Federated Hermes Adviser Series (Form: 485BPOS, Received: 10/27/2020 16:03:11)

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund's investment objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The objective may be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Trustees") without shareholder approval.

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares (IS) of the Fund. If you purchase the Fund's IS Shares through a broker acting as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to such broker; such commissions, if any, are not reflected in the Example below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) November 1, 2021 Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses (excluding any fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are as shown in the table above and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENTS, RISKS and PERFORMANCE

What are the Fund's Main Investment Strategies?

The Fund pursues its objective by investing primarily in equity and/or equity-related securities of small and mid-capitalization companies that are quoted or traded on regulated markets worldwide (primarily in the U.S. or Canada) as well as component securities of the Russell 2500 Index. The Fund will invest in both growth- and value-oriented securities. As of June 30, 2020, the capitalization of companies included in the Russell 2500 Index ranged from approximately $41 million to $14.3 billion. The Fund will seek to invest in a diversified portfolio of equity securities (such as common and/or preferred stock) and/or equity-related instruments (such as Global Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Receipts) of, or relating to, companies domiciled in the U.S., or companies that derive a large proportion of their income from U.S. activities.

The Fund's investment adviser or sub-adviser (as applicable, the "Adviser") will seek to identify companies that, in its view, provide the potential for long-term capital appreciation through a fundamental analysis of relevant companies, seeking to identify companies that are undervalued and/or demonstrate attractive growth characteristics. This is done in order to ascertain whether the companies may provide the potential for long-term capital appreciation notwithstanding that equities of such companies may, at the time of purchase, be undervalued. The Adviser will not, save in relation to the capitalization of companies that may be invested in, be subject to any limitation on the types of companies in which it may invest (either in terms of industry or focus).

As part of the strategy's assessment of quality and its approach to risk management, risks associated with a company's approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, among other factors are actively assessed. The Adviser considers data on Hermes' proprietary ESG Dashboard, which contains a wide range of ESG factors and ranks companies on their behaviors versus peers. In making its investment decisions, the Adviser will seek to consider ESG issues with regards to the holding of either individual securities or various categories or classes of securities. These ESG considerations are intended to provide guidance on achieving best practice standards of corporate governance and equity stewardship in order to make informed investment decisions.

The Fund may invest in other investment companies, exchange-traded funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and futures contracts to implement elements of its investment strategy, including for cash flow management, cost effectiveness, and gaining exposure to certain markets and securities in a quicker and/or more efficient manner. There can be no assurance that the Fund's use of futures contracts will work as intended. Futures contract investments made by the Fund are included within the Fund's 80% policy (as described below) and are calculated at market value.

The Fund will invest its assets so that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of small to mid-capitalization (SMID) companies. The Fund will notify shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any change in its investment policy that would permit the Fund to invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in investments in equity securities of SMID companies. For purposes of this limitation, small- to mid-capitalization companies will normally be defined as companies with market capitalizations similar to the constituents of the Fund's benchmark, the Russell 2500 Index. Such definition will be applied at the time of investment and the Adviser will not be required to sell a stock because a company's market capitalization has grown larger than the range of small- to mid-capitalization stocks in the Russell 2500 Index.

What are the Main Risks of Investing in the Fund?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

Stock Market Risk. The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund's Share price may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time. Information publicly available about a company, whether from the company's financial statements or other disclosures or from third parties, or information available to some but not all market participants, can affect the price of a company's shares in the market. Among other factors, equity securities may decline in value because of an increase in interest rates or changes in the stock market. Recent and potential future changes in industry and/or economic trends, as well as changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or their governments, also can affect the level of interest rates and contribute to the development of or increase in volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions and other adverse effects (such as a decline in a company's stock price), which could negatively impact the Fund's performance.

Small-Cap Company Risk. The Fund may invest in small capitalization (or "small-cap") companies. Small-cap companies may have less liquid stock, a more volatile share price, unproven track records, a limited product or service base, and limited access to capital. The above factors could make small-cap companies more likely to fail than larger companies, and increase the volatility of the Fund's portfolio, performance and Share price.

Mid-Cap Company Risk. The Fund may invest in mid-capitalization (or "mid-cap") companies. Mid-cap companies often have narrower markets, limited managerial and financial resources, more volatile performance and greater risk of failure, compared to larger, more established companies. These factors could increase the volatility of the Fund's portfolio, performance and Share price.

Environmental, Social and Governance Risk. The Adviser considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues as part of its security selection process. ESG factors are not the only factors considered by the Adviser and there is no guarantee the companies in which the Fund invests will be considered ESG companies or have high ESG ratings. Such considerations may fail to produce the intended result.

Real Estate Investment Trust Risk. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) carry risks associated with owning real estate, including the potential for a decline in value due to economic or market conditions.

Risk of Foreign Investing. The foreign markets in which the Fund invests may be subject to economic or political conditions which are less favorable than those of the United States and may lack financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies.

Risk of Investing in Depositary Receipts and Domestically Traded Securities of Foreign Issuers. Because the Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts and other domestically traded securities of foreign companies, whether in the United States or in foreign local markets, the Fund's Share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards than would otherwise be the case.

Currency Risk. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. Accordingly, the Fund may experience increased volatility with respect to the value of its Shares and its returns as a result of its exposure to foreign currencies through direct holdings of such currencies or holdings of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.

Risk Related to Investing for Value. Due to their relatively low valuations, value stocks are typically less volatile than growth stocks. Additionally, value stocks tend to have higher dividends than growth stocks. This means they depend less on price changes for returns and may lag behind growth stocks in an up market.

Risk Related to Investing for Growth. Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. Additionally, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks.

Liquidity Risk. Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to.

Custodial Services and Related Investment Costs. Custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are more expensive due to differing settlement and clearance procedures than those of the United States. The inability of the Fund to make intended securities purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities.

Risk of Investing in Derivative Contracts. Derivative contracts involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Specific risk issues related to the use of such contracts include valuation and tax issues, increased potential for losses and/or costs to the Fund, and a potential reduction in gains to the Fund. Each of these issues is described in greater detail in this Prospectus. Derivative contracts may also involve other risks described in this Prospectus such as stock market, credit, currency, and liquidity risks.

Counterparty Credit Risk. Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

Risk Related to the Economy. The value of the Fund's portfolio may decline in tandem with a drop in the overall value of the markets in which the Fund invests and/or other markets. Economic, political and financial conditions, industry or economic trends and developments or public health risks, such as epidemics or pandemics, may, from time to time, and for varying periods of time, cause the Fund to experience volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions, or other potentially adverse effects.

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. An investment in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate up or down, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.

Technology Risk. The Adviser uses various technologies in managing the Fund, consistent with its investment objective(s) and strategy described in this Prospectus. For example, proprietary and third-party data and systems are utilized to support decision making for the Fund. Data imprecision, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems, which may negatively affect Fund performance.

The Shares offered by this Prospectus are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

Performance: Bar Chart and Table

A performance bar chart and total return information for the Fund will be provided after the Fund has been in operation for a full calendar year. Updated performance information for the Fund is available under the "Products" section at or by calling 1-800-341-7400.

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund's investment objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The objective may be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Trustees") without shareholder approval.

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class A Shares (A), Class C Shares (C) and Class R6 Shares (R6) of the Fund. You may qualify for certain sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain classes of Federated Hermes Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the "What Do Shares Cost?" section of the Prospectus on page 13 and in "Appendix B" to this Prospectus. If you purchase the Fund's R6 Shares through a broker acting as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to such broker; such commissions, if any, are not reflected in the Example below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) November 1, 2021 Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses (excluding any sales loads on reinvested dividends, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are as shown in the table above and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENTS, RISKS and PERFORMANCE

What are the Fund's Main Investment Strategies?

What are the Main Risks of Investing in the Fund?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

Stock Market Risk. The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund's Share price may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time. Information publicly available about a company, whether from the company's financial statements or other disclosures or from third parties, or information available to some but not all market participants, can affect the price of a company's shares in the market. Among other factors, equity securities may decline in value because of an increase in interest rates or changes in the stock market. Recent and potential future changes in industry and/or economic trends, as well as changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or their governments, also can affect the level of interest rates and contribute to the development of or increase in volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions and other adverse effects (such as a decline in a company's stock price), which could negatively impact the Fund's performance.

Small-Cap Company Risk. The Fund may invest in small capitalization (or "small-cap") companies. Small-cap companies may have less liquid stock, a more volatile share price, unproven track records, a limited product or service base, and limited access to capital. The above factors could make small-cap companies more likely to fail than larger companies, and increase the volatility of the Fund's portfolio, performance and Share price.

Mid-Cap Company Risk. The Fund may invest in mid-capitalization (or "mid-cap") companies. Mid-cap companies often have narrower markets, limited managerial and financial resources, more volatile performance and greater risk of failure, compared to larger, more established companies. These factors could increase the volatility of the Fund's portfolio, performance and Share price.

Environmental, Social and Governance Risk. The Adviser considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues as part of its security selection process. ESG factors are not the only factors considered by the Adviser and there is no guarantee the companies in which the Fund invests will be considered ESG companies or have high ESG ratings. Such considerations may fail to produce the intended result.

Real Estate Investment Trust Risk. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) carry risks associated with owning real estate, including the potential for a decline in value due to economic or market conditions.

Risk of Foreign Investing. The foreign markets in which the Fund invests may be subject to economic or political conditions which are less favorable than those of the United States and may lack financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies.

Risk of Investing in Depositary Receipts and Domestically Traded Securities of Foreign Issuers. Because the Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts and other domestically traded securities of foreign companies, whether in the United States or in foreign local markets, the Fund's Share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards than would otherwise be the case.

Currency Risk. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. Accordingly, the Fund may experience increased volatility with respect to the value of its Shares and its returns as a result of its exposure to foreign currencies through direct holdings of such currencies or holdings of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.

Risk Related to Investing for Value. Due to their relatively low valuations, value stocks are typically less volatile than growth stocks. Additionally, value stocks tend to have higher dividends than growth stocks. This means they depend less on price changes for returns and may lag behind growth stocks in an up market.

Risk Related to Investing for Growth. Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. Additionally, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks.

Liquidity Risk. Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to.

Custodial Services and Related Investment Costs. Custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are more expensive due to differing settlement and clearance procedures than those of the United States. The inability of the Fund to make intended securities purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities.

Risk of Investing in Derivative Contracts. Derivative contracts involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Specific risk issues related to the use of such contracts include valuation and tax issues, increased potential for losses and/or costs to the Fund, and a potential reduction in gains to the Fund. Each of these issues is described in greater detail in this Prospectus. Derivative contracts may also involve other risks described in this Prospectus such as stock market, credit, currency, and liquidity risks.

Counterparty Credit Risk. Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

Risk Related to the Economy. The value of the Fund's portfolio may decline in tandem with a drop in the overall value of the markets in which the Fund invests and/or other markets. Economic, political and financial conditions, industry or economic trends and developments or public health risks, such as epidemics or pandemics, may, from time to time, and for varying periods of time, cause the Fund to experience volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions, or other potentially adverse effects.

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. An investment in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate up or down, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.

Technology Risk. The Adviser uses various technologies in managing the Fund, consistent with its investment objective(s) and strategy described in this Prospectus. For example, proprietary and third-party data and systems are utilized to support decision making for the Fund. Data imprecision, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems, which may negatively affect Fund performance.

Performance: Bar Chart and Table

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund's investment objective is to seek current income and long-term capital appreciation alongside positive societal impact. The objective may be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Trustees") without shareholder approval.

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class IS Shares (IS) of the Fund. If you purchase the Fund's IS Shares through a broker acting as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to such broker; such commissions, if any, are not reflected in the Example below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) November 1, 2021 Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses (excluding fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are as shown in the table above and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENTS, RISKS and PERFORMANCE What are the Fund's Main Investment Strategies?

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of high yield fixed-income securities (also known as "junk bonds"), which include debt securities issued by U.S. or foreign businesses (including emerging market debt securities). The Fund's investment adviser or sub-adviser (as applicable, the "Adviser") selects securities that it believes have attractive risk-return characteristics. The Adviser's securities selection process includes an analysis of the issuer's financial condition, business and product strength, competitive position and management expertise. The Adviser does not limit the Fund's investments to securities of a particular maturity range or duration.

In managing the assets of the Fund, the Adviser will seek to invest in securities that, in its view, provide the potential for current income and long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (the "UN Sustainable Development Goals") (as outlined in further detail below).¹ It will do so by performing bottom-up fundamental analysis of financial criteria such as balance sheet quality, franchise value (i.e., brand strength and sustainability of the business model) and quality of management. This fundamental, bottom-up analysis of individual credit will be used to generate returns through anticipated price changes. At the same time, the Adviser will analyze securities to seek to identify whether their market price is reflective of the value of the issuer of the securities (as determined by the fundamental analysis outlined above and when taking market news into account). In addition, the Adviser intends to use a wider analysis of general economic conditions for portfolio risk management purposes. The Adviser intends to diversify the Fund's portfolio across different geographic regions and industries.

1Please refer to https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 for further information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

In addition to fundamental financial indicator criteria, engagement criteria that may be used to identify such companies will include, for example, assessment of company management competence, integrity, vision, potential and willingness to enact the changes suggested by the Adviser, as well as alignment with at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Adviser will use the UN SDG goals and targets as a framework for identifying, articulating and measuring positive impact opportunities within the companies it chooses to invest. In addition to quantitative financial indicators and metrics, qualitative criteria will include assessment of company management competence, integrity, vision, potential and willingness to enact the changes suggested by the Adviser during company engagements.

The Fund will not be subject to any limitation on the types of companies in which it may invest (either in terms of industry or focus) so long as these companies are viewed by the Adviser to provide the potential for current income and long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund will however, exclude companies that manufacture tobacco and/or controversial weapons. The Fund may, from time to time, have larger allocations to certain broad market sectors in attempting to achieve its investment objective.

The Fund may invest in derivative contracts and/or hybrid instruments to implement its investment strategies. For example, the Fund may use derivative contracts or hybrid instruments to increase or decrease the portfolio's exposure to the investments(s) underlying the derivative or hybrid instrument. There can be no assurance that the Fund's use of derivative contracts or hybrid instruments will work as intended. Derivative investments made by the Fund are included within the Fund's 80% policy (as described below) and are calculated at market value.

The Fund will invest its assets so that at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in fixed-income investments rated below investment-grade. The Fund will notify shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any change in its investment policy that would enable the Fund to invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed-income investments rated below investment-grade.

The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate and increase the Fund's trading costs, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance. An active trading strategy will likely result in the Fund generating more short-term capital gains or losses. Short-term gains are generally taxed at a higher rate than long-term gains. Any short-term losses are used first to offset short-term gains.

What are the Main Risks of Investing in the Fund?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

Risk Associated with Noninvestment-Grade Securities. Securities rated below investment-grade may be subject to greater interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investment-grade securities. These securities are considered speculative with respect to the issuer's ability to pay interest and repay principal.

Issuer Credit Risk . It is possible that interest or principal on securities will not be paid when due. Noninvestment-grade securities generally have a higher default risk than investment-grade securities. Such non-payment or default may reduce the value of the Fund's portfolio holdings, its share price and its performance.

Risks of Investing for UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund's strategy is to target companies the Adviser believes will contribute positive societal impact aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund may underperform funds that do not have such a strategy.

Counterparty Credit Risk. Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose money or to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

Risk Related to the Economy. The value of the Fund's portfolio may decline in tandem with a drop in the overall value of the markets in which the Fund invests and/or other markets. Economic, political and financial conditions, industry or economic trends and developments or public health risks, such as epidemics or pandemics, may, from time to time, and for varying periods of time, cause the Fund to experience volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions, or other potentially adverse effects. Among other investments, lower-grade bonds and loans may be particularly sensitive to changes in the economy.

Liquidity Risk. The noninvestment-grade securities in which the Fund may invest may not be readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuations in price than other securities. Additionally, certain equity securities in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities. Also, market growth at rates greater than dealers' capacity to make markets, as well as regulatory changes or certain other developments, can reduce dealer inventories of securities (such as corporate bonds), which can further constrain liquidity and increase price volatility. Additionally, there is a possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses. High levels of shareholder redemptions in response to market conditions also may increase liquidity risk and may negatively impact Fund performance.

Interest Rate Risk. Prices of fixed-income securities generally fall when interest rates rise. The longer the duration of a fixed-income security, the more susceptible it is to interest-rate risk. Recent and potential future changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or their governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates.

Leveraged Company Risk. Securities of companies that issue below investment grade debt or "junk bonds" (i.e., leveraged companies) may be more volatile, be more sensitive to adverse issuer, political, market or economic developments and have limited access to additional capital than securities of other, higher quality companies or the market as a whole, which can limit their opportunities and ability to weather challenging business environments. Companies that experience a decrease in credit quality or that have lower-quality debt or highly leveraged capital structures may undergo difficult business circumstances and face a greater risk of liquidation, reorganization or bankruptcy than other companies.

Risk of Foreign Investing. Because the Fund invests in securities issued by foreign companies and national governments, the Fund's Share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards than could otherwise be the case.

Currency Risk. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The value of the Fund's foreign investments and the value of the shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar.

European Union and Eurozone Related Risk. A number of countries in the European Union (EU), including certain countries within the EU that have adopted the euro (Eurozone), have experienced, and may continue to experience, severe economic and financial difficulties. Additional countries within the EU may also fall subject to such difficulties. These events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments in euro-denominated securities and derivatives contracts, securities of issuers located in the EU or with significant exposure to EU issuers or countries.

Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested.

Sector Risk. The Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain industry sectors than to others; therefore, the Fund performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund.

Risk of Investing in Emerging Market Countries. Securities issued or traded in emerging markets generally entail greater risks than securities issued or traded in developed markets.

Risk of Investing in Derivative Contracts and Hybrid Instruments. Derivative contracts and hybrid instruments involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Specific risk issues related to the use of such contracts and instruments include valuation and tax issues, increased potential for losses and/or costs to the Fund, and a potential reduction in gains to the Fund. Each of these issues is described in greater detail in this prospectus.

Technology Risk. The Adviser uses various technologies in managing the Fund, consistent with its investment objective and strategy described in this Prospectus. For example, proprietary and third party data and systems are utilized to support decision making for the Fund. Data imprecision, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems, which may negatively affect Fund performance.

Performance: Bar Chart and Table

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class A Shares (A), Class C Shares (C) and Class R6 Shares (R6) of the Fund. You may qualify for certain sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain classes of Federated Hermes Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the "What Do Shares Cost?" section of the Prospectus on page 15 and in "Appendix B" to this Prospectus. If you purchase the Fund's R6 Shares through a broker acting as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to such broker; such commissions, if any, are not reflected in the Example below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) November 1, 2021 Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses (excluding fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are as shown in the table above and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENTS, RISKS and PERFORMANCE What are the Fund's Main Investment Strategies?

1Please refer to https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 for further information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

What are the Main Risks of Investing in the Fund?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

Risk Associated with Noninvestment-Grade Securities. Securities rated below investment-grade may be subject to greater interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investment-grade securities. These securities are considered speculative with respect to the issuer's ability to pay interest and repay principal.

Issuer Credit Risk . It is possible that interest or principal on securities will not be paid when due. Noninvestment-grade securities generally have a higher default risk than investment-grade securities. Such non-payment or default may reduce the value of the Fund's portfolio holdings, its share price and its performance.

Risks of Investing for UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund's strategy is to target companies the Adviser believes will contribute positive societal impact aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund may underperform funds that do not have such a strategy.

Counterparty Credit Risk. Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose money or to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

Risk Related to the Economy. The value of the Fund's portfolio may decline in tandem with a drop in the overall value of the markets in which the Fund invests and/or other markets. Economic, political and financial conditions, industry or economic trends and developments or public health risks, such as epidemics or pandemics, may, from time to time, and for varying periods of time, cause the Fund to experience volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions, or other potentially adverse effects. Among other investments, lower-grade bonds and loans may be particularly sensitive to changes in the economy.

Liquidity Risk. The noninvestment-grade securities in which the Fund may invest may not be readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuations in price than other securities. Additionally, certain equity securities in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities. Also, market growth at rates greater than dealers' capacity to make markets, as well as regulatory changes or certain other developments, can reduce dealer inventories of securities (such as corporate bonds), which can further constrain liquidity and increase price volatility. Additionally, there is a possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses. High levels of shareholder redemptions in response to market conditions also may increase liquidity risk and may negatively impact Fund performance.

Interest Rate Risk. Prices of fixed-income securities generally fall when interest rates rise. The longer the duration of a fixed-income security, the more susceptible it is to interest-rate risk. Recent and potential future changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or their governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates.

Leveraged Company Risk. Securities of companies that issue below investment grade debt or "junk bonds" (i.e., leveraged companies) may be more volatile, be more sensitive to adverse issuer, political, market or economic developments and have limited access to additional capital than securities of other, higher quality companies or the market as a whole, which can limit their opportunities and ability to weather challenging business environments. Companies that experience a decrease in credit quality or that have lower-quality debt or highly leveraged capital structures may undergo difficult business circumstances and face a greater risk of liquidation, reorganization or bankruptcy than other companies.

Risk of Foreign Investing. Because the Fund invests in securities issued by foreign companies and national governments, the Fund's Share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards than could otherwise be the case.

Currency Risk. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The value of the Fund's foreign investments and the value of the shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar.

European Union and Eurozone Related Risk. A number of countries in the European Union (EU), including certain countries within the EU that have adopted the euro (Eurozone), have experienced, and may continue to experience, severe economic and financial difficulties. Additional countries within the EU may also fall subject to such difficulties. These events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments in euro-denominated securities and derivatives contracts, securities of issuers located in the EU or with significant exposure to EU issuers or countries.

Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested.

Sector Risk. The Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain industry sectors than to others; therefore, the Fund performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund.

Risk of Investing in Emerging Market Countries. Securities issued or traded in emerging markets generally entail greater risks than securities issued or traded in developed markets.

Risk of Investing in Derivative Contracts and Hybrid Instruments. Derivative contracts and hybrid instruments involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Specific risk issues related to the use of such contracts and instruments include valuation and tax issues, increased potential for losses and/or costs to the Fund, and a potential reduction in gains to the Fund. Each of these issues is described in greater detail in this prospectus.

Technology Risk. The Adviser uses various technologies in managing the Fund, consistent with its investment objective and strategy described in this Prospectus. For example, proprietary and third party data and systems are utilized to support decision making for the Fund. Data imprecision, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems, which may negatively affect Fund performance.

Performance: Bar Chart and Table

2020-10-27 FEDERATED HERMES ADVISER SERIES 2020-10-31 0001707560 false 2020-10-27 2020-10-28 N-1A 485BPOS 0.0075 0 0.0098 0.0173 0.0090 0.0083 50000 0.0075 0.0075 0.0075 0.0000 0.0075 0 0.0123 0.0123 0.0088 0.0198 0.0273 0.0163 0.0090 0.0090 0.0085 0.0108 0.0183 0.0078 740 1137 376 847 166 514 740 1137 276 847 166 514 0.0060 0 0.0112 0.0172 0.0110 0.0062 175 542 933 2030 175 542 933 2030 0.3600 50000 0.0060 0.0060 0.0060 0.0000 0.0075 0 0.0129 0.0129 0.0094 0.0189 0.0264 0.0154 0.0102 0.0102 0.0097 0.0087 0.0162 0.0057 633 1017 1425 2562 367 820 1400 2973 157 486 839 1834 633 1017 1425 2562 267 820 1400 2973 157 486 839 1834 0.3600 Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. The Adviser and certain of its affiliates on their own initiative have agreed to waive certain amounts of their respective fees and/or reimburse expenses. Total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, extraordinary expenses, and proxy-related expenses, paid by the Fund, if any) paid by the Fund's IS class (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 0.83% (the "Fee Limit"), up to but not including the later of (the "Termination Date"): (a) November 1, 2021; or (b) the date of the Fund's next effective Prospectus. While the Adviser and its affiliates currently do not anticipate terminating or increasing these additional arrangements prior to the Termination Date, these additional arrangements may only be terminated or the Fee Limit increased prior to the Termination Date with the agreement of the Trustees. The Fund has adopted a Distribution (12b-1) Plan for its Class A Shares pursuant to which the A class of the Fund may incur and pay a Distribution (12b-1) Fee of up to a maximum of 0.05%. No such fee is currently incurred and paid by the A class of the Fund. The A class of the Fund will not incur and pay such a Distribution (12b-1) Fee until such time as approved by the Fund's Trustees. Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. The Adviser and certain of its affiliates on their own initiative have agreed to waive certain amounts of their respective fees and/or reimburse expenses. Total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, extraordinary expenses, and proxy-related expenses, paid by the Fund, if any) paid by the Fund's A class, C class, and R6 class (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 1.08%, 1.83% and 0.78% (the "Fee Limit"), respectively, up to but not including the later of (the "Termination Date"): (a) November 1, 2021; or (b) the date of the Fund's next effective Prospectus. While the Adviser and its affiliates currently do not anticipate terminating or increasing these additional arrangements prior to the Termination Date, these additional arrangements may only be terminated or the Fee Limit increased prior to the Termination Date with the agreement of the Trustees. The Fund may incur and pay certain service fees (shareholder services/account administration fees) on its IS class of up to a maximum of 0.25%. No such fees are expected to be incurred and paid by the IS class of the Fund. The IS class of the Fund will not incur and pay such fees until such time as approved by the Trustees. The Adviser and certain of its affiliates on their own initiative have agreed to waive certain amounts of their respective fees and/or reimburse expenses. Total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, extraordinary expenses, and proxy-related expenses, paid by the Fund, if any) paid by the Fund's IS class (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 0.62% (the "Fee Limit"), respectively, up to but not including the later of (the "Termination Date"): (a) November 1, 2021; or (b) the date of the Fund's next effective Prospectus. While the Adviser and its affiliates currently do not anticipate terminating or increasing these additional arrangements prior to the Termination Date, these additional arrangements may only be terminated or the Fee Limit increased prior to the Termination Date with the agreement of the Trustees. The Fund has adopted a Distribution (12b-1) Plan for its Class A shares pursuant to which the A class of the Fund may incur and pay a Distribution (12b-1) Fee of up to a maximum amount of 0.05%. No such fee is currently incurred and paid by the A class of the Fund. The A class of the Fund will not incur and pay such a Distribution (12b-1) Fee until such time as approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Trustees"). Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. The Adviser and certain of its affiliates on their own initiative have agreed to waive certain amounts of their respective fees and/or reimburse expenses. Effective November 1, 2020 total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, extraordinary expenses, and proxy-related expenses, paid by the Fund, if any) paid by the Fund's A class, C class and R6 class (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 0.87%, 1.62% and 0.57% (the "Fee Limit"), respectively, up to but not including the later of (the "Termination Date"): (a) November 1, 2021; or (b) the date of the Fund's next effective Prospectus. While the Adviser and its affiliates currently do not anticipate terminating or increasing these additional arrangements prior to the Termination Date, these additional arrangements may only be terminated or the Fee Limit increased prior to the Termination Date with the agreement of the Trustees. 0001707560 federate:ClassInstitutionalSharesMember federate:S000066503Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassInstitutionalSharesMember federate:S000066503Member federate:C000214506Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassACandR6SharesMember federate:S000066503Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassACandR6SharesMember federate:S000066503Member federate:C000214507Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassACandR6SharesMember federate:S000066503Member federate:C000214508Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassACandR6SharesMember federate:S000066503Member federate:C000214509Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassISSharesMember federate:S000068640Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassISSharesMember federate:S000068640Member federate:C000219574Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassACandR6SharesMember federate:S000068640Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassACandR6SharesMember federate:S000068640Member federate:C000219575Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassACandR6SharesMember federate:S000068640Member federate:C000219576Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 federate:ClassACandR6SharesMember federate:S000068640Member federate:C000219577Member 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 0001707560 2020-10-31 2020-10-31 xbrli:pure iso4217:USD

1933 Act File No. 333-218374

1940 Act File No. 811-23259

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

☒

Pre-Effective Amendment No.

☐

Post-Effective Amendment No. 35

☒

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

☒

Amendment No. 36

☒

Federated Hermes Adviser Series

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Federated Hermes Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086-7561

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(412) 288-1900

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Peter J. Germain, Esquire
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

☐

immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

☒

On October 28, 2020 pursuant to paragraph (b)

☐

60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

☐

On pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

☐

75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

☐

On pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following:

☐

This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Prospectus

October 31, 2020

Share Class | Ticker

Institutional | FHHIX

Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Hermes Adviser Series
(formerly, Federated Adviser Series)

A mutual fund seeking current income and long-term capital appreciation along side positive societal impact.

As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund or your financial intermediary electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank); other shareholders may call the Fund at 1-800-341-7400, Option 4.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform the Fund or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank); other shareholders may call the Fund at 1-800-341-7400, Option 4. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held with the Fund complex or your financial intermediary.

Not FDIC Insured ▪ May Lose Value ▪ No Bank Guarantee

CONTENTS

Fund Summary Information	1
What are the Fund’s Investment Strategies?	4
What are the Fund’s Principal Investments?	6
What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?	11
What Do Shares Cost?	15
How is the Fund Sold?	17
Payments to Financial Intermediaries	18
How to Purchase Shares	19
How to Redeem and Exchange Shares	21
Security and Privacy Protection	23
Account and Share Information	24
Who Manages the Fund?	27
Financial Information	28
Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information	30

Fund Summary Information

Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund (the “Fund”)

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek current income and long-term capital appreciation alongside positive societal impact. The objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “ Trustees ” ) without shareholder approval.

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class IS Shares (IS) of the Fund. If you purchase the Fund’s IS Shares through a broker acting as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to such broker; such commissions, if any, are not reflected in the Example below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	IS
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)	None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)	None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)	None
Exchange Fee	None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fee	0.60%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee	None
Other Expenses 1	1.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.72%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements 2	(1.10)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/orExpense Reimbursements	0.62%

The Fund may incur and pay certain service fees (shareholder services/account administration fees) on its IS class of up to a maximum of 0.25%. No such fees are expected to be incurred and paid by the IS class of the Fund. The IS class of the Fund will not incur and pay such fees until such time as approved by the Trustees.

