Federated Hermes Global Equity ESG Pathway Fund

SRI Style:

ESG Plus

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label

Product:

SICAV/Offshore

Fund Region:

Global

Fund Asset Type:

Equity

Launch Date:

01/05/2014

Last Amended:

Oct 2024

Dialshifter ():

Fund Size:

£1943.20m

(as at: 31/03/2024)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:

£312.80m

Total Responsible Ownership Assets:

£36698.50m

Total Assets Under Management:

£46595.70m

ISIN:

IE00BKRCPS19

Objectives:

The investment philosophy can be encapsulated in four words: pragmatism, sustainability, responsibility and longevity. Companies with a competitive advantage and a sustainable business model are sought after as they are more likely to offer visibility of earnings growth. In addition it is important that companies behave responsibly, which tends to lead us to companies that are well governed as they are likely to avoid unforeseeable negative surprises. Choosing stocks that demonstrate a combination of these characteristics allows the team to hold stocks over the long-term, as it is only by doing this that a company can fulfil its true potential.

The strategy is agnostic towards investment style. It uses criteria from a range of styles and is biased towards companies with favourable environmental, social and governance (ESG) attributes.

Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:

Companies that have managed their ESG risk have historically outperformed over the long term. Furthermore, the team believes that companies that are improving their ESG profile can unlock significant shareholder value.

The investment philosophy is implemented through the team’s proprietary stock selection model. The ESG characteristics of companies are reflected in the team’s proprietary assessment of ESG performance, the QESG Score. These scores reflect the current behaviour of companies and, crucially, how the former are improving.

Selected stocks are then subjected to a disciplined subjective analysis, which seeks to validate the models results and assess macro and ESG risks, and includes valuable insights from EOS, our in-house stewardship team.

The result is a portfolio with exposure across the style spectrum that favours best-in-class companies alongside those whose ESG profile is improving, which aims to consistently produce excess risk-adjusted returns over the long term.

Primary fund last amended:

Oct 2024

Information directly from fund manager.

Fund Filters

Sustainability - General
Sustainability policy

Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.

Encourage more sustainable practices through stewardship

A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity

UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy

Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/

Environmental - General
Environmental policy

Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries

Funds that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change. Funds vary - some funds may be 'underweight' in this area which means they may have some investment in highly carbon intensive areas. Funds of this kind may choose companies they consider to be 'best in sector' and encourage ever higher standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further details.

Favours cleaner, greener companies

Funds that aim to invest in companies with strong or market leading environmental policies and practices. Strategies vary - in particular the balance between 'financial' aspects and environmental benefits. Some may invest substantially in solutions or 'positive impact' companies - others may invest in more conventional companies providing certain environmental criteria are met. See fund information for further detail.

Nature & Biodiversity
Deforestation / palm oil policy

Find funds that have policies in place designed to ensure they do not invest in companies that are significantly involved in deforestation. This typically relates to palm oil plantations where biodiversity loss is a major concern (as well as other issues). Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Climate Change & Energy
Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy

Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.

Encourage transition to low carbon through stewardship activity

A core element of these funds will aim to encourage the transition to lower carbon activities through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity

Invests in clean energy / renewables

Funds that hold companies in the clean energy and renewable energy sectors (at the time research was supplied). Fund strategies vary, in particular the proportion of investment in these areas may vary significantly. Check fund literature for details.

Social / Employment
Social policy

Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Labour standards policy

Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards

Favours companies with strong social policies

Find funds that invest in line with positive strategies that relate to 'people' issues - such as having strong human rights, labour standards and equal opportunities practices. Such funds are likely to invest in companies that have market leading standards with regard to employee and supplier practices. Read fund literature for further information.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Armaments manufacturers avoided

Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.

Pornography avoidance policy

Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.

Animal welfare policy

Find funds with policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Human Rights
Human rights policy

Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Modern slavery exclusion policy

The fund has a policy which excludes assets with involvement in Modern Slavery

Gilts & Sovereigns
Does not invest in sovereigns

Find funds that do not invest in / exclude 'sovereigns' - debt issued by governments. See eg https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sovereign-debt.asp

Banking & Financials
Invests in banks

Find funds that include banks as part of their holdings / portfolio.

Invests in insurers

Funds that do or may invest in insurance companies.

Governance & Management
Governance policy

Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Avoids companies with poor governance

Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.

Encourage board diversity e.g. gender

Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)

Encourage TCFD alignment for banks & insurance companies

Find fund managers that encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).

Encourage higher ESG standards through stewardship activity

A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity

Fund Governance
ESG integration strategy

Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.

ESG factors included in Assessment of Value (AoV) report

Environmental, social and governance issues are part of this fund’s reporting of their ‘value’ to clients. AoV reporting is a statutory requirement. Including ESG factors in its calculation is not.

Asset Size
Invests in small, mid and large cap companies / assets

Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.

Targeted Positive Investments
EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy holdings 5-25% of fund assets

Find funds that have calculated the proportion of fund asset that meet the new EU Taxonomy requirements and that they total 5-25% of assets. This will typically require adding up the proportion of each individual company's activity that is regarded as 'green' so that the fund manager can produce an overall total for the whole fund / portfolio.

How The Fund Works
Positive selection bias

Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.

Limited / few ethical exclusions

Find funds with few exclusions - typically for example exclude tobacco or companies that breach commonly adopted standards or norms such as the UN Global Compact.

ESG weighted / tilt

Find funds that invest more heavily in those that have higher ESG ratings/standards or scores and less heavily in companies with lower ESG ratings. Where this is central to a fund's strategy you should expect it to invest in most sectors. Strategies vary.

Data led strategy

Find funds that make stock selection (and ongoing fund management) decisions based on ESG data or company ratings (normally supplied by third parties) rather than focusing on what individual companies do, how they operate or their plans for the future

Significant harm exclusion

Aims to avoid companies that do significant harm. This originates from the EU’s sustainable finance ‘DNSH’ (do no significant harm) work, which is not necessarily used by UK investors.

Assets mapped to SDGs

Find funds that have 'mapped' (reviewed) their investment selection and management strategies to identify which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the fund is helping to address.

Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria

Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.

Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria

Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.

Balances company 'pros and cons' / best in sector

Find funds that consider both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and make balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.

Focus on ESG risk mitigation

A major focus of these funds is the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).

SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website

Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

Do not use stock / securities lending

This fund does not use stock lending for performance or risk purposes.

Unscreened Assets & Cash
All assets (except cash) meet published sustainability criteria

All assets held in the fund - except cash - meet the sustainability criteria published in fund documentation.

Intended Clients & Product Options
Intended for investors interested in sustainability

Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.

Intended for clients interested in ethical issues

Find funds designed for clients who care about ethical and values-based issues, often alongside sustainability issues also.

