Services, Inc., Federated Securities Corp., Edgewood Services, Inc., Federated Advisory Services Company, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Investment Management Company, Passport Research, Ltd., and Federated MDTA, LLC; Financial and Operations Principal for Federated Securities Corp., Edgewood Services, Inc. and Southpointe Distribution Services, Inc.

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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, SECRETARY and EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Officer since: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Mr. Germain is Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Executive Vice President of the Federated Hermes Fund Family. He is General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Executive Vice President, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Trustee and Senior Vice President, Federated Investors Management Company; Trustee and President, Federated Administrative Services; Director and President, Federated Administrative Services, Inc.; Director and Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; Director and Secretary, Federated Private Asset Management, Inc.; Secretary, Federated Shareholder Services Company; and Secretary, Retirement Plan Service Company of America. Mr. Germain joined Federated Hermes, Inc. in 1984 and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Previous Positions: Deputy General Counsel, Special Counsel, Managing Director of Mutual Fund Services, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Federated Services Company; and Senior Corporate Counsel, Federated Hermes, Inc.
Stephen Van Meter Birth Date: June 5, 1975 CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Officer since: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Federated Hermes Fund Family; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Federated Hermes, Inc. and Chief Compliance Officer of certain of its subsidiaries. Mr. Van Meter joined Federated Hermes, Inc. in October 2011. He holds FINRA licenses under Series 3, 7, 24 and 66. Previous Positions: Mr. Van Meter previously held the position of Compliance Operating Officer, Federated Hermes, Inc. Prior to joining Federated Hermes, Inc., Mr. Van Meter served at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in the positions of Senior Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, Division of Investment Management and Senior Counsel, Division of Enforcement.
Robert J. Ostrowski Birth Date: April 26, 1963 Chief Investment Officer Officer since: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Robert J. Ostrowski joined Federated Hermes, Inc. in 1987 as an Investment Analyst and became a Portfolio Manager in 1990. He was named Chief Investment Officer of Federated Hermes’ 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.
Brandon L. Clark Birth Date: November 28, 1974 VICE PRESIDENT Officer since: February 2021	Principal Occupations: Brandon L. Clark is a Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Clark joined Federated Hermes in July 2020 as a Senior Vice President and Director, ETF Business, Federated Advisory Services Company. Prior to joining Federated Hermes, Mr. Clark served as Managing Director of Legg Mason’s ETF products and Head of ETF Capital Markets with the Vanguard Group. Mr. Clark received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

 

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Evaluation and Approval of Advisory Contract–August 2021

FEDERATED HERMES SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD ETF (THE “FUND”)

At its meetings in August 2021 (the “August Meetings”), the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and unanimously approved for an initial two-year term a proposed investment advisory contract (the “Contract”) between the Fund and Federated Investment Management Company (the “Adviser”). The Board’s determination to approve the Contract reflects the exercise of its business judgment regarding whether to authorize the creation and offering of this new investment vehicle, as proposed by Federated Hermes, Inc. (together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, “Federated Hermes”), and is based on information requested by the Board and provided by Federated Hermes, as well as Federated Hermes’ recommendation to go forward with development of the Fund. The information, factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board’s approval are summarized below.

Information Received and Review Process

At the request of the Independent Trustees, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”) furnished to the Board in advance of its August Meetings an independent written evaluation presenting on the topics discussed below. The Board considered the CCO’s independent written evaluation (the “New Fund CCO Fee Evaluation Report”), along with other information, in evaluating the reasonableness of the Fund’s proposed management fee and in determining to approve the Contract. The CCO, in preparing the New Fund CCO Fee Evaluation Report, has the authority to retain consultants, experts or staff as reasonably necessary to assist in the performance of his duties, reports directly to the Board, and can be terminated only with the approval of a majority of the Independent Trustees.

In addition to the extensive materials that comprise and accompany the New Fund CCO Fee Evaluation Report, the Board considered the materials and presentations provided by Federated Hermes and the CCO’s independent written evaluation in connection with the Board’s annual approval of the continuation of the advisory and subadvisory contracts for the other funds advised by the Adviser and its affiliates (each, a “Federated Hermes Fund”) at its May 2021 meetings. The Board also considered such additional matters as the Independent Trustees deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the proposed Contract, which included detailed information about the Federated Hermes Funds and Federated Hermes furnished to the Board at its meetings throughout the year and in between regularly scheduled meetings on particular matters as the need arose.