The Adviser and certain of its affiliates on their own initiative have agreed to waive certain amounts of their respective fees and/or reimburse expenses. Total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, extraordinary expenses, and proxy-related expenses, paid by the Fund, if any) paid by the Fund’s IS class (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 0.62% (the “ Fee Limit ” ), respectively, up to but not including the later of (the “Termination Date”): (a) November 1, 2021; or (b) the date of the Fund’s next effective Prospectus. While the Adviser and its affiliates currently do not anticipate terminating or increasing these additional arrangements prior to the Termination Date, these additional arrangements may only be terminated or the Fee Limit increased prior to the Termination Date with the agreement of the Trustees.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses (excluding fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are as shown in the table above and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Share Class	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
IS:
Expenses assuming redemption	$175	$542	$933	$2,030
Expenses assuming no redemption	$175	$542	$933	$2,030

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the period September 26, 2019 (date of initial public investment) to August 31, 2020, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 36% of the average value of its portfolio.

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENTS, RISKS and PERFORMANCE

What are the Fund’s Main Investment Strategies?

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of high yield fixed-income securities (also known as “ junk bonds ” ), which include debt securities issued by U.S. or foreign businesses (including emerging market debt securities). The Fund’s investment adviser or sub-adviser (as applicable, the “ Adviser ” ) selects securities that it believes have attractive risk-return characteristics. The Adviser’s securities selection process includes an analysis of the issuer’s financial condition, business and product strength, competitive position and management expertise. The Adviser does not limit the Fund’s investments to securities of a particular maturity range or duration.

In managing the assets of the Fund, the Adviser will seek to invest in securities that, in its view, provide the potential for current income and long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (the “ UN Sustainable Development Goals ” ) (as outlined in further detail below). 1 It will do so by performing bottom-up fundamental analysis of financial criteria such as balance sheet quality, franchise value (i.e., brand strength and sustainability of the business model) and quality of management. This fundamental, bottom-up analysis of individual credit will be used to generate returns through anticipated price changes. At the same time, the Adviser will analyze securities to seek to identify whether their market price is reflective of the value of the issuer of the securities (as determined by the fundamental analysis outlined above and when taking market news into account). In addition, the Adviser intends to use a wider analysis of general economic conditions for portfolio risk management purposes. The Adviser intends to diversify the Fund’s portfolio across different geographic regions and industries.

Please refer to https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 for further information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Fund may invest in derivative contracts and/or hybrid instruments to implement its investment strategies. For example, the Fund may use derivative contracts or hybrid instruments to increase or decrease the portfolio’s exposure to the investments(s) underlying the derivative or hybrid instrument. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of derivative contracts or hybrid instruments will work as intended. Derivative investments made by the Fund are included within the Fund’s 80% policy (as described below) and are calculated at market value.

The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate and increase the Fund’s trading costs, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. An active trading strategy will likely result in the Fund generating more short-term capital gains or losses. Short-term gains are generally taxed at a higher rate than long-term gains. Any short-term losses are used first to offset short-term gains.

What are the Main Risks of Investing in the Fund?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund’s returns include:

■ Risk Associated with Noninvestment-Grade Securities. Securities rated below investment-grade may be subject to greater interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investment-grade securities. These securities are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and repay principal.

■ Issuer Credit Risk . It is possible that interest or principal on securities will not be paid when due. Noninvestment-grade securities generally have a higher default risk than investment-grade securities. Such non-payment or default may reduce the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, its share price and its performance.

■ Risks of Investing for UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund’s strategy is to target companies the Adviser believes will contribute positive societal impact aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund may underperform funds that do not have such a strategy.

■ Counterparty Credit Risk. Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose money or to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

■ Risk Related to the Economy. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may decline in tandem with a drop in the overall value of the markets in which the Fund invests and/or other markets. Economic, political and financial conditions, industry or economic trends and developments or public health risks, such as epidemics or pandemics, may, from time to time, and for varying periods of time, cause the Fund to experience volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions, or other potentially adverse effects. Among other investments, lower-grade bonds and loans may be particularly sensitive to changes in the economy.

■ Liquidity Risk. The noninvestment-grade securities in which the Fund may invest may not be readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuations in price than other securities. Additionally, certain equity securities in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities. Also, market growth at rates greater than dealers’ capacity to make markets, as well as regulatory changes or certain other developments, can reduce dealer inventories of securities (such as corporate bonds), which can further constrain liquidity and increase price volatility. Additionally, there is a possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses. High levels of shareholder redemptions in response to market conditions also may increase liquidity risk and may negatively impact Fund performance.

■ Interest Rate Risk. Prices of fixed-income securities generally fall when interest rates rise. The longer the duration of a fixed-income security, the more susceptible it is to interest-rate risk. Recent and potential future changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or their governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates.

■ Leveraged Company Risk. Securities of companies that issue below investment grade debt or “ junk bonds ” (i.e., leveraged companies) may be more volatile, be more sensitive to adverse issuer, political, market or economic developments and have limited access to additional capital than securities of other, higher quality companies or the market as a whole, which can limit their opportunities and ability to weather challenging business environments. Companies that experience a decrease in credit quality or that have lower-quality debt or highly leveraged capital structures may undergo difficult business circumstances and face a greater risk of liquidation, reorganization or bankruptcy than other companies.

■ Risk of Foreign Investing. Because the Fund invests in securities issued by foreign companies and national governments, the Fund’s Share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards than could otherwise be the case.

■ Currency Risk. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments and the value of the shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar.

■ European Union and Eurozone Related Risk. A number of countries in the European Union (EU), including certain countries within the EU that have adopted the euro (Eurozone), have experienced, and may continue to experience, severe economic and financial difficulties. Additional countries within the EU may also fall subject to such difficulties. These events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments in euro-denominated securities and derivatives contracts, securities of issuers located in the EU or with significant exposure to EU issuers or countries.

■ Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested.

■ Sector Risk. The Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain industry sectors than to others; therefore, the Fund performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund.

■ Risk of Investing in Emerging Market Countries. Securities issued or traded in emerging markets generally entail greater risks than securities issued or traded in developed markets.

■ Risk of Investing in Derivative Contracts and Hybrid Instruments. Derivative contracts and hybrid instruments involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Specific risk issues related to the use of such contracts and instruments include valuation and tax issues, increased potential for losses and/or costs to the Fund, and a potential reduction in gains to the Fund. Each of these issues is described in greater detail in this prospectus.

■ Technology Risk. The Adviser uses various technologies in managing the Fund, consistent with its investment objective and strategy described in this Prospectus. For example, proprietary and third party data and systems are utilized to support decision making for the Fund. Data imprecision, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems, which may negatively affect Fund performance.

Performance: Bar Chart and Table

A performance bar chart and total return information for the Fund will be provided after the Fund has been in operation for a full calendar year. Updated performance information for the Fund is available under the “ Products ” section at FederatedInvestors.com or by calling 1-800-341-7400 .

Fund Management

The Fund’s Investment Adviser is Federated Investment Management Company and the Fund’s Sub-Adviser, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, is Hermes Investment Management Limited.

Mitch Reznick, CFA, Head of Research and Sustainable Fixed Income and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since inception in September 2019.

Fraser Lundie, CFA, Head of Credit and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since inception in September 2019.

Nachu Chockalingam, CFA and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since October 2020.

purchase and sale of fund shares

You may purchase, redeem or exchange Shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Shares may be purchased through a financial intermediary firm that has entered into a Fund selling and/or servicing agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate ( “ Financial Intermediary ” ) or directly from the Fund, by wire or by check. Please note that certain purchase restrictions may apply. Redeem or exchange Shares through a financial intermediary or directly from the Fund by telephone at 1-800-341-7400 or by mail.

The minimum initial investment amount for the Fund’s IS class is generally $1,000,000 and there is no minimum subsequent investment amount. Certain types of accounts are eligible for lower minimum investments. The minimum investment amount for Systematic Investment Programs is $50.

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable as ordinary income or capital gains except when your investment is through a 401(k) plan, an Individual Retirement Account or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund Shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

What are the Fund’s Investment Strategies?

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek current income and long-term capital appreciation alongside positive societal impact. While there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, it endeavors to do so by following the principal strategies and policies described in this Prospectus. This objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “ Trustees ” ) without shareholder approval.

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in the high-yield fixed-income securities market. The Fund’s investment adviser (the “ Adviser ” ) actively manages the Fund’s portfolio seeking to realize the potentially higher returns of high-yield securities (also known as “ junk bonds ” ), compared to returns of high-grade securities by seeking to minimize default risk and other risks through careful security selection and diversification. The Fund invests in domestic high-yield debt securities both domestically and internationally (including emerging markets). A description of the various types of securities in which the Fund invests, and their risks, immediately follows the strategy discussion.

The Adviser selects securities that it believes have attractive risk-return characteristics. The securities in which the Fund invests have high yields primarily because of the market’s greater uncertainty about the issuer’s ability to make all required interest and principal payments, and therefore about the returns that will in fact be realized by the Fund.

The Adviser attempts to select bonds for investment by the Fund which offer high potential returns for the default risks being assumed. The Adviser’s securities selection process consists of a credit-intensive, fundamental analysis of the issuing firm. The Adviser’s analysis focuses on the financial condition of the issuing firm together with the issuer’s business and product strength, competitive position and management expertise. Further, the Adviser considers current economic, financial market and industry factors, which may affect the issuer.

The Adviser attempts to minimize the Fund’s portfolio credit risk through diversification. The Adviser selects securities to maintain broad portfolio diversification both by company and industry. The Adviser does not target an average maturity range or duration for the Fund’s portfolio.

In managing the assets of the Fund, the Adviser will seek to invest in securities that, in its view, provide the potential for current income and long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (the “ UN Sustainable Development Goals ” ) (as outlined in further detail below). 1 It will do so by performing bottom-up fundamental analysis of financial criteria such as balance sheet quality, franchise value (i.e., brand strength and sustainability of the business model) and quality of management. This fundamental, bottom-up analysis of individual credit will be used to generate returns through anticipated price changes. For example, the Adviser will analyze securities of an issuer to seek to identify the extent to which the securities are exposed to credit risk. This will be done with a view to assessing whether the market price of the security in question is, in the Adviser’s view, reflective of its value (after taking account of the credit risk). At the same time, the Adviser will analyze securities to seek to identify whether their market price is reflective of the value of the issuer of the securities (as determined by the fundamental analysis outlined above and when taking market news into account). In addition, the Adviser intends to use a wider analysis of general economic conditions for portfolio risk management purposes. The Adviser intends to diversify the Fund’s portfolio across different geographic regions and industries.

Please refer to https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 for further information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

In addition to fundamental financial indicator criteria, the Adviser also considers engagement criteria such as assessment of company management competence, integrity, vision, potential and willingness to enact the changes suggested by the Adviser, as well as alignment with at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Adviser will utilize bottom-up analysis of companies’ respective supply chains, direct operations, products and services to identify those businesses with the best opportunity for improvement in areas such as education, water, and energy conservation.

It is anticipated that by identifying solutions to meeting specific UN Sustainable Development Goals, companies will be able to incrementally improve long-term financial returns and resilience by generating higher sales and better productivity by delivering, for example, improved health or educational outcomes for their employees and local community. The Adviser’s in-house stewardship team will support the identification of, and engagement with, suitable companies that meet the criteria outlined above and below. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are as follows: no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions; and partnership for the goals.

The Fund will not be subject to any limitation on the types of companies in which it may invest (either in terms of industry or focus) so long as these companies are viewed by the Adviser to provide the potential for long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund will however, exclude companies that manufacture tobacco and/or controversial weapons. The Fund may, from time to time, have larger allocations to certain broad market sectors in attempting to achieve its investment objective.

In making its investment decisions, the Adviser will seek to consider its corporate governance and/or responsible investment policies ( “ CGRI Guidelines ” ) with regards to the holding of either individual securities or various categories or classes of securities. The Adviser will typically sell a security either when its analysis indicates that it has either met the defined engagement objectives aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals or the Adviser does not believe that these objectives will be met, or when there is a material change in a company’s investment thesis that would prompt a sale. The CGRI Guidelines are intended to provide guidance on achieving best practice standards of corporate governance and equity stewardship in order to make informed investment decisions.

The Fund may use derivative contracts and/or hybrid instruments to implement elements of its investment strategy. For example, the Fund may use derivative contracts or hybrid instruments to increase or decrease the portfolio’s exposure to the investment(s) underlying the derivative or hybrid instrument in an attempt to benefit from changes in the value of the underlying investment(s). Additionally, by way of example, the Fund may use derivative contracts in an attempt to:

■ increase or decrease the effective duration of the Fund portfolio;

■ obtain premiums from the sale of derivative contracts;

■ realize gains from trading a derivative contract; or

■ hedge against potential losses.

There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of derivative contracts or hybrid instruments will work as intended. Derivative investments made by the Fund are included within the Fund’s 80% policy (as described below) and are calculated at market value.

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate and increase the Fund’s trading costs, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. An active trading strategy will likely result in the Fund generating more short-term capital gains or losses. Short-term gains are generally taxed at a higher rate than long-term gains. Any short-term losses are used first to offset short-term gains.

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS

The Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by investing its assets in shorter-term debt securities and similar obligations or holding cash. It may do this in response to unusual circumstances, such as: adverse market, economic or other conditions (for example, to help avoid potential losses, or during periods when there is a shortage of appropriate securities); to maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions; or to accommodate cash inflows. It is possible that such investments could affect the Fund’s investment returns and/or the ability to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives.

What are the Fund’s Principal Investments?

The following provides general information on the Fund’s principal investments. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (SAI) provides information about the Fund’s non-principal investments and may provide additional information about the Fund’s principal investments.

FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES

Fixed-income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or may be adjusted periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed-income security must repay the principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed-income securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the returns on fixed-income securities are limited and normally do not increase with the issuer’s earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed-income securities as compared to equity securities.

A security’s yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a percentage of its price. A security’s yield will increase or decrease depending upon whether it costs less (a “ discount ” ) or more (a “ premium ” ) than the principal amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have higher yields.

The following describes the fixed-income securities in which the Fund principally invests:

Preferred Stocks

Preferred stocks have the right to receive specified dividends or distributions before the issuer makes payments on its common stock. Some preferred stocks also participate in dividends and distributions paid on common stock. Preferred stocks may also permit the issuer to redeem the stock. The Fund may also treat such redeemable preferred stock as a fixed-income security.

Corporate Debt Securities (A Type of Fixed-Income Security)

Corporate debt securities are fixed-income securities issued by businesses. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most prevalent types of corporate debt securities. The credit risks of corporate debt securities vary widely among issuers.

In addition, the credit risk of an issuer’s debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking ( “ senior ” ) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking ( “ subordinated ” ) securities. This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of subordinated securities. Some subordinated securities, such as trust-preferred and capital-securities notes, also permit the issuer to defer payments under certain circumstances. For example, insurance companies issue securities known as surplus notes that permit the insurance company to defer any payment that would reduce its capital below regulatory requirements.

Lower-Rated, Fixed-Income Securities

Lower-rated, fixed-income securities are securities rated below investment grade (i.e., BB or lower) by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO). There is no minimal acceptable rating for a security to be purchased or held by the Fund and the Fund may purchase or hold unrated securities and securities whose issuers are in default.

Demand Instruments (A Type of Corporate Debt Security)

Demand instruments are corporate debt securities that require the issuer or a third party, such as a dealer or bank (the “ Demand Provider ” ), to repurchase the security for its face value upon demand. Some demand instruments are “ conditional, ” so that the occurrence of certain conditions relieves the Demand Provider of its obligation to repurchase the security. Other demand instruments are “ unconditional, ” so that there are no conditions under which the Demand Provider’s obligation to repurchase the security can terminate. The Fund treats demand instruments as short-term securities, even though their stated maturity may extend beyond one year.

Convertible Securities (A Fixed-Income Security)

Convertible securities are fixed-income securities that the Fund has the option to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed-income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by converting its fixed-income securities.

Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed-income securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued, the conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities. Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible, fixed-income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.

To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities, it typically invests in securities that can be exchanged for instruments that are publically traded or listed on a centralized market or stock exchange. The Fund may receive securities not publically traded or listed on a centralized market or stock exchange in connection with bankruptcies, restructurings, or other unusual circumstances.

The Fund treats convertible securities as fixed-income securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of their unique characteristics.

Contingent Convertible Capital Instrument (A Type of Fixed-Income Security)

Contingent convertible capital instruments are fixed-income securities or preferred stocks that automatically convert into equity securities of the issuer or undergo a principal write-down by a pre-determined percentage upon the occurrence of certain events (a “ Trigger Event ” ). For example, a Trigger Event may occur if the issuer’s bank regulatory capital ratio falls below a predetermined level. If a Trigger Event occurs, the fund would be likely to lose some or all of its investment in the Contingent convertible capital instrument. Contingent convertible capital instruments may expose the Fund to stock market risk. The Fund treats contingent convertible capital instruments as fixed-income securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because they should perform like other fixed income securities unless a Trigger Event occurs.

FOREIGN SECURITIES

Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States. To the extent a Fund invests in securities included in its applicable broad-based securities market index, the Fund may consider an issuer to be based outside the United States if the applicable index classifies the issuer as based outside the United States. Accordingly, the Fund may consider an issuer to be based outside the United States if the issuer satisfies at least one, but not necessarily all, of the following:

■ it is organized under the laws of, or has its principal office located in, another country;

■ the principal trading market for its securities is in another country;

■ it (directly or through its consolidated subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced, services performed or sales made in another country; or

■ it is classified by an applicable index as based outside the United States.

While the Fund typically invests in U.S. dollar denominated foreign securities, and primarily hedges all currency risk back to the U.S. dollar, the Fund may also invest in foreign securities that are denominated in foreign currencies Along with the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

In order to convert U.S. dollars into the currency needed to buy a foreign security, or to convert foreign currency received from the sale of a foreign security into U.S. dollars, or to decrease or eliminate the Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies in which a portfolio security is denominated, the Fund may enter into spot currency trades. In a spot trade, the Fund agrees to exchange one currency for another at the current exchange rate. The Fund may also enter into derivative contracts in which a foreign currency is an underlying asset. The exchange rate for currency derivative contracts may be higher or lower than the spot exchange rate. Use of these derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to currency risks.

Derivative Contracts

Derivative contracts are financial instruments that require payments based upon changes in the values of designated securities, commodities, currencies, indices, or other assets or instruments including other derivative contracts, (each a “ Reference Instrument ” and collectively, “ Reference Instruments ” ). Each party to a derivative contract may sometimes be referred to as a counterparty. Some derivative contracts require payments relating to an actual, future trade involving the Reference Instrument. These types of derivatives are frequently referred to as “ physically settled ” derivatives. Other derivative contracts require payments relating to the income or returns from, or changes in the market value of, a Reference Instrument. These types of derivatives are known as “ cash-settled ” derivatives, since they require cash payments in lieu of delivery of the Reference Instrument.

Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or commodities exchanges. In this case, the exchange sets all the terms of the contract except for the price. Investors make payments due under their contracts through the exchange. Most exchanges require investors to maintain margin accounts through their brokers to cover their potential obligations to the exchange. Parties to the contract make (or collect) daily payments to the margin accounts to reflect losses (or gains) in the value of their contracts. This protects investors against potential defaults by the other party to the contract. Trading contracts on an exchange also allows investors to close out their contracts by entering into offsetting contracts.

The Fund may also trade derivative contracts over-the-counter (OTC) in transactions negotiated directly between the Fund and a financial institution. OTC contracts do not necessarily have standard terms, so they may be less liquid and more difficult to close out than exchange-traded contracts. In addition, OTC contracts with more specialized terms may be more difficult to value than exchange-traded contracts, especially in times of financial stress.

The market for swaps and other OTC derivatives was largely unregulated prior to the enactment of federal legislation known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “ Dodd-Frank Act ” ). Regulations enacted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) under the Dodd-Frank Act require the Fund to clear certain swap contracts through a clearing house or central counterparty (a CCP).

To clear a swap through the CCP, the Fund will submit the contract to, and post margin with, a futures commission merchant (FCM) that is a clearing house member. The Fund may enter into the swap with a financial institution other than the FCM and arrange for the contract to be transferred to the FCM for clearing, or enter into the contract with the FCM itself. If the Fund must centrally clear a transaction, the CFTC’s regulations also generally require that the swap be executed on a registered exchange or through a market facility that is known as a swap execution facility or SEF. Central clearing is presently required only for certain swaps; the CFTC is expected to impose a mandatory central clearing requirement for additional derivative instruments over time.

The CCP, SEF and FCM are all subject to regulatory oversight by the CFTC. In addition, most derivative market participants are now regulated as swap dealers or major swap participants and are subject to certain minimum capital and margin requirements and business conduct standards. Similar regulatory requirements are expected to apply to derivative contracts that are subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC, although the SEC has not yet finalized its regulations. In addition, uncleared OTC swaps will be subject to regulatory collateral requirements that could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to enter into swaps in the OTC market. These developments could cause the Fund to terminate new or existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such instruments at an inopportune time.

Until the mandated rulemaking and regulations are implemented completely, it will not be possible to determine the complete impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on the Fund.

Depending on how the Fund uses derivative contracts and the relationships between the market value of a derivative contract and the Reference Instrument, derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to the risks of the Reference Instrument, and may also expose the Fund to liquidity and leverage risks. OTC contracts also expose the Fund to credit risks in the event that a counterparty defaults on the contract, although this risk may be mitigated by submitting the contract for clearing through a CCP.

Payment obligations arising in connection with derivative contracts are frequently required to be secured with margin (which is commonly called “ collateral ” ). To the extent necessary to meet such requirements, the Fund may purchase U.S. Treasuryand/or government agency securities.

The Fund may invest in a derivative contract if it is permitted to own, invest in, or otherwise have economic exposure to the Reference Instrument. The Fund is not required to own a Reference Instrument in order to buy or sell a derivative contract relating to that Reference Instrument. The Fund may trade in the following specific types and/or combinations of derivative contracts:

Futures Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a Reference Instrument at a specified price, date and time. Entering into a contract to buy a Reference Instrument is commonly referred to as buying a contract or holding a long position in the asset. Entering into a contract to sell a Reference Instrument is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position in the Reference Instrument. Futures contracts are considered to be commodity contracts. The Adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “ commodity pool operator ” under the Commodity Exchange Act with respect to the Fund and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation with respect to the Fund. Futures contracts traded OTC are frequently referred to as forward contracts. The Fund can buy or sell financial futures (such as interest rate futures, index futures and security futures), as well as, currency futures and currency forward contracts.

Option Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

Option contracts (also called “ options ” ) are rights to buy or sell a Reference Instrument for a specified price (the “ exercise price ” ) during, or at the end of, a specified period. The seller (or “ writer ” ) of the option receives a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option. A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the Reference Instrument from the seller (writer) of the option. A put option gives the holder the right to sell the Reference Instrument to the writer of the option. Options may be bought or sold on a wide variety of Reference Instruments. Options that are written on futures contracts will be subject to margin requirements similar to those applied to futures contracts.

Swap Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

A swap contract (also known as a “ swap ” ) is a type of derivative contract in which two parties agree to pay each other (swap) the returns derived from Reference Instruments. Swaps do not always involve the delivery of the Reference Instruments by either party, and the parties might not own the Reference Instruments underlying the swap. The payments are usually made on a net basis so that, on any given day, the Fund would receive (or pay) only the amount by which its payment under the contract is less than (or exceeds) the amount of the other party’s payment. Swap agreements are sophisticated instruments that can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. Common types of swaps in which the Fund may invest include interest rate swaps, caps and floors, total return swaps, credit default swaps and currency swaps.

OTHER INVESTMENTS, TRANSACTIONS, TECHNIQUES

Hedging

Hedging transactions are intended to reduce specific risks. For example, to protect the Fund against circumstances that would normally cause the Fund’s portfolio securities to decline in value, the Fund may buy or sell a derivative contract that would normally increase in value under the same circumstances. The Fund may also attempt to hedge by using combinations of different derivative contracts, or derivative contracts and securities. The Fund’s ability to hedge may be limited by the costs of the derivative contracts. The Fund may attempt to lower the cost of hedging by entering into transactions that provide only limited protection, including transactions that: (1) hedge only a portion of its portfolio; (2) use derivative contracts that cover a narrow range of circumstances or; (3) involve the sale of derivative contracts with different terms. Consequently, hedging transactions will not eliminate risk even if they work as intended. In addition, hedging strategies are not always successful, and could result in increased expenses and losses to the Fund.

Hybrid Instruments

Hybrid instruments combine elements of two different kinds of securities or financial instruments (such as a derivative contract). Frequently, the value of a hybrid instrument is determined by reference to changes in the value of a Reference Instrument (that is a designated security, commodity, currency, index or other asset or instrument including a derivative contract). The Fund may use hybrid instruments only in connection with permissible investment activities. Hybrid instruments can take on many forms including, but not limited to, the following forms. First, a common form of a hybrid instrument combines elements of a derivative contract with those of another security (typically a fixed-income security). In this case all or a portion of the interest or principal payable on a hybrid security is determined by reference to changes in the price of a Reference Instrument. Second, hybrid instruments may include convertible securities with conversion terms related to a Reference Instrument.

Depending on the type and terms of the hybrid instrument, its risks may reflect a combination of the risks of investing in the Reference Instrument with the risks of investing in other securities, currencies and derivative contracts. Thus, an investment in a hybrid instrument may entail significant risks in addition to those associated with traditional securities or the Reference Instrument. Hybrid instruments are also potentially more volatile than traditional securities or the Reference Instrument. Moreover, depending on the structure of the particular hybrid, it may expose the Fund to leverage risks or carry liquidity risks.

Asset Segregation

In order to secure its obligations in connection with derivative contracts or special transactions, the Fund will either own the underlying assets, enter into offsetting transactions or set aside cash or readily marketable securities in each case, as provided by the SEC or SEC staff guidance. This requirement may cause the Fund to miss favorable trading opportunities, due to a lack of sufficient cash or readily marketable securities. This requirement may also cause the Fund to realize losses on offsetting or terminated derivative contracts or special transactions.

Investing in Securities of Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies, including the securities of affiliated money market funds, as an efficient means of implementing its investment strategies and/or managing its uninvested cash. The Fund may also invest in high yield and loan instruments primarily by investing in another investment company (which is not available for general investment by the public) that owns those securities and that is advised by an affiliate of the Adviser. The Fund may also invest in such securities directly. These other investment companies are managed independently of the Fund and incur additional fees and/or expenses which would, therefore, be borne indirectly by the Fund in connection with any such investment. However, the Adviser believes that the benefits and efficiencies of this approach should outweigh the potential additional fees and/or expenses.

Investment Ratings for Investment-Grade Securities

The Adviser will determine whether a security is investment grade based upon the credit ratings given by one or more NRSROs. For example, Standard & Poor’s, an NRSRO, assigns ratings to investment-grade securities (AAA, AA, A and BBB including modifiers, sub-categories and gradations) based on their assessment of the likelihood of the issuer’s inability to pay interest or principal (default) when due on each security. Lower credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser’s credit assessment that the security is comparable to investment grade. The presence of a ratings modifier, sub-category, or gradation (for example, a (+) or (-)) is intended to show relative standing within the major rating categories and does not affect the security credit rating for purposes of the Fund’s investment parameters. If a security is downgraded below the minimum quality grade discussed above, the Adviser will reevaluate the security, but will not be required to sell it.

Investment Ratings for Noninvestment-Grade Securities

Noninvestment-grade securities are rated below BBB- by an NRSRO. These bonds have greater economic, credit and liquidity risks than investment-grade securities.

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?

The following provides general information on the risks associated with the Fund’s principal investments. Any additional risks associated with the Fund’s non-principal investments are described in the Fund’s SAI. The Fund’s SAI also may provide additional information about the risks associated with the Fund’s principal investments.

Risk Associated with Noninvestment-Grade Securities

Securities rated below investment grade, also known as junk bonds, generally entail greater economic, credit and liquidity risks than investment-grade securities. For example, their prices are more volatile, economic downturns and financial setbacks may affect their prices more negatively, and their trading market may be more limited. These securities are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and repay principal.

ISSUER Credit Risk

It is possible that interest or principal on securities will not be paid when due. Noninvestment-grade securities generally have a higher default risk than investment-grade securities. Such non-payment or default may reduce the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, its share price and its performance.

Many fixed-income securities receive credit ratings from nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) such as Fitch Rating Service, Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s that assign ratings to securities by assessing the likelihood of an issuer and/or guarantor default. Higher credit ratings correspond to lower perceived credit risk and lower credit ratings correspond to higher perceived credit risk. Credit ratings may be upgraded or downgraded from time to time as an NRSRO’s assessment of the financial condition of a party obligated to make payments with respect to such securities and credit risk changes. The impact of any credit rating downgrade can be uncertain. Credit rating downgrades may lead to increased interest rates and volatility in financial markets, which in turn could negatively affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, its share price and its investment performance. Credit ratings are not a guarantee of quality. Credit ratings may lag behind the current financial conditions of the issuer and/or guarantor and do not provide assurance against default or other loss of money. Credit ratings do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser’s credit assessment.

Fixed-income securities generally compensate for greater credit risk by paying interest at a higher rate. The difference between the yield of a security and the yield of a U.S. Treasury security or other appropriate benchmark with a comparable maturity (the “ spread ” ) measures the additional interest paid for risk. Spreads may increase generally in response to adverse economic or market conditions. A security’s spread may also increase if the security’s rating is lowered, or the security is perceived to have an increased credit risk. An increase in the spread will cause the price of the security to decline if interest rates remain unchanged.