Portfolio SRI / ESG options available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option

Multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options

Bespoke SRI / ESG portfolios available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options

Labels & Accreditations
SFDR Article 8 fund / product (EU)

Finds funds classified under Article 8 of the EU’s SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirements). Article 8 of the SFDR is a set of requirements that apply to financial products that 'promote' environmental or social characteristics with high governance also. These rules do not currently apply to UK funds so many managers may leave this field blank.

Fund Management Company Information

About The Business
Boutique / specialist fund management company

Find fund management companies that are smaller or specialise in particular areas - notably, ideally ESG related. Strategies vary.

Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide)

Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.

ESG / SRI engagement (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.

Vote all* shares at AGMs / EGMs (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that vote all* the shares they own at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. A commitment to voting shares is a key indicator of 'responsible share ownership' demonstrating their support for or disagreement with management policy. (*situations can legitimately, occasionally occur where voting proves impossible, but in principle all shares should be voted.)

Responsible ownership / ESG a key differentiator (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.

Sustainable property strategy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that take sustainability criteria into account when selecting and/or managing all of their property / real estate investments.

Senior management KPIs include environmental goals (AFM company wide)

The leadership team of this asset manager have performance targets linked to environmental goals.

SDG aligned aims / objectives (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that aim to align all their investments (across all funds) to help meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsible ownership policy for non SRI funds (AFM company wide)

Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.

Integrates ESG factors into all / most (AFM) fund research

Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.

In-house diversity improvement programme (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have an in-house (company wide) diversity improvement programme - meaning that they are working to ensure that within their own businesses they employ people from diverse backgrounds - often typically focused on ethnicity and/or sex.

Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that encourage the companies they invest in to have strong diversity, race, gender and other equality policies across all assets held, not simply screened or themed SRI/ESG funds. (ie Asset Management company wide).

Vulnerable client policy on website (AFM company wide)

Asset manager has information on their website that explains how they treat 'vulnerable clients' (as set out in FCA regulation)

Invests in newly listed companies (AFM company wide)

This asset management company invests in companies which have recently listed on a stock exchange (which is important as it can help grow new businesses).

Invests in new sustainability linked bond issuances (AFM company wide)

Asset management company has investments in bonds designed to meet sustainability requirements - however these assets may not be 'ringfenced' for this purpose. See fund manager website for details.

Offer unstructured intermediary sustainable investment training

Fund management entity offers unstructured intermediary training on sustainable investment (ie for financial advisers and wealth managers)

Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory

Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.

UKSIF member

Find fund management companies that are members of UKSIF - the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance association

TNFD forum member (AFM company wide)

A member of the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures group which aims to aid risk management and shift money towards nature-positive outcomes.

Investment Association (IA) member

Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/

Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise

Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.

Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers

Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.

Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies

Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.

ESG specialists on all investment desks (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types)

Accreditations
PRI A+ rated (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have an A+ PRI rating - meaning they are highly rated according to the 'Principles of Responsible Investment'

UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.

Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.

Encourage responsible corporate taxation (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.

Engaging on climate change issues

Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.

Engaging with fossil fuel companies on climate change

Asset manager has a stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that involves working with fossil fuel companies on climate change related issues. See fund manager website for details.

Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste

Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.

Engaging to encourage responsible mining practices

Asset manager has a stewardship / responsible ownership policy that means they are working to encourage more responsible mining practices - where environmental and social issues are properly dealt with by the companies they invest in.

Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues

The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global

Engaging to encourage a Just Transition

Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/

Engaging on human rights issues

Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on labour / employment issues

Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)

Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues

Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets

Engaging to stop modern slavery

working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.

Engaging on governance issues

Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets

Engaging on mental health issues

Asset manager has stewardship strategy in place which involves discussing mental health issues with investee companies - with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on responsible supply chain issues

Has a stewardship / responsible ownership strategy that encourages responsible supply chain - ie the managers will discuss environmental, social and governance issues with investee companies with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on the responsible use of AI

Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence.

Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.

Review(ing) carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds (AFM company wide)

Find funds / fund managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.)

Climate & Net Zero Transition
Net Zero commitment (AFM company wide)

Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.

Voting policy includes net zero targets (AFM company wide)

Fund manager AGM / EGM voting strategy has processes in place that mean they will normally be expected to vote in a way that will encourage the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Publish 'CEO owned' Climate Risk policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that have published a Climate Risk policy or statement that is signed / owned by their Chief Executive.

Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.

Encourage carbon / greenhouse gas reduction (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon transition plan published (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have a company wide carbon transition plan - meaning that they have plotted a path to how they will move away from activities that produce or use carbon based energy sources (that emit greenhouse gases) towards clean, alternative, renewable energy sources.

‘Forward Looking Climate Metrics’ published / ITR (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have published ‘forward looking climate metrics’ e.g. 'implied temperature rise' data that are a total of the asset management company's share (% owned) of all the investee company emissions of the assets they manage, as well as their own direct and other indirect emissions.

Carbon offsetting – do NOT offset carbon as part of net zero plan (AFM company wide)

This asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions by reducing their emissions. Calculations and scope vary.

In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that are working to reduce their own (fund management company) carbon/greenhouse gas emissions.

Working towards a ‘Net Zero’ commitment (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund management companies that are in the process of working out how to make a ‘net zero commitment’ - meaning that when that is finalised they will have started the process of reducing their total greenhouse gas emissions to'zero'.

Transparency
Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.

Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information on company website

Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.

Just Transition policy on website (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has published information on their website about the delivery of a 'just transition' - ie the delivery of the necessary shift to a sustainable future that takes full account of social implications - how change effects people. See eg https://www.unepfi.org/social-issues/just-transition/ or LSE Grantham

Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)

Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.

Sustainability transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are to become a sustainable business - without significant negative environmental or social impacts.

Paris Alignment plan publicly available (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they will align to the climate change commitments made at the Paris Climate Talks, COP21.

Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are going to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.

Dialshifter statement

Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

The Global Equity ESG strategy seeks best-in-class companies within their specific industry or those that are showing positive ESG momentum, but does not explicitly exclude any companies. Rather than exclude specific sectors or industries, the team avoids certain behaviours. These behaviours include the manufacture of harmful and unsustainable products, e.g. tobacco, and exposure to severe ESG risks that may prompt material fines or regulatory consequences, e.g. companies deemed to be in breach of the UN Global Compact.

 

Exclusions:

Outside of the firm-wide exclusions list on controversial weapons, the Global Equity ESG strategy does not exclude a predefined list of companies. Instead, the team takes into account negative signals, including certain products or behaviours that are considered unsustainable. This can lead to exclusion of certain business lines and practices including:

  • Companies involved in the production and/or manufacture of tobacco products.
  • Companies which have been deemed to have breached the UN Global Compact Principles.
  • Companies involved in controversial weapons in accordance with the guidelines of the Ottawa Convention on landmines, the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention and involvement in nuclear weapons.
  • Companies deriving a material proportion of revenue from coal mining or coal fired electricity production
  • Companies deriving a material proportion of revenue from the gambling industry
  • Companies deriving a material proportion of revenue from pornography

 

Consideration is also given to the engagement activity that is carried out by the EOS team around key issues to encourage better management of material environmental, social and governance risks.