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The Board’s consideration of the Contract included review of materials and information covering the following matters, among others: the Adviser’s investment philosophy, revenue, profitability, personnel and processes; investment and operating strategies; the Fund’s proposed investment objective; the Fund’s anticipated expenses, including the proposed management fee and the overall estimated expense structure of the Fund (both in absolute terms and relative to a group of its peer funds), with due regard for contractual or voluntary expense limitations (if any); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions to be derived from trading the Fund’s portfolio securities (if any); and the nature, quality and extent of the advisory and other services to be provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates. The Board also considered the likely preferences and expectations of anticipated Fund shareholders; the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by the Adviser in sponsoring and managing the Fund; the continuing state of competition in the exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and mutual fund industry and market practices; the range of comparable fees for similar funds in the exchange-traded fund and mutual fund industry; the Fund’s proposed relationship to the other Federated Hermes Funds, which include a comprehensive array of funds with different investment objectives, policies and strategies, and the benefits to shareholders of being part of the family of Federated Hermes Funds, compliance and audit reports concerning the Federated Hermes Funds and Federated Hermes’ affiliates that service them (including communications from regulatory agencies), as well as Federated Hermes’ responses to any issues raised therein; and relevant developments in the exchange-traded fund and mutual fund industry and how the Federated Hermes Funds and/or Federated Hermes may be responding to them. The Board noted that its evaluation process is evolutionary and that the criteria considered and the emphasis placed on relevant criteria may change in recognition of changing circumstances in the exchange-traded fund and mutual fund marketplace.

The Board also considered judicial decisions concerning allegedly excessive investment advisory fees in determining to approve the Contract. Using these judicial decisions as a guide, the Board observed that the following factors may be relevant to an adviser’s fiduciary duty with respect to its receipt of compensation from a fund: (1) the nature and quality of the services provided by an adviser to a fund and its shareholders (including the performance of the fund, its benchmark, and comparable funds); (2) an adviser’s cost of providing the services (including the profitability to an adviser of providing advisory services to a fund); (3) the extent to which an adviser may realize “economies of scale” as a fund grows larger and, if such economies of scale exist, whether they have been appropriately shared with a fund and its shareholders or the family of funds; (4) any “fall-out” benefits that accrue to an adviser because of its relationship with a fund (including research services received from brokers that execute fund trades and any fees paid to affiliates of an adviser for services rendered to a fund); (5) comparative fee and expense structures (including a

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comparison of fees paid to an adviser with those paid by similar funds both internally and externally as well as management fees charged to institutional and other advisory clients of the adviser for what might be viewed as like services); and (6) the extent of care, conscientiousness and independence with which the fund’s board members perform their duties and their expertise (including whether they are fully informed about all facts the board deems relevant to its consideration of an adviser’s services and fees). The Board noted that the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) disclosure requirements regarding the basis for a fund board’s approval of the fund’s investment advisory contract generally align with the factors listed above. The Board was guided by these factors in its review of the proposed Contract to the extent it considered them to be appropriate and relevant, as discussed further below. The Board recognized that certain of the factors listed above (relating to such matters as anticipated Fund performance and any indirect benefits that may accrue to Federated Hermes as a result of the Adviser’s proposed relationship with the Fund) are essentially impossible to apply before the Fund has experienced any meaningful operating history. The Board considered and weighed these factors in light of its substantial accumulated experience in governing the Federated Hermes Funds and working with Federated Hermes on matters relating to the Federated Hermes Funds.

In determining to approve the Contract, the members of the Board reviewed and evaluated information and factors they believed to be relevant and appropriate through the exercise of their reasonable business judgment. While individual members of the Board may have weighed certain factors differently, the Board’s determination to approve the Contract was based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Board. The Independent Trustees were assisted throughout the evaluation process by independent legal counsel. In connection with their deliberations at the August Meetings, the Independent Trustees met separately in executive session with their independent legal counsel and without management present to review the relevant materials and consider their responsibilities under applicable laws. In addition, senior management representatives of Federated Hermes also met with the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel to discuss the materials and presentations furnished to the Board at the August Meetings.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services

The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided to the Fund by the Adviser and the resources of the Adviser and its affiliates to be dedicated to the Fund. In this regard, the Board evaluated, among other things, the proposed terms of the Contract and the range of services to be provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates. The Board considered the Adviser’s personnel, investment philosophy and process, investment research capabilities and resources, trade execution capabilities, experience and performance track record. The Board reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the portfolio management

38

team that will be primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and the Adviser’s ability and experience in attracting and retaining qualified personnel to service the proposed Fund. In particular, the Board considered the abilities and experience of the portfolio managers in analyzing factors such as special considerations relevant to investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated high-yield fixed-income instruments. The Board also evaluated the Fund’s anticipated ability to deliver competitive performance when compared to its Peer Group (as defined below) as a useful indicator of the Adviser’s anticipated ability to execute the Fund’s investment program.