Risks of Investing for UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Fund’s strategy is to target companies the Adviser believes will contribute positive societal impact aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund may underperform funds that do not have such a strategy. This strategy may result in the Fund’s forgoing opportunities to buy certain securities when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so. The Adviser’s assessment of a company’s alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals may change over time, which could cause the Fund to temporarily hold securities that do not align as closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals as initially determined by the Adviser, or may cause the Fund to sell securities when it might be otherwise disadvantageous for it to do so. In evaluating a company, the Adviser is dependent upon information and data that may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could cause the Adviser to incorrectly assess a company’s alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Adviser’s assessment of a company’s alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals depends upon an analysis of a number of factors and may be evaluated differently by different managers.

Counterparty Credit Risk

Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose money or to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

RISK RELATED TO THE ECONOMY

The value of the Fund’s portfolio may decline in tandem with a drop in the overall value of the markets in which the Fund invests and/or other markets based on negative developments in the U.S. and global economies. Economic, political and financial conditions, or industry or economic trends and developments, may, from time to time, and for varying periods of time, cause volatility, illiquidity or other potentially adverse effects in the financial markets, including the fixed-income market. The commencement, continuation or ending of government policies and economic stimulus programs, changes in monetary policy, increases or decreases in interest rates, or other factors or events that affect the financial markets, including the fixed-income markets, may contribute to the development of or increase in volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions and other adverse effects, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance. For example, the value of certain portfolio securities may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, which could result from a change in government policies, and has the potential to cause investors to move out of certain portfolio securities, including fixed-income securities, on a large scale. This may increase redemptions from funds that hold large amounts of certain securities and may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the financial markets. Market factors, such as the demand for particular portfolio securities, may cause the price of certain portfolio securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged. Among other investments, lower-grade bonds and loans may be particularly sensitive to changes in the economy.

Epidemic and Pandemic Risk

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in late 2019 and subsequently spread globally ( “ COVID-19 ” ). This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, and disruptions to supply chains, workflow operations and consumer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus may be short-term or may last for an extended period of time and has resulted in a substantial economic downturn. Health crises caused by outbreaks, such as the coronavirus outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could continue to negatively affect the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, individual companies, including certain Fund service providers and issuers of the Fund’s investments, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

The United States has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic distress with fiscal and monetary stimulus packages. In late March 2020, the government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “ CARES Act ” ), a stimulus package providing for over $2.2 trillion in resources to small businesses, state and local governments, and individuals that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, in mid-March 2020 theU.S. Federal Reserve ( “ Fed ” ) cut interest rates to historically low levels and has announced a new round of quantitative easing, including purchases of corporate and municipal government bonds. The Fed also enacted various programs to support liquidity operations and funding in the financial markets, including expanding its reverse repurchase agreement operations, adding $1.5 trillion of liquidity to the banking system; establishing swap lines with other major central banks to provide dollar funding; establishing a program to support money market funds; easing various bank capital buffers; providing funding backstops for businesses to provide bridging loans for up to four years; and providing funding to help credit flow in asset-backed securities markets. The Fed also plans to extend credit to small- and medium-sized businesses.

LIQUIDITY RISK

Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed-income securities that have not received any credit ratings, have received any credit ratings below investment grade or are not widely held. These features may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.

Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses.

OTC derivative contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts. This risk may be increased in times of financial stress, if the trading market for OTC derivative contracts becomes restricted.

LeverageD COMpany Risk

Securities issued by leveraged companies, including securities of companies that issue below investment grade debt or “ junk bonds ” may be more volatile than securities of companies that issue investment grade debt. In addition, securities of leveraged companies tend to be more sensitive to adverse issuer, political, market or economic developments than the market as a whole and the securities of other types of companies. A decrease in the credit quality of a leveraged company is likely to lead to a decrease in the value of the company’s securities. Leveraged companies can have limited access to additional capital, which can limit their ability to capitalize on attractive business opportunities and make it more difficult for them to weather challenging business environments. Companies with lower-quality debt or highly leveraged capital structures may undergo difficult business circumstances. These companies may face a greater risk of liquidation, reorganization or bankruptcy than companies without lower-quality debt or with lower levels of leverage. In the event of liquidation, reorganization or bankruptcy, a company’s creditors generally take precedence over the company’s stockholders, which makes recovery of those stockholders’ investment relatively less likely.

Interest Rate Risk

Prices of fixed-income securities rise and fall in response to changes in interest rates. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed-income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed-income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed-income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.

The longer the duration of a fixed-income security, the more susceptible it is to interest rate risk. The duration of a fixed-income security may be equal to or shorter than the stated maturity of a fixed-income security. Recent and potential futures changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or their governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates. Duration measures the price sensitivity of a fixed-income security given a change in interest rates. For example, if a fixed-income security has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the security’s value to decline about 3% while a 1% decrease in general interest rates would be expected to cause the security’s value to increase about 3%.

Risk of Foreign Investing

Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for U.S. investors.

Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements) as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States. Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than U.S. companies by market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information available concerning companies in the United States.

Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investments.

Since many loan instruments involve parties (for example, lenders, borrowers and agent banks) located in multiple jurisdictions outside of the United States, there is a risk that a security interest in any related collateral may be unenforceable and obligations under the related loan agreements may not be binding.

Currency Risk

Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. Accordingly, the Fund may experience increased volatility with respect to the value of its Shares and its returns as a result of its exposure to foreign currencies through direct holding of such currencies or holding of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities. The combination of currency risk and market risks tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile than securities traded exclusively in the United States.

Currency risk includes both the risk that currencies in which the Fund’s investments are traded, or currencies in which the Fund has taken an active investment position, will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged.

The Adviser attempts to manage currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

EUROPEAN UNION AND EUROZONE RELATED RISK

A number of countries in the European Union (EU), including certain countries within the EU that have adopted the euro (Eurozone), have experienced, and may continue to experience, severe economic and financial difficulties. Additional countries within the EU may also fall subject to such difficulties. These events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments in euro-denominated securities and derivatives contracts, securities of issuers located in the EU or with significant exposure to EU issuers or countries. If the euro is dissolved entirely, the legal and contractual consequences for holders of euro-denominated obligations and derivative contracts would be determined by laws in effect at such time. Such investments may continue to be held, or purchased, to the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment objective(s) and permitted under applicable law. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

Certain countries in the EU have had to accept assistance from supra-governmental agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, the European Stability Mechanism (the ESM) or other supra-governmental agencies. The European Central Bank has also been intervening to purchase Eurozone debt in an attempt to stabilize markets and reduce borrowing costs. There can be no assurance that these agencies will continue to intervene or provide further assistance and markets may react adversely to any expected reduction in the financial support provided by these agencies. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences.

In addition, one or more countries may withdraw from the EU, and one or more countries within the Eurozone may abandon the euro. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, could be significant and far-reaching. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) left the EU, commonly referred to as “ Brexit, ” and there commenced a transition period during which the EU and UK will negotiate and agree on the nature of their future relationship. There is significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic and market outcomes are difficult to predict. This long-term uncertainty may affect other countries in the EU and elsewhere and may cause volatility within the EU, triggering prolonged economic downturns in certain countries within the EU. In addition, Brexit may create additional and substantial economic stresses for the UK, including a contraction of the UK economy and price volatility in UK stocks, decreased trade, capital outflows, devaluation of the British pound, wider corporate bond spreads due to uncertainty and declines in business and consumer spending as well as foreign direct investment. Brexit may also adversely affect UK-based financial firms, including certain subadvisers to the Federated Hermes Funds, that have counterparties in the EU or participate in market infrastructure (trading venues, clearing houses, settlement facilities) based in the EU. These events and the resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on the performance of the Fund.

Leverage Risk

Leverage risk is created when an investment, which includes, for example, an investment in a derivative contract, exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested. Changes in the value of such an investment magnify the Fund’s risk of loss and potential for gain. Investments can have these same results if their returns are based on a multiple of a specified index, security or other benchmark.

SECTOR RISK

Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund’s performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments which generally affect that sector.

Risk of Investing in Emerging Market Countries

Securities issued or traded in emerging markets generally entail greater risks than securities issued or traded in developed countries. For example, their prices may be significantly more volatile than prices in developed countries. Emerging market economies may also experience more severe down-turns (with corresponding currency devaluations) than developed economies.

Emerging market countries may have relatively unstable governments and may present the risk of nationalization of businesses, expropriation, confiscatory taxation or, in certain instances, reversion to closed market, centrally planned economies.

Risk of Investing in Derivative Contracts and Hybrid Instruments

The Fund’s exposure to derivative contracts and hybrid instruments (either directly or through its investment in another investment company) involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. First, changes in the value of the derivative contracts and hybrid instruments in which the Fund invests may not be correlated with changes in the value of the underlying Reference Instruments or, if they are correlated, may move in the opposite direction than originally anticipated. Second, while some strategies involving derivatives may reduce the risk of loss, they may also reduce potential gains or, in some cases, result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in portfolio holdings. Third, there is a risk that derivative contracts and hybrid instruments may be erroneously priced or improperly valued and, as a result, the Fund may need to make increased cash payments to the counterparty. Fourth, exposure to derivative contracts and hybrid instruments may have tax consequences to the Fund and its shareholders. For example, derivative contracts and hybrid instruments may cause the Fund to realize increased ordinary income or short-term capital gains (which are treated as ordinary income for Federal income tax purposes) and, as a result, may increase taxable distributions to shareholders. In addition, under certain circumstances certain derivative contracts and hybrid instruments may cause the Fund to: (a) incur an excise tax on a portion of the income related to those contracts and instruments; and/or (b) reclassify, as a return of capital, some or all of the distributions previously made to shareholders during the fiscal year as dividend income. Fifth, a common provision in OTC derivative contracts permits the counterparty to terminate any such contract between it and the Fund, if the value of the Fund’s total net assets declines below a specified level over a given time period. Factors that may contribute to such a decline (which usually must be substantial) include significant shareholder redemptions and/or a marked decrease in the market value of the Fund’s investments. Any such termination of the Fund’s OTC derivative contracts may adversely affect the Fund (for example, by increasing losses and/or costs, and/or preventing the Fund from fully implementing its investment strategies). Sixth, the Fund may use a derivative contract to benefit from a decline in the value of a Reference Instrument. If the value of the Reference Instrument declines during the term of the contract, the Fund makes a profit on the difference (less any payments the Fund is required to pay under the terms of the contract). Any such strategy involves risk. There is no assurance that the Reference Instrument will decline in value during the term of the contract and make a profit for the Fund. The Reference Instrument may instead appreciate in value creating a loss for the Fund. Seventh, a default or failure by a CCP or an FCM (also sometimes called a “ futures broker ” ), or the failure of a contract to be transferred from an Executing Dealer to the FCM for clearing, may expose the Fund to losses, increase its costs, or prevent the Fund from entering or exiting derivative positions, accessing margin, or fully implementing its investment strategies. The central clearing of a derivative and trading of a contract over a SEF could reduce the liquidity in, or increase costs of entering into or holding, any contracts. Finally, derivative contracts and hybrid instruments may also involve other risks described in this Prospectus, such as interest rate, credit, currency, liquidity and leverage risks.

technology Risk

The Adviser uses various technologies in managing the Fund, consistent with its investment objective(s) and strategy described in this Prospectus. For example, proprietary and third-party data and systems are utilized to support decision-making for the Fund. Data imprecision, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems, which may negatively affect Fund performance.

What Do Shares Cost?

CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

When the Fund receives your transaction request in proper form (as described in this Prospectus under the sections entitled “ How to Purchase Shares ” and “ How to Redeem and Exchange Shares ” ), it is processed at the next calculated net asset value of a Share (NAV) plus any applicable front-end sales charge ( “ public offering price ” ). A Share’s NAV is determined as of the end of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), each day the NYSE is open. The Fund calculates the NAV of each class by valuing the assets allocated to the Share’s class, subtracting the liabilities allocated to each class and dividing the balance by the number of Shares of the class outstanding. The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the level of expenses allocated to each class as well as a result of the variance between the amount of accrued investment income and capital gains or losses allocated to each class and the amount actually distributed to shareholders of each class. The Fund’s current NAV and/or public offering price may be found at FederatedInvestors.com , via online news sources and in certain newspapers.

You can purchase, redeem or exchange Shares any day the NYSE is open.

When the Fund holds securities that trade principally in foreign markets on days the NYSE is closed, the value of the Fund’s assets may change on days you cannot purchase or redeem Shares. This may also occur when the U.S. markets for fixed-income securities are open on a day the NYSE is closed.

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

■ Equity securities listed on an exchange or traded through a regulated market system are valued at their last reported sale price or official closing price in their principal exchange or market.

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

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

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

If any price, quotation, price evaluation or other pricing source is not readily available when the NAV is calculated, if the Fund cannot obtain price evaluations from a pricing service or from more than one dealer for an investment within a reasonable period of time as set forth in the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures, or if information furnished by a pricing service, in the opinion of the Valuation Committee, is deemed not representative of the fair value of such security, the Fund uses the fair value of the investment determined in accordance with the procedures generally described below. There can be no assurance that the Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it sold the investment at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its NAV per share.

Shares of other mutual funds are valued based upon their reported NAVs. The prospectuses for these mutual funds explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

Fair Valuation and Significant Events Procedures

The Board has ultimate responsibility for determining the fair value of investments for which market quotations are not readily available. The Board has appointed a Valuation Committee comprised of officers of the Fund, the Adviser and certain of the Adviser’s affiliated companies to assist in determining fair value and in overseeing the calculation of the NAV. The Board has also authorized the use of pricing services recommended by the Valuation Committee to provide fair value evaluations of the current value of certain investments for purposes of calculating the NAV. In the event that market quotations and price evaluations are not available for an investment, the Valuation Committee determines the fair value of the investment in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. The Board periodically reviews and approves the fair valuations made by the Valuation Committee and any changes made to the procedures. The Fund’s SAI discusses the methods used by pricing services and the Valuation Committee to assist the Board in valuing investments.

Using fair value to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their NAVs. The application of the fair value procedures to an investment represent a good faith determination of such investment’s fair value. There can be no assurance that the Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it sold the investment at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its NAV per share, and the actual value could be materially different.

The Board also has adopted procedures requiring an investment to be priced at its fair value whenever the Adviser determines that a significant event affecting the value of the investment has occurred between the time as of which the price of the investment would otherwise be determined and the time as of which the NAV is computed. An event is considered significant if there is both an affirmative expectation that the investment’s value will change in response to the event and a reasonable basis for quantifying the resulting change in value.

Examples of significant events that may occur after the close of the principal market on which a security is traded, or after the time of a price evaluation provided by a pricing service or a dealer, include:

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

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

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

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

The fair valuation of securities following a significant event can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities for short-term traders to profit at the expense of long-term investors in the Fund. For example, such arbitrage opportunities may exist when the market on which portfolio securities are traded closes before the Fund calculates its NAV, which is typically the case with Asian and European markets. However, there is no assurance that these significant event procedures will prevent dilution of the NAV by short-term traders. See “ Account and Share Information – Frequent Trading Policies ” for other procedures the Fund employs to deter such short-term trading.

COMMISSIONS ON CERTAIN SHARES

The Fund does not charge any front-end load, deferred sales charge or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution of IS Shares. However, if you purchase IS Shares through a broker acting solely as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to the broker in an amount determined and separately disclosed to you by the broker.

Because the Fund is not a party to any such commission arrangement between you and your broker, any purchases and redemptions of IS Shares will be made at the applicable net asset value (before imposition of the sales commission). Any such commissions charged by a broker are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the “ Risk/Return Summary: Fees and Expenses ” section of the Fund’s Prospectus and described above nor are they reflected in the “ Performance: Bar Chart and Table, ” because they are not charged by the Fund.

Shares of the Fund are available in other share classes that have different fees and expenses.

How is the Fund Sold?

The Fund has established the following Share classes: Class A Shares (A), Class C Shares (C), Institutional Shares (IS) and Class R6 Shares (R6), each representing interests in a single portfolio of securities. This prospectus relates to the IS class. All Share classes have different sales charges and/or other expenses which affect their performance. Please note that certain purchase restrictions may apply. Contact your financial intermediary or call 1-800-341-7400 for more information concerning the other classes.

Under the Distributor’s Contract with the Fund, the Distributor, Federated Securities Corp., offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis. The Distributor is a subsidiary of Federated Hermes Inc., ( “ Federated Hermes, ” formerly Federated Investors, Inc.).

IS Class

The Fund’s Distributor markets the IS class to Eligible Investors, as described below. In connection with a request to purchase the IS class, you should provide documentation sufficient to verify your status as an Eligible Investor. As a general matter, the IS class is not available for direct investment by natural persons.

The following categories of Eligible Investors are not subject to any minimum initial investment amount for the purchase of the IS class (however, such accounts remain subject to the Fund’s policy on “ Accounts with Low Balances ” as discussed later in this Prospectus):

■ An investor participating in a no-load platform, network or other fee-based program offered by a financial intermediary, for example, a wrap-account or retirement platform, where Federated Hermes has entered into an agreement with the intermediary;

■ A trustee/director, employee or former employee of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates; an immediate family member of these individuals or a trust, pension or profit-sharing plan for these individuals;

■ An employer-sponsored retirement plan;

■ A trust institution investing on behalf of its trust customers;

■ A Federated Hermes Fund;

■ An investor (including a natural person) who acquired the IS class of a Federated Hermes fund pursuant to the terms of an agreement and plan of reorganization which permits the investor to acquire such shares; and

■ In connection with an acquisition of an investment management or advisory business, or related investment services, products or assets, by Federated Hermes or its investment advisory subsidiaries, an investor (including a natural person) who: (1) becomes a client of an investment advisory subsidiary of Federated Hermes; or (2) is a shareholder or interest holder of a pooled investment vehicle or product that becomes advised or subadvised by a Federated Hermes investment advisory subsidiary as a result of such an acquisition other than as a result of a fund reorganization transaction pursuant to an agreement and plan of reorganization.

The following categories of Eligible Investors are subject to applicable minimum initial investment amounts for the purchase of the IS class (see “ How to Purchase Shares ” below):

■ An investor, other than a natural person, purchasing the IS class directly from the Fund; and

■ In connection with an initial purchase of the IS class through an exchange, an investor (including a natural person) who owned the IS class of another Federated Hermes fund as of December 31, 2008.

Intra-Fund Share Conversion Program

A shareholder in the Fund’s Shares may convert their Shares at net asset value to any other share class of the Fund if the shareholder meets the investment minimum and eligibility requirements for the share class into which the conversion is sought, as applicable. The share conversion program is not applicable to the Fund’s Class A Shares and Class C Shares subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable. For Class C Shares purchased through a financial intermediary after June 30, 2017, such shares may only be converted to another share class of the same Fund if: (i) the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC or the financial intermediary agrees to reimburse the Fund’s distributor the CDSC otherwise payable upon the sale of such shares; (ii) the shareholder meets the investment minimum and eligibility requirements for the share class into which the conversion is sought, as applicable; and (iii) (a) the conversion is made to facilitate the shareholder’s participation in a self-directed brokerage (non-advice) account or a fee-based advisory program offered by the intermediary; or (b) the conversion is part of a multiple-client transaction through a particular financial intermediary as pre-approved by the Fund’s Administrator. Such conversion of classes should not result in a realization event for tax purposes. Contact your financial intermediary or call 1-800-341-7400 to convert your Shares.

As of the date of this Prospectus, Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Class R6 Shares of the Fund are not being offered.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its affiliated service providers may pay fees as described below to financial intermediaries (such as broker-dealers, banks, investment advisers or third-party administrators) whose customers are shareholders of the Fund.

service fees

The Fund may pay Service Fees of up to 0.25% of average net assets to financial intermediaries or to Federated Shareholder Services Company (FSSC), a subsidiary of Federated Hermes, for providing services to shareholders and maintaining shareholder accounts. Intermediaries that receive Service Fees may include a company affiliated with management of Federated Hermes. If a financial intermediary receives Service Fees on an account, it is not eligible to also receive Account Administration Fees on that same account.

The Fund has no present intention of paying, accruing or incurring any such Service Fees on the IS class until such time as approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATION FEES

The Fund may pay Account Administration Fees of up to 0.25% of average net assets to banks that are not registered as broker-dealers or investment advisers for providing administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders. If a financial intermediary receives Account Administration Fees on an account, it is not eligible to also receive Service Fees or Recordkeeping Fees on that same account.

The Fund has no present intention of paying, accruing or incurring any such Account Administration Fees on the IS class until such time as approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

RECORDKEEPING FEES

The Fund may pay Recordkeeping Fees on an average-net-assets basis or on a per-account-per-year basis to financial intermediaries for providing recordkeeping services to the Fund and its shareholders. If a financial intermediary receives Recordkeeping Fees on an account, it is not eligible to also receive Account Administration Fees or Networking Fees on that same account.

networking fees

The Fund may reimburse Networking Fees on a per-account-per-year basis to financial intermediaries for providing administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders on certain non-omnibus accounts. If a financial intermediary receives Networking Fees on an account, it is not eligible to also receive Recordkeeping Fees on that same account.

ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

The Distributor may pay out of its own resources amounts to certain financial intermediaries, including broker-dealers, banks, registered investment advisers, independent financial planners and retirement plan administrators, that support the sale of Shares or provide services to Fund shareholders. The amounts of these payments could be significant, and may create an incentive for the financial intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell Shares of the Fund to you. Not all financial intermediaries receive such payments, and the amount of compensation may vary by intermediary. In some cases, such payments may be made by or funded from the resources of companies affiliated with the Distributor (including the Adviser). These payments are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the fee table section of the Fund’s Prospectus and described above because they are not paid by the Fund.

These payments are negotiated and may be based on such factors as: the number or value of Shares that the financial intermediary sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; the level and types of services or support furnished by the financial intermediary; or the Fund’s and/or other Federated Hermes funds’ relationship with the financial intermediary. These payments may be in addition to payments, as described above, made by the Fund to the financial intermediary. In connection with these payments, the financial intermediary may elevate the prominence or profile of the Fund and/or other Federated Hermes funds, within the financial intermediary’s organization by, for example, placement on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or granting the Distributor preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the funds in various ways within the financial intermediary’s organization. In addition, as discussed above in “ Commissions on Certain Shares, ” if you purchase IS Shares through a broker acting solely as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to the broker in an amount determined and separately disclosed to you by the broker. You can ask your financial intermediary for information about any payments it receives from the Distributor or the Fund and any services provided, as well as about fees and/or commissions it charges.

How to Purchase Shares

You may purchase Shares of the Fund any day the NYSE is open. Shares will be purchased at the NAV next calculated after your investment is received by the Fund, or its agent, in proper form. The Fund reserves the right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares. New investors must submit a completed New Account Form. All accounts, including those for which there is no minimum initial investment amount required, are subject to the Fund’s policy on “ Accounts with Low Balances ” as discussed later in this Prospectus.

Where the Fund offers more than one Share class and you do not specify the class choice on your New Account Form or form of payment (e.g ., Federal Reserve wire or check), you automatically will receive the A class.

For important account information, see the section “ Security and Privacy Protection. ”

Eligible investors may purchase Shares through a financial intermediary, directly from the Fund or through an exchange from another Federated Hermes fund in the manner described above under “ How is the Fund Sold? ”

Where applicable, the required minimum initial investment for IS class is generally $1,000,000. There is no minimum subsequent investment amount.

THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY

Establish an account with the financial intermediary; and submit your purchase order to the financial intermediary before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The Fund has authorized certain intermediaries to accept Share purchase orders on its behalf. When authorized intermediaries receive an order in proper form, the order is considered as being placed with the Fund and Shares will be bought at the NAV next calculated after such an order is received by the authorized intermediary. If your financial intermediary is not an authorized intermediary, the Fund or its agent must receive the purchase order in proper form from your financial intermediary by the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) in order for your transaction to be priced at that day’s NAV. In addition, your financial intermediary must forward your payment by the prescribed trade settlement date (typically within one to three business days) to the Fund’s transfer agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company ( “ Transfer Agent ” ). You will become the owner of Shares and receive dividends when your payment is received in accordance with these time frames (provided that, if payment is received in the form of a check, the check clears). If your payment is not received in accordance with these time frames, or a check does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any losses, fees or expenses incurred by the Fund or the Fund’s Transfer Agent.

Financial intermediaries should send payments according to the instructions in the sections “ By Wire ” or “ By Check. ”

Financial intermediaries may impose higher or lower minimum investment requirements on their customers than those imposed by the Fund. Keep in mind that financial intermediaries may charge you fees for their services in connection with your Share transactions.

Shareholders are encouraged to ask their financial intermediary if they are an authorized agent for the Fund and about any fees that may be charged by the financial intermediary.

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

■ Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account Form; and

■ Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.

You will become the owner of Shares and your Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your wire or your check. If your check does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees incurred by the Fund or the Fund’s Transfer Agent.

By Wire

To facilitate processing your order, please call the Fund before sending the wire. Send your wire to:

State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA
Dollar Amount of Wire
ABA Number 011000028
BNF: 23026552
Attention: Federated Hermes EDGEWIRE
Wire Order Number, Dealer Number or Group Number
Nominee/Institution Name
Fund Name and Number and Account Number

You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are restricted.

By Check

Make your check payable to The Federated Hermes Funds , note your account number on the check, and send it to:

The Federated Hermes Funds
P.O. Box 219318
Kansas City, MO 64121-9318

If you send your check by a private courier or overnight delivery service that requires a street address, send it to:

The Federated Hermes Funds
430 W 7 th Street
Suite 219318
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

Payment should be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request. For example, to protect against check fraud the Fund may reject any purchase request involving a check that is not made payable to The Federated Hermes Funds (including, but not limited to, requests to purchase Shares using third-party checks) or involving temporary checks or credit card checks.

By Direct Deposit

You may establish Payroll Deduction/Direct Deposit arrangements for investments into the Fund by either calling a Client Service Representative at 1-800-341-7400; or by completing the Payroll Deduction/Direct Deposit Form, which is available on FederatedInvestors.com under “ Resources ” and then “ Literature and Forms, ” then “ Forms. ” You will receive a confirmation when this service is available.

THROUGH AN EXCHANGE

You may purchase Fund Shares through an exchange from another Federated Hermes fund. To do this you must:

■ meet any applicable shareholder eligibility requirements;

■ ensure that the account registrations are identical;

■ meet any applicable minimum initial investment requirements; and

■ receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.

An exchange is treated as a redemption and a subsequent purchase, and is a taxable transaction. The Fund reserves the right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares. The Fund may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time.

You may purchase Shares through an exchange from any Federated Hermes fund or share class that does not have a stated sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, except Shares of Federated Hermes Institutional Money Market Management, Federated Hermes Institutional Tax-Free Cash Trust, Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Obligations Fund, Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Value Obligations Fund, no-load Class A Shares and Class R Shares of any Fund.

By Online Account Services

You may access your accounts online to purchase shares through FederatedInvestors.com ’s Shareholder Account Access system once you have registered for access. Online transactions may be subject to certain limitations including limitations as to the amount of the transaction. For more information about the services available through Shareholder Account Access, please visit FederatedInvestors.com and select “ Sign In ” and “ Access and Manage Investments, ” or call (800) 245-4770 to speak with a Client Service Representative.

BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM (SIP)

Once you have opened an account, you may automatically purchase additional Shares on a regular basis by completing the SIP section of the New Account Form or by contacting the Fund or your financial intermediary. The minimum investment amount for SIPs is $50.

BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

Once you have opened an account, you may purchase additional Shares through a depository institution that is an ACH member. This purchase option can be established by completing the appropriate sections of the New Account Form.

How to Redeem and Exchange Shares

You should redeem or exchange Shares:

■ through a financial intermediary if you purchased Shares through a financial intermediary; or

■ directly from the Fund if you purchased Shares directly from the Fund.

Shares of the Fund may be redeemed for cash, or exchanged for shares of other Federated Hermes funds as described herein, on days on which the Fund computes its NAV. Redemption requests may be made by telephone or in writing.

Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day for each method of payment after receiving a timely request in proper form. Depending upon the method of payment, when shareholders receive redemption proceeds can differ. Payment may be delayed for up to seven days under certain circumstances (see “ Limitations on Redemption Proceeds ” ).

For important account information, see the section “ Security and Privacy Protection. ”

THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY

Submit your redemption or exchange request to your financial intermediary by the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order from your financial intermediary.

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

By Telephone

You may redeem or exchange Shares by simply calling the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

If you call before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), you will receive a redemption amount based on that day’s NAV.

By Mail

You may redeem or exchange Shares by sending a written request to the Fund.

You will receive a redemption amount based on the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your written request in proper form.

Send requests by mail to:

The Federated Hermes Funds
P.O. Box 219318
Kansas City, MO 64121-9318

Send requests by private courier or overnight delivery service to:

The Federated Hermes Funds
430 W 7 th Street
Suite 219318
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

All requests must include:

■ Fund name and Share class, account number and account registration;

■ amount to be redeemed or exchanged;

■ signatures of all shareholders exactly as registered; and

■ if exchanging , the Fund name and Share class, account number and account registration into which you are exchanging.

Call your financial intermediary or the Fund if you need special instructions.

Signature Guarantees

Signatures must be guaranteed by a financial institution which is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program if:

■ your redemption will be sent to an address other than the address of record;

■ your redemption will be sent to an address of record that was changed within the last 30 days;

■ a redemption is payable to someone other than the shareholder(s) of record; or

■ transferring into another fund with a different shareholder registration.

A Medallion signature guarantee is designed to protect your account from fraud. Obtain a Medallion signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, savings association, credit union or broker, dealer or securities exchange member. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.

By Online Account Services

You may access your accounts online to redeem or exchange shares through FederatedInvestors.com ’s Shareholder Account Access system once you have registered for access. Online transactions may be subject to certain limitations including limitations as to the amount of the transaction. For more information about the services available through Shareholder Account Access, please visit FederatedInvestors.com and select “ Sign In ” and “ Access and Manage Investments, ” or call (800) 245-4770 to speak with a Client Service Representative.