 

Process:

Assessment of the ESG characteristics of a company is a vital part of the team’s investment approach and the team uses ESG research in both proprietary models and in discussion with our in-house ESG experts, EOS.

 

The team has built a bespoke quantitative assessment of the most important ESG issues, the QESG Score, which evaluates a company’s ESG characteristics and identifies positive ESG change. The team believes that companies less exposed to ESG risks than peers will outperform over the long term. Further, it believes that companies that are improving their ESG profile through positive change can unlock significant shareholder value.

 

The QESG Score is designed to capture a company’s behaviour on various ESG issues, as well as observed change in its ESG behaviour. The score combines data from EOS, Sustainalytics, MSCI, CDP, ISS, Trucost, FactSet and Bloomberg and is weighted 50% governance factors, 25% environmental factors and 25% social factors; the score is shown in the ESG Dashboard. The weightings used are based on the expertise of the EOS team. Following research into the growing impact of ESG factors, the team found a significant correlation between governance and stock performance.

 

The QESG Score is a valuable component of the ESG Dashboard, which is used in the subjective part of the process, and provides a concise digest of the ever-increasing amount of data on ESG risks. As such, all of the team’s investments are analysed from an ESG perspective.

 

The expertise of EOS has also helped define the key performance indicators or risk factors on which each company is measured. These are either generic, such as board structure, or sector specific, focusing on the major risks by industry – such as CO2 emissions and fleet consumption for the automobiles industry, paper sourcing for media and energy efficiency for airlines. The team uses it to identify ESG risks within companies and determine the materiality of these risks. Any change in the level of ESG risk and progress on current engagements are key factors that could influence an investment decision.

 

The ESG Dashboard has helped the team further integrate ESG research into investment decisions and foster dialogue with EOS, with whom the team have formal monthly meetings, as well as numerous ad hoc conversations. The Dashboard is accessible through Bloomberg and, as well as its assessment of a company’s ESG characteristics, is further bolstered by the voting and engagement activities of EOS. This collaboration with our stewardship experts ensures the team remains active owners of the companies held in the portfolio.

 

The Portfolio Snapshot offers a portfolio perspective on ESG exposures. This tool reports on ESG characteristics of portfolio holdings (both in absolute and benchmark-relative terms) including voting and engagement data from EOS. The Snapshot also highlights companies with potential controversies and ESG concerns. The tool acts to promote discussion on thematic ESG risks, as well as to identify the best and the worst companies according to various ESG metrics.

 

By thoroughly rating companies on these extra-financial criteria, businesses (and investment managers) can be steered towards greater consideration of the ESG issues. This assessment of ESG factors helps the team reinforce its view of the sustainability of a company and is consistent with their long-term approach and helps ensure that turnover remains low.

 

The ESG integration approach adopted by the team is complemented by direct dialogue with businesses that is made possible through EOS, which ensures the team remains active owners of the companies held in the portfolio.

 

The team also has access to a range of proprietary tools, including the Corporate Governance Tool, the Carbon Tool and the Environmental Tool.

 

In addition, our investment teams make use of data related to ESG analysis from several providers, such as MSCI, Sustainalytics, Bloomberg, CDP, ISS, Trucost and Planetrics.

 

 

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

ESG Resources, EOS, Responsibility Office and ESG Specialists:

The responsibility for implementing our approach resides with all personnel; however, we have a number of teams in place that ensure that, across the business, we discharge our responsibilities in a consistent and effective manner.

 

Launched in 2014, our dedicated Responsibility Office coordinates, develops and supports the implementation of our responsible investment and stewardship policies and ensures that responsibility is embedded throughout the business. This extends to our approach to our own governance and practices, as well as the integration of engagement and ESG factors into our investment strategies and processes.

 

In terms of our ESG-dedicated personnel, Federated Hermes Limited has 85 staff members that are directly involved in ESG integration, as at 31 March 2024. We also have dedicated ESG personnel embedded within our investment teams. The teams are outlined below:

  • Within the Responsibility Office, our dedicated Responsibility team is tasked with coordinating and supporting the development of our policies and their subsequent integration across our funds and stewardship services. Leon Kamhi, our Head of Responsibility, reports directly to our CEO. Each of our investment teams meet formally with Leon and his team on a quarterly basis to discuss their ESG integration activities.
  • Our 38-person stewardship team, EOS, includes industry executives, senior strategists, corporate governance, sustainability consultants, climate change experts, accountants, ex-fund managers, former bankers and lawyers. The depth and breadth of this resource reflects our philosophy that stewardship activities require an integrated and skilled approach.
  • Within our Fixed Income team, we have a Sustainable Fixed Income (SFI) team. The SFI team is responsible for the sustainability integration within our credit portfolios and has a dedicated engagement resource.
  • We have two dedicated impact equity investment teams: Impact & Sustainable Investing and SDG Engagement. These are managed by Ingrid Kukuljan and Hamish Galpin, respectively. We have also appointed a Head of Impact Engagement - Equities, Will Pomroy, who oversees and leads the engagement programme for our equity impact strategies, which includes providing ESG analysis and formulating engagement strategies for the portfolios.
  • The Global Equities team also has its own ESG specialist in portfolio manager Louise Dudley, who has been with the company since 2009, initially working in EOS, the Global Emerging Markets team includes two dedicated Responsible Investing & Sustainability personnel, Olivia Lankester and Hayley McGuiness and the Asia ex Japan team includes Seyoung Serena Ko who is a dedicated ESG Analyst.