In addition, the Board considered the financial resources and overall reputation of Federated Hermes and its willingness to consider and make investments in personnel, infrastructure, technology, cybersecurity, business continuity planning and operational enhancements that are designed to benefit the Federated Hermes Funds. The Board also considered its past experience with the Adviser with respect to the services it provides to other Federated Hermes Funds. The Board considered that, although the Fund would be among the first ETFs managed by the Adviser, the Adviser had extensive experience advising actively managed mutual funds, including mutual funds with similar strategies to those of the Fund. The Board noted the significant acquisition of Hermes Fund Managers Limited by Federated Hermes in 2018, which has deepened the organization’s investment management expertise and capabilities and expanded the investment process for all of the Federated Hermes Funds to have access to analytical resources related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors and issuer engagement on ESG matters.

The Board considered the special attributes of the Fund as an ETF relative to a traditional mutual fund and the benefits that are expected to be realized from an investment in the Fund, rather than a traditional mutual fund. The Board also considered the resources devoted by Federated Hermes in developing and maintaining an infrastructure necessary to support the on-going operations of the Fund.

The Board considered the quality of the Adviser’s communications with the Board and responsiveness to Board inquiries and requests made from time to time with respect to the other Federated Hermes Funds. In this regard, the Board took into account the Adviser’s communications with the Board in light of the market volatility amidst the pandemic. The Board also considered that Federated Hermes is responsible for providing the Federated Hermes Funds’ officers.

The Board also considered information previously provided by the Adviser regarding its regulatory and compliance environment. The Board considered the Adviser’s compliance program, compliance history, and reports from the CCO about the Adviser’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including responses to regulatory developments and any compliance or other issues raised by regulatory agencies. The Board also noted Federated Hermes’

39

support of the Federated Hermes Funds’ compliance control structure and, in particular, the compliance-related resources that would be devoted by the Adviser and its affiliates in support of the Fund’s obligations pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, including the Adviser’s commitment to respond to rulemaking and other regulatory initiatives of the SEC. The Board considered Federated Hermes’ day-to-day oversight of the Federated Hermes Funds’ compliance with their investment objectives and policies as well as with applicable laws and regulations, noting that regulatory and other developments had over time led to an increase in the scope of Federated Hermes’ oversight in this regard, including in connection with the designation of the Federated Hermes Funds’ investment advisers as the administrators of the Federated Hermes Funds’ liquidity risk management program.

The Board also considered discussions with Federated Hermes regarding the implementation of its business continuity plans and recognized steps taken by Federated Hermes to continue to provide the same nature, extent and quality of services to the Federated Hermes Funds during the pandemic. In addition, the Board noted Federated Hermes’ commitment to maintaining high quality systems and expending substantial resources to prepare for and respond to ongoing changes due to the market, regulatory and control environments in which the Fund and its service providers would operate, including changes associated with the pandemic.

Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management and related services to be provided to the Fund by the Adviser and that the approval of the Contract was warranted.

Fund Investment Performance

The Board noted that the Fund is newly formed and has no prior performance history. The Board considered the investment performance of the Adviser and its significant history of managing short duration fixed-income portfolios. The Board also received additional information about the broad range of the portfolio management team’s investment experience and their investment philosophy and process, including with respect to the Fund’s proposed investments primarily in a diversified portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated high-yield fixed-income instruments.

Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that it was satisfied that the Adviser has the capability of providing satisfactory investment performance for the Fund.

Fund Expenses

The Board considered the proposed management fee and overall proposed expense structure of the Fund and the comparative fee and expense information that had been provided in connection with the May Meetings. In this regard, the Board was presented with, and considered, information regarding the

40

proposed contractual management fee rates, proposed net management fee rates, and anticipated total expense ratios relative to (i) traditional mutual funds with an institutional share class within the category of peer funds selected by Morningstar, Inc. , an independent fund ranking organization (the “Peer Group”) and (ii) actively managed ETFs within the Peer Group. The Board noted the CCO’s view that comparisons to fund peer groups may be helpful, though not conclusive, in evaluating the reasonableness of the Fund’s fees. The Board considered, in evaluating such comparisons, that in some cases there may be differences in the funds’ objectives or investment management techniques, or the costs to implement the funds, even within the same Peer Group. The Board noted information about structural, operational and other differences between ETFs and traditional mutual funds, including differences in the marketplace in which each type of product must compete.