PAYMENT METHODS FOR REDEMPTIONS

Your redemption proceeds will be mailed by check to your address of record. The following payment options are available if you complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form. These payment options require a signature guarantee if they were not established when the account was opened:

■ An electronic transfer to your account at a financial institution that is an ACH member; or

■ Wire payment to your account at a domestic commercial bank that is a Federal Reserve System member.

Methods the Fund May Use to Meet Redemption Requests

The Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash. To ensure that the Fund has cash to meet Share redemptions on any day, the Fund typically expects to hold a cash or cash equivalent reserve or sell portfolio securities.

In unusual or stressed circumstances, the Fund may generate cash in the following ways:

■ Inter-fund Borrowing and Lending. The SEC has granted an exemption that permits the Fund and all other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Hermes ( “ Federated Hermes funds ” ) to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other Federated Hermes funds. Inter-fund borrowing and lending is permitted only: (a) to meet shareholder redemption requests; (b) to meet commitments arising from “ failed ” trades; and (c) for other temporary purposes. All inter-fund loans must be repaid in seven days or less.

■ Committed Line of Credit. Effective June 24, 2020, the Fund participates with certain other Federated Hermes funds, on a several basis, in an up to $500,000,000 unsecured, 364-day, committed, revolving line of credit (LOC) agreement. The LOC was made available to temporarily finance the repurchase or redemption of shares of the funds, failed trades, payment of dividends, settlement of trades and for other short-term, temporary or emergency general business purposes. The Fund cannot borrow under the LOC if an interfund loan is outstanding.

■ Redemption in Kind. Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by an “ in-kind ” distribution of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets represented by such Share class during any 90-day period. Redemptions in kind are made consistent with the procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board, which generally include distributions of a pro rata share of the Fund’s portfolio assets. Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made in kind, securities received may be subject to market risk and the shareholder could incur taxable gains and brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.

LIMITATIONS ON REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day after receiving a request in proper form. Payment may be delayed for up to seven days:

■ to allow your purchase to clear (as discussed below);

■ during periods of market volatility;

■ when a shareholder’s trade activity or amount adversely impacts the Fund’s ability to manage its assets; or

■ during any period when the Federal Reserve wire or applicable Federal Reserve banks are closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings.

If you request a redemption of Shares recently purchased by check (including a cashier’s check or certified check), money order, bank draft or ACH, your redemption proceeds may not be made available for up to seven calendar days to allow the Fund to collect payment on the instrument used to purchase such Shares. If the purchase instrument does not clear, your purchase order will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses incurred by the Fund as a result of your canceled order.

In addition, the right of redemption may be suspended, or the payment of proceeds may be delayed (including beyond seven days), during any period:

■ when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;

■ when trading on the NYSE is restricted, as determined by the SEC;

■ in which an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC, so that disposal of the Fund’s investments or determination of its NAV is not reasonably practicable; or

■ as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of Fund shareholders.

You will not accrue interest or dividends on uncashed redemption checks from the Fund when checks are undeliverable and returned to the Fund.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

You may exchange Shares of the Fund. To do this, you must:

■ meet any applicable shareholder eligibility requirements;

■ ensure that the account registrations are identical;

■ meet any applicable minimum initial investment requirements; and

■ receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.

In addition, the Fund may terminate your exchange privilege if your exchange activity is found to be excessive under the Fund’s frequent trading policies. See “ Account and Share Information – Frequent Trading Policies. ”

You may exchange Shares of the Fund for shares of any Federated Hermes fund or share class that does not have a stated sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, except Shares of Federated Hermes Institutional Money Market Management, Federated Hermes Institutional Tax-Free Cash Trust, Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Obligations Fund, Federated Hermes Institutional Prime Value Obligations Fund, no-load Class A Shares and Class R Shares of any Fund.

Systematic Withdrawal/Exchange Program

You may automatically redeem or exchange Shares. The minimum amount for all new or revised systematic redemptions or exchanges of Shares is $50 per transaction per fund. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form or contact your financial intermediary or the Fund. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually deplete, your account. Payments should not be considered yield or income.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Telephone Transactions

The Fund will record your telephone instructions. If the Fund does not follow reasonable procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions.

Share Certificates

The Fund does not issue share certificates.

Security and Privacy Protection

ONLINE ACCOUNT and TELEPHONE ACCESS SECURITY

Federated Hermes will not be responsible for losses that result from unauthorized transactions, unless Federated Hermes does not follow procedures designed to verify your identity. When initiating a transaction by telephone or online, shareholders should be aware that any person with access to your account and other personal information including PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) may be able to submit instructions by telephone or online. Shareholders are responsible for protecting their identity by using strong usernames and complex passwords which utilize combinations of mixed case letters, numbers and symbols, and change passwords and PINs frequently.

Using FederatedInvestors.com ’s Account Access website means you are consenting to sending and receiving personal financial information over the Internet, so you should be sure you are comfortable with the risks. You will be required to accept the terms of an online agreement and to establish and utilize a password in order to access online account services. The Transfer Agent has adopted security procedures to confirm that internet instructions are genuine. The Transfer Agent will also send you written confirmation of share transactions. The Transfer Agent, the Fund and any of its affiliates will not be liable for losses or expenses that occur from fraudulent Internet instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.

The Transfer Agent or the Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone transaction requests are genuine, which may include recording calls, asking the caller to provide certain personal identification information, sending you written confirmation, or requiring other confirmation security procedures. The Transfer Agent, the Fund and any of its affiliates will not be liable for relying on instructions submitted by telephone that the Fund reasonably believes to be genuine.

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each new customer who opens a Fund account and to determine whether such person’s name appears on governmental lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations. Pursuant to the requirements under the USA PATRIOT Act, the information obtained will be used for compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act or other applicable laws, regulations and rules in connection with money laundering, terrorism or other illicit activities.

Information required includes your name, residential or business address, date of birth (for an individual), and other information that identifies you, including your social security number, tax identification number or other identifying number. The Fund cannot waive these requirements. The Fund is required by law to reject your Account Application if the required information is not provided. If, after reasonable effort, the Fund is unable to verify your identity or that of any other person(s) authorized to act on your behalf, or believes it has identified potentially suspicious, fraudulent or criminal activity, the Fund reserves the right to close your account and redeem your shares at the next calculated NAV without your permission. Any applicable contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) will be assessed upon redemption of your shares.

The Fund has a strict policy designed to protect the privacy of your personal information. A copy of Federated Hermes’ privacy policy notice was given to you at the time you opened your account. The Fund sends a copy of the privacy notice to you annually. You may also obtain the privacy notice by calling the Fund, or through FederatedInvestors.com .

Account and Share Information

CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS

You will receive confirmation of purchases, redemptions and exchanges (except for systematic transactions). In addition, you will receive periodic statements reporting all account activity, including systematic transactions, dividends and capital gains paid.

DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS

The Fund declares and pays any dividends monthly to shareholders. Dividends are paid to all shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date. The record date is the date on which a shareholder must officially own Shares in order to earn a dividend.

In addition, the Fund pays any capital gains at least annually and may make such special distributions of dividends and capital gains as may be necessary to meet applicable regulatory requirements. Your dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Shares without a sales charge, unless you elect cash payments. Dividends may also be reinvested without sales charges in shares of any class of any other Federated Hermes fund of which you are already a shareholder.

If you purchase Shares just before the record date for a dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the Shares and then receive a portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution, whether or not you reinvest the distribution in Shares. Therefore, you should consider the tax implications of purchasing Shares shortly before the record date for a dividend or capital gain. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for information concerning when dividends and capital gains will be paid.

Under the federal securities laws, the Fund is required to provide a notice to shareholders regarding the source of distributions made by the Fund if such distributions are from sources other than ordinary investment income. In addition, important information regarding the Fund’s distributions, if applicable, is available via the link to the Fund and share class name at FederatedInvestors.com/FundInformation .

Small Distributions and Uncashed Checks

Generally, dividend and/or capital gain distributions payable by check in an amount of less than $25 will be automatically reinvested in additional shares. This policy does not apply if you have elected to receive cash distributions that are directly deposited into your bank account via wire or ACH.

Additionally, if one or more dividend or capital gain distribution checks are returned as “ undeliverable, ” or remain uncashed for 180 days, all subsequent dividend and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in additional shares. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution checks. For questions on whether reinvestment applies to your distributions, please contact a Client Service Representative at 1-800-341-7400.

Certain states, including the state of Texas, have laws that allow shareholders to designate a representative to receive abandoned or unclaimed property ( “ escheatment ” ) notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that generally can be found on the official state website. If a shareholder resides in an applicable state, and elects to designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications, escheatment notices generally will be delivered as required by such state laws, including, as applicable, to both the shareholder and the designated representative. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if Shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if Shares are not held directly with the Fund). Shareholders should refer to relevant state law for the shareholder’s specific rights and responsibilities under his or her state’s escheatment law(s), which can generally be found on a state’s official website.

ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES

Federated Hermes reserves the right to close accounts if redemptions or exchanges cause the account balance to fall below:

■ $25,000 for the IS class.

Before an account is closed, you will be notified and allowed at least 30 days to purchase additional Shares to meet the minimum.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund sends an IRS Form 1099 and an annual statement of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Fund distributions of dividends and capital gains are taxable to you whether paid in cash or reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable at different rates depending on the source of dividend income. Distributions of net short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your Shares.

Fund distributions are expected to be both dividends and capital gains. Redemptions and exchanges are taxable sales. Please consult your tax adviser regarding your federal, state and local tax liability.

FREQUENT TRADING POLICIES

Frequent or short-term trading into and out of the Fund can have adverse consequences for the Fund and shareholders who use the Fund as a long-term investment vehicle. Such trading in significant amounts can disrupt the Fund’s investment strategies (e.g., by requiring it to sell investments at inopportune times or maintain excessive short-term or cash positions to support redemptions), increase brokerage and administrative costs and affect the timing and amount of taxable gains distributed by the Fund. Investors engaged in such trading may also seek to profit by anticipating changes in the Fund’s NAV in advance of the time as of which NAV is calculated or through an overall strategy to buy and sell Shares in response to incremental changes in the Fund’s NAV.

The Fund’s Board has approved policies and procedures intended to discourage excessive frequent or short-term trading of the Fund’s Shares. The Fund’s fair valuation procedures are intended in part to discourage short-term trading strategies by reducing the potential for these strategies to succeed. See “ What Do Shares Cost? ” The Fund also monitors trading in Fund Shares in an effort to identify disruptive trading activity. The Fund monitors trades into and out of the Fund within a period of 30 days or less. The Fund may also monitor trades into and out of the Fund for potentially disruptive trading activity over periods longer than 30 days. The size of Share transactions subject to monitoring varies. Where it is determined that a shareholder has exceeded the detection amounts twice within a period of 12 months, the Fund will temporarily prohibit the shareholder from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund Shares. If the shareholder continues to exceed the detection amounts for specified periods the Fund will impose lengthier trading restrictions on the shareholder, up to and including permanently prohibiting the shareholder from making any further purchases or exchanges of Fund Shares. Whether or not the specific monitoring limits are exceeded, the Fund’s management or the Adviser may determine from the amount, frequency or pattern of purchases and redemptions or exchanges that a shareholder is engaged

in excessive trading that is or could be detrimental to the Fund and other shareholders and may prohibit the shareholder from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund Shares. No matter how the Fund defines its limits on frequent trading of Fund Shares, other purchases and sales of Fund Shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance.

The Fund’s frequent trading restrictions do not apply to purchases and sales of Fund Shares by other Federated Hermes funds. These funds impose the same frequent trading restrictions as the Fund at their shareholder level. In addition, allocation changes of the investing Federated Hermes fund are monitored, and the managers of the recipient fund must determine that there is no disruption to their management activity. The intent of this exception is to allow investing fund managers to accommodate cash flows and other activity that result from non-abusive trading in the investing fund, without being stopped from such trading because the aggregate of such trades exceeds the monitoring limits. Nonetheless, as with any trading in Fund Shares, purchases and redemptions of Fund Shares by other Federated Hermes funds could adversely affect the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance.

The Fund will not restrict transactions made on a non-discretionary basis by certain asset allocation programs, wrap programs, fund of funds, collective funds or other similar accounts that have been pre-approved by Federated Hermes ( “ Approved Accounts ” ). The Fund will continue to monitor transactions by the Approved Accounts and will seek to limit or restrict even non-discretionary transactions by Approved Accounts that are determined to be disruptive or harmful to the Fund.

The Fund’s objective is that its restrictions on short-term trading should apply to all shareholders that are subject to the restrictions, regardless of the number or type of accounts in which Shares are held. However, the Fund anticipates that limitations on its ability to identify trading activity to specific shareholders, including where shares are held through intermediaries in multiple or omnibus accounts, will mean that these restrictions may not be able to be applied uniformly in all cases.

Other funds in the Federated Hermes family of funds may impose different monitoring policies or in some cases, may not monitor for frequent or short-term trading. Under normal market conditions such monitoring policies are designed to protect the funds being monitored and their shareholders and the operation of such policies and shareholder investments under such monitoring are not expected to have materially adverse impact on the Federated Hermes funds or their shareholders. If you plan to exchange your fund shares for shares of another Federated Hermes fund, please read the prospectus of that other Federated Hermes fund for more information.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

Information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available via the link to the Fund and share class name at FederatedInvestors.com/FundInformation . A complete listing of the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar quarter is posted on the website 30 days (or the next business day) after the end of the quarter and remains posted for six months thereafter. Summary portfolio composition information as of the close of each month is posted on the website 15 days (or the next business day) after month-end and remains posted until replaced by the information for the succeeding month. The summary portfolio composition information may include identification of the Fund’s top 10 holdings, and percentage breakdown of the portfolio by geographical region and/or sector.

You may also access portfolio information as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal quarters via the link to the Fund and share class name at FederatedInvestors.com . The Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Shareholder Reports contain complete listings of the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of the end of the Fund’s second and fourth fiscal quarters. Fiscal quarter information is made available on the website within 70 days after the end of the fiscal quarter. This information is also available in reports filed with the SEC at the SEC’s website at sec.gov .

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

In addition, from time to time (for example, during periods of unusual market conditions), additional information regarding the Fund’s portfolio holdings and/or composition may be posted to FederatedInvestors.com . If and when such information is posted, its availability will be noted on, and the information will be accessible from, the home page of the website.

Who Manages the Fund?

The Board governs the Fund. The Board selects and oversees the Adviser, Federated Investment Management Company. The Adviser manages the Fund’s assets, including buying and selling portfolio securities. Federated Advisory Services Company (FASC), an affiliate of the Adviser, provides research, quantitative analysis, equity trading and transaction settlement and certain support services to the Adviser. The fee for these services is paid by the Adviser and not by the Fund.

The address of the Adviser and FASC is 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779.

The Adviser has delegated daily management of some or all of the Fund assets to the Sub-Adviser, Hermes Investment Management Limited, who is paid by the Adviser and not by the Fund, based on the portion of securities the Sub-Adviser manages. The Sub-Adviser’s address is Sixth Floor, 150 Cheapside, London EC2V 6ET, England. Federated Hermes holds a majority 60% interest in the Sub-Adviser and, upon the exercise in the future of certain put/call rights under a Put/Call Option Deed between Federated Hermes and another shareholder of the Sub-Adviser, Federated Hermes anticipates holding an 89.5% interest in the Sub-Adviser.

The Fund has received and can rely upon an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that permits the Adviser, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees, to appoint a subadviser or change the terms of a subadvisory agreement without obtaining shareholder approval. The Fund is permitted to rely upon the SEC order to change subadvisers, or the fees paid to a subadviser, without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. This order does not, however, permit the Adviser to increase the aggregate advisory fee rate of the Fund without the approval of the shareholders.

The Adviser and other subsidiaries of Federated Hermes advise approximately 135 equity, fixed-income and money market mutual funds as well as a variety of other pooled investment vehicles, private investment companies and customized separately managed accounts (including non-U.S./offshore funds) which totaled approximately $575.9 billion in assets as of December 31, 2019. Federated Hermes was established in 1955 as Federated Investors, Inc. and is one of the largest investment managers in the United States with nearly 1,900 employees. Federated Hermes provides investment products to approximately 11,500 investment professionals and institutions.

The Adviser advises approximately 75 fixed-income and money market mutual funds (including sub-advised funds) and private investment companies, which totaled approximately $344.3 billion in assets as of December 31, 2019.

The Sub-Adviser manages $49.0 billion (£37.0 billion) across a broad range of specialist, high-conviction investment strategies spanning listed equities, credit, real-estate, infrastructure, private debt and private equity, serving more than 692 clients through wholesale and institutional markets. All asset information is reported as of December 31, 2019 and converted using December 31, 2019exchange rates.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

Mitch Reznick

Mitch Reznick, CFA, Head of Research and Sustainable Fixed Income and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since inception in September 2019.

He joined Hermes in 2010 as Head of Research on the Hermes Credit team. He earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs at Columbia University in New York City and a Bachelor’s degree in History at Pitzer College. Investment Experience: 22 Years.

Fraser Lundie

Fraser Lundie, CFA, Head of Credit and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since inception in September 2019.

He joined Hermes in 2010 as Head of Credit and lead manager on the Hermes range of credit strategies. Fraser earned a MA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Aberdeen and a MSc in Investment Analysis from the University of Stirling. Investment Experience: 15 years.

Nachu Chockalingam

Nachu Chockalingam, CFA and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since October 2020.

Nachu Chockalingam, CFA, has been a co-portfolio manager on the Fund since October 2020. She has been with the Adviser or an affiliate since 2018 as a portfolio manager responsible for Emerging Market Debt. She has a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics. Investment Experience: 19 Years.

The Fund’s SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers’ compensation, management of other accounts and ownership of securities in the Fund.

ADVISORY FEES

The Fund’s investment advisory contract provides for payment to the Adviser of an annual investment advisory fee of 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee or reimburse the Fund for certain operating expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates have also agreed to certain “ Fee Limits ” as described in the footnote to the “ Risk/Return Summary: Fees and Expenses ” table found in the “ Fund Summary ” section of the Prospectus.

The Fund’s shareholder reports will contain information regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements. The Fund’s semi-annual reports for the six-month periods ended each February 28 and the annual reports for the fiscal years ending each August 31 discuss the Board’s annual evaluation and approval of those agreements, which typically occurs annually in May.

Financial Information

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Financial Highlights will help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for its past five fiscal years or since inception if the life of the Fund is shorter. Some of the information is presented on a per Share basis. Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital gains.

This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s audited financial statements, is included in the Annual Report.

Financial Highlights – Institutional Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

	Period Ended 8/31/2020 1
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period	$10.00
Income From Investment Operations:
Net investment income	0.37
Net realized and unrealized gain	0.23
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS	0.60
Less Distributions:
Distributions from net investment income	(0.26)
Net Asset Value, End of Period	$10.34
Total Return 2	6.19%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
Net expenses 3	0.62% 4,5
Net investment income	4.08% 4
Expense waiver/reimbursement 6	1.10% 4
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)	$32,603
Portfolio turnover	36%

Reflects operations for the period from September 26, 2019 (date of initial investment) to August 31, 2020.

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

Amount does not reflect net expenses incurred by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.

Computed on an annualized basis.

The net expense ratio is calculated without reduction for expense offset arrangements. The net expense ratio is 0.62% for the period ended August 31, 2020 after taking into account this expense reduction.

This expense decrease is reflected in both the net expense and the net investment income ratios shown above. Amount does not reflect expense waiver/reimbursement recorded by investment companies in which the Fund may invest.

Further information about the Fund’s performance is contained in the Fund’s Annual Report, dated August 31, 2020, which can be obtained free of charge.

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

The following chart provides additional hypothetical information about the effect of the Fund’s expenses, including investment advisory fees and other Fund costs, on the Fund’s assumed returns over a 10-year period. The chart shows the estimated expenses that would be incurred in respect of a hypothetical investment of $10,000, assuming a 5% return each year, and no redemption of Shares. The chart also assumes that the Fund’s annual expense ratio stays the same throughout the 10-year period and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested. The annual expense ratio used in the chart is the same as stated in the “ Fees and Expenses ” table of this Prospectus (and thus may not reflect any fee waiver or expense reimbursement currently in effect). The maximum amount of any sales charge that might be imposed on the purchase of Shares (and deducted from the hypothetical initial investment of $10,000; the “ Front-End Sales Charge ” ) is reflected in the “ Hypothetical Expenses ” column. The hypothetical investment information does not reflect the effect of charges (if any) normally applicable to redemptions of Shares (e.g., deferred sales charges, redemption fees). Mutual fund returns, as well as fees and expenses, may fluctuate over time, and your actual investment returns and total expenses may be higher or lower than those shown below.

FEDERATED HERMES SDG ENGAGEMENT HIGH YIELD CREDIT FUND - IS CLASS
ANNUAL EXPENSE RATIO: 1.72%
MAXIMUM FRONT-END SALES CHARGE: NONE
Year	Hypothetical Beginning Investment	Hypothetical Performance Earnings	Investment After Returns	Hypothetical Expenses	Hypothetical Ending Investment
1	$10,000.00	$500.00	$10,500.00	$174.82	$10,328.00
2	$10,328.00	$516.40	$10,844.40	$180.55	$10,666.76
3	$10,666.76	$533.34	$11,200.10	$186.48	$11,016.63
4	$11,016.63	$550.83	$11,567.46	$192.59	$11,377.98
5	$11,377.98	$568.90	$11,946.88	$198.91	$11,751.18
6	$11,751.18	$587.56	$12,338.74	$205.44	$12,136.62
7	$12,136.62	$606.83	$12,743.45	$212.17	$12,534.70
8	$12,534.70	$626.74	$13,161.44	$219.13	$12,945.84
9	$12,945.84	$647.29	$13,593.13	$226.32	$13,370.46
10	$13,370.46	$668.52	$14,038.98	$233.74	$13,809.01
Cumulative		$5,806.41		$2,030.15

Notes

An SAI dated October 31, 2020, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Additional information about the Fund and its investments is contained in the Fund’s SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders as they become available. The Annual Report’s Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance discusses market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI contains a description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio securities. To obtain the SAI, Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other information without charge, and to make inquiries, call your financial intermediary or the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

These documents, as well as additional information about the Fund (including portfolio holdings, performance and distributions), are also available on FederatedInvestors.com .

You can obtain information about the Fund (including the SAI) by accessing Fund information from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at sec.gov . You can purchase copies of this information by contacting the SEC by email at publicinfo@sec.gov.

Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund
Federated Hermes Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086-7561

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

Investment Company Act File No. 811-23259

CUSIP 31423A556

Q454724 (10/20)

Statement of Additional Information

October 31, 2020

Share Class | Ticker

Institutional | FHHIX

Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Hermes Adviser Series

(formerly, Federated Adviser Series)

This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a Prospectus. Read this SAI in conjunction with the Prospectus for Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund (the “ Fund ” ), dated October 31, 2020.

This SAI incorporates by reference the Fund’s Annual Report. Obtain the Prospectus or the Annual Report without charge by calling 1-800-341-7400.

	Contents
1	How is the Fund Organized?
1	Securities in Which the Fund Invests
11	Investment Risks
15	Investment Objective and Investment Limitations
17	What Do Shares Cost?
20	How is the Fund Sold?
22	Purchases In-Kind
23	Redemption In-Kind
23	Delaware Statutory Trust Law
23	Account and Share Information
23	Tax Information
24	Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?
40	Financial Information
40	Investment Ratings
45	Addresses
46	Appendix

Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund
Federated Hermes Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086-7561

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

Q454723 (10/20)

How is the Fund Organized?

The Fund is a portfolio of Federated Hermes Adviser Series (the “ Trust ” ) and is a diversified, open-end, management investment company. The Trust was established as a Delaware statutory trust on July 12, 2017, pursuant to a Certificate of Trust, which is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. Prior to August 16, 2018, the Trust was named Federated MDT Equity Trust.

Effective June 26, 2020, the Trust changed its name from Federated Adviser Series to Federated Hermes Adviser Series.

The Board of Trustees (the “ Board ” ) has established four classes of shares of the Fund, known as Class A Shares, Class C Shares, Institutional Shares and Class R6 Shares. This SAI relates to Institutional Shares. The Fund’s investment adviser is Federated Investment Management Company ( “ FIMC ” ) and the Fund’s sub-adviser is Hermes Investment Management Limited ( “ Hermes ” and, collectively with FIMC, the “ Adviser ” ).

Securities in Which the Fund Invests

The principal securities or other investments in which the Fund invests are described in the Fund’s Prospectus. The Fund also may invest in securities or other investments as non-principal investments for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective. The following information is either additional information in respect of a principal security or other investment referenced in the Prospectus or information in respect of a non-principal security or other investment (in which case there is no related disclosure in the Prospectus).

Fixed-Income Securities

The following describes the types of fixed-income securities in which the Fund invests.

Loan Assignments (A Type of Loan Instruments)

The Fund may purchase a loan assignment from the agent bank or other member of the lending syndicate. Investments in loans through an assignment may involve additional risks to the Funds. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, a Fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, a Fund could be held liable as co-lender. It is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct indebtedness offer securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, the Funds rely on the Adviser’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect the Funds.

Loan Participations (A Type of Loan Instrument)

The Fund may purchase a funded participation interest in a loan, by which the Fund has the right to receive payments of principal, interest and fees from an intermediary (typically a bank, financial institution or lending syndicate) that has a direct contractual relationship with a borrower. In loan participations, the Fund does not have a direct contractual relationship with the borrower.

The Fund may also purchase a type of a participation interest, known as risk participation interest. In this case, the Fund will receive a fee in exchange for the promise to make a payment to a lender if a borrower fails to make a payment of principal, interest, or fees, as required by the loan agreement.

When purchasing loan participations, the Fund will be exposed to credit risk of the borrower and, in some cases, the intermediary offering the participation. A participation agreement also may limit the rights of the Fund to vote on changes that may be made to the underlying loan agreement, such as waiving a breach of a covenant. The participation interests in which a Fund intends to invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service or, if rated, may be below investment grade and expose the Fund to the risks of noninvestment-grade securities.

Floating Rate Loans

Floating rate loans are debt instruments issued by companies or other entities with floating interest rates that reset periodically. Most floating rate loans are secured by specific collateral of the borrower and are senior to most other instruments of the borrower (e.g., common stock or debt instruments) in the event of bankruptcy. Floating rate loans are often issued in connection with recapitalizations, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and refinancing. Floating rate loans are typically structured and administered by a financial institution that acts as the agent of the lenders participating in the floating rate loan. Floating rate loans may be acquired directly through the agent, as an assignment from another lender who holds a direct interest in the floating rate loan, or as a participation interest in another lender’s portion of the floating rate loan.

Commercial Paper (A Type of Corporate-Debt Security)

Commercial paper is an issuer’s obligation with a maturity of less than nine months. Companies typically issue commercial paper to pay for current expenditures. Most issuers constantly reissue their commercial paper and use the proceeds (or “ bank loans ” ) to repay maturing paper. If the issuer cannot continue to obtain liquidity in this fashion, its commercial paper may default. The short maturity of commercial paper generally reduces both the market and credit risks as compared to other debt securities of the same issuer.

Demand Instruments (A Type of Corporate-Debt Security)

Demand instruments are corporate securities that require the issuer or a third party, such as a dealer or bank (the Demand Provider), to repurchase the security for its face value upon demand. Some demand instruments are “ conditional, ” so that the occurrence of certain conditions relieves the Demand Provider of its obligation to repurchase the security. Other demand instruments are “ unconditional, ” so that there are no conditions under which the Demand Provider’s obligation to repurchase the security can terminate. The fund treats demand instruments as short-term securities, even though their stated maturity may extend beyond one year.

Treasury Securities (A Fixed-Income Security)

Treasury securities are direct obligations of the federal government of the United States. Treasury securities are generally regarded as having minimal credit risks.

Government Securities (A Fixed-Income Security)

Government securities are issued or guaranteed by a federal agency or instrumentality acting under federal authority. Some government securities, including those issued by Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States and are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal.

Other government securities receive support through federal subsidies, loans or other benefits but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. For example, the U.S. Treasury is authorized to purchase specified amounts of securities issued by (or otherwise make funds available to) the Federal Home Loan Bank System, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ( “ Freddie Mac ” ) and Federal National Mortgage Association ( “ Fannie Mae ” ) in support of such obligations.

Some government agency securities have no explicit financial support and are supported only by the credit of the applicable agency, instrumentality or corporation. The U.S. government has provided financial support to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, but there is no assurance that it will support these or other agencies in the future.

Investors regard government securities as having minimal credit risks, but not as low as Treasury securities.

The Fund treats mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by a federal agency or instrumentality as government securities. Although such a guarantee helps protect against credit risk, it does not eliminate it entirely or reduce other risks.

Additional Information Related To Freddie Mac And Fannie Mae. The extreme and unprecedented volatility and disruption that impacted the capital and credit markets beginning in 2008 led to market concerns regarding the ability of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to withstand future credit losses associated with securities held in their investment portfolios, and on which they provide guarantees, without the direct support of the federal government. On September 7, 2008, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were placed under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Under the plan of conservatorship, the FHFA assumed control of, and generally has the power to direct, the operations of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and is empowered to exercise all powers collectively held by their respective shareholders, directors and officers, including the power to: (1) take over the assets of and operate Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae with all the powers of the shareholders, the directors and the officers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and conduct all business of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; (2) collect all obligations and money due to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; (3) perform all functions of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which are consistent with the conservator’s appointment; (4) preserve and conserve the assets and property of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; and (5) contract for assistance in fulfilling any function, activity, action or duty of the conservator.

In connection with the actions taken by the FHFA, the Treasury has entered into certain preferred stock purchase agreements (SPAs) with each of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which establish the Treasury as the holder of a new class of senior preferred stock in each of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The senior preferred stock was issued in connection with financial contributions from the Treasury to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Although the SPAs are subject to amendment from time to time, currently the Treasury is obligated to provide such financial contributions up to an aggregate maximum amount determined by a formula set forth in the SPAs, and until such aggregate maximum amount is reached, there is not a specific end date to the Treasury’s obligations.