 

Membership Lists:

Federated Hermes is supportive of the development of codes and standards relating to responsible business conduct and responsible investment to aid transparency and accountability. We adhere to a number of responsible business conduct codes and internationally recognised standards for due diligence and reporting:

  • We were founding signatories of the UN Principles of Responsible Investment (UN PRI) in 2006 and committed to embedding the six Principles as a responsible investor and owner. We report annually using the PRI Reporting Framework. We also work with the PRI through a number of its working groups and initiatives.
  • We are a signatory of a number of stewardship codes, including the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Stewardship Code since 2010. As part of our signatory status to the UK Stewardship Code we produce an annual Stewardship Report. Our stewardship business unit, EOS is a signatory of the Best Practice Principles for Providers of Shareholder Voting Research & Analysis and reports annually on implementation of these principles.
  • Signatories of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) since 2017 and report annually on our implementation of the UNGC Principles across the themes of Environment. Human Rights, Labour Rights and Anti-Corruption. We implement the Principles across our operations, and the themes are reflected in our ESG integration and engagement processes as described in our Sustainability Risks Policy. We engage with the UNGC UK Network to support the continued growth of the network and the impact of its engagement with businesses.
  • We joined Climate Action 100+ in 2015 and play an active role in this investor-led initiative with the support of over 360 investors, representing more than $34 trillion of assets under management that aims to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change.
  • We were a founder of the 300 Club in 2011 and was the Chair until 2014.
  • We have been members of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative since 2021 through which we have committed to support the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C as stated in the Paris Agreement. We publish an annual climate-related financial disclosures report in line with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Furthermore, we are proud to have become an inaugural TNFD Early Adopter, which was announced at the World Economic Forum event at Davos in 2023. We have already begun trialling elements of the TNFD disclosure recommendations in our reporting.
  • In 2020 we signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge and the Eliminating Commodity Driven Deforestation Commitment, through which we have committed to assess and disclose our exposure to deforestation and to protect and restore biodiversity through our investment and engagement activities.
  • We have been a member of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) since 2011 and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) since 2019.
  • In line with international treaties, we are currently excluding companies that are manufacturing and/or are providing either an essential and/or tailor-made product or service to the manufacturers of relevant controversial weapons.
  • We ensure our sustainable investments are aligned with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
  • We comply with all relevant regulatory disclosures, including the requirements of the UK Modern Slavery Act (2015) as set out in our Modern Slavery Statement and the EU Shareholder Rights Directive II.

We are also members of a wide range of industry initiatives through which we seek to advance industry best practice, collaborate with other investors to achieve shared engagement and advocacy outcomes and ensure we remain at the forefront of best practice. We provide an annual update of our external memberships in our Stewardship Report, available via the link: https://www.hermes-investment.com/uploads/2024/05/6f19626d98852698c2f960906dccf312/fhl-corporate-stewardship-report-2024.pdf.

 

Dialshifter

This fund is helping to ‘shift the dial from brown to green’ by…

The ESG characteristics of companies are reflected in the team’s proprietary assessment of ESG performance, the QESG Score. These scores reflect the current behaviour of companies and how the former are improving.

Selected stocks are then subjected to a disciplined subjective analysis, which seeks to validate the models results and assess macro and ESG risks.

The result is a portfolio with exposure across the style spectrum that favours best-in-class companies alongside those whose ESG profile is improving.

 

 

Our organisation is helping to support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero by…

We trust companies have set their net-zero pledges in good faith and we look for interim targets and goals to better understand their pathways to net-zero.  We acknowledge the challenge around the alignment of net-zero time-lines for commitments.  To address this challenge, we look for explicit short- and medium-term targets that are sufficiently ambitious so that the company’s decarbonisation profile is aligned with the temperature degree rise goals of the Paris Agreement( ie 1.5 degrees,).

We are signatories to the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. We have committed to support the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label

Fund Holdings

Voting Record

Disclaimer

The value of investments and income from them may go down as well as up, and you may not get back the original amount invested. It should be noted that any investments overseas may be affected by currency exchange rates. The performance of the strategy may have some dependence on the economic environment of emerging markets which may negatively affect the value. The strategy has environmental and/or social characteristics and so may perform differently to other strategies, as its exposures reflect its sustainability criteria. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and targets are not guaranteed.

For professional investors only. This is a marketing communication. This document does not constitute a solicitation or offer to any person to buy or sell any related securities, financial instruments or products; nor does it constitute an offer to purchase securities to any person in the United States or to any US Person as such term is defined under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1933. It pays no regard to an individual’s investment objectives or financial needs of any recipient. No action should be taken or omitted to be taken based on this document. Tax treatment depends on personal circumstances and may change. This document is not advice on legal, taxation or investment matters so investors must rely on their own examination of such matters or seek advice. Before making any investment (new or continuous), please consult a professional and/or investment adviser as to its suitability. All figures, unless otherwise indicated, are sourced from Federated Hermes. Whilst Federated Hermes has attempted to ensure the accuracy of the data it is reporting, it makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information reported. The data contained in this document is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon to make investment decisions. Federated Hermes shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of any information contained on these pages. All performance includes reinvestment of dividends and other earnings.

Federated Hermes Investment Funds plc (“FHIF”) is an open-ended investment company with variable capital and with segregated liability between its sub-funds (each, a “Fund”). FHIF is incorporated in Ireland and authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland (“CBI”). FHIF appoints Hermes Fund Managers Ireland Limited (“HFMIL”) as its management company. HFMIL is authorised and regulated by the CBI. Further information on investment products and any associated risks can be found in the prospectus, the fund supplements or the key investor information documents/key information documents, the articles of association as well as the annual and semi-annual reports. In the case of any inconsistency between the descriptions or terms in this document and the prospectus, the prospectus shall prevail. Details of the Manager’s Remuneration Policy and Sustainable Policies are available on the Policies and Disclosures page at https://www.hermes-investment.com/ie/hermes-ireland-policies-and-disclosures/, including: (a) a description of how remuneration and benefits are calculated; and b) Sustainability related policy and disclosures. All offering documents are available free of charge (i) at the office of the Administrator, Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Ireland) Limited, Georges Court, 54- 62 Townsend Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel (+ 353) 1 434 5002 / Fax (+ 353) 1 531 8595; (ii) at https://www.hermes-investment.com/ie/; (iii) at the office of its representative in Switzerland (ACOLIN Fund Services AG, Leutschenbachstrasse 50, CH-8050 Zurich www.acolin.com). The paying agent in Switzerland is NPB Neue Privat Bank AG, Limmatquai 1/am Bellevue, P.O. Box, CH-8024 Zurich. The information provided herein does not constitute an offer of the Fund in Switzerland pursuant to the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") and its implementing ordinance. This is solely an advertisement for the Fund pursuant to FinSA and its implementing ordinance. The costs for hedged share classes will be higher than the costs for non-hedged share classes. Refer to the prospectus or offering documents before making any final investment decisions and consider all fund characteristics and not just ESG characteristics.

Issued and approved by Hermes Fund Managers Ireland Limited (“HFMIL”) which is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registered address: 7/8 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, DO2 FT59. HFMIL appoints Hermes Investment Management Limited (“HIML”) to undertake distribution activities in respect of the Fund in certain jurisdictions. HIML is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered address: Sixth Floor, 150 Cheapside, London EC2V 6ET. Telephone calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes. Potential investors in the United Kingdom are advised that compensation may not be available under the United Kingdom Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Eligible European investors are advised that compensation may be available for certain eligible investments under the Ireland Investor Compensation Scheme.