While mindful that courts have cautioned against giving too much weight to comparative information concerning fees charged by other advisers for managing funds with comparable investment programs, the Board noted that it found the use of such comparisons to be relevant to its deliberations. The Board focused on comparisons with other similar exchange-traded funds and mutual funds more heavily than exchange-traded funds and mutual funds products or services because such comparisons are believed to be more relevant. The Board considered that other exchange-traded funds and mutual funds are the products most like the Fund, in that they are readily available to Fund shareholders as alternative investment vehicles, and they are the type of investment vehicle, in fact, anticipated to be chosen and maintained by the Fund’s anticipated shareholders. The Board noted that the range of such other exchange-traded funds’ and mutual funds’ fees and expenses, therefore, appears to be a relevant indicator of what consumers have found to be reasonable in the marketplace in which the Fund will compete. The Board also considered competition in the general ETF marketplace and the impact of market pressures on the price levels for actively managed ETFs such as the Fund.

The Board reviewed the proposed contractual management fee rate, proposed net management fee rate and anticipated total expense ratio of the Fund and noted the position of the Fund’s proposed fee rates relative to its Peer Group. In this regard, the Board noted that the proposed contractual management fee rate of the Fund was above the median of the Peer Group. The Board also noted that most of the funds in the Fund’s Peer Group do not charge a unitary fee from which operational expenses are paid.

Consistent with general ETF practice, the Board noted the Fund’s “unitary” fee structure, under which the Adviser would, in addition to providing investment management services, arrange for transfer agency, custody, fund administration and accounting, and other non-distribution related services necessary for the Fund to operate. The Board considered that, other than the management fee, the Adviser would pay all operating expenses of the Fund,

41

except for: (i) interest and taxes (including, but not limited to, income, excise, transaction, transfer and withholding taxes); (ii) expenses of the Fund incurred with respect to the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities and the execution of portfolio transactions, including brokerage commissions and short sale dividend or interest expense; (iii) expenses incurred in connection with any distribution plan adopted by the Trust in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, including distribution fees; (iv) acquired fund fees and expenses; (v) litigation expenses; (vi) proxy-related expenses; (vii) tax reclaim recovery expenses; and (viii) any expenses determined to be extraordinary expenses.

While Federated Hermes does not currently offer a Short-Term High Yield investment strategy either in a separate account or another Federated Hermes Fund, the Board previously received and considered information about the fees charged by Federated Hermes for advisory services provided by the High Yield investment team to other types of clients, including non-registered non-exchange-traded or mutual fund clients (such as institutional separate accounts) and third-party unaffiliated mutual funds for which the Adviser or its affiliates serve as sub-adviser. The Board noted the CCO’s conclusion that registered fund clients are inherently different products due to the following differences, among others: (i) different types of targeted investors; (ii) different applicable laws and regulations; (iii) different legal structures; (iv) different average account sizes and portfolio management techniques made necessary by different cash flows and different associated costs; (v) the time spent by portfolio managers and their teams (among other personnel across various departments, including legal, compliance and risk management) in reviewing securities pricing, addressing different administrative responsibilities, and addressing different degrees of risk associated with management; and (vi) a variety of different costs. The Board noted that the CCO did not consider the fees for providing advisory services to other types of clients to be determinative in judging the appropriateness of the Federated Hermes Funds’ advisory fees.

The Board considered the CCO’s conclusion that the proposed management fee was reasonable. The Board reviewed the proposed fees and anticipated total expense ratio of the Fund and was satisfied that the proposed overall expense structure of the Fund appeared to be appropriate.

Profitability and Other Benefits

The Board considered other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. In connection with the Board’s governance of other Federated Hermes Funds, the Board regularly receives financial information about Federated Hermes, including information regarding the compensation and ancillary (or “fall-out”) benefits that Federated Hermes derived from its relationships with the Federated Hermes Funds. This information covers not only the fees under the Federated Hermes Funds’

42

investment advisory contracts, but also fees received by Federated Hermes’ affiliates for providing other services to the Federated Hermes Funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the Federated Hermes Funds’ administrator and distributor). In this regard, the Board considered that certain of Federated Hermes’ affiliates provide distribution and shareholder services to the Federated Hermes Funds, for which they may be compensated through distribution and servicing fees paid pursuant to Rule 12b-1 plans or otherwise. The Board also received and considered information detailing any indirect benefit that Federated Hermes may derive from its receipt of research services from brokers who execute portfolio trades for the Federated Hermes Funds. In addition, the Board considered that, in order for the Federated Hermes Funds to remain competitive in the marketplace, the Adviser and its affiliates frequently waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses and have disclosed to Federated Hermes Fund shareholders and/or reported to the Board their intention to do so (or continue to do so) in the future. Moreover, the Board received and considered regular reports from Federated Hermes throughout the year as to the institution, adjustment or elimination of these voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements.