The future status and role of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could be impacted by (among other things) the actions taken and restrictions placed on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae by the FHFA in its role as conservator, the restrictions placed on Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s operations and activities under the SPAs, market responses to developments at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, downgrades or upgrades in the credit ratings assigned to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) or ratings services, and future legislative and regulatory action that alters the operations, ownership, structure and/or mission of these institutions, each of which may, in turn, impact the value of, and cash flows on, any securities guaranteed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

In addition, the future of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and other U.S. government-sponsored enterprises that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government (GSEs), remains in question as the U.S. government continues to consider options ranging from structural reform, nationalization, privatization, or consolidation, to outright elimination. The issues that have led to significant U.S. government support for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have sparked serious debate regarding the continued role of the U.S. government in providing mortgage loan liquidity.

IOs and POs (Types of Asset Backed-Securities)

CMOs may allocate interest payments to one class (Interest Only or IOs) and principal payments to another class (Principal Only or POs). POs increase in value when prepayment rates increase. In contrast, IOs decrease in value when prepayments increase, because the underlying mortgages generate less interest payments. However, IOs tend to increase in value when interest rates rise (and prepayments decrease), making IOs a useful hedge against interest rate risks.

Floaters and Inverse Floaters (Types of Asset-Backed Securities)

Another variant allocates interest payments between two classes of CMOs. One class (Floaters) receives a share of interest payments based upon a market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The other class (Inverse Floaters) receives any remaining interest payments from the underlying mortgages. Floater classes receive more interest (and Inverse Floater classes receive correspondingly less interest) as interest rates rise. This shifts prepayment and interest rate risks from the Floater to the Inverse Floater class, reducing the price volatility of the Floater class and increasing the price volatility of the Inverse Floater class.

Zero-Coupon Securities (A Type of Fixed-Income Security)

Zero-coupon securities do not pay interest or principal until final maturity unlike debt securities that provide periodic payments of interest (referred to as a coupon payment). Investors buy zero-coupon securities at a price below the amount payable at maturity. The difference between the purchase price and the amount paid at maturity represents interest on the zero-coupon security. Investors must wait until maturity to receive interest and principal, which increases the interest rate and credit risks of a zero-coupon security.

There are many forms of zero-coupon securities. Some are issued at a discount and are referred to as zero coupon or capital appreciation bonds. Others are created from interest-bearing bonds by separating the right to receive the bond’s coupon payments from the right to receive the bond’s principal due at maturity, a process known as coupon stripping. In addition, some securities give the issuer the option to deliver additional securities in place of cash interest payments, thereby increasing the amount payable at maturity. These are referred to as pay-in-kind, PIK securities or toggle securities.

Bank Instruments (A Fixed-Income Security)

Bank instruments are unsecured interest bearing deposits with banks. Bank instruments include, but are not limited to, bank accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit and banker’s acceptances. Yankee instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by U.S. branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by non-U.S. branches of U.S. orforeign banks.

Credit Enhancement

Credit enhancement consists of an arrangement in which a company agrees to pay amounts due on a fixed-income security if the issuer defaults. In some cases the company providing credit enhancement makes all payments directly to the security holders and receives reimbursement from the issuer. Normally, the credit enhancer may have greater financial resources and liquidity than the issuer. For this reason, the Adviser may evaluate the credit risk of a fixed-income security based solely upon its credit enhancement.

Common types of credit enhancement include guarantees, letters of credit, bond insurance and surety bonds. Credit enhancement also includes arrangements where securities or other liquid assets secure payment of a fixed-income security. If a default occurs, these assets may be sold and the proceeds paid to security’s holders. Either form of credit enhancement reduces credit risks by providing another source of payment for a fixed-income security.

Equity Securities

The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund may invest.

Common Stocks

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer’s earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer’s earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

Preferred Stocks

Interests in Other Limited Liability Companies

Entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability companies, business trusts and companies organized outside the United States may issue securities comparable to common or preferred stock.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

REITs are real estate investment trusts that lease, operate and finance commercial real estate. REITs are exempt from federal corporate income tax if they limit their operations and distribute most of their income. Such tax requirements limit a REIT’s ability to respond to changes in the commercial real estate market.

Warrants

Warrants give the Fund the option to buy the issuer’s equity securities at a specified price (the “ exercise price ” ) at a specified future date (the “ expiration date ” ). The Fund may buy the designated securities by paying the exercise price before the expiration date. Warrants may become worthless if the price of the stock does not rise above the exercise price by the expiration date. This increases the market risks of warrants as compared to the underlying security. Rights are the same as warrants, except companies typically issue rights to existing stockholders.

Asset-Backed Securities (A Type of Fixed-Income Security)

Asset-backed securities are payable from pools of obligations other than mortgages. Most asset-backed securities involve consumer or commercial debts with maturities of less than 10 years. However, almost any type of fixed-income assets (including other fixed-income securities) may be used to create an asset-backed security. Asset-backed securities may take the form of notes or pass-through certificates.

Foreign Government Securities (A Type of Foreign Fixed-Income Security)

Foreign government securities generally consist of fixed-income securities supported by national, state or provincial governments or similar political subdivisions. Foreign government securities also include debt obligations of supranational entities, such as international organizations designed or supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development, international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples of these include, but are not limited to, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “ World Bank ” ), the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Foreign government securities also include fixed-income securities of quasi-governmental agencies that are either issued by entities owned by a national, state or equivalent government or are obligations of a political unit that are not backed by the national government’s full faith and credit. Further, foreign government securities include mortgage-related securities issued or guaranteed by national, state or provincial governmental instrumentalities, including quasi-governmental agencies.

Depositary Receipts (A Type of Foreign Equity Security)

Depositary receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are traded outside the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions. The foreign securities underlying European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) and International Depositary Receipts (IDRs), are traded globally or outside the United States. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.

Derivative Contracts

For example, the Fund could close out an open contract to buy an asset at a future date by entering into an offsetting contract to sell the same asset on the same date. If the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. Exchanges may limit the amount of open contracts permitted at any one time. Such limits may prevent the Fund from closing out a position. If this happens, the Fund will be required to keep the contract open (even if it is losing money on the contract), and to make any payments required under the contract (even if it has to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices to do so). Inability to close out a contract could also harm the Fund by preventing it from disposing of or trading any assets it has been using to secure its obligations under the contract.

The Fund may also trade derivative contracts over-the-counter (OTC) in transactions negotiated directly between the Fund and a financial institution. OTC contracts do not necessarily have standard terms, so they may be less liquid and more difficult to close-out than exchange-traded contracts. In addition, OTC contracts with more specialized terms may be more difficult to value than exchange-traded contracts, especially in times of financial stress.

To clear a swap through the CCP, the Fund will submit the contract to, and post margin with, a futures commission merchant (FCM) that is a clearing house member. The Fund may enter into the swap with a financial institution other than the FCM and arrange for the contract to be transferred to the FCM for clearing, or enter into the contract with the FCM itself. If the Fund must centrally clear a transaction, the CFTC’s regulations also generally require that the swap be executed on a registered exchange or through a market facility that is known as a swap execution facility or SEF. Central clearing is presently required only for certain swaps, and the CFTC is expected to impose a mandatory central clearing requirement for additional derivative instruments over time.

Until the mandated rulemaking and regulations are implemented completely, it will not be possible to determine the complete impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on the Fund.

Futures Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

Interest Rate Futures

An interest-rate futures contract is an exchange-traded contract for which the Reference Instrument is an interest-bearing fixed income security or an inter-bank deposit. Two examples of common interest rate futures contracts are U.S. Treasury futures contracts and Eurodollar futures contracts. The Reference Instrument for a U.S. Treasury futures contract is a U.S. Treasury security. The Reference Instrument for a Eurodollar futures contract is the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly referred to as LIBOR); Eurodollar futures contracts enable the purchaser to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds over a stated period of time and the seller to obtain a fixed rate for a borrowing of funds over that same period.

Index Futures

An index futures contract is an exchange-traded contract to make or receive a payment based upon changes in the value of an index. An index is a statistical composite that measures changes in the value of designated Reference Instruments within the index.

Security Futures

A security futures contract is an exchange-traded contract to purchase or sell in the future a specific quantity of a security (other than a Treasury security) or a narrow-based securities index at a certain price. Presently, the only available security futures contracts use shares of a single equity security as the Reference Instrument. However, it is possible that in the future security futures contracts will be developed that use a single fixed-income security as the Reference Instrument.

Currency Futures and Currency Forward Contracts (Types of Futures Contracts)

A currency futures contract is an exchange-traded contract to buy or sell a particular currency at a specific price at some time in the future (commonly three months or more). A currency forward contract is not an exchange-traded contract and an OTC derivative that represents an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, at a price set at the time of the contract and for a period agreed upon by the parties which may be either a window of time or a fixed number of days from the date of the contract. Currency futures and forward contracts are highly volatile, with a relatively small price movement potentially resulting in substantial gains or losses to the Fund. Additionally, the Fund may lose money on currency futures and forward contracts if changes in currency rates do not occur as anticipated or if the Fund’s counterparty to the contract were to default.

Option Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

Option contracts (also called “ options ” ) are rights to buy or sell a Reference Instrument for a specified price (the “ exercise price ” ) during, or at the end of, a specified period. The seller (or writer) of the option receives a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option. Options may be bought or sold on a wide variety of Reference Instruments. Options that are written on futures contracts will be subject to margin requirements similar to those applied to futures contracts.

The Fund may buy and/or sell the following types of options:

Call Options

A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the Reference Instrument from the seller (writer) of the option. The Fund may use call options in the following ways:

■ Buy call options on a Reference Instrument in anticipation of an increase in the value of the Reference Instrument; and

■ Write call options on a Reference Instrument to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of a decrease or only limited increase in the value of the Reference Instrument. If the Fund writes a call option on a Reference Instrument that it owns and that call option is exercised, the Fund foregoes any possible profit from an increase in the market price of the Reference Instrument over the exercise price plus the premium received.

Put Options

A put option gives the holder the right to sell the Reference Instrument to the writer of the option. The Fund may use put options in the following ways:

■ Buy put options on a Reference Instrument in anticipation of a decrease in the value of the Reference Instrument; and

■ Write put options on a Reference Instrument to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of an increase or only limited decrease in the value of the Reference Instrument. In writing puts, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to take delivery of the Reference Instrument when its current market price is lower than the exercise price.

The Fund may also buy or write options, as needed, to close out existing option positions.

Finally, the Fund may enter into combinations of options contracts in an attempt to benefit from changes in the prices of those options contracts (without regard to changes in the value of the Reference Instrument).

Swap Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

A swap contract (also known as a “ swap ” ) is a type of derivative contract in which two parties agree to pay each other (swap) the returns derived from Reference Instruments. Most swaps do not involve the delivery of the underlying assets by either party, and the parties might not own the Reference Instruments. The payments are usually made on a net basis so that, on any given day, the Fund would receive (or pay) only the amount by which its payment under the contract is less than (or exceeds) the amount of the other party’s payment. Swap agreements are sophisticated instruments that can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. Common swap agreements that the Fund may use include:

Interest Rate Swaps

Interest rate swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a fixed or floating interest rate times a stated principal amount (commonly referred to as a “ notional principal amount ” ) in return for payments equal to a different fixed or floating rate times the same principal amount, for a specific period. For example, a $10 million London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly referred to as LIBOR) swap would require one party to pay the equivalent of the London Interbank Offered Rate of interest (which fluctuates) on $10 million principal amount in exchange for the right to receive the equivalent of a stated fixed rate of interest on $10 millionprincipal amount.

Caps and Floors (A Type of Swap Contract)

Caps and Floors are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments only if an interest rate or index goes above (Cap) or below (Floor) a certain level in return for a fee from the other party.

Total Return Swaps

A total return swap is an agreement between two parties whereby one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a Reference Instrument (or a basket of such instruments) during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another Reference Instrument. Alternately, a total return swap can be structured so that one party will make payments to the other party if the value of a Reference Instrument increases, but receive payments from the other party if the value of that instrument decreases.

Credit Default Swaps (Including Credit Default Swap Indexes)

A credit default swap (CDS) is an agreement between two parties whereby one party (the “ Protection Buyer ” ) agrees to make payments over the term of the CDS to the other party (the “ Protection Seller ” ), provided that no designated event of default, restructuring or other credit related event (each a “ Credit Event ” ) occurs with respect to Reference Instrument that is usually a particular bond, loan or the unsecured credit of an issuer, in general (the “ Reference Obligation ” ). Many CDS are physically settled, which means that if a Credit Event occurs, the Protection Seller must pay the Protection Buyer the full notional value, or “ par value, ” of the Reference Obligation in exchange for delivery by the Protection Buyer of the Reference Obligation or another similar obligation issued by the issuer of the Reference Obligation (the “ Deliverable Obligation ” ). The Counterparties agree to the characteristics of the Deliverable Obligation at the time that they enter into the CDS. Alternately, a CDS can be “ cash settled, ” which means that upon the occurrence of a Credit Event, the Protection Buyer will receive a payment from the Protection Seller equal to the difference between the par amount of the Reference Obligation and its market value at the time of the Credit Event. The Fund may be either the Protection Buyer or the Protection Seller in a CDS. If the Fund is a Protection Buyer and no Credit Event occurs, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the CDS (i.e., an amount equal to the payments made to the Protection Seller over the term of the CDS). However, if a Credit Event occurs, the Fund (as Protection Buyer) will deliver the Deliverable Obligation and receive a payment equal to the full notional value of the Reference Obligation, even though the Reference Obligation may have little or no value. If the Fund is the Protection Seller and no Credit Event occurs, the Fund will receive a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the CDS. However, if a Credit Event occurs, the Fund (as Protection Seller) will pay the Protection Buyer the full notional value of the Reference Obligation and receive the Deliverable Obligation from the Protection Buyer. A CDS may involve greater risks than if the Fund invested directly in the Reference Obligation. For example, a CDS may increase credit risk since the Fund has exposure to both the issuer of the Reference Obligation and the Counterparty to the CDS.

Currency Swaps

Currency swaps are contracts which provide for interest payments in different currencies. The parties might agree to exchange the notional principal amounts of the currencies as well (commonly called a “ foreign exchange swap ” ).

Other Investments, Transactions, Techniques

Delayed Delivery Transactions

Delayed delivery transactions, including when issued transactions, are arrangements in which the Fund buys securities for a set price, with payment and delivery of the securities scheduled for a future time. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. The Fund records the transaction when it agrees to buy the securities and reflects their value in determining the price of its shares. Settlement dates may be a month or more after entering into these transactions so that the market values of the securities bought may vary from the purchase prices. Therefore, delayed delivery transactions create interest rate risks for the Fund. Delayed delivery transactions also involve credit risks in the event of a counterparty default.

Hybrid Instruments

In this case all or a portion of the interest or principal payable on a hybrid security is determined by reference to changes in the price of a Reference Instrument. Second, a hybrid instrument may also combine elements of a fixed-income security and an equity security. Third, hybrid instruments may include convertible securities with conversion terms related to a Reference Instrument.

Credit Linked Note (A Type of Hybrid Instrument)

A credit linked note (CLN) is a type of hybrid instrument in which a special purpose entity issues a structured note (the “ Note Issuer ” ) with respect to which the Reference Instrument is a single bond, a portfolio of bonds, or the unsecured credit of an issuer, in general (each a “ Reference Credit ” ). The purchaser of the CLN (the “ Note Purchaser ” ) invests a par amount and receives a payment during the term of the CLN that equals a fixed or floating rate of interest equivalent to a high rated funded asset (such as a bank certificate of deposit) plus an additional premium that relates to taking on the credit risk of the Reference Credit. Upon maturity of the CLN, the Note Purchaser will receive a payment equal to: (i) the original par amount paid to the Note Issuer, if there is no occurrence of a designated event of default, restructuring or other credit event (each, a “ Credit Event ” ) with respect to the issuer of the Reference Credit or; (ii) the market value of the Reference Credit, if a Credit Event has occurred. Depending upon the terms of the CLN, it is also possible that the Note Purchaser may be required to take physical delivery of the Reference Credit in the event of a Credit Event. Most credit linked notes use a corporate bond (or a portfolio of corporate bonds) as the Reference Credit. However, almost any type of fixed-income security (including foreign government securities), index or derivative contract (such as a credit default swap) can be used as the Reference Credit.

Equity Linked Note (A Type of Hybrid Instrument)

An equity linked note (ELN) is a type of hybrid instrument that provides the noteholder with exposure to a single equity security, a basket of equity securities, or an equity index (the “ Reference Equity Instrument ” ). Typically, an ELN pays interest at agreed rates over a specified time period and, at maturity, either converts into shares of a Reference Equity Instrument or returns a payment to the noteholder based on the change in value of a Reference Equity Instrument.

Investing in Exchange-Traded Funds

The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as an efficient means of gaining broad exposure to the high yield bond market. As with traditional mutual funds, ETFs charge asset-based fees, although these fees tend to be relatively low. ETFs are traded on stock exchanges or on the over-the-counter market. ETFs do not charge initial sales charges or redemption fees and investors pay only customary brokerage fees to buy and sell ETF shares.

Asset Segregation

In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and SEC staff positions regarding the interpretation of the Investment Company Act of 1940 ( “ 1940 Act ” ), with respect to derivatives that create a future payment obligation of the Fund, the Fund must “ set aside ” (referred to sometimes as “ asset segregation ” ) liquid assets, or engage in other SEC- or staff-approved measures, while the derivative contracts are open. For example, with respect to forwards and futures contracts that are not contractually required to “ cash-settle, ” the Fund must cover its open positions by setting aside cash or readily marketable securities equal to the contracts’ full, notional value. With respect to forwards and futures that are contractually required to “ cash-settle, ” however, the Fund is permitted to set aside cash or readily marketable securities in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market (net) obligations, if any (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability, if any), rather than the notional value.

The Fund will employ another approach to segregating assets to cover options that it sells. If the Fund sells a call option, the Fund will set aside either the Reference Instrument subject to the option, cash or readily marketable securities with a value that equals or exceeds the current market value of the Reference Instrument. In no event, will the value of the cash or readily marketable securities set aside by the Fund be less than the exercise price of the call option. If the Fund sells a put option, the Fund will set aside cash or readily marketable securities with a value that equals or exceeds the exercise price of the put option.

calculate the obligations of the counterparties to the swap on a net basis. Consequently, the Fund’s current obligation (or rights) under this type of swap will equal only the net amount to be paid or received based on the relative values of the positions held by each counterparty to the swap (the “ net amount ” ). The net amount currently owed by or to the Fund will be accrued daily and the Fund will set aside cash or readily marketable securities equal to any accrued but unpaid net amount owed by the Fund under the swap.

The Fund may reduce the liquid assets segregated to cover obligations under a derivative contract by entering into an offsetting derivative contract. For example, if the Fund sells a put option for the same Reference Instrument as a call option the Fund has sold, and the exercise price of the call option is the same as or higher than the exercise price of the put option, then the Fund may net its obligations under the options and set aside cash or readily marketable securities (including any margin deposited for the options) with a value equal to the greater: of (a) the current market value of the Reference Instrument deliverable under the call option; or (b) the exercise price of the put option.

By setting aside cash or readily marketable securities equal to only its net obligations under swaps and certain cash-settled derivative contracts, the Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate cash or readily marketable securities equal to the full notional value of such contracts. The use of leverage involves certain risks. See “ Risk Factors. ” Unless the Fund has other cash or readily marketable securities to set aside, it cannot trade assets set aside in connection with derivative contracts or special transactions without entering into an offsetting derivative contract or terminating a special transaction. This may cause the Fund to miss favorable trading opportunities or to realize losses on derivative contracts or special transactions. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any changes in the positions articulated from time to time by the SEC and its staff.

Generally, special transactions do not cash-settle on a net basis. Consequently, with respect to special transactions, the Fund will set aside cash or readily marketable securities with a value that equals or exceeds the Fund’s obligations.

INTER-FUND BORROWING AND THIRD-PARTY LENDING ARRANGEMENTS

Inter-Fund Borrowing

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted an exemption that permits the Fund and all other funds ( “ Federated Hermes funds ” ) advised by subsidiaries of Federated Hermes, Inc. ( “ Federated Hermes, ” formerly, Federated Investors, Inc.) to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other Federated Hermes funds. Participation in this inter-fund lending program is voluntary for both borrowing and lending Federated Hermes funds, and an inter-fund loan is only made if it benefits each participating Federated Hermes fund. Federated Hermes administers the program according to procedures approved by the Fund’s Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. Any inter-fund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemption, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating Federated Hermes funds.

For example, inter-fund lending is permitted only: (a) to meet shareholder redemption requests; (b) to meet commitments arising from “ failed ” trades; and (c) for other temporary purposes. All inter-fund loans must be repaid in seven days or less. The Fund’s participation in this program must be consistent with its investment policies and limitations, and must meet certain percentage tests. Inter-fund loans may be made only when the rate of interest to be charged is more attractive to the lending Federated Hermes fund than market-competitive rates on overnight repurchase agreements ( “ Repo Rate ” ) and more attractive to the borrowing Federated Hermes fund than the rate of interest that would be charged by an unaffiliated bank for short-term borrowings ( “ Bank Loan Rate ” ), as determined by the Board. The interest rate imposed on inter-fund loans is the average of the Repo Rate and the Bank Loan Rate.

Third-Party Line of Credit

Effective June 24, 2020, the Fund participates with certain other Federated Hermes funds, on a several basis, in an up to $500,000,000 unsecured, 364-day, committed, revolving line of credit (LOC) agreement. The LOC was made available to temporarily finance the repurchase or redemption of shares of the Fund, failed trades, payment of dividends, settlement of trades and for other short-term, temporary or emergency general business purposes. The Fund cannot borrow under the LOC if an inter-fund loan is outstanding. The Fund’s ability to borrow under the LOC also is subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act and various conditions precedent that must be satisfied before the Fund can borrow. Loans under the LOC are charged interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest, on any day, of: (a) (i) the federal funds effective rate; (ii) the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), or a replacement rate as appropriate; and (iii) 0.0%; plus (b) a margin. Any fund eligible to borrow under the LOC pays its pro rata share of an upfront fee, and its pro rata share of a commitment fee based on the amount of the lenders’ commitment that has not been utilized, quarterly in arrears and at maturity. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, there were no outstanding loans.

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Fund has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (LRMP) and related procedures to assess and manage the liquidity risk of the Fund in accordance with Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and Rule 22e-4 thereunder. The Board has designated the Adviser, together with Federated Hermes, Inc.’s ( “ Federated Hermes, ” formerly, Federated Investors, Inc.) other affiliated registered investment advisory subsidiaries that serve as investment advisers to other Federated Hermes funds, to collectively serve as the administrator of the LRMP and the related procedures (the “ Administrator ” ). Rule 22e-4 defines “ liquidity risk ” as the risk that the Fund will be unable to meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. As a part of the LRMP, the Administrator is responsible for classifying the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio investments in accordance with Rule 22e-4. As part of the LRMP, the Administrator is also responsible for assessing, managing and periodically reviewing the Fund’s liquidity risk, for making periodic reports to the Board and the SEC regarding the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, and for notifying the Board and the SEC of certain liquidity events specified in Rule 22e-4. The liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio investments is determined based on relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations under the LRMP.

Investment Risks

There are many risk factors which may affect an investment in the Fund. The Fund’s principal risks are described in its Prospectus. The following information is either additional information in respect of a principal risk factor referenced in the Prospectus or information in respect of a non-principal risk factor applicable to the Fund (in which case there is no related disclosure in the Prospectus).

Call Risk

Call risk is the possibility that an issuer may redeem a fixed-income security before maturity (a “ call ” ) at a price below its current market price. An increase in the likelihood of a call may reduce the security’s price.

If a fixed-income security is called, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in other fixed-income securities with lower interest rates, higher credit risks, or other less favorable characteristics.

Credit Enhancement Risk

The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement (for example, guarantees, letters of credit or bond insurance). Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions. Securities subject to credit enhancement generally would be assigned a lower credit rating if the rating were based primarily on the credit quality of the issuer without regard to the credit enhancement. If the credit quality of the credit enhancement provider (for example, a bank or bond insurer) is downgraded, the rating on a security credit enhanced by such credit enhancement provider also may be downgraded.

A single enhancement provider may provide credit enhancement to more than one of the Fund’s investments. Having multiple securities credit enhanced by the same enhancement provider will increase the adverse effects on the Fund that are likely to result from a downgrading of, or a default by, such an enhancement provider. Adverse developments in the banking or bond insurance industries also may negatively affect the Fund, as the Fund may invest in securities credit enhanced by banks or by bond insurers without limit. Bond insurers that provide credit enhancement for large segments of the fixed income markets, including the municipal bond market, may be more susceptible to being downgraded or defaulting during recessions or similar periods of economic stress.

Stock Market Risk

The value of equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio will rise and fall over time. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. Historically, the equity market has moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s securities may fluctuate from day to day. The Fund’s portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund’s Share price may decline. The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company’s equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market. Information publicly available about a company, whether from the company’s financial statements or other disclosures or from third parties, or information available to some but not all market participants, can affect the price of a company’s shares in the market. The price of a company’s shares depends significantly on

the information publicly available about the company. The reporting of poor results by a company, the restatement of a company’s financial statements or corrections to other information regarding a company or its business may adversely affect the price of its shares, as would allegations of fraud or other misconduct by the company’s management. The Fund may also be disadvantaged if some market participants have access to material information not readily available to other market participants, including the Fund.

Risk of Investing in Loans

In addition to the risks generally associated with debt instruments, such as credit, market, interest rate, liquidity and derivatives risks, bank loans are also subject to the risk that the value of the collateral securing a loan may decline, be insufficient to meet the obligations of the borrower or be difficult to liquidate. The Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited by bankruptcy, other insolvency laws or by the type of loan the Fund has purchased. For example, if the Fund purchases a participation instead of an assignment, it would not have direct access to collateral of the borrower. As a result, a floating rate loan may not be fully collateralized and can decline significantly in value. Additionally, collateral on loan instruments may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of such assets will satisfy a borrower’s obligations under the instrument. Loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

Loans and other forms of indebtedness may be structured such that they are not securities under securities laws. As such, it is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct indebtedness offer securities law protections, such as those against fraud and misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, while there can be no assurance that fraud or misrepresentation will not occur with respect to the loans and other investments in which the Fund invests, the Fund relies on the Adviser’s research in an attempt to seek to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect the Fund.

Agent Insolvency Risk

In a syndicated loan, the agent bank is the bank that undertakes the bulk of the administrative duties involved in the day-to-day administration of the loan. In the event of the insolvency of an agent bank, a loan could be subject to settlement risk as well as the risk of interruptions in the administrative duties performed in the day-to-day administration of the loan (such as processing LIBOR calculations, processing draws, etc.).

Loan Prepayment Risk

During periods of declining interest rates or for other purposes, borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled which may force the Fund to reinvest in lower-yielding debt instruments.

Loan Liquidity Risk

Loan instruments generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. The liquidity of loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary market trading in such loans, varies significantly over time and among individual loans. For example, if the credit quality of a loan unexpectedly declines significantly, secondary market trading in that loan can also decline for a period of time. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a loan can be more difficult and buying and selling a loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed. Difficulty in selling a loan can result in a loss.

Loans may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of loans may require weeks to complete. Thus, transactions in loan instruments may take longer than seven days to settle. This could pose a liquidity risk to the Fund and, if the Fund’s exposure to such investments is substantial, could impair the Fund’s ability to meet shareholder redemptions in a timely manner.

Risk of Investing in Derivative Contracts and Hybrid Instruments

capital, some or all of the distributions previously made to shareholders during the fiscal year as dividend income. Fifth, a common provision in OTC derivative contracts permits the counterparty to terminate any such contract between it and the Fund, if the value of the Fund’s total net assets declines below a specified level over a given time period. Factors that may contribute to such a decline (which usually must be substantial) include significant shareholder redemptions and/or a marked decrease in the market value of the Fund’s investments. Any such termination of the Fund’s OTC derivative contracts may adversely affect the Fund (for example, by increasing losses and/or costs, and/or preventing the Fund from fully implementing its investment strategies). Sixth, the Fund may use a derivative contract to benefit from a decline in the value of a Reference Instrument. If the value of the Reference Instrument declines during the term of the contract, the Fund makes a profit on the difference (less any payments the Fund is required to pay under the terms of the contract). Any such strategy involves risk. There is no assurance that the Reference Instrument will decline in value during the term of the contract and make a profit for the Fund. The Reference Instrument may instead appreciate in value creating a loss for the Fund. Seventh, a default or failure by a CCP or an FCM (also sometimes called a “ futures broker ” ), or the failure of a contract to be transferred from an Executing Dealer to the FCM for clearing, may expose the Fund to losses, increase its costs, or prevent the Fund from entering or exiting derivative positions, accessing margin or fully implementing its investment strategies. The central clearing of a derivative and trading of a contract over a SEF could reduce the liquidity in, or increase costs of entering into or holding, any contracts. Finally, derivative contracts and hybrid instruments may also involve other risks described herein or in the Fund’s prospectus, such as stock market, interest rate, credit, currency, liquidity and leverage risks.

Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Risk

Real estate investment trusts (REITs), including foreign REITs and REIT-like entities, are subject to risks associated with the ownership of real estate. Some REITs experience market risk due to investment in a limited number of properties, in a narrow geographic area, or in a single property type, which increases the risk that such REIT could be unfavorably affected by the poor performance of a single investment or investment type. These companies are also sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values and property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, supply and demand and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Borrowers could default on or sell investments that a REIT holds, which could reduce the cash flow needed to make distributions to investors. In addition, REITs may also be affected by tax and regulatory requirements impacting the REITs’ ability to qualify for preferential tax treatments or exemptions. REITs require specialized management and pay management expenses. REITs also are subject to physical risks to real property, including weather, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, or other events that destroy real property. Foreign REITs and REIT-like entities can also be subject to currency risk, emerging market risk, limited public information, illiquid trading and the impact of local laws.

REITs include equity REITs and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and self-liquidations. In addition, equity and mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under applicable tax laws or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, even many of the larger REITs in the industry tend to be small to medium-sized companies in relation to the equity markets as a whole.

Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally allows individuals and certain non-corporate entities, such as partnerships, a deduction for 20% of qualified REIT dividends. Recently issued proposed regulations allow a regulated investment company to pass the character of its qualified REIT dividends through to its shareholders provided certain holding period requirements are met.

Risk Associated with the Investment Activities of Other Accounts

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other accounts managed by the Adviser and accounts managed by affiliates of the Adviser. Therefore, it is possible that investment-related actions taken by such other accounts could adversely impact the Fund with respect to, for example, the value of Fund portfolio holdings, and/or prices paid to or received by the Fund on its portfolio transactions, and/or the Fund’s ability to obtain or dispose of portfolio securities. Related considerations are discussed elsewhere in this SAI under “ Brokerage Transactions and Investment Allocation. ”

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk

An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate up or down, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. In addition, ETFs may be subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange’s officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange or the activation of market-wide “ circuit breakers ” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

LIBOR Risk

Certain derivatives or debt securities, or other financial instruments in which the Fund may invest, as well as the Fund’s committed, revolving line of credit agreement, utilize or may utilize in the future the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) as the reference or benchmark rate for interest rate calculations. LIBOR is a measure of the average interest rate at which major global banks can borrow from one another. It is quoted in multiple currencies and tenors using data reported by a panel of private-sector banks. Following allegations of rate manipulation in 2012 and concerns regarding its thin liquidity, the use of LIBOR came under increasing pressure, and in July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it will stop encouraging banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR after 2021. This may cause LIBOR to cease to be published. LIBOR panel banks have agreed to submit quotations to LIBOR through the end of 2021. Before then, it is expected that market participants will transition to the use of different reference or benchmark rates. However, there is currently no definitive information regarding the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement rate. Regulators have suggested alternative reference rates, but global consensus is lacking and the process for amending existing contracts or instruments to transition away from LIBOR remains unclear.

While it is expected that market participants will amend financial instruments referencing LIBOR to include fallback provisions and other measures that contemplate the discontinuation of LIBOR or other similar market disruption events, neither the effect of the transition process nor the viability of such measures is known. While market participants have begun transitioning away from LIBOR, there are obstacles to converting certain longer term securities and transactions to a new benchmark or benchmarks. The effectiveness of multiple alternative reference rates as opposed to one primary reference rate has not been determined. The effectiveness of alternative reference rates used in new or existing financial instruments and products has also not yet been determined. As market participants transition away from LIBOR, LIBOR’s usefulness may deteriorate, which could occur prior to the end of 2021. The transition process may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest rates. LIBOR’s deterioration may adversely affect the liquidity and/or market value of securities that use LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate, including securities and other financial instruments held by the Fund. Further, the utilization of an alternative reference rate, or the transition process to an alternative reference rate, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

CYBERSECURITY RISK

Like other funds and business enterprises, Federated Hermes’ business relies on the security and reliability of information and communications technology, systems and networks. Federated Hermes uses digital technology, including, for example, networked systems, email and the Internet, to conduct business operations and engage clients, customers, employees, products, accounts, shareholders, and relevant service providers, among others. Federated Hermes, as well as its funds and certain service providers, also generate, compile and process information for purposes of preparing and making filings or reports to governmental agencies, and a cybersecurity attack or incident that impacts that information, or the generation and filing processes, may prevent required regulatory filings and reports from being made. The use of the Internet and other electronic media and technology exposes the Fund, the Fund’s shareholders, and the Fund’s service providers, and their respective operations, to potential risks from cybersecurity attacks or incidents (collectively, “ cyber-events ” ).

or internet access, functionality or performance. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund and its service providers have experienced, and will continue to experience, cyber-events on a daily basis. In addition to intentional cyber-events, unintentional cyber-events can occur, such as, for example, the inadvertent release of confidential information. To date, cyber-events have not had a material adverse effect on the Fund’s business operations or performance.

Cyber-events can affect, potentially in a material way, Federated Hermes’ relationships with its customers, employees, products, accounts, shareholders and relevant service providers. Any cyber-event could adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders and cause the Fund to incur financial loss and expense, as well as face exposure to regulatory penalties, reputational damage and additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures. A cyber-event may cause the Fund, or its service providers, to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, lose operational capacity (such as, for example, the loss of the ability to process transactions, calculate the Fund’s NAV, or allow shareholders to transact business or other disruptions to operations), and/or fail to comply with applicable privacy and other laws. Among other potentially harmful effects, cyber-events also may result in theft, unauthorized monitoring and failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers. In addition, cyber-events affecting issuers in which the Fund invests could cause the Fund’s investments to lose value.

The Fund’s Adviser and its relevant affiliates have established risk management systems reasonably designed to seek to reduce the risks associated with cyber-events. The Fund’s Adviser employs various measures aimed at mitigating cybersecurity risk, including, among others, use of firewalls, system segmentation, system monitoring, virus scanning, periodic penetration testing, employee phishing training and an employee cybersecurity awareness campaign. Among other vendor management efforts, Federated Hermes also conducts due diligence on key service providers (or vendors) relating to cybersecurity. Federated Hermes has established a committee to oversee Federated Hermes’ information security and data governance efforts, and updates on cyber-events and risks are reviewed with relevant committees, as well as Federated Hermes’ and the Fund’s Boards of Directors or Trustees (or a committee thereof), on a periodic (generally quarterly) basis (and more frequently when circumstances warrant) as part of risk management oversight responsibilities. However, there is no guarantee that the efforts of Federated Hermes, the Fund’s Adviser or its affiliates, or other service providers, will succeed, either entirely or partially as there are limits on Federated Hermes’ and the Fund’s ability to prevent, detect or mitigate cyber-events. Among other reasons, the cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, the nature of malicious cyber-events is becoming increasingly sophisticated and the Fund’s Adviser, and its relevant affiliates, cannot control the cyber systems and cybersecurity systems of issuers or third-party service providers.

Investment Objective and Investment Limitations

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek current income and long-term capital appreciation alongside positive societal impact. The investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “ Board ” ) without shareholder approval.

Investment limitations

Diversification

With respect to securities comprising 75% of the value of its total assets, the Fund will not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than cash; cash items; securities issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements collateralized by such U.S. government securities; and securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

Concentration

The Fund will not make investments that will result in the concentration of its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in the same industry or group of industries. For purposes of this restriction, the term concentration has the meaning set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940 ( “ 1940 Act ” ), any rule or order thereunder, or any SEC staff interpretation thereof. Government securities and municipal securities will not be deemed to constitute an industry.

Underwriting

The Fund may not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities, under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933.

Investing in Commodities

The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities, provided that the Fund may purchase securities of companies that deal in commodities. For purposes of this restriction, investments in transactions involving futures contracts and options, forward currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts that settle by payment of cash are not deemed to be investments in commodities.

Investing in Real Estate

The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from investing in issuers which invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, or investing in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein. The Fund may exercise its rights under agreements relating to such securities, including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be liquidated in an orderly manner.

Borrowing Money and Issuing Senior Securities

The Fund may borrow money, directly or indirectly, and issue senior securities to the maximum extent permitted under the 1940 Act, any rule or order there under, or any SEC staff interpretation thereof.

Lending

The Fund may not make loans, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing debt obligations, entering into repurchase agreements, lending its assets to broker/dealers or institutional investors and investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests.

The above limitations cannot be changed unless authorized by the Board and by the vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, as defined by the 1940 Act, which means the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund present or represented by proxy at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented at the meeting or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The following limitations, however, may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material change in these limitations becomes effective.

Illiquid Securities

The Fund will not purchase securities for which there is no readily available market, or enter into repurchase agreements or purchase time deposits that the Fund cannot dispose of within seven days, if immediately after and as a result, the value of such securities would exceed, in the aggregate, 15% of the Fund’s net assets.

Purchases on Margin

The Fund will not purchase securities on margin, provided that the Fund may obtain short-term credits necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities and further provided that the Fund may make margin deposits in connection with its use of financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts or derivative instruments.

Pledging Assets

The Fund will not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any of its assets, provided that this shall not apply to the transfer of securities in connection with any permissible borrowing or to collateral arrangements in connection with permissible activities.

Non-Fundamental Names Rule Policy

The Fund will invest its assets so that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowing for investment purposes) are invested in fixed-income investments rated below investment-grade. The Fund will notify shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any change in its investment policy that would enable the Fund to invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed-income investments rated below investment-grade.

Additional Information

For purposes of the above limitations, the Fund considers certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S. branch of a domestic bank or savings association having capital, surplus, and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 at the time of investment to be “ cash items ” and “ bank instruments. ” Except with respect to borrowing money, if a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or net assets will not result in a violation of such limitation.

In applying the concentration restriction: (a) utility companies will be divided according to their services (for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and telephone will be considered a separate industry); (b) financial service companies will be classified according to the end users of their services (for example, automobile finance, bank finance and diversified finance will each be considered a separate industry); (c) asset-backed securities will be classified according to the underlying assets securing such securities; (d) municipal securities shall exclude private activity municipal debt securities, which are principally backed by the assets and revenues of the non-governmental user of the funds generated by securities issuance; and (e) the Fund will typically consider (i.e., look through to) the concentration of an investment company in which it invests only if that investment company is itself a concentrated portfolio.

To conform to the current view of the SEC that only domestic bank deposit instruments may be excluded from industry concentration limitations, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, the Fund will not exclude foreign bank instruments from industry concentration limitations so long as the policy of the SEC remains in effect. In addition, investments in bank instruments, and investments in certain industrial development bonds funded by activities in a single industry, will be deemed to constitute investment in an industry, except when held for temporary defensive purposes. The investment of more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in any one industry will constitute “ concentration. ”

For purposes of the above limitations, municipal securities are those securities issued by governments or political subdivisions of governments.

In applying the borrowing limitation, in accordance with Section 18(f)(1) of the 1940 Act and current SEC rules and guidance, the Fund is permitted to borrow money, directly or indirectly, provided that immediately after any such borrowing, the Fund has asset coverage of at least 300% for all of the Fund’s borrowings and provided further that in the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300% the Fund shall, within three business days, reduce the amount of its borrowings to an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowings shall be at least 300%.

As a matter of non-fundamental policy, for purposes of the illiquid securities policy, illiquid securities are securities that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.

What Do Shares Cost?

Determining Market Value of Securities

A Share’s net asset value (NAV) is determined as of the end of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open. The Fund calculates the NAV of each class by valuing the assets allocated to the Share’s class, subtracting the liabilities allocated to each class and dividing the balance by the number of Shares of the class outstanding. The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the level of expenses allocated to each class as well as a result of the variance between the amount of accrued investment income and capital gains or losses allocated to each class and the amount actually distributed to shareholders of each class. The NAV is calculated to the nearest whole cent per Share.

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

■ Equity securities listed on a U.S. securities exchange or traded through the U.S. national market system are valued at their last reported sale price or official closing price in their principal exchange or market. If a price is not readily available, such equity securities are valued based upon the mean of closing bid and asked quotations from one or more dealers.

■ Other equity securities traded primarily in the United States are valued based upon the mean of closing bid and asked quotations from one or more dealers.

■ Equity securities traded primarily through securities exchanges and regulated market systems outside the United States are valued at their last reported sale price or official closing price in their principal exchange or market. These prices may be adjusted for significant events occurring after the closing of such exchanges or market systems as described below. If a price is not readily available, such equity securities are valued based upon the mean of closing bid and asked quotations from one or more dealers.

■ Fixed-income securities are fair valued using price evaluations provided by a pricing service approved by the Board. The methods used by pricing services to determine such price evaluations are described below. If a price evaluation from a pricing service is not readily available, such fixed-income securities are fair valued based upon price evaluations from one or more dealers.

■ Futures contracts listed on exchanges are valued at their reported settlement price. Option contracts listed on exchanges are valued based upon the mean of closing bid and asked quotations reported by the exchange or from one or more futures commission merchants.

■ OTC derivative contracts are fair valued using price evaluations provided by a pricing service approved by the Board. The methods used by pricing services to determine such price evaluations are described below. If a price evaluation from a pricing service is not readily available, such derivative contracts may be fair valued based upon price evaluations from one or more dealers or using a recognized pricing model for the contract.

■ Shares of other mutual funds or non-exchange-traded investment companies are valued based upon their reported NAVs. The prospectuses for these mutual funds explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

If any price, quotation, price evaluation or other pricing source is not readily available when the NAV is calculated, if the Fund cannot obtain price evaluations from a pricing service or from more than one dealer for an investment within a reasonable period of time as set forth in the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures, or if information furnished by a pricing service, in the opinion of the Valuation Committee, is deemed not representative of the fair value of such security, the Fund will use the fair value of the investment determined in accordance with the procedures described below. There can be no assurance that the Fund could purchase or sell an investment at the price used to calculate the Fund’s NAV. The Fund will not use a pricing service or dealer who is an affiliated person of the Adviser to value investments.

Noninvestment assets and liabilities are valued in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The NAV calculation includes expenses, dividend income, interest income, other income and realized and unrealized investment gains and losses through the date of the calculation. Changes in holdings of investments and in the number of outstanding Shares are included in the calculation not later than the first business day following such change. Any assets or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars using an exchange rate obtained from one or more currency dealers.

The Fund follows procedures that are common in the mutual fund industry regarding errors made in the calculation of its NAV. This means that, generally, the Fund will not correct errors of less than one cent per Share or errors that did not result in net dilution to the Fund.

Fair Valuation and Significant Events Procedures

Pricing Service Valuations. Based on the recommendations of the Valuation Committee, the Board has authorized the Fund, subject to Board oversight, to use pricing services that provide daily fair value evaluations of the current value of certain investments, primarily fixed-income securities and OTC derivatives contracts. Different pricing services may provide different price evaluations for the same security because of differences in their methods of evaluating market values. Factors considered by pricing services in evaluating an investment include the yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, call rights and other potential prepayments, terms and type, reported transactions, indications as to values from dealers and general market conditions. A pricing service may find it more difficult to apply these and other factors to relatively illiquid or volatile investments, which may result in less frequent or more significant changes in the price evaluations of these investments. If a pricing service determines that it does not have sufficient information to use its standard methodology, it may evaluate an investment based on the present value of what investors can reasonably expect to receive from the issuer’s operations or liquidation.

Special valuation considerations may apply with respect to the Fund’s “ odd-lot ” positions, if any, as the Fund may receive lower prices when it sells such positions than it would receive for sales of institutional round lot positions. Typically, these securities are valued assuming orderly transactions of institutional round lot sizes, but the Fund may hold or, from time to time, transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes.

The Valuation Committee engages in oversight activities with respect to the Fund’s pricing services, which includes, among other things, monitoring significant or unusual price fluctuations above predetermined tolerance levels from the prior day, back-testing of pricing services’ prices against actual sale transactions, conducting periodic due diligence meetings and reviews, and periodically reviewing the inputs, assumptions and methodologies used by these pricing services. If information furnished by a pricing service is not readily available or, in the opinion of the Valuation Committee, is deemed not representative of the fair value of such security, the security will be fair valued by the Valuation Committee in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees as discussed below in “ Fair Valuation Procedures. ”

Some pricing services provide a single price evaluation reflecting the bid-side of the market for an investment (a “ bid ” evaluation). Other pricing services offer both bid evaluations and price evaluations indicative of a price between the prices bid and asked for the investment (a “ mid ” evaluation). The Fund normally uses bid evaluations for any U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities. The Fund normally uses mid evaluations for any other types of fixed-income securities and any OTC derivative contracts.

Fair Valuation Procedures. The Board has established procedures for determining the fair value of investments for which price evaluations from pricing services or dealers and market quotations are not readily available. The procedures define an investment’s “ fair value ” as the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon its current sale. The procedures assume that any sale would be made to a willing buyer in the ordinary course of trading. The procedures require consideration of factors that vary based on the type of investment and the information available. Factors that may be considered in determining an investment’s fair value include: (1) the last reported price at which the investment was traded; (2) information provided by dealers or investment analysts regarding the investment or the issuer; (3) changes in financial conditions and business prospects disclosed in the issuer’s financial statements and other reports; (4) publicly announced transactions (such as tender offers and mergers) involving the issuer; (5) comparisons to other investments or to financial indices that are correlated to the investment; (6) with respect to fixed-income investments, changes in market yields and spreads; (7) with respect to investments that have been suspended from trading, the circumstances leading to the suspension; and (8) other factors that might affect the investment’s value.

The Valuation Committee is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of these procedures subject to Board oversight. The Valuation Committee may also authorize the use of a financial valuation model to determine the fair value of a specific type of investment. The Board periodically reviews and approves the fair valuations made by the Valuation Committee and any changes made to the procedures.

Using fair value to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their NAVs. The application of the fair value procedures to an investment represent a good faith determination of an investment’s fair value. There can be no assurance that the Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it sold the investment at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its NAV per share, and the actual value could be materially different.

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

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

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

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

The Board has adopted procedures whereby the Valuation Committee uses a pricing service to provide factors to update the fair value of equity securities traded principally in foreign markets from the time of the close of their respective foreign stock exchanges to the pricing time of the Fund. The pricing service uses models that correlate changes between the closing and opening price of equity securities traded primarily in non-U.S. markets to changes in prices in U.S.-traded securities and derivative contracts. The pricing service seeks to employ the model that provides the most significant correlation based on a periodic review of the results. The model uses the correlation to adjust the reported closing price of a foreign equity security based on information available up to the close of the NYSE.

For other significant events, the Fund may seek to obtain more current quotations or price evaluations from alternative pricing sources. If a reliable alternative pricing source is not available, the fair value of the investment is determined using the methods discussed above in “ Fair Valuation Procedures. ” The Board has ultimate responsibility for any fair valuations made in response to a significant event.

How is the Fund Sold?

Under the Distributor’s Contract with the Fund, the Distributor ( “ Federated Securities Corp. ” ) offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis.

Additional Payments To Financial Intermediaries

The Distributor may pay out of its own resources amounts to certain financial intermediaries, including broker-dealers, banks, registered investment advisers, independent financial planners and retirement plan administrators. In some cases, such payments may be made by, or funded from the resources of, companies affiliated with the Distributor (including the Adviser). While Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) regulations limit the sales charges that you may bear, there are no limits with regard to the amounts that the Distributor may pay out of its own resources. In addition to the payments which are generally described herein and in the Prospectus, the financial intermediary also may receive payments under the Rule 12b-1 Plan and/or Service Fees. In connection with these payments, the financial intermediary may elevate the prominence or profile of the Fund and/or other Federated Hermes funds within the financial intermediary’s organization by, for example, placement on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or granting the Distributor preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the funds in various ways within the financial intermediary’s organization. The same financial intermediaries may receive payments under more than one or all categories. These payments assist in the Distributor’s efforts to support the sale of Shares. These payments are negotiated and may be based on such factors as: the number or value of Shares that the financial intermediary sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; the level and types of services or support furnished by the financial intermediary; or the Fund’s and/or other Federated Hermes funds’ relationship with the financial intermediary. Not all financial intermediaries receive such payments and the amount of compensation may vary by intermediary. You should ask your financial intermediary for information about any payments it receives from the Distributor or the Federated Hermes funds and any services it provides, as well as the fees and/or commissions it charges.

Regarding the Fund’s IS Class, the IS Class of the Fund currently does not accrue, pay or incur any shareholder services/account administration fees, although the Board of Trustees has approved the IS Class of the Fund to accrue, pay and incur such fees in amounts up to a maximum amount of 0.25%, or some lesser amount as the Board of Trustees shall approve from time to time. The IS Class of the Fund will not accrue, pay or incur such fees until such time as approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

The categories of additional payments are described below.

Supplemental Payments

The Distributor may make supplemental payments to certain financial intermediaries that are holders or dealers of record for accounts in one or more of the Federated Hermes funds. These payments may be based on such factors as: the number or value of Shares the financial intermediary sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; or the type and nature of services or support furnished by the financial intermediary.

Processing Support Payments

The Distributor may make payments to certain financial intermediaries that sell Federated Hermes fund shares to help offset their costs associated with client account maintenance support, statement processing and transaction processing. The types of payments that the Distributor may make under this category include: payment of ticket charges on a per-transaction basis; payment of networking fees; and payment for ancillary services such as setting up funds on the financial intermediary’s mutual fund trading system.

Retirement Plan Program Servicing Payments

The Distributor may make payments to certain financial intermediaries who sell Federated Hermes fund shares through retirement plan programs. A financial intermediary may perform retirement plan program services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform retirement plan program services. In addition to participant recordkeeping, reporting or transaction processing, retirement plan program services may include: services rendered to a plan in connection with fund/investment selection and monitoring; employee enrollment and education; plan balance rollover or separation; or other similar services.

Marketing Support Payments

From time to time, the Distributor, at its expense, may provide additional compensation to financial intermediaries that sell or arrange for the sale of Shares. Such compensation, provided by the Distributor, may include financial assistance to financial intermediaries that enable the Distributor to participate in or present at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other employees, client entertainment, client and investor events and other financial intermediary-sponsored events. The Distributor may also provide additional compensation to financial intermediaries for services rendered in connection with technology and programming set-up, platform development and maintenance or similar services and for the provision of sales-related data to the Adviser and/orits affiliates.

The Distributor also may hold or sponsor, at its expense, sales events, conferences and programs for employees or associated persons of financial intermediaries and may pay the travel and lodging expenses of attendees. The Distributor also may provide, at its expense, meals and entertainment in conjunction with meetings with financial intermediaries. Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by applicable federal or state law or regulations, or the rules of any self-regulatory agency, such as FINRA. These payments may vary depending on the nature of the event or the relationship.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the following is a list of FINRA member firms that received additional payments from the Distributor or an affiliate. Additional payments may also be made to certain other financial intermediaries that are not FINRA member firms that sell Federated Hermes fund shares or provide services to the Federated Hermes funds and shareholders. These firms are not included in this list. Any additions, modifications or deletions to the member firms identified in this list that have occurred since December 31,2019, are not reflected. You should ask your financial intermediary for information about any additional payments it receives from the Distributor.

Edward D. Jones & Co., LP
Emerald Advisors, LLC
Envestnet Asset Management, Inc.
Epic Advisors Inc.
ESL Investment Services, LLC
FBL Marketing Services, LLC
Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. (FIIOC)
Fiducia Group, LLC
Fieldpoint Private Securities, LLC
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
FIS Brokerage & Securities Services LLC
Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated
Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc.
FSC Securities Corporation
Gitterman Wealth Management LLC
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company
GWFS Equities, Inc.
Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc.
Hefren-Tillotson Inc.
Henderson Global Investors Limited
HighTower Securities, LLC
Hilltop Securities Inc.
The Huntington Investment Company
Independent Financial Group, LLC
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Financial Services LLC
Infinex Investments, Inc.
Institutional Cash Distributors, LLC
INTL FCStone Financial Inc.
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Kestra Investment Services, LLC

Key Investment Services, LLC
KeyBanc Capital Markets, Inc.
KMS Financial Services, Inc.
Laidlaw Wealth Management LLC
Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation
Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC
LPL Financial LLC
M Holdings Securities, Inc.
M&T Securities Inc.
Materetsky Financial Group
Mercer Global Advisors Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated
Mid Atlantic Capital Corp.
MML Investors Services, LLC
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
National Financial Services LLC
Nationwide Investment Services Corporation
NBC Securities, Inc.
Newport Group, Inc.
Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
NYLIFE Distributors LLC
NYLIFE Securities LLC
Oneamerica Securities, Inc.
Open Range Financial Group, LLC
Oppenheimer & Company, Inc.
Paychex Securities Corp
Pensionmark Financial Group, LLC
People’s Securities, Inc.
Pershing LLC
Piper Jaffray & Co.
Pitcairn Trust Company
Planmember Securities Corporation
PNC Capital Markets, LLC
PNC Investments LLC
Principal Securities, Inc.
Private Client Services, LLC
Procyon Private Wealth Partners, LLC
Proequities, Inc.
Prudential Investment Management Services, LLC
Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Regal Investment Advisors LLC
Resources Investment Advisors, Inc.
Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.

Royal Alliance Associates Inc.
SA Stone Wealth Management Inc.
SagePoint Financial, Inc.
Sageview Advisory Group, LLC
Securian Financial Services, Inc.
Securities America, Inc.
Securities Service Network, Inc.
Security Distributors LLC
Sentry Advisors, LLC
Sigma Financial Corporation
Spire Securities LLC
State Street Global Markets, LLC
Stephens Inc.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
Strategic Benefits Consultants, Inc.
Summit Financial Group, Inc.
Suntrust Investment Services, Inc.
Suntrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
TD Ameritrade, Inc.
Thrivent Investment Management, Inc.
TIAA CREF Individual & Institutional Services LLC
Towerpoint Wealth, LLC
Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.
Triad Advisors, LLC
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
UBS Financial Services Inc.
UBS Securities LLC
United Planners Financial Services of America
Valic Financial Advisors, Inc.
Valor Financial Securities LLC
The Vanguard Group, Inc.
Vanguard Marketing Corporation
Vining-Sparks IBG, Limited Partnership
Vision Financial Markets, LLC
Voya Financial Advisors, Inc.
Voya Financial Partners, LLC
Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC
The Wealth Enhancement Group, Inc.
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Wintrust Investments, LLC
Woloshin Investment Management LLC
Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
World Equity Group, Inc.
XML Financial, LLC

Purchases In-Kind

You may contact the Distributor to request a purchase of Shares using securities you own. The Fund reserves the right to determine whether to accept your securities and the minimum market value to accept. The Fund will value your securities in the same manner as it values its assets. An in-kind purchase may be treated as a sale of your securities for federal tax purposes; please consult your tax adviser regarding potential tax liability.

Redemption In-Kind

Although the Fund generally intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right, on its own initiative or in response to a shareholder request, to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund’s portfolio securities.

Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets represented by such Share class during any 90-day period.

Any Share redemption payment greater than this amount will also be in cash unless the Fund elects to pay all or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in portfolio securities, valued in the same way as the Fund determines its NAV.

Redemption in-kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. Shareholders receiving the portfolio securities could have difficulty selling them, may incur related transaction costs and would be subject to risks of fluctuations in the securities’ values prior to sale.

Delaware Statutory Trust Law

The Fund is an organization of the type commonly known as a “ Delaware statutory trust. ” The Fund’s Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees and officers of the Fund, in their capacity as such, will not be personally liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law; but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office. Voting rights are not cumulative, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the Shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees and, in such event, the holders of the remaining less than 50% of the Shares voting on the matter will not be able to elect any Trustees.

In the unlikely event a shareholder is held personally liable for the Trust’s obligations, the Trust is required by the Declaration of Trust to use its property to protect or compensate the shareholder. On request, the Trust will defend any claim made and pay any judgment against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust. Therefore, financial loss resulting from liability as a shareholder will occur only if the Trust itself cannot meet its obligations to indemnify shareholders and pay judgments against them.

Account and Share Information

Voting Rights

Each Share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Trustee elections and other matters submitted to shareholders for vote.

All Shares of the Trust have equal voting rights, except that in matters affecting only a particular Fund or class, only shares of that Fund or class are entitled to vote.

Trustees may be removed by the Board or by shareholders at a special meeting. A special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Board upon the written request of shareholders who own at least 10% of the Trust’s outstanding Shares of all series entitled to vote.

As of October 7, 2020, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Institutional Shares: Hermes Fund Managers Limited, London, United Kingdom, owned approximately 200,000 Shares (6.21%); UBS WM USA, Weehawken, NJ, owned approximately 1,118,027 Shares (34.75%); FII Holdings, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, owned approximately 1,853,609 Shares (57.62%).

Shareholders owning 25% or more of outstanding Shares may be in control and be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of shareholders.

FII Holdings, Inc. is organized in the state of Delaware and is a subsidiary of Federated Hermes, Inc., organized in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

UBS Americas Inc. is organized in the state of Delaware.

Tax Information

Federal Income Tax

The Fund intends to meet requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Code ” ) applicable to regulated investment companies. If these requirements are not met, it will not receive special tax treatment and will be subject to federal corporate income tax.

The Fund will be treated as a single, separate entity for federal income tax purposes so that income earned and capital gains and losses realized by the Trust’s other portfolios will be separate from those realized by the Fund.

Tax Basis Information

The Fund’s Transfer Agent is required to provide you with the cost basis information on the sale of any of your Shares in the Fund, subject to certain exceptions.

Foreign Investments

If the Fund purchases foreign securities, its investment income may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund would be subject. The effective rate of foreign tax cannot be predicted since the amount of Fund assets to be invested within various countries is uncertain. However, the Fund intends to operate so as to qualify for treaty-reduced tax rates when applicable.

Distributions from the Fund may be based on estimates of book income for the year. Book income generally consists solely of the income generated by the securities in the portfolio, whereas tax-basis income includes, in addition, gains or losses attributable to currency fluctuation. Due to differences in the book and tax treatment of fixed-income securities denominated in foreign currencies, it is difficult to project currency effects on an interim basis. Therefore, to the extent that currency fluctuations cannot be anticipated, a portion of distributions to shareholders could later be designated as a return of capital, rather than income, for income tax purposes, which may be of particular concern to certain trusts.

Certain foreign corporations may qualify as Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFIC). There are special rules prescribing the tax treatment of such an investment by the Fund, which could subject the Fund to federal income tax.

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets at the end of the tax year is represented by stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will qualify for certain Code provisions that allow its shareholders to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction on their U.S. income tax returns. The Code may limit a shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit. Shareholders who elect to deduct their portion of the Fund’s foreign taxes rather than take the foreign tax credit must itemize deductions on their income tax returns.

Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for managing the Trust’s business affairs and for exercising all the Trust’s powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The following tables give information about each Trustee and the senior officers of the Fund. Where required, the tables separately list Trustees who are “ interested persons ” of the Fund (i.e., “ Interested ” Trustees) and those who are not (i.e., “ Independent ” Trustees). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779. The address of all Independent Trustees listed is 4000 Ericsson Drive, Warrendale, PA 15086-7561; Attention: Mutual Fund Board. As of December 31, 2019, the Trust comprised 11 portfolios, and the Federated Hermes Complex consisted of 41 investment companies (comprising 135 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Officer is elected annually. Unless otherwise noted, each Trustee oversees all portfolios in the Federated Hermes Complex and serves for an indefinite term.