Fund Name SRI Style SDR Labelling Product Region Asset Type Launch Date Last Amended

Federated Hermes Global Equity ESG Pathway Fund

ESG Plus Not eligible to use label SICAV/Offshore Global Equity 01/05/2014 Oct 2024

Objectives

The investment philosophy can be encapsulated in four words: pragmatism, sustainability, responsibility and longevity. Companies with a competitive advantage and a sustainable business model are sought after as they are more likely to offer visibility of earnings growth. In addition it is important that companies behave responsibly, which tends to lead us to companies that are well governed as they are likely to avoid unforeseeable negative surprises. Choosing stocks that demonstrate a combination of these characteristics allows the team to hold stocks over the long-term, as it is only by doing this that a company can fulfil its true potential.

The strategy is agnostic towards investment style. It uses criteria from a range of styles and is biased towards companies with favourable environmental, social and governance (ESG) attributes.

Fund Size: £1943.20m

(as at: 31/03/2024)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £312.80m

(as at: 31/03/2024)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £36698.50m

(as at: 31/03/2024)

Total Assets Under Management: £46595.70m

(as at: 31/03/2024)

ISIN: IE00BKRCPS19

Contact Us: Oscar.ayling@hermes-investment.com

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Overview

Companies that have managed their ESG risk have historically outperformed over the long term. Furthermore, the team believes that companies that are improving their ESG profile can unlock significant shareholder value.

The investment philosophy is implemented through the team’s proprietary stock selection model. The ESG characteristics of companies are reflected in the team’s proprietary assessment of ESG performance, the QESG Score. These scores reflect the current behaviour of companies and, crucially, how the former are improving.

Selected stocks are then subjected to a disciplined subjective analysis, which seeks to validate the models results and assess macro and ESG risks, and includes valuable insights from EOS, our in-house stewardship team.

The result is a portfolio with exposure across the style spectrum that favours best-in-class companies alongside those whose ESG profile is improving, which aims to consistently produce excess risk-adjusted returns over the long term.

Primary fund last amended: Oct 2024

Information received directly from Fund Manager

Please select what you would like to read:

Fund Filters

Sustainability - General
Sustainability policy

Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.

Encourage more sustainable practices through stewardship

A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity

UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy

Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/

Environmental - General
Environmental policy

Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries

Funds that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change. Funds vary - some funds may be 'underweight' in this area which means they may have some investment in highly carbon intensive areas. Funds of this kind may choose companies they consider to be 'best in sector' and encourage ever higher standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further details.

Favours cleaner, greener companies

Funds that aim to invest in companies with strong or market leading environmental policies and practices. Strategies vary - in particular the balance between 'financial' aspects and environmental benefits. Some may invest substantially in solutions or 'positive impact' companies - others may invest in more conventional companies providing certain environmental criteria are met. See fund information for further detail.

Nature & Biodiversity
Deforestation / palm oil policy

Find funds that have policies in place designed to ensure they do not invest in companies that are significantly involved in deforestation. This typically relates to palm oil plantations where biodiversity loss is a major concern (as well as other issues). Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Climate Change & Energy
Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy

Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.

Encourage transition to low carbon through stewardship activity

A core element of these funds will aim to encourage the transition to lower carbon activities through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity

Invests in clean energy / renewables

Funds that hold companies in the clean energy and renewable energy sectors (at the time research was supplied). Fund strategies vary, in particular the proportion of investment in these areas may vary significantly. Check fund literature for details.

Social / Employment
Social policy

Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Labour standards policy

Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards

Favours companies with strong social policies

Find funds that invest in line with positive strategies that relate to 'people' issues - such as having strong human rights, labour standards and equal opportunities practices. Such funds are likely to invest in companies that have market leading standards with regard to employee and supplier practices. Read fund literature for further information.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Armaments manufacturers avoided

Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.

Pornography avoidance policy

Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.

Animal welfare policy

Find funds with policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Human Rights
Human rights policy

Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Modern slavery exclusion policy

The fund has a policy which excludes assets with involvement in Modern Slavery

Gilts & Sovereigns
Does not invest in sovereigns

Find funds that do not invest in / exclude 'sovereigns' - debt issued by governments. See eg https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sovereign-debt.asp

Banking & Financials
Invests in banks

Find funds that include banks as part of their holdings / portfolio.

Invests in insurers

Funds that do or may invest in insurance companies.

Governance & Management
Governance policy

Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Avoids companies with poor governance

Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.

Encourage board diversity e.g. gender

Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)

Encourage TCFD alignment for banks & insurance companies

Find fund managers that encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).

Encourage higher ESG standards through stewardship activity

A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity

Fund Governance
ESG integration strategy

Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.

ESG factors included in Assessment of Value (AoV) report

Environmental, social and governance issues are part of this fund’s reporting of their ‘value’ to clients. AoV reporting is a statutory requirement. Including ESG factors in its calculation is not.

Asset Size
Invests in small, mid and large cap companies / assets

Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.

Targeted Positive Investments
EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy holdings 5-25% of fund assets

Find funds that have calculated the proportion of fund asset that meet the new EU Taxonomy requirements and that they total 5-25% of assets. This will typically require adding up the proportion of each individual company's activity that is regarded as 'green' so that the fund manager can produce an overall total for the whole fund / portfolio.

How The Fund Works
Positive selection bias

Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.

Limited / few ethical exclusions

Find funds with few exclusions - typically for example exclude tobacco or companies that breach commonly adopted standards or norms such as the UN Global Compact.

ESG weighted / tilt

Find funds that invest more heavily in those that have higher ESG ratings/standards or scores and less heavily in companies with lower ESG ratings. Where this is central to a fund's strategy you should expect it to invest in most sectors. Strategies vary.

Data led strategy

Find funds that make stock selection (and ongoing fund management) decisions based on ESG data or company ratings (normally supplied by third parties) rather than focusing on what individual companies do, how they operate or their plans for the future

Significant harm exclusion

Aims to avoid companies that do significant harm. This originates from the EU’s sustainable finance ‘DNSH’ (do no significant harm) work, which is not necessarily used by UK investors.

Assets mapped to SDGs

Find funds that have 'mapped' (reviewed) their investment selection and management strategies to identify which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the fund is helping to address.

Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria

Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.

Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria

Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.

Balances company 'pros and cons' / best in sector

Find funds that consider both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and make balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.

Focus on ESG risk mitigation

A major focus of these funds is the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).

SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website

Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

Do not use stock / securities lending

This fund does not use stock lending for performance or risk purposes.

Unscreened Assets & Cash
All assets (except cash) meet published sustainability criteria

All assets held in the fund - except cash - meet the sustainability criteria published in fund documentation.

Intended Clients & Product Options
Intended for investors interested in sustainability

Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.

Intended for clients interested in ethical issues

Find funds designed for clients who care about ethical and values-based issues, often alongside sustainability issues also.