The Board received and considered information furnished by Federated Hermes, as requested by the CCO, that reported projected revenues for the Fund, as detailed cost allocation reports had not yet been projected for the Fund. The Board considered the CCO’s view that, while these cost allocation reports apply consistent allocation processes, the inherent difficulties in allocating costs continue to cause the CCO to question the precision of the process and to conclude that such reports may be unreliable because a single change in an allocation estimate may dramatically alter the resulting estimate of cost and/or profitability of a Federated Hermes Fund and may produce unintended consequences. The Board considered that the Fund was new to Federated Hermes and noted the CCO’s view that any projected cost allocation and/or profit margin does not represent the full or actual cost of operating a Federated Hermes Fund and makes only rough estimates of the cost to launch a Federated Hermes Fund. The Board also considered the CCO’s view that, while the Fund is expected to grow in size, the creation and maintenance of the Fund requires a substantial initial investment. The allocation information, including the CCO’s view that estimations regarding the Fund may be unreliable, was considered in the evaluation by the Board.

The Board also considered information regarding the CCO’s review of information compiled by Federated Hermes comparing its profitability information to other publicly held fund management companies. The Board considered that the CCO noted that Federated Hermes regularly undertakes to establish new Federated Hermes Funds and maintains a number of other smaller Federated Hermes Funds that, while expected to grow to a greater size, nevertheless require substantial investment and waiver or assumption of fees and other expenses in order to deliver them to the marketplace.

43

The Board considered the CCO’s conclusion that, based on such profitability information, Federated Hermes’ profit margins did not appear to be excessive. The Board also considered the CCO’s view that Federated Hermes appeared financially sound, with the resources necessary to fulfill its obligations under its contracts with the Federated Hermes Funds, including the proposed Contract.

Economies of Scale

The Board received and considered information about the notion of possible realization of “economies of scale” as a fund grows larger, the difficulties of calculating economies of scale at an individual fund level, and the extent to which potential scale benefits are shared with shareholders. The Board considered that any reduction in fixed costs associated with the management of the Fund would benefit the Adviser due to the unitary fee structure of the Fund, but that the unitary fee would protect shareholders from a rise in operating costs and/or a decline in Fund assets and is a transparent means of informing the Fund’s shareholders of the fees associated with the Fund. The Board also considered that Federated Hermes has made significant and long-term investments in areas that support all of the Federated Hermes Funds, such as personnel and processes for the portfolio management (including market data on which portfolio managers make investment decisions), trading operations, issuer engagement (including with respect to ESG matters), shareholder services, compliance, business continuity, internal audit and risk management functions, as well as systems technology (including technology relating to cybersecurity) and use of data. The Board noted that Federated Hermes’ investments in these areas are extensive and are designed to provide enhanced services to the Federated Hermes Funds and their shareholders. The Board considered that the benefits of these investments (as well as the benefits of any economies of scale, should they exist) are likely to be shared with the family of Federated Hermes Funds as a whole. In addition, the Board considered that the Adviser and its affiliates have frequently waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses for the Federated Hermes Funds and that such waivers and reimbursements are another means for potential economies of scale to be shared with shareholders and can provide protection from an increase in expenses if a Federated Hermes Fund’s assets decline. The Board noted the fee waiver arrangement proposed for the Fund.

In connection with the Board’s governance of other Federated Hermes Funds, the Board regularly receives information furnished by Federated Hermes regarding adviser-paid fees (commonly referred to as “revenue sharing”). The Board considered the beliefs of Federated Hermes and the CCO that this information should be viewed to determine if there was an incentive to either not apply breakpoints, or to apply breakpoints at higher levels, and should not be viewed to determine the appropriateness of advisory fees. The Board also noted the absence of any applicable regulatory or industry guidelines on this subject, which is compounded by the lack of any common

44

industry practice or general pattern with respect to structuring fund management fees with “breakpoints” that serve to reduce the fees as a fund attains a certain size. The Board considered that the CCO did not recommend institution of breakpoints in pricing Federated Hermes’ proposed investment management services to the Fund at this time. The Board noted that, as part of its future annual review of the Contract, it will review asset growth in the Fund, whether economies of scale that can be reasonably identified have been achieved, and the extent to which such economies of scale may be shared with Fund shareholders.