As of October 7, 2020, the Fund’s Board and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of each class of the Fund’s outstanding Shares.

qualifications of Independent Trustees

Individual Trustee qualifications are noted in the “ Independent Trustees Background and Compensation ” chart. In addition, the following characteristics are among those that were considered for each existing Trustee and will be considered for any Nominee Trustee.

■ Outstanding skills in disciplines deemed by the Independent Trustees to be particularly relevant to the role of Independent Trustee and to the Federated Hermes funds, including legal, accounting, business management, the financial industry generally and the investment industry particularly.

■ Desire and availability to serve for a substantial period of time, taking into account the Board’s current mandatory retirement age of 75 years.

■ No conflicts which would interfere with qualifying as independent.

■ Appropriate interpersonal skills to work effectively with other Independent Trustees.

■ Understanding and appreciation of the important role occupied by Independent Trustees in the regulatory structure governing regulated investment companies.

■ Diversity of background.

Interested Trustees Background and Compensation

Name Birth Date Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began	Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years, Other Directorships Held and Previous Position(s)	Aggregate Compensation From Fund (past fiscal year)	Total Compensation From Fund and Federated Hermes Complex (past calendar year)
J. Christopher Donahue* Birth Date: April 11, 1949 President and Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Principal Executive Officer and President of certain of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Complex; Director or Trustee of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Complex; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Chairman and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; Chairman and Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; Chairman and Trustee, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company. Previous Positions: President, Federated Investment Counseling; President and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.; Chairman, Passport Research, Ltd.	$0	$0
John B. Fisher* Birth Date: May 16, 1956 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Principal Executive Officer and President of certain of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Complex; Director or Trustee of certain of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Complex; Vice President, Federated Hermes, Inc.; President, Director/Trustee and CEO, Federated Advisory Services Company, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Investment Management Company; President of some of the Funds in the Federated Hermes Complex and Director, Federated Investors Trust Company. Previous Positions: President and Director of the Institutional Sales Division of Federated Securities Corp.; President and Director of Federated Investment Counseling; President and CEO of Passport Research, Ltd.; Director, Edgewood Securities Corp.; Director, Federated Services Company; Director, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Chairman and Director, Southpointe Distribution Services, Inc. and President, Technology, Federated Services Company.	$0	$0

Reasons for “ interested ” status: J. Christopher Donahue and John B. Fisher are interested due to their beneficial ownership of shares of Federated Hermes, Inc. and due to positions they hold with Federated Hermes, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Independent Trustees Background, Qualifications and Compensation

Name Birth Date Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began	Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships Held for Past Five Years, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications	Aggregate Compensation From Fund (past fiscal year)	Total Compensation From Fund and Federated Hermes Complex (past calendar year)
John T. Collins Birth Date: January 24, 1947 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Complex; formerly, Chairman and CEO, The Collins Group, Inc. (a private equity firm) (Retired). Other Directorships Held: Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director, and Chairman of the Compensation Committee, KLX Energy Services Holdings, Inc. (oilfield services); former Director of KLX Corp (aerospace). Qualifications: Mr. Collins has served in several business and financial management roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Collins previously served as Chairman and CEO of The Collins Group, Inc. (a private equity firm) and as a Director of KLX Corp. Mr. Collins serves as Chairman Emeriti, Bentley University. Mr. Collins previously served as Director and Audit Committee Member, Bank of America Corp.; Director, FleetBoston Financial Corp.; and Director, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard University Affiliate Hospital).	$30.84	$286,000

Name Birth Date Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began	Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships Held for Past Five Years, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications	Aggregate Compensation From Fund (past fiscal year)	Total Compensation From Fund and Federated Hermes Complex (past calendar year)
G. Thomas Hough Birth Date: February 28, 1955 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee, Chair of the Audit Committee of the Federated Hermes Complex; formerly, Vice Chair, Ernst & Young LLP (public accounting firm) (Retired). Other Directorships Held: Director, Chair of the Audit Committee, Equifax, Inc.; Director, Member of the Audit Committee, Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.; formerly, Director, Member of Governance and Compensation Committees, Publix Super Markets, Inc. Qualifications: Mr. Hough has served in accounting, business management and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Hough most recently held the position of Americas Vice Chair of Assurance with Ernst & Young LLP (public accounting firm). Mr. Hough serves on the President’s Cabinet and Business School Board of Visitors for the University of Alabama. Mr. Hough previously served on the Business School Board of Visitors for Wake Forest University, and he previously served as an Executive Committee member of the United States Golf Association.	$34.62	$286,000
Maureen Lally-Green Birth Date: July 5, 1949 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Complex; Adjunct Professor of Law, Duquesne University School of Law; formerly, Dean of the Duquesne University School of Law and Professor of Law and Interim Dean of the Duquesne University School of Law; formerly, Associate General Secretary and Director, Office of Church Relations, Diocese of Pittsburgh. Other Directorships Held: Director, CNX Resources Corporation (formerly known as CONSOL Energy Inc.). Qualifications: Judge Lally-Green has served in various legal and business roles and directorship positions throughout her career. Judge Lally-Green previously held the position of Dean of the School of Law of Duquesne University (as well as Interim Dean). Judge Lally-Green previously served as a member of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and as a Professor of Law, Duquesne University School of Law. Judge Lally-Green was appointed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to serve on the Supreme Court’s Board of Continuing Judicial Education and the Supreme Court’s Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee. Judge Lally-Green also currently holds the positions on not for profit or for profit boards of directors as follows: Director and Chair, UPMC Mercy Hospital; Director and Vice Chair, Our Campaign for the Church Alive!, Inc.; Regent, Saint Vincent Seminary; Member, Pennsylvania State Board of Education (public); Director, Catholic Charities, Pittsburgh; and Director CNX Resources Corporation (formerly known as CONSOL Energy Inc.). Judge Lally-Green has held the positions of: Director, Auberle; Director, Epilepsy Foundation of Western and Central Pennsylvania; Director, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh; Director, Saint Thomas More Society; Director and Chair, Catholic High Schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Inc.; Director, Pennsylvania Bar Institute; Director, Saint Vincent College; and Director and Chair, North Catholic High School, Inc.	$30.84	$286,000
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr. Birth Date: April 10, 1945 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Complex; Management Consultant and Author. Other Directorships Held: None. Qualifications: Mr. Mansfield has served as a Marine Corps officer and in several banking, business management, educational roles and directorship positions throughout his long career. He remains active as a Management Consultant and Author.	$28.04	$260,000

Name Birth Date Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began	Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships Held for Past Five Years, Previous Position(s) and Qualifications	Aggregate Compensation From Fund (past fiscal year)	Total Compensation From Fund and Federated Hermes Complex (past calendar year)
Thomas M. O’Neill Birth Date: June 14, 1951 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee, of the Federated Hermes Complex; Sole Proprietor, Navigator Management Company (investment and strategic consulting). Other Directorships Held: None. Qualifications: Mr. O’Neill has served in several business, mutual fund and financial management roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. O’Neill serves as Director, Medicines for Humanity and Director, The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, Florida. Mr. O’Neill previously served as Chief Executive Officer and President, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Fleet Investment Advisors; President and Chief Executive Officer, Aeltus Investment Management, Inc.; General Partner, Hellman, Jordan Management Co., Boston, MA; Chief Investment Officer, The Putnam Companies, Boston, MA; Credit Analyst and Lending Officer, Fleet Bank; Director and Consultant, EZE Castle Software (investment order management software); and Director, Midway Pacific (lumber).	$30.84	$321,000
P. Jerome Richey Birth Date: February 23, 1949 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Hermes Complex; Management Consultant; Retired; formerly, Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Legal Officer, University of Pittsburgh and Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, CNX Resources Corporation (formerly known as CONSOL Energy Inc.). Other Directorships Held: None. Qualifications: Mr. Richey has served in several business and legal management roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Richey most recently held the positions of Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Legal Officer, University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Richey previously served as Chairman of the Board, Epilepsy Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Board, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. Mr. Richey previously served as Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, CNX Resources Corporation (formerly known as CONSOL Energy Inc.) and Board Member, Ethics Counsel and Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC (a law firm).	$28.04	$260,000
John S. Walsh Birth Date: November 28, 1957 Trustee Indefinite Term Began serving: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee and Chair of the Board of Directors or Trustees, of the Federated Hermes Complex; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer of construction temporary heaters); President and Director, Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers Products, Inc. Other Directorships Held: None. Qualifications: Mr. Walsh has served in several business management roles and directorship positions throughout his career. Mr. Walsh previously served as Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc. (paving contractors).	$37.21	$345,000

OFFICERS*

Name Birth Date Address Positions Held with Trust Date Service Began	Principal Occupation(s) and Previous Position(s)
Lori A. Hensler Birth Date: January 6, 1967 Treasurer Officer since: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Federated Hermes Complex; Senior Vice President, Federated Administrative Services; Financial and Operations Principal for Federated Securities Corp.; and Assistant Treasurer, Federated Investors Trust Company. Ms. Hensler has received the Certified Public Accountant designation. Previous Positions: Controller of Federated Hermes, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, Federated Investors Management Company; Treasurer, Federated Investors Trust Company; Assistant Treasurer, Federated Administrative Services, Federated Administrative Services, Inc., Federated Securities Corp., Edgewood Services, Inc., Federated Advisory Services Company, Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Investment Management Company, Passport Research, Ltd. and Federated MDTA, LLC; Financial and Operations Principal for Federated Securities Corp., Edgewood Services, Inc. and Southpointe Distribution Services, Inc.
Peter J. Germain Birth Date: September 3, 1959 CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, SECRETARY and EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Officer since: November 2017	Principal Occupations: Mr. Germain is Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Executive Vice President of the Federated Hermes Complex. He is General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Executive Vice President, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Trustee and Senior Vice President, Federated Investors Management Company; Trustee and President, Federated Administrative Services; Director and President, Federated Administrative Services, Inc.; Director and Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; Director and Secretary, Federated Private Asset Management, Inc.; Secretary, Federated Shareholder Services Company; and Secretary, Retirement Plan Service Company of America. Mr. Germain joined Federated Hermes, Inc. in 1984 and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Previous Positions: Deputy General Counsel, Special Counsel, Managing Director of Mutual Fund Services, Federated Hermes, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Federated Services Company; and Senior Corporate Counsel, Federated Hermes, Inc.
Stephen Van Meter Birth Date: June 5, 1975 CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Officer since: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Federated Hermes Complex; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Federated Hermes, Inc. and Chief Compliance Officer of certain of its subsidiaries. Mr. Van Meter joined Federated Hermes, Inc. in October 2011. He holds FINRA licenses under Series 3, 7, 24 and 66. Previous Positions: Mr. Van Meter previously held the position of Compliance Operating Officer, Federated Hermes, Inc. Prior to joining Federated Hermes, Inc., Mr. Van Meter served at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in the positions of Senior Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, Division of Investment Management and Senior Counsel, Division of Enforcement.
Stephen F. Auth Birth Date: September 13, 1956 101 Park Avenue 41 st Floor New York, NY 10178 CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Officer since: May 2017	Principal Occupations: Stephen F. Auth is Chief Investment Officer of various Funds in the Federated Hermes Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania. Previous Positions: Executive Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd. (investment advisory subsidiary of Federated); Senior Vice President, Global Portfolio Management Services Division; Senior Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd.; Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Prudential Investments.

Officers do not receive any compensation from the Fund.

In addition, the Fund has appointed an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.

DIRECTOR/TRUSTEE EMERITUS PROGRAM

The Board has created a position of Director/Trustee Emeritus, whereby an incumbent Director/Trustee who has attained the age of 75 and completed a minimum of five years of service as a director/trustee, may, in the sole discretion of the Committee of Independent Directors/Trustees ( “ Committee ” ), be recommended to the full Board of Directors/Trustees of the Fund to serve as Director/Trustee Emeritus.

A Director/Trustee Emeritus that has been approved as such receives an annual fee in an amount equal to a percent of the annual base compensation paid to a Director/Trustee. In the case of a Director/Trustee Emeritus who had previously served at least five years but less than 10 years as a Director/Trustee, the percent will be 10%. In the case of a Director/Trustee Emeritus who had previously served at least 10 years as a Director/Trustee, the percent will be 20%. The Director/Trustee Emeritus will be reimbursed for any expenses incurred in connection with their service, including expenses of travel and lodging incurred in attendance at Board meetings. Director/Trustee Emeritus will continue to receive relevant materials concerning the Funds, will be expected to attend at least one regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors/Trustees each year and will be available to consult with the Committees or its representatives at reasonable times as requested by the Chairman; however, a Director/Trustee Emeritus does not have any voting rights at Board meetings and is not subject to election by shareholders of the Funds.

The Director/Trustee Emeritus will be permitted to serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Committee, but the annual fee will cease to be paid at the end of the calendar year during which he or she has attained the age of 80 years, thereafter the position will be honorary.

The following table shows the fees paid to each Director/Trustee Emeritus for the Fund’s most recently ended fiscal year and the portion of that fee paid by the Fund or Trust. 1

EMERITUS Trustees and Compensation

Director/Trustee Emeritus	Compensation From Fund (past fiscal year)	Total Compensation Paid to Director/Trustee Emeritus 1
Peter E. Madden	$ 0	$ 52,000.00

The fees paid to a Director/Trustee are allocated among the funds that were in existence at the time the Director/Trustee elected Emeritus status, based on each fund’s net assets at that time.

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

As required under the terms of certain regulatory settlements, the Chairman of the Board is not an interested person of the Fund and neither the Chairman, nor any firm with which the Chairman is affiliated, has a prior relationship with Federated Hermes or its affiliates or (other than his position as a Trustee) with the Fund.

Committees of the Board

Board Committee	Committee Members	Committee Functions	Meetings Held During Last Fiscal Year
Executive	J. Christopher Donahue John T. Collins John S. Walsh	In between meetings of the full Board, the Executive Committee generally may exercise all the powers of the full Board in the management and direction of the business and conduct of the affairs of the Trust in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem to be in the best interests of the Trust. However, the Executive Committee cannot elect or remove Board members, increase or decrease the number of Trustees, elect or remove any Officer, declare dividends, issue shares or recommend to shareholders any action requiring shareholder approval.	One
Audit	John T. Collins G. Thomas Hough Maureen Lally-Green Thomas M. O’Neill	The purposes of the Audit Committee are to oversee the accounting and financial reporting process of the Fund, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting and the quality, integrity and independent audit of the Fund’s financial statements. The Committee also oversees or assists the Board with the oversight of compliance with legal requirements relating to those matters, approves the engagement and reviews the qualifications, independence and performance of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, acts as a liaison between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Board and reviews the Fund’s internal audit function.	Seven
Nominating	John T. Collins G. Thomas Hough Maureen Lally-Green Charles F. Mansfield, Jr. Thomas M. O’Neill P. Jerome Richey John S. Walsh	The Nominating Committee, whose members consist of all Independent Trustees, selects and nominates persons for election to the Fund’s Board when vacancies occur. The Committee will consider candidates recommended by shareholders, Independent Trustees, officers or employees of any of the Fund’s agents or service providers and counsel to the Fund. Any shareholder who desires to have an individual considered for nomination by the Committee must submit a recommendation in writing to the Secretary of the Fund, at the Fund’s address appearing on the back cover of this SAI. The recommendation should include the name and address of both the shareholder and the candidate and detailed information concerning the candidate’s qualifications and experience. In identifying and evaluating candidates for consideration, the Committee shall consider such factors as it deems appropriate. Those factors will ordinarily include: integrity, intelligence, collegiality, judgment, diversity, skill, business and other experience, qualification as an “ Independent Trustee, ” the existence of material relationships which may create the appearance of a lack of independence, financial or accounting knowledge and experience and dedication and willingness to devote the time and attention necessary to fulfill Board responsibilities.	One

BOARD’S ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

The Board’s role in overseeing the Fund’s general risks includes receiving performance reports for the Fund and risk management reports from Federated Hermes’ Chief Risk Officer at each regular Board meeting. The Chief Risk Officer is responsible for enterprise risk management at Federated Hermes, which includes risk management committees for investment management and for investor services. The Board also receives regular reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding significant compliance risks.

On behalf of the Board, the Audit Committee plays a key role overseeing the Fund’s financial reporting and valuation risks. The Audit Committee meets regularly with the Fund’s Principal Financial Officer and outside auditors, as well as with Federated Hermes’ Chief Audit Executive to discuss financial reporting and audit issues, including risks relating to financial controls.

Board Ownership Of Shares In The Fund And In The Federated Hermes Family Of Investment Companies As Of December 31, 2019

Interested Board Member Name	Dollar Range of Shares Owned in Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund	Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned in Federated Hermes Family of Investment Companies
J. Christopher Donahue	None	Over $100,000
John B. Fisher	None	Over $100,000
Independent Board Member Name
John T. Collins	None	Over $100,000
G. Thomas Hough	None	Over $100,000
Maureen Lally-Green	None	Over $100,000
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.	None	$50,001-$100,000
Thomas M. O’Neill	None	Over $100,000
P. Jerome Richey	None	Over $100,000
John S. Walsh	None	Over $100,000

Investment Adviser AND SUB-ADVISER

Federated Investment Management Company, as the investment adviser, is responsible for the supervision of the sub-adviser’s services to the Fund and, subject to general oversight of the Board, manages and supervises the investment operations and business affairs of the Fund. Hermes, as the sub-adviser, conducts investment research and makes investment decisions for the Fund, subject to the supervision of Federated Investment Management Company.

Federated Investment Management Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated Hermes. Hermes is a majority owned subsidiary of Federated Hermes.

Neither Federated Investment Management Company nor Hermes shall be liable to the Fund or any Fund shareholder for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security or for anything done or omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Fund.

In December 2017, Federated Investors, Inc. now Federated Hermes, Inc., became a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is an investor initiative in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative and the United Nations Global Compact. Commitments made as a signatory to the PRI are not legally binding, but are voluntary and aspirational. They include efforts, where consistent with our fiduciary responsibilities, to incorporate environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues into investment analysis and investment decision making, to be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices, to seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest, to promote acceptance and implementation of the PRI within the investment industry, to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the PRI, and to report on our activities and progress towards implementing the PRI. Being a signatory to the PRI does not obligate Federated Hermes to take, or not take, any particular action as it relates to investment decisions or other activities.

In July, 2018, Federated Investors, Inc., now Federated Hermes, Inc., acquired a 60% interest in Hermes Fund Managers Limited (Hermes), and, upon the exercise in the future of certain put/call rights under a Put/Call Option Deed between Federated Hermes and another shareholder of Hermes, Federated Hermes anticipates holding an 89.5% interest in Hermes. Hermes operates as Hermes Investment Management, a pioneer of integrated ESG investing. Hermes’ experience with ESG issues contributes to Federated Hermes’ understanding of material risks and opportunities these issues may present.

EOS at Federated Hermes, which was established as Hermes Equity Ownership Services Limited (EOS) in 2004 as an affiliate of Hermes Investment Management Limited, is our in-house engagement and stewardship team. The 40+ member team conducts long-term, objectives-driven dialogue with board and senior executive level representatives of more than 1,000 issuers. It seeks to address the most material ESG risks and opportunities through constructive and continuous discussions with the goal of improving long term results for investors. Engagers’ deep understanding across sectors, themes and regional markets, along with language and cultural expertise, allows EOS to provide insights to companies on the merits of addressing ESG risks and the positive benefits of capturing opportunities. Federated Hermes investment management teams have access to the insights gained from understanding a company’s approach to these long term strategic matters as an additional input to improve portfolio risk/return characteristics.

Portfolio Manager Information

As a general matter, certain conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager’s management of a fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of other funds/pooled investment vehicles or accounts (collectively, including the Fund, as applicable, “ accounts ” ) for which the portfolio manager is responsible, on the other. For example, it is possible that the various accounts managed could have different investment strategies that, at times, might conflict with one another to the possible detriment of the Fund. Alternatively, to the extent that the same investment opportunities might be desirable for more than one account, possible conflicts could arise in determining how to allocate them.

Hermes Investment Management Limited and its affiliates ( “ Hermes Advisory Companies ” ) are not wholly-owned subsidiaries of Federated Hermes, Inc., unlike Federated Investment Management Company and other wholly-owned advisory companies of Federated Hermes, Inc. ( “ Federated Advisory Companies ” ) (collectively, the “ Advisory Companies ” ). Therefore, actual or potential conflicts could arise to the extent the Advisory Companies may share material non-public information (MNPI). In order to address such potential conflicts and protect client interests, information barriers have been established between the Federated Advisory Companies and the Hermes Advisory Companies such that personnel of the Hermes Advisory Companies and of the Federated Advisory Companies are generally precluded from sharing investment-related information, including MNPI, across the barriers. In addition, there will be no integration or allocation of trades between the Advisory Companies and neither of the Advisory Companies will exercise investment discretion over accounts managed by the other. To the extent that applicable U.S. and U.K. law, and the laws of certain other jurisdictions, require the Advisory Companies to make regulatory filings that may require sharing of MNPI, the Advisory Companies have implemented internal controls which require that such information will be shared only among such limited personnel as is necessary to make accurate and timely regulatory filings and to maintain proper trading limitations. The Advisory Companies will generally operate as unaffiliated entities subject to their own internal personal dealing, trade allocation, and side by side management policies. In any limited situation in which the Federated Advisory Companies may “ need to know ” certain investment-related information from Hermes Advisory Companies, or vice versa, written approval, requiring certain conditions, must be granted by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisory Companies.

Other potential conflicts can include, for example, conflicts created by specific portfolio manager compensation arrangements (including, for example, the allocation or weighting given to the performance of the Fund or other accounts or activities for which the portfolio manager is responsible in calculating the portfolio manager’s compensation), and conflicts relating to selection of brokers or dealers to execute Fund portfolio trades and/or specific uses of commissions from Fund portfolio trades (for example, research or “ soft dollars ” ). The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures and has structured the portfolio managers’ compensation in a manner reasonably designed to safeguard the Fund from being negatively affected as a result of any such potential conflicts.

The following information about the Fund’s Portfolio Managers is provided as of the end of the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year unless otherwise indicated.

Mitch Reznick, Portfolio Manager

Types of Accounts Managed by Mitch Reznick	Total Number of Additional Accounts Managed/Total Assets*
Registered Investment Companies	0/$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	1/$412.3 million
Other Accounts	0/$0

None of the Accounts has an advisory fee that is based on the performance of the account.

Dollar value range of shares owned in the Fund: None.

Mitch Reznick is paid a competitive fixed base salary and a discretionary annual incentive. The annual incentive amount is determined by considering investment performance of all products managed, as well as the individual’s performance. Any other factors deemed relevant may also be considered (and may be adjusted periodically). The bonus pool is calculated at an aggregate firm-wide level.

A portion of Mr. Reznick’s annual incentive may be treated as deferred compensation. The deferral period is three years. At least 50% of the deferred component of Mr. Resnick’s bonus is notionally co-invested in the strategies that he manages. The percentage deferred may exceed 50% if the total combined annual incentive reaches certain levels.

Additionally, Hermes has established a long-term incentive plan that allows participants to benefit from ownership of restricted Hermes shares, held by an employee benefit trust, in the business. Award holders are eligible to receive dividends from the first year of award. Participants are proposed by the Executive Committee based on a range of factors and approved by the Remuneration Committee, which oversees the scheme.

Through focusing on long term awards, our incentive pay strategies encourage investment managers to act like long term shareholders and support our performance and partnership culture to create a sustainable business, discouraging excessive or concentrated risk taking and avoids conflicts of interest.

Individual and organisational performance is transparently and rigorously assessed against a combination of financial (multi-year) and non-financial targets in order to determine appropriate total compensation.

Fraser Lundie, Portfolio Manager

Types of Accounts Managed by Fraser Lundie	Total Number of Additional Accounts Managed/Total Assets*
Registered Investment Companies	2/$296.6 million
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	5/$2.3 billion
Other Accounts	11/$1.9 billion

None of the Accounts has an advisory fee that is based on the performance of the account.

Dollar value range of shares owned in the Fund: None.

Fraser Lundie is paid a competitive fixed base salary and a discretionary annual incentive. The annual incentive amount is determined by considering investment performance of all products managed, as well as the individual’s performance. Any other factors deemed relevant may also be considered (and may be adjusted periodically). The bonus pool is calculated at an aggregate firm-wide level.

A portion of Mr. Lundie’s annual incentive may be treated as deferred compensation. The deferral period is three years. At least 50% of the deferred component of Mr. Lundie’s bonus is notionally co-invested in the strategies that he manages. The percentage deferred may exceed 50% if the total combined annual incentive reaches certain levels.

Nachu Chockalingam, Portfolio Manager

Types of Accounts Managed by Nachu Chockalingam	Total Number of Additional Accounts Managed/Total Assets*
Registered Investment Companies	0/$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles	0/$0
Other Accounts	0/$0

None of the Accounts has an advisory fee that is based on the performance of the account.

Dollar value range of shares owned in the Fund: None.

Nachu Chockalingam is paid a competitive fixed base salary and a discretionary annual incentive. The annual incentive amount is determined by considering investment performance of all products managed, as well as the individual’s performance. Any other factors deemed relevant may also be considered (and may be adjusted periodically). The bonus pool is calculated at an aggregate firm-wide level.

A portion of Mr. Chockalingam’s annual incentive may be treated as deferred compensation. The deferral period is three years. At least 50% of the deferred component of Mr. Chockalingam’s bonus is notionally co-invested in the strategies that he manages. The percentage deferred may exceed 50% if the total combined annual incentive reaches certain levels.

Services Agreement

Federated Advisory Services Company, an affiliate of the Adviser, provides research, quantitative analysis, equity trading and transaction settlement and certain support services to the Adviser. The fee for these services is paid by the Adviser and not by the Fund.

Other Related Services

Affiliates of the Adviser may, from time to time, provide certain electronic equipment and software to institutional customers in order to facilitate the purchase of Fund Shares offered by the Distributor.

Code Of Ethics Restrictions On Personal Trading

As required by Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act (as applicable), the Fund, its Adviser, its sub-adviser Hermes (the “ Sub-Adviser ” ), and its Distributor have adopted codes of ethics. These codes govern securities trading activities of investment personnel, Fund Trustees and certain other employees. Although they do permit these people to trade in securities, including those that the Fund could buy, as well as Shares of the Fund, they also contain significant safeguards designed to protect the Fund and its shareholders from abuses in this area, such as requirements to obtain prior approval for, and to report, particular transactions.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Board has delegated to the Adviser, and the Adviser has in turn delegated to Hermes (the “ Sub-Adviser ” ), the authority to vote proxies on the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio. The Sub-Adviser has established a Governance Committee ( “ Governance Committee ” ) to oversee all engagement and proxy voting activities related to the Fund.

Overview

The Sub-Adviser’s Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment Guidelines (any corporate governance and/or responsible investment policies adopted by the Sub-Adviser from time to time) inform its investment beliefs and provide a framework for engagement with investee companies and the exercising of voting rights.

The Sub-Adviser expects investee companies at a minimum to observe accepted corporate governance standards in their local markets or explain why not doing so is in the best interests of shareholders. The Sub-Adviser views engagement as a critical activity because it provides the Sub-Adviser with an opportunity to improve its understanding of the investee company and its governance structures. This understanding is a significant input for voting decisions.

Procedures

The Fund has hired the Sub-Adviser to manage its assets and to execute the stewardship program, which includes company engagement and voting. The Sub-Adviser will use its dedicated stewardship team, Hermes Equity Ownership Services (HEOS) to assist with engagement with investee companies and provide voting recommendations, informed by company disclosure, engagement with the company, and research from external research providers, including Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS).

While HEOS’ voting recommendation will inform the Sub-Adviser’s assessment, the Sub-Adviser will make a final judgment, with a view to its fiduciary obligations to its clients and the Fund’s stated investment objectives.

The Sub-Adviser retains ISS for its administrative voting infrastructure. Besides providing an electronic voting platform, ISS’s service includes ballot collection, reconciliation, and proxy voting bookkeeping.

Conflicts of Interest

The Sub-Adviser seeks always to act in the client’s best interests, and takes all reasonable steps to identify conflicts of interest and maintain and operate arrangements to minimise the possibility of such conflicts giving rise to a material risk of damage to the interests of clients. In fulfilling its commitment to being good stewards of those companies in which client assets are invested through engagement and voting, the Sub-Adviser may encounter potential conflicts of interest. The Sub-Adviser has adopted a Stewardship Conflicts of Interest Policy designed to ensure that such conflicts are identified and managed fairly, and that proxies are voted in a manner that prioritises the long-term value of the companies concerned rather than the interests of the Sub-Adviser, HEOS or any affiliates. This policy is disclosed on the Sub-Adviser’s website and is outlined in the Sub-Adviser’s Global Stewardship Code Statement.

When any Sub-Adviser or HEOS staff member recognises a potential conflict of interest, he or she must raise it with their line manager. Among other conflicts, our policies require that staff members identify conflicts of interest arising from engagements with companies in which (i) the Sub-Adviser, HEOS or its affiliates have a material interest; (ii) individuals, including portfolio managers or HEOS engagers, have personal investments or some material personal relationship with a relevant individual; and (iii) the Sub-Adviser’s third party fund management or stewardship service clients or prospective clients have a material interest. Where a staff member has a personal connection with a company, he or she is required to make this known and is not involved in any relevant engagement activities or voting recommendations.

A register of instances of conflicts as they arise is maintained by the Sub-Adviser. In those circumstances where a conflict exists or there is a difference opinion between different Sub-Adviser staff members, the vote recommendation will be escalated to the Governance Committee for decision. Where the Governance Committee is unable to agree, then the CEO of the Sub-Adviser will adjudicate. All such instances will be reported to an independent sub-committee of the Sub-Adviser’s Board.

Securities Lending

The Sub-Adviser does not engage in securities lending.

Record Keeping

The Sub-Adviser maintains the following records with respect to proxy voting:

■ A copy of proxy voting policies and procedures;

■ A copy of all proxy statements received (the Sub-Adviser may rely on a third party to satisfy this requirement);

■ A record of each vote cast by the Fund (the Sub-Adviser may rely on a third party to satisfy this requirement);

■ A copy of any document prepared by the Sub-Adviser that was material to making a voting decision or that memorializes the basis for that decision – for example insights gleaned from engagement.

Proxy Voting Report

A report on “ Form N-PX ” of how the Fund voted any proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available via the Proxy Voting Record (Form N-PX) link associated with the Fund and share class name at www. FederatedInvestors.com/FundInformation . Form N-PX filings are also available at the SEC’s web site at www. sec.gov .

Proxy Voting Policies

Under these policies, the Sub-Adviser’s general policy is to cast proxy votes in favour of management proposals and shareholder proposals that we anticipate will enhance the long-term value of the securities being voted.

This approach to voting proxy proposals will be referred to hereafter as the “ General Policy. ”

The following examples illustrate how this General Policy may apply to management proposals and shareholder proposals submitted for approval or ratification by holders of the company’s voting securities.

The Fund seeks to vote consistently on different issues in accordance with the stated policies and guidelines. However, recognising the limitations of any policy to anticipate all potential scenarios, the Fund uses discretion when voting, taking account the specific circumstances described in the proxy statement and other company disclosure. For the Fund, all proxy voting decisions are informed by the Sub-Adviser’s ongoing engagement with the management and directors of the company concerned. These engagements provide important context and alongside a judgment as to the company’s direction of travel towards best practice (as communicated by the Sub-Adviser’s General Policy) will influence the final voting decision of the Fund.

The Fund endeavours to inform companies where it has voted against management recommendations and invites further engagement.

The General Policy as well as the Sub-Adviser’s engagement with the management and directors of the company concerned are informed by a hierarchy of external and internally-developed global and regional best practice guidelines; principally, our HEOS-developed regional corporate governance principles that are informed by external local market standards including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Principles for Corporate Governance and national corporate governance codes; and by the Sub-Adviser’s annually-refreshed Engagement Plan. Both documents are on the Sub-Adviser’s website: www.hermes-investment.com.

Based on the specific context in which proxy voting decisions are being made, the Sub-Adviser may vote contrary to the voting guidelines should it judge that it is in the best long-term interests of the value of the securities to do so.

Global Voting Policy

Board and Directors

1. Board independence: We expect boards to meet minimum standards of independence to be able to hold management to account and may vote against the election of directors whose appointment would cause independence to fall below these standards, and/or against the chair of the board where we have serious concerns. We set minimum standards at a market level but, as a general guide, we expect at least half of the board directors to be independent in companies with a dispersed ownership structure, and at least one third to be independent in controlled companies. In judging a director’s independence, our considerations include, but are not limited to, length of tenure, concurrent service with other board members, whether they represent a significant shareholder, and whether they have any direct, material relationship with the company, other directors or its executives, including receiving any remuneration beyond director fees. Our expectations may exceed the minimum standards set by regulation or best practice codes in some markets.

2. Board committees: Where separate committees are established to oversee remuneration, audit, nomination and other topics – which we expect at most large companies – we may vote against chairs or members where we have concerns about independence, skills, attendance or over-commitment, or the matters overseen by the committee.

3. Board diversity: In recognition of the value that diversity of thought, skills and attributes brings to board oversight and in line with our aspiration that board members, together with all levels of management, should broadly reflect the diversity of society, we will consider voting against relevant directors, including the chair, where we consider board diversity – in terms of gender, ethnicity, age, functional and geographic experience, tenure, and other characteristics – to be below minimum thresholds. Some thresholds, such as gender diversity, are defined at a market level; others, such as skills and experience, are more globally consistent. Our expectations may exceed the minimum standards set by regulation or best practice codes in some markets.

4. Director election: We will generally support the election of directors unless there are specific concerns relating to issues such as board independence and composition; a director’s skills, experience or suitability for the role; a director’s attendance or ability to commit time to the role; or governance or other failures which a director has oversight of or involvement in – at this or another company.

5. Director attendance: We may vote against directors who miss a substantial number of meetings – as a guideline, 25% or more – without sufficient explanation.

6. Director commitments: We will consider voting against a director who appears over-committed to other duties, with the guideline of having no more than five directorships. When considering this issue, we take into account a number of factors, including the size and complexity of roles. As a broad guideline, we consider a chair role equivalent to two directorships and an executive role equivalent to four directorships. A chair should not hold another executive role and an executive should hold no more than one non-executive role, except for cases where serving as a shareholder representative on boards is an explicit part of an executive’s responsibilities. A significant post at a civil society organisation or in public life may also count as equivalent to a directorship, whether executive, non-executive or a chair role.

Remuneration

We set market-specific voting policies on remuneration with reference to local market practice. Our broad guidelines are:

7. Alignment to long-term value: We will consider opposing incentive arrangements that do not align to the creation of long-term value for shareholders and other stakeholders including, for example, those which disproportionally focus on short-term growth of share price or total shareholder returns.

8. Executive shareholdings: We support executive management making material, long-term investment in the company’s shares and may oppose remuneration proposals and reports where shareholding requirements or actual executive shareholdings are insufficient. As a general guideline, we support the aim that executives hold at least 500% of salary in shares and no less than 200%, with varying minimum thresholds based on regional pay practices.

9. Complexity: We will consider voting against overly complex incentive arrangements which are difficult for investors and others to readily understand. An important factor in assessing complexity is the number of different components that comprise the whole remuneration package.

10. Variable to fixed pay: We will consider voting against proposed incentive schemes or pay awards where we consider the ratio of variable pay relative to fixed pay to be too high, as part of our long-term desire to see far simpler pay schemes, based on majority fixed pay and long-term share ownership. We set varying maximum thresholds for variable pay to reflect regional pay practices.

11. Justification for high pay: We will consider voting against pay proposals which appear excessive in the context of wider industry pay practices or where executive pay is raised significantly above inflation or that of the workforce average without a convincing justification.

12. Discretion: We expect boards and remuneration committees to apply discretion to ensure pay outcomes are aligned with performance and the wider experience of shareholders and may oppose remuneration reports and the election of relevant directors where this is not the case.

13. Disclosure: We will generally vote against remuneration reporting where disclosure is insufficient to understand the approach to incentive arrangements and how pay outcomes have been achieved, or where disclosure otherwise falls below expected market practice.

Audit

14. Ratification of external auditors: We will generally oppose the ratification of external auditors and/or the payment of audit fees where we have concerns, including those relating to audit quality or independence, or controversies involving the audit partner or firm.

Protection of Shareholder Rights

15. Limitation of shareholder rights: We will generally vote against any limitation on shareholder rights or the transfer of authority from shareholders to directors and only support proposals which enhance shareholder rights or maximise shareholder value.

16. Related-party transactions: We will generally only support related-party transactions (RPTs) which are made on terms equivalent to those that would prevail in an arm’s length transaction, together with good supporting evidence. We expect RPTs to be overseen and reviewed by independent board directors with annual disclosure of significant RPTs.

17. Differential voting rights: We will generally vote against the authorisation of stock with differential voting rights if the issuance of such stock would adversely affect the voting rights of existing shareholders.

18. Anti-takeover proposals: We will generally vote against anti-takeover proposals or other ‘poison pill’ arrangements including the authority to grant shares which may be used in such a manner.

19. Poll voting: We will generally support proposals to adopt mandatory voting by poll and full disclosure of voting outcomes, together with proposals to adopt confidential voting and independent vote tabulation practices.

20. Authorities to allot shares: We will generally vote against unusual or excessive authorities to increase issued share capital.

21. Rights issues: We generally support rights issues, provided that shareholder approval is obtained for any rights issue for any significant amount of capital (greater than 10% of share capital).

22. Market purchase of ordinary shares (share buybacks): We will generally support proposals for a general authority to buy back shares provided these meet local governance standards. We may not support this authority where it exceeds a period of 18 months, where the potential effect of the buyback programme on executive remuneration is not made sufficiently clear, or where we oppose the strategy for long-term capital allocation.

23. Bundled resolutions: We will generally vote against a resolution relating to capital decisions, where the resolution has bundled more than one decision into a single resolution, denying investors the opportunity to make separate voting decisions on separate issues.

24. Virtual/electronic general meetings: We will generally vote against proposals allowing for the conveying of virtual-only shareholder meetings.

Commercial Transactions

25. Commercial transactions: When considering our vote on a commercial transaction, we consider a range of factors in the context of seeking to protect and promote long-term, sustainable value. These include: consistency with strategy; risks and opportunities (the key risks and opportunities and the extent to which these appear to have been managed); and conflicts of interest. The underlying expectation is that due process is followed, with information made available to all shareholders.

Shareholder Resolutions

26. Shareholder resolutions: We support the selective use of shareholder resolutions as a useful tool for communicating investor concerns and priorities or the assertion of shareholder rights, and as a supplement to or escalation of direct engagement with companies. We consider such resolutions on a case-by-case basis. When considering whether or not to support resolutions, we consider factors including whether the proposal promotes long-term shareholders’ interests; what the company is already doing or has committed to do; the nature and motivations of the filers, if known; and what potential impacts – positive and negative – the proposal could have on the company if implemented.

Climate Change

27. Climate change: We will consider voting against the chair, and other relevant directors or resolutions, at companies where we consider a company’s response to the risks and opportunities presented by climate change to be insufficient, using a range of indicators, including the Transition Pathway Initiative assessment.

Portfolio Holdings Information

Information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available via the link to the Fund and share class name at FederatedInvestors.com/FundInformation . A complete listing of the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar quarter is posted on the website 30 days (or the next business day) after the end of the quarter and remains posted for six months thereafter. Summary portfolio composition information as of the close of each month is posted on the website 15 days (or the next business day) after month-end and remains posted until replaced by the information for the succeeding month. The summary portfolio composition information may include: identification of the Fund’s top 10 holdings and a percentage breakdown of the portfolio by sector.

You may also access portfolio information as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal quarters via the link to the Fund and share class name at FederatedInvestors.com . The Fund’s Annual Shareholder Report and Semi-Annual Shareholder Report contain complete listings of the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of the end of the Fund’s second and fourth fiscal quarters. Fiscal quarter information is made available on the website within 70 days after the end of the fiscal quarter. This information is also available in reports filed with the SEC at the SEC’s website at sec.gov .

The disclosure policy of the Fund and the Adviser prohibits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information to any investor or intermediary before the same information is made available to other investors. Employees of the Adviser or its affiliates who have access to nonpublic information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings are prohibited from trading securities on the basis of this information. Such persons must report all personal securities trades and obtain pre-clearance for all personal securities trades other than mutual fund shares.

Firms that provide administrative, custody, financial, accounting, legal or other services to the Fund may receive nonpublic information about Fund portfolio holdings for purposes relating to their services. The Fund may also provide portfolio holdings information to publications that rate, rank or otherwise categorize investment companies. Traders or portfolio managers may provide “ interest ” lists to facilitate portfolio trading if the list reflects only that subset of the portfolio for which the trader or portfolio manager is seeking market interest. A list of service providers, publications and other third parties who may receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information appears in the Appendix to this SAI.

The furnishing of nonpublic portfolio holdings information to any third party (other than authorized governmental or regulatory personnel) requires the prior approval of the President of the Adviser and of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund. The President of the Adviser and the Chief Compliance Officer will approve the furnishing of nonpublic portfolio holdings information to a third party only if they consider the furnishing of such information to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. In that regard, and to address possible conflicts between the interests of Fund shareholders and those of the Adviser and its affiliates, the following procedures apply. No consideration may be received by the Fund, the Adviser, any affiliate of the Adviser or any of their employees in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information. Before information is furnished, the third party must sign a written agreement that it will safeguard the confidentiality of the information, will use it only for the purposes for which it is furnished and will not use it in connection with the trading of any security. Persons approved to receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information will receive it as often as necessary for the purpose for which it is provided. Such information may be furnished as frequently as daily and often with no time lag between the date of the information and the date it is furnished. The Board receives and reviews annually a list of the persons who receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information and the purposes for which it is furnished.

Brokerage Transactions And Investment Allocation

Equity securities may be traded in the over-the-counter market through broker/dealers acting as principal or agent, or in transactions directly with other investors. Transactions may also be executed on a securities exchange or through an electronic communications network. The Adviser seeks to obtain best execution of trades in equity securities by balancing the costs inherent in trading, including opportunity costs, market impact costs and commissions. As a general matter, the Adviser seeks to add value to its investment management by using market information to capitalize on market opportunities, actively seek liquidity and discover price. The Adviser continually monitors its trading results in an effort to improve execution. Fixed-income securities are generally traded in an over-the-counter market on a net basis (i.e., without commission) through dealers acting as principal or in transactions directly with the issuer. Dealers derive an undisclosed amount of compensation by offering securities at a higher price than they bid for them. Some fixed-income securities may have only one primary market maker. The Adviser seeks to use dealers it believes to be actively and effectively trading the security being purchased or sold, but may not always obtain the lowest purchase price or highest sale price with respect to a fixed-income security. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Adviser’s receipt of research services (as described below) may also be a factor in the Adviser’s selection of brokers and dealers. The Adviser may also direct certain portfolio trades to a broker that, in turn, pays a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Adviser makes decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers subject to review by the Fund’s Board.

managed or wrap-fee accounts, and other accounts, managed by the Adviser. The trading and allocation of investments done by the Adviser, including investments in IPOs, will be done independently from accounts managed by affiliates of the Adviser. It is possible that such independent trading activity could adversely impact the prices paid or received and/or positions obtained or disposed of by the Fund.

Brokerage and Research Services

Brokerage services include execution of trades and products and services that relate to the execution of trades, including communications services related to trade execution, clearing and settlement, trading software used to route orders to market centers, software that provides algorithmic trading strategies and software used to transmit orders to direct market access (DMA) systems. Research services may include: advice as to the advisability of investing in securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies; industry studies; receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar services. Research services assist the Adviser and its affiliates in terms of their overall investment responsibilities to funds and investment accounts for which they have investment discretion. However, particular brokerage and research services received by the Adviser and its affiliates may not be used to service every fund or account, and may not benefit the particular funds and accounts that generated the brokerage commissions. In addition, brokerage and research services paid for with commissions generated by the Fund may be used in managing other funds and accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may replace services for which the Adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it would tend to reduce their expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates exercise reasonable business judgment in selecting brokers to execute securities transactions where receipt of research services is a factor. They determine in good faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to the value of the brokerage and research services provided.

MiFID II

Directive 2014/61/EU on markets in financial instruments and Regulation 600/2014/EU on markets in financial instruments (collectively, MiFID II) took effect in member states of the European Union (the EU) on January 3, 2018. MiFID II forms the legal framework governing the requirements applicable to EU investment firms, such as the Sub-Adviser, and trading venues and third-country firms providing investment services or activities in the EU. The extent to which MiFID II will have an indirect impact on markets and market participants outside the EU is unclear and yet to fully play out in practice. It will likely impact pricing, liquidity and transparency in most asset classes.

MiFID II introduces a new rule that an EU regulated firm may execute an equity trade only on an EU trading venue (or with a firm which is a systematic internaliser as defined by MiFID II or an equivalent venue in a third country). This requirement applies to any equities admitted to trading on an EU trading venue, including those with only a secondary listing in the EU. The effect of this rule is to introduce a substantial limit on the possibility of trading off-exchange or OTC in EU-listed equities with EU counterparties.

MiFID II prohibits an EU authorized investment firm from receiving investment research unless it is paid for directly by the firm out of its own resources or from a separate research payment account regulated under MiFID II. All such research costs attributable to the Sub-Adviser will be borne by the Sub-Adviser.

Administrator

Federated Administrative Services (FAS), a subsidiary of Federated Hermes, provides administrative personnel and services, including certain legal, compliance, recordkeeping and financial reporting services ( “ Administrative Services ” ), necessary for the operation of the Fund. FAS provides Administrative Services for a fee based upon the rates set forth below paid on the average daily net assets of the Fund. For purposes of determining the appropriate rate breakpoint, “ Investment Complex ” is defined as all of the Federated Hermes funds subject to a fee under the Administrative Services Agreement with FAS. FAS is also entitled to reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing Administrative Services to the Fund.

Administrative Services Fee Rate	Average Daily Net Assets of the Investment Complex
0.100 of 1%	on assets up to $50 billion
0.075 of 1%	on assets over $50 billion

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon, New York, New York, is custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund. Foreign instruments purchased by the Fund are held by foreign banks participating in a network coordinated by The Bank of New York Mellon.

Transfer Agent And Dividend Disbursing Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Fund’s registered transfer agent, maintains all necessary shareholder records.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund, KPMG LLP, conducts its audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), which require it to plan and perform its audits to provide reasonable assurance about whether the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.

Securities Lending Activities

The Fund does not participate in a securities lending program. The Fund became effective on September 18, 2019 and will complete its first fiscal year on August 31, 2020. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the Fund had no securities lending activities.

Fees Paid by the Fund for Services

For the Year Ended August 31		2020
Advisory Fee Earned		$ 151,664
Advisory Fee Waived		$ 151,664
Net Administrative Fee		$ 20,753

Financial Information

The Financial Statements for the Fund for the reporting period ended August 31, 2020, are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders of Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High-Yield Credit Fund dated August 31, 2020.

Investment Ratings

Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) LONG-TERM Issue RATINGS

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations: the likelihood of payment-capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation; the nature of and provisions of the obligation; and the protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

AAA — An obligation rated “ AAA ” has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA — An obligation rated “ AA ” differs from the highest rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A — An obligation rated “ A ” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB — An obligation rated “ BBB ” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

Obligations rated “ BB, ” “ B, ” “ CCC, ” “ CC ” and “ C ” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. “ BB ” indicates the least degree of speculation and “ C ” the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB — An obligation rated “ BB ” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B — An obligation rated “ B ” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “ BB, ” but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC — An obligation rated “ CCC ” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC — An obligation rated “ CC ” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C — A “ C ” rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the “ C ” rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

D — An obligation rated “ D ” is in payment default. The “ D ” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days, irrespective of any grace period. The “ D ” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to “ D ” upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

The ratings from “ AA ” to “ CCC ” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

S&P Rating Outlook

An S&P rating outlook assesses the potential direction of a long-term credit rating over the intermediate term (typically six months to two years). In determining a rating outlook, consideration is given to any changes in the economic and/or fundamental business conditions.

Positive — Positive means that a rating may be raised.

Negative — Negative means that a rating may be lowered.

Stable — Stable means that a rating is not likely to change.

Developing — Developing means a rating may be raised or lowered.

N.M. — N.M. means not meaningful.

S&P Short-Term Issue RATINGS

Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the United States, for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days – including commercial paper.

A-1 — A short-term obligation rated “ A-1 ” is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2 — A short-term obligation rated “ A-2 ” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3 — A short-term obligation rated “ A-3 ” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B — A short-term obligation rated “ B ” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

C — A short-term obligation rated “ C ” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D — A short-term obligation rated “ D ” is in payment default. The “ D ” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The “ D ” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

MOODY’S Investor Services, Inc. (MOODY’s) LONG-TERM RATINGS

Moody’s long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Aaa — Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa — Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A — Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa — Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba — Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B — Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa — Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca — Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C — Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aaa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

MOODY’S Short-Term RATINGS

Moody’s short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of 13 months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

P-1 — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated P-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-2 — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated P-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-3 — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated P-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

NP — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

FITCH, INC. (Fitch) LONG-TERM Debt RATINGs

Fitch long-term ratings report Fitch’s opinion on an entity’s relative vulnerability to default on financial obligations. The “ threshold ” default risk addressed by the rating is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, Fitch long-term ratings also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts, although the agency recognizes that issuers may also make pre-emptive and therefore voluntary use of such mechanisms.

AAA: Highest Credit Quality — “ AAA ” ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA: Very High Credit Quality — “ AA ” ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A: High Credit Quality — “ A ” ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB: Good Credit Quality — “ BBB ” ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

BB: Speculative — “ BB ” ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments.

B: Highly Speculative — “ B ” ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.

CCC: Substantial Credit Risk — Default is a real possibility.

CC: Very High Levels of Credit Risk — Default of some kind appears probable.

C: Exceptionally High Levels of Credit Risk — Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a “ C ” category rating for an issuer include: (a) the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation; (b) the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or (c) Fitch otherwise believes a condition of “ RD ” or “ D ” to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.

RD: Restricted Default — “ RD ” ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include: (a) the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt; (b) the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation; (c) the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or (d) execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

D: Default — “ D ” ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business.

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange.

“ Imminent ” default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.

In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.

FITCH SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGs

A Fitch short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “ short-term ” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. publicfinance markets.

F1: Highest Short-Term Credit Quality — Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “ + ” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2: Good Short-Term Credit Quality — Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

F3: Fair Short-Term Credit Quality — The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

B: Speculative Short-Term Credit Quality — Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C: High Short-Term Default Risk — Default is a real possibility.

RD: Restricted Default — Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Applicable to entity ratings only.

D: Default — Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

A.M. BEST Company, Inc. (a.m. best) LONG-TERM DEBT and Preferred Stock RATINGS

A Best’s long-term debt rating is Best’s independent opinion of an issuer/entity’s ability to meet its ongoing financial obligations to security holders when due.

aaa: Exceptional — Assigned to issues where the issuer has an exceptional ability to meet the terms of the obligation.

aa: Very Strong — Assigned to issues where the issuer has a very strong ability to meet the terms of the obligation.

a: Strong — Assigned to issues where the issuer has a strong ability to meet the terms of the obligation.

bbb: Adequate — Assigned to issues where the issuer has an adequate ability to meet the terms of the obligation; however, the issue is more susceptible to changes in economic or other conditions.

bb: Speculative — Assigned to issues where the issuer has speculative credit characteristics, generally due to a modest margin or principal and interest payment protection and vulnerability to economic changes.

b: Very Speculative — Assigned to issues where the issuer has very speculative credit characteristics, generally due to a modest margin of principal and interest payment protection and extreme vulnerability to economic changes.

ccc, cc, c: Extremely Speculative — Assigned to issues where the issuer has extremely speculative credit characteristics, generally due to a minimal margin of principal and interest payment protection and/or limited ability to withstand adverse changes in economic or other conditions.

d: In Default — Assigned to issues in default on payment of principal, interest or other terms and conditions, or when a bankruptcy petition or similar action has been filed.

Ratings from “ aa ” to “ ccc ” may be enhanced with a “ + ” (plus) or “ - ” (minus) to indicate whether credit quality is near the top or bottom of a category.

A.M. BEST SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS

A Best’s short-term debt rating is Best’s opinion of an issuer/entity’s ability to meet its financial obligations having original maturities of generally less than one year, such as commercial paper.

AMB-1+ Strongest — Assigned to issues where the issuer has the strongest ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

AMB-1 Outstanding — Assigned to issues where the issuer has an outstanding ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

AMB-2 Satisfactory — Assigned to issues where the issuer has a satisfactory ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

AMB-3 Adequate — Assigned to issues where the issuer has an adequate ability to repay short-term debt obligations; however, adverse economic conditions likely will reduce the issuer’s capacity to meet its financial commitments.

AMB-4 Speculative — Assigned to issues where the issuer has speculative credit characteristics and is vulnerable to adverse economic or other external changes, which could have a marked impact on the company’s ability to meet its financial commitments.

d: In Default — Assigned to issues in default on payment of principal, interest or other terms and conditions, or when a bankruptcy petition or similar action has been filed.

A.M. Best Rating Modifiers

Both long- and short-term credit ratings can be assigned a modifier.

u — Indicates the rating may change in the near term, typically within six months. Generally is event-driven, with positive, negative or developing implications.

pd — Indicates ratings assigned to a company that chose not to participate in A.M. Best’s interactive rating process. (Discontinued in 2010).

i — Indicates rating assigned is indicative.

A.M. BEST RATING OUTLOOK

A.M. Best Credit Ratings are assigned a Rating Outlook that indicates the potential direction of a credit rating over an intermediate term, generally defined as the next 12 to36 months.

Positive — Indicates possible ratings upgrade due to favorable financial/market trends relative to the current trading level.

Negative — Indicates possible ratings downgrade due to unfavorable financial/market trends relative to the current trading level.

Stable — Indicates low likelihood of rating change due to stable financial/market trends.

Not Rated

Certain nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) may designate certain issues as NR, meaning that the issue or obligation is not rated.

Addresses

Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund

Institutional Shares

Federated Hermes Funds
4000 Ericsson Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086-7561

Distributor

Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Investment Adviser

Federated Investment Management Company
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Sub-Adviser

Hermes Investment Management Limited
Sixth Floor
150 Cheapside
London EC2V 6ET
England

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon
One Wall Street
New York, NY 10286

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 219318
Kansas City, MO 64121-9318

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

KPMG LLP
Two Financial Center
60 South Street
Boston, MA 02111

Appendix

The following is a list of persons, other than the Adviser and its affiliates, that have been approved to receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information concerning the Fund or Federated Hermes Complex; however, certain persons below might not receive such information concerning the Fund or Federated Hermes Complex:

CUSTODIAN(S)

The Bank of New York Mellon

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

KPMG LLP

LEGAL COUNSEL

Goodwin Procter LLP
K&L Gates LLP

Financial Printer(S)

Donnelley Financial Solutions

Proxy Voting Administrator

Institutional Shareholder Services

SECURITY PRICING SERVICES

Bloomberg L.P.
IHS Markit (Markit North America)
ICE Data Pricing & Reference Data, LLC
JPMorgan PricingDirect
Refinitiv US Holdings Inc.

RATINGS AGENCIES

Fitch, Inc.
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC

Other SERVICE PROVIDERS

Other types of service providers that have been approved to receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information include service providers offering, for example, trade order management systems, portfolio analytics, or performance and accounting systems, such as:

Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bloomberg L.P.
Citibank, N.A.
Eagle Investment Systems LLC
Electra Information Systems
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
FISGlobal
Institutional Shareholder Services
Investortools, Inc.
MSCI ESG Research LLC
Northern Trust Corporation
Sustainalytics U.S. Inc.
The Yield Book, Inc.
Wolters Kluwer N.V.

Prospectus

October 31, 2020

Disclosure contained herein relates to all classes of the Fund, as listed below, unless otherwise noted.

Share Class

Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Hermes Adviser Series
(formerly, Federated Adviser Series)

A mutual fund seeking current income and long-term capital appreciation along side positive societal impact.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS

Not FDIC Insured ▪ May Lose Value ▪ No Bank Guarantee

CONTENTS

Fund Summary Information	1
What are the Fund’s Investment Strategies?	5
What are the Fund’s Principal Investments?	7
What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?	11
What Do Shares Cost?	16
How is the Fund Sold?	21
Payments to Financial Intermediaries	22
How to Purchase Shares	25
How to Redeem and Exchange Shares	27
Security and Privacy Protection	30
Account and Share Information	31
Who Manages the Fund?	33
Financial Information	34
Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information	35
Appendix B: Sales Charge Waivers and Exchange Features for Shareholders Purchasing Through Certain Financial Intermediaries	37

Fund Summary Information

Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund (the “Fund”)

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class A Shares (A), Class C Shares (C) and Class R6 Shares (R6) of the Fund. You may qualify for certain sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain classes of Federated Hermes Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the “ What Do Shares Cost? ” section of the Prospectus on page 15 and in “ Appendix B ” to this Prospectus. If you purchase the Fund’s R6 Shares through a broker acting as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to such broker; such commissions, if any, are not reflected in the Example below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	A	C	R6
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	4.50%	None	None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)	0.00%	1.00%	None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)	None	None	None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)	None	None	None
Exchange Fee	None	None	None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fee	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee	1 0.00%	0.75%	None
Other Expenses 2	1.29%	1.29%	0.94%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.89%	2.64%	1.54%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements 3	(1.02)%	(1.02)%	(0.97)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/orExpense Reimbursements	0.87%	1.62%	0.57%

The Fund has adopted a Distribution (12b-1) Plan for its Class A shares pursuant to which the A class of the Fund may incur and pay a Distribution (12b-1) Fee of up to a maximum amount of 0.05%. No such fee is currently incurred and paid by the A class of the Fund. The A class of the Fund will not incur and pay such a Distribution (12b-1) Fee until such time as approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “ Trustees ” ).

Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

The Adviser and certain of its affiliates on their own initiative have agreed to waive certain amounts of their respective fees and/or reimburse expenses. Effective November 1, 2020 total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, extraordinary expenses, and proxy-related expenses, paid by the Fund, if any) paid by the Fund’s A class, C class and R6 class (after the voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements) will not exceed 0.87%, 1.62% and 0.57% (the “ Fee Limit ” ), respectively, up to but not including the later of (the “Termination Date”): (a) November 1, 2021; or (b) the date of the Fund’s next effective Prospectus. While the Adviser and its affiliates currently do not anticipate terminating or increasing these additional arrangements prior to the Termination Date, these additional arrangements may only be terminated or the Fee Limit increased prior to the Termination Date with the agreement of the Trustees.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses (excluding fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are as shown in the table above and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Share Class	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
A:
Expenses assuming redemption	$633	$1,017	$1,425	$2,562
Expenses assuming no redemption	$633	$1,017	$1,425	$2,562

Share Class	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
C:
Expenses assuming redemption	$367	$820	$1,400	$2,973
Expenses assuming no redemption	$267	$820	$1,400	$2,973
R6:
Expenses assuming redemption	$157	$486	$839	$1,834
Expenses assuming no redemption	$157	$486	$839	$1,834

Portfolio Turnover

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENTS, RISKS and PERFORMANCE

What are the Fund’s Main Investment Strategies?

In managing the assets of the Fund, the Adviser will seek to invest in securities that, in its view, provide the potential for current income and long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (the “ UN Sustainable Development Goals ” ) (as outlined in further detail below). 1 It will do so by performing bottom-up fundamental analysis of financial criteria such as balance sheet quality, franchise value (i.e., brand strength and sustainability of the business model) and quality of management. This fundamental, bottom-up analysis