Portfolio SRI / ESG options available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option

Multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options

Bespoke SRI / ESG portfolios available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options

Labels & Accreditations
SFDR Article 8 fund / product (EU)

Finds funds classified under Article 8 of the EU’s SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirements). Article 8 of the SFDR is a set of requirements that apply to financial products that 'promote' environmental or social characteristics with high governance also. These rules do not currently apply to UK funds so many managers may leave this field blank.

Fund Management Company Information

About The Business
Boutique / specialist fund management company

Find fund management companies that are smaller or specialise in particular areas - notably, ideally ESG related. Strategies vary.

Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide)

Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.

ESG / SRI engagement (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.

Vote all* shares at AGMs / EGMs (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that vote all* the shares they own at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. A commitment to voting shares is a key indicator of 'responsible share ownership' demonstrating their support for or disagreement with management policy. (*situations can legitimately, occasionally occur where voting proves impossible, but in principle all shares should be voted.)

Responsible ownership / ESG a key differentiator (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.

Sustainable property strategy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that take sustainability criteria into account when selecting and/or managing all of their property / real estate investments.

Senior management KPIs include environmental goals (AFM company wide)

The leadership team of this asset manager have performance targets linked to environmental goals.

SDG aligned aims / objectives (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that aim to align all their investments (across all funds) to help meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsible ownership policy for non SRI funds (AFM company wide)

Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.

Integrates ESG factors into all / most (AFM) fund research

Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.

In-house diversity improvement programme (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have an in-house (company wide) diversity improvement programme - meaning that they are working to ensure that within their own businesses they employ people from diverse backgrounds - often typically focused on ethnicity and/or sex.

Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that encourage the companies they invest in to have strong diversity, race, gender and other equality policies across all assets held, not simply screened or themed SRI/ESG funds. (ie Asset Management company wide).

Vulnerable client policy on website (AFM company wide)

Asset manager has information on their website that explains how they treat 'vulnerable clients' (as set out in FCA regulation)

Invests in newly listed companies (AFM company wide)

This asset management company invests in companies which have recently listed on a stock exchange (which is important as it can help grow new businesses).

Invests in new sustainability linked bond issuances (AFM company wide)

Asset management company has investments in bonds designed to meet sustainability requirements - however these assets may not be 'ringfenced' for this purpose. See fund manager website for details.

Offer unstructured intermediary sustainable investment training

Fund management entity offers unstructured intermediary training on sustainable investment (ie for financial advisers and wealth managers)

Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory

Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.

UKSIF member

Find fund management companies that are members of UKSIF - the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance association

TNFD forum member (AFM company wide)

A member of the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures group which aims to aid risk management and shift money towards nature-positive outcomes.

Investment Association (IA) member

Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/

Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise

Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.

Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers

Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.

Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies

Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.

ESG specialists on all investment desks (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types)

Accreditations
PRI A+ rated (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have an A+ PRI rating - meaning they are highly rated according to the 'Principles of Responsible Investment'

UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.

Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.

Encourage responsible corporate taxation (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.

Engaging on climate change issues

Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.

Engaging with fossil fuel companies on climate change

Asset manager has a stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that involves working with fossil fuel companies on climate change related issues. See fund manager website for details.

Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste

Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.

Engaging to encourage responsible mining practices

Asset manager has a stewardship / responsible ownership policy that means they are working to encourage more responsible mining practices - where environmental and social issues are properly dealt with by the companies they invest in.

Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues

The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global

Engaging to encourage a Just Transition

Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/

Engaging on human rights issues

Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on labour / employment issues

Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)

Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues

Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets

Engaging to stop modern slavery

working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.

Engaging on governance issues

Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets

Engaging on mental health issues

Asset manager has stewardship strategy in place which involves discussing mental health issues with investee companies - with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on responsible supply chain issues

Has a stewardship / responsible ownership strategy that encourages responsible supply chain - ie the managers will discuss environmental, social and governance issues with investee companies with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on the responsible use of AI

Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence.

Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.

Review(ing) carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds (AFM company wide)

Find funds / fund managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.)

Climate & Net Zero Transition
Net Zero commitment (AFM company wide)

Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.

Voting policy includes net zero targets (AFM company wide)

Fund manager AGM / EGM voting strategy has processes in place that mean they will normally be expected to vote in a way that will encourage the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Publish 'CEO owned' Climate Risk policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that have published a Climate Risk policy or statement that is signed / owned by their Chief Executive.

Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.

Encourage carbon / greenhouse gas reduction (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon transition plan published (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have a company wide carbon transition plan - meaning that they have plotted a path to how they will move away from activities that produce or use carbon based energy sources (that emit greenhouse gases) towards clean, alternative, renewable energy sources.

‘Forward Looking Climate Metrics’ published / ITR (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have published ‘forward looking climate metrics’ e.g. 'implied temperature rise' data that are a total of the asset management company's share (% owned) of all the investee company emissions of the assets they manage, as well as their own direct and other indirect emissions.

Carbon offsetting – do NOT offset carbon as part of net zero plan (AFM company wide)

This asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions by reducing their emissions. Calculations and scope vary.

In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that are working to reduce their own (fund management company) carbon/greenhouse gas emissions.

Working towards a ‘Net Zero’ commitment (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund management companies that are in the process of working out how to make a ‘net zero commitment’ - meaning that when that is finalised they will have started the process of reducing their total greenhouse gas emissions to'zero'.

Transparency
Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.

Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information on company website

Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.

Just Transition policy on website (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has published information on their website about the delivery of a 'just transition' - ie the delivery of the necessary shift to a sustainable future that takes full account of social implications - how change effects people. See eg https://www.unepfi.org/social-issues/just-transition/ or LSE Grantham

Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)

Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.

Sustainability transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are to become a sustainable business - without significant negative environmental or social impacts.

Paris Alignment plan publicly available (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they will align to the climate change commitments made at the Paris Climate Talks, COP21.

Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are going to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.

Dialshifter statement

Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

The Global Equity ESG strategy seeks best-in-class companies within their specific industry or those that are showing positive ESG momentum, but does not explicitly exclude any companies. Rather than exclude specific sectors or industries, the team avoids certain behaviours. These behaviours include the manufacture of harmful and unsustainable products, e.g. tobacco, and exposure to severe ESG risks that may prompt material fines or regulatory consequences, e.g. companies deemed to be in breach of the UN Global Compact.

 

Exclusions:

Outside of the firm-wide exclusions list on controversial weapons, the Global Equity ESG strategy does not exclude a predefined list of companies. Instead, the team takes into account negative signals, including certain products or behaviours that are considered unsustainable. This can lead to exclusion of certain business lines and practices including:

  • Companies involved in the production and/or manufacture of tobacco products.
  • Companies which have been deemed to have breached the UN Global Compact Principles.
  • Companies involved in controversial weapons in accordance with the guidelines of the Ottawa Convention on landmines, the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention and involvement in nuclear weapons.
  • Companies deriving a material proportion of revenue from coal mining or coal fired electricity production
  • Companies deriving a material proportion of revenue from the gambling industry
  • Companies deriving a material proportion of revenue from pornography

 

Consideration is also given to the engagement activity that is carried out by the EOS team around key issues to encourage better management of material environmental, social and governance risks.

 

Process:

Assessment of the ESG characteristics of a company is a vital part of the team’s investment approach and the team uses ESG research in both proprietary models and in discussion with our in-house ESG experts, EOS.

 

The team has built a bespoke quantitative assessment of the most important ESG issues, the QESG Score, which evaluates a company’s ESG characteristics and identifies positive ESG change. The team believes that companies less exposed to ESG risks than peers will outperform over the long term. Further, it believes that companies that are improving their ESG profile through positive change can unlock significant shareholder value.

 

The QESG Score is designed to capture a company’s behaviour on various ESG issues, as well as observed change in its ESG behaviour. The score combines data from EOS, Sustainalytics, MSCI, CDP, ISS, Trucost, FactSet and Bloomberg and is weighted 50% governance factors, 25% environmental factors and 25% social factors; the score is shown in the ESG Dashboard. The weightings used are based on the expertise of the EOS team. Following research into the growing impact of ESG factors, the team found a significant correlation between governance and stock performance.

 

The QESG Score is a valuable component of the ESG Dashboard, which is used in the subjective part of the process, and provides a concise digest of the ever-increasing amount of data on ESG risks. As such, all of the team’s investments are analysed from an ESG perspective.

 

The expertise of EOS has also helped define the key performance indicators or risk factors on which each company is measured. These are either generic, such as board structure, or sector specific, focusing on the major risks by industry – such as CO2 emissions and fleet consumption for the automobiles industry, paper sourcing for media and energy efficiency for airlines. The team uses it to identify ESG risks within companies and determine the materiality of these risks. Any change in the level of ESG risk and progress on current engagements are key factors that could influence an investment decision.

 

The ESG Dashboard has helped the team further integrate ESG research into investment decisions and foster dialogue with EOS, with whom the team have formal monthly meetings, as well as numerous ad hoc conversations. The Dashboard is accessible through Bloomberg and, as well as its assessment of a company’s ESG characteristics, is further bolstered by the voting and engagement activities of EOS. This collaboration with our stewardship experts ensures the team remains active owners of the companies held in the portfolio.

 

The Portfolio Snapshot offers a portfolio perspective on ESG exposures. This tool reports on ESG characteristics of portfolio holdings (both in absolute and benchmark-relative terms) including voting and engagement data from EOS. The Snapshot also highlights companies with potential controversies and ESG concerns. The tool acts to promote discussion on thematic ESG risks, as well as to identify the best and the worst companies according to various ESG metrics.

 

By thoroughly rating companies on these extra-financial criteria, businesses (and investment managers) can be steered towards greater consideration of the ESG issues. This assessment of ESG factors helps the team reinforce its view of the sustainability of a company and is consistent with their long-term approach and helps ensure that turnover remains low.

 

The ESG integration approach adopted by the team is complemented by direct dialogue with businesses that is made possible through EOS, which ensures the team remains active owners of the companies held in the portfolio.

 

The team also has access to a range of proprietary tools, including the Corporate Governance Tool, the Carbon Tool and the Environmental Tool.

 

In addition, our investment teams make use of data related to ESG analysis from several providers, such as MSCI, Sustainalytics, Bloomberg, CDP, ISS, Trucost and Planetrics.

 

 

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

ESG Resources, EOS, Responsibility Office and ESG Specialists:

The responsibility for implementing our approach resides with all personnel; however, we have a number of teams in place that ensure that, across the business, we discharge our responsibilities in a consistent and effective manner.

 

Launched in 2014, our dedicated Responsibility Office coordinates, develops and supports the implementation of our responsible investment and stewardship policies and ensures that responsibility is embedded throughout the business. This extends to our approach to our own governance and practices, as well as the integration of engagement and ESG factors into our investment strategies and processes.

 

In terms of our ESG-dedicated personnel, Federated Hermes Limited has 85 staff members that are directly involved in ESG integration, as at 31 March 2024. We also have dedicated ESG personnel embedded within our investment teams. The teams are outlined below:

  • Within the Responsibility Office, our dedicated Responsibility team is tasked with coordinating and supporting the development of our policies and their subsequent integration across our funds and stewardship services. Leon Kamhi, our Head of Responsibility, reports directly to our CEO. Each of our investment teams meet formally with Leon and his team on a quarterly basis to discuss their ESG integration activities.
  • Our 38-person stewardship team, EOS, includes industry executives, senior strategists, corporate governance, sustainability consultants, climate change experts, accountants, ex-fund managers, former bankers and lawyers. The depth and breadth of this resource reflects our philosophy that stewardship activities require an integrated and skilled approach.
  • Within our Fixed Income team, we have a Sustainable Fixed Income (SFI) team. The SFI team is responsible for the sustainability integration within our credit portfolios and has a dedicated engagement resource.
  • We have two dedicated impact equity investment teams: Impact & Sustainable Investing and SDG Engagement. These are managed by Ingrid Kukuljan and Hamish Galpin, respectively. We have also appointed a Head of Impact Engagement - Equities, Will Pomroy, who oversees and leads the engagement programme for our equity impact strategies, which includes providing ESG analysis and formulating engagement strategies for the portfolios.
  • The Global Equities team also has its own ESG specialist in portfolio manager Louise Dudley, who has been with the company since 2009, initially working in EOS, the Global Emerging Markets team includes two dedicated Responsible Investing & Sustainability personnel, Olivia Lankester and Hayley McGuiness and the Asia ex Japan team includes Seyoung Serena Ko who is a dedicated ESG Analyst.

 

Membership Lists:

Federated Hermes is supportive of the development of codes and standards relating to responsible business conduct and responsible investment to aid transparency and accountability. We adhere to a number of responsible business conduct codes and internationally recognised standards for due diligence and reporting:

  • We were founding signatories of the UN Principles of Responsible Investment (UN PRI) in 2006 and committed to embedding the six Principles as a responsible investor and owner. We report annually using the PRI Reporting Framework. We also work with the PRI through a number of its working groups and initiatives.
  • We are a signatory of a number of stewardship codes, including the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Stewardship Code since 2010. As part of our signatory status to the UK Stewardship Code we produce an annual Stewardship Report. Our stewardship business unit, EOS is a signatory of the Best Practice Principles for Providers of Shareholder Voting Research & Analysis and reports annually on implementation of these principles.
  • Signatories of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) since 2017 and report annually on our implementation of the UNGC Principles across the themes of Environment. Human Rights, Labour Rights and Anti-Corruption. We implement the Principles across our operations, and the themes are reflected in our ESG integration and engagement processes as described in our Sustainability Risks Policy. We engage with the UNGC UK Network to support the continued growth of the network and the impact of its engagement with businesses.
  • We joined Climate Action 100+ in 2015 and play an active role in this investor-led initiative with the support of over 360 investors, representing more than $34 trillion of assets under management that aims to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change.
  • We were a founder of the 300 Club in 2011 and was the Chair until 2014.
  • We have been members of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative since 2021 through which we have committed to support the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C as stated in the Paris Agreement. We publish an annual climate-related financial disclosures report in line with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Furthermore, we are proud to have become an inaugural TNFD Early Adopter, which was announced at the World Economic Forum event at Davos in 2023. We have already begun trialling elements of the TNFD disclosure recommendations in our reporting.
  • In 2020 we signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge and the Eliminating Commodity Driven Deforestation Commitment, through which we have committed to assess and disclose our exposure to deforestation and to protect and restore biodiversity through our investment and engagement activities.
  • We have been a member of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) since 2011 and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) since 2019.
  • In line with international treaties, we are currently excluding companies that are manufacturing and/or are providing either an essential and/or tailor-made product or service to the manufacturers of relevant controversial weapons.
  • We ensure our sustainable investments are aligned with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
  • We comply with all relevant regulatory disclosures, including the requirements of the UK Modern Slavery Act (2015) as set out in our Modern Slavery Statement and the EU Shareholder Rights Directive II.

We are also members of a wide range of industry initiatives through which we seek to advance industry best practice, collaborate with other investors to achieve shared engagement and advocacy outcomes and ensure we remain at the forefront of best practice. We provide an annual update of our external memberships in our Stewardship Report, available via the link: https://www.hermes-investment.com/uploads/2024/05/6f19626d98852698c2f960906dccf312/fhl-corporate-stewardship-report-2024.pdf.

 

Dialshifter

This fund is helping to ‘shift the dial from brown to green’ by…

The ESG characteristics of companies are reflected in the team’s proprietary assessment of ESG performance, the QESG Score. These scores reflect the current behaviour of companies and how the former are improving.

Selected stocks are then subjected to a disciplined subjective analysis, which seeks to validate the models results and assess macro and ESG risks.

The result is a portfolio with exposure across the style spectrum that favours best-in-class companies alongside those whose ESG profile is improving.

 

 

Our organisation is helping to support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero by…

We trust companies have set their net-zero pledges in good faith and we look for interim targets and goals to better understand their pathways to net-zero.  We acknowledge the challenge around the alignment of net-zero time-lines for commitments.  To address this challenge, we look for explicit short- and medium-term targets that are sufficiently ambitious so that the company’s decarbonisation profile is aligned with the temperature degree rise goals of the Paris Agreement( ie 1.5 degrees,).

We are signatories to the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. We have committed to support the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label

Fund Holdings

Voting Record

Disclaimer

The value of investments and income from them may go down as well as up, and you may not get back the original amount invested. It should be noted that any investments overseas may be affected by currency exchange rates. The performance of the strategy may have some dependence on the economic environment of emerging markets which may negatively affect the value. The strategy has environmental and/or social characteristics and so may perform differently to other strategies, as its exposures reflect its sustainability criteria. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and targets are not guaranteed.

For professional investors only. This is a marketing communication. This document does not constitute a solicitation or offer to any person to buy or sell any related securities, financial instruments or products; nor does it constitute an offer to purchase securities to any person in the United States or to any US Person as such term is defined under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1933. It pays no regard to an individual’s investment objectives or financial needs of any recipient. No action should be taken or omitted to be taken based on this document. Tax treatment depends on personal circumstances and may change. This document is not advice on legal, taxation or investment matters so investors must rely on their own examination of such matters or seek advice. Before making any investment (new or continuous), please consult a professional and/or investment adviser as to its suitability. All figures, unless otherwise indicated, are sourced from Federated Hermes. Whilst Federated Hermes has attempted to ensure the accuracy of the data it is reporting, it makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information reported. The data contained in this document is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon to make investment decisions. Federated Hermes shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of any information contained on these pages. All performance includes reinvestment of dividends and other earnings.

Federated Hermes Investment Funds plc (“FHIF”) is an open-ended investment company with variable capital and with segregated liability between its sub-funds (each, a “Fund”). FHIF is incorporated in Ireland and authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland (“CBI”). FHIF appoints Hermes Fund Managers Ireland Limited (“HFMIL”) as its management company. HFMIL is authorised and regulated by the CBI. Further information on investment products and any associated risks can be found in the prospectus, the fund supplements or the key investor information documents/key information documents, the articles of association as well as the annual and semi-annual reports. In the case of any inconsistency between the descriptions or terms in this document and the prospectus, the prospectus shall prevail. Details of the Manager’s Remuneration Policy and Sustainable Policies are available on the Policies and Disclosures page at https://www.hermes-investment.com/ie/hermes-ireland-policies-and-disclosures/, including: (a) a description of how remuneration and benefits are calculated; and b) Sustainability related policy and disclosures. All offering documents are available free of charge (i) at the office of the Administrator, Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Ireland) Limited, Georges Court, 54- 62 Townsend Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel (+ 353) 1 434 5002 / Fax (+ 353) 1 531 8595; (ii) at https://www.hermes-investment.com/ie/; (iii) at the office of its representative in Switzerland (ACOLIN Fund Services AG, Leutschenbachstrasse 50, CH-8050 Zurich www.acolin.com). The paying agent in Switzerland is NPB Neue Privat Bank AG, Limmatquai 1/am Bellevue, P.O. Box, CH-8024 Zurich. The information provided herein does not constitute an offer of the Fund in Switzerland pursuant to the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") and its implementing ordinance. This is solely an advertisement for the Fund pursuant to FinSA and its implementing ordinance. The costs for hedged share classes will be higher than the costs for non-hedged share classes. Refer to the prospectus or offering documents before making any final investment decisions and consider all fund characteristics and not just ESG characteristics.

Issued and approved by Hermes Fund Managers Ireland Limited (“HFMIL”) which is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registered address: 7/8 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, DO2 FT59. HFMIL appoints Hermes Investment Management Limited (“HIML”) to undertake distribution activities in respect of the Fund in certain jurisdictions. HIML is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered address: Sixth Floor, 150 Cheapside, London EC2V 6ET. Telephone calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes. Potential investors in the United Kingdom are advised that compensation may not be available under the United Kingdom Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Eligible European investors are advised that compensation may be available for certain eligible investments under the Ireland Investor Compensation Scheme.