Conclusions

The Board considered: (i) the CCO’s conclusion that his observations and the information accompanying the New Fund CCO Fee Evaluation Report show that the proposed management fee for the Fund was reasonable; and (ii) the CCO’s recommendation that the Board approve the proposed management fee.

On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Board, and the evaluation thereof, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, unanimously voted to approve the Contract. The Board based its determination to approve the Contract on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors and with a view of past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations identified above were necessarily deemed to be relevant to the Fund, nor did the Board consider any one of them to be determinative. With respect to the factors that were deemed to be relevant, the Board’s determination to approve the Contract reflects its view that Federated Hermes’ proposal to establish and manage the Fund and its past performance and actions in providing services to other Federated Hermes Funds (which the Board has found to be satisfactory with respect to such other Federated Hermes Funds) provided a satisfactory basis to support the determination to approve

the proposed arrangement.

Annual Shareholder Report

45

Voting Proxies on Fund Portfolio Securities

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies, if any, relating to securities held in the Fund’s portfolio is available, without charge and upon request, by calling 1-800-341-7400, Option #4. A report on “Form N-PX” of how the Fund voted any such proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available via the Proxy Voting Record (Form N-PX) link associated with the Fund name at FederatedInvestors.com/FundInformation. Form N-PX filings are also available at the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedule

Each fiscal quarter, the Fund will file with the SEC a complete schedule of its monthly portfolio holdings on “Form N-PORT.” The Fund’s holdings as of the end of the third month of every fiscal quarter, as reported on Form N-PORT, will be publicly available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov within 60 days of the end of the fiscal quarter upon filing. You may also access this information via the link to the Fund name at FederatedInvestors.com.

Annual Shareholder Report

46

Funds are not bank deposits or obligations, are not guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency. Investment in funds involves investment risk, including the possible loss of principal.

This Report is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by the Fund’s Prospectus, which contains facts concerning its objective and policies, management fees, expenses and other information.
  

 

Federated Hermes Short Duration High Yield ETF
Federated Hermes Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086-7561

Contact us at FederatedInvestors.com
or call 1-800-341-7400.

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

CUSIP 31423L206

Q455585 (4/22)

© 2022 Federated Hermes, Inc.

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics

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

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

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

(e) Not Applicable

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

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert

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

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

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

Fiscal year ended 2022 – $42,500

Fiscal year ended 2021 - NA

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

Fiscal year ended 2022 - $0

Fiscal year ended 2021 - NA

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 NA respectively.

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

Fiscal year ended 2022 - $0

Fiscal year ended 2021 - NA

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 NA respectively.

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

Fiscal year ended 2022 - $0

Fiscal year ended 2021 - NA

Amount requiring approval of the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, $56,742 and NA respectively. Fiscal year ended 2022- Service fees for analysis of potential Passive Foreign Investment Company holdings.

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

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

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

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

AUDIT SERVICES

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

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

AUDIT-RELATED SERVICES

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

TAX SERVICES

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

ALL OTHER SERVICES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRE-APPROVAL FEE LEVELS

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

PROCEDURES

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

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

4(b)

Fiscal year ended 2022 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2021 - NA

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

4(c)

Fiscal year ended 2022 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2021 – NA

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

4(d)

Fiscal year ended 2022 – 0%

Fiscal year ended 2021 – NA

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

(f) NA

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

Fiscal year ended 2022 - $117,986

Fiscal year ended 2021 - NA

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

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

Not Applicable

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

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

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

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

Not Applicable

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

Not Applicable

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

Not Applicable

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

No Changes to Report

Item 11. Controls and Procedures

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

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

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

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

Not Applicable

Item 13. Exhibits

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

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

(a)(3) Not Applicable.

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

SIGNATURES

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

Registrant Federated Hermes ETF Trust

By /S/ Lori A. Hensler

Lori A. Hensler, Principal Financial Officer

Date April 22, 2022

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

By /S/ J. Christopher Donahue

J. Christopher Donahue, Principal Executive Officer

Date April 22, 2022

By /S/ Lori A. Hensler

Lori A. Hensler, Principal Financial Officer

Date April 22, 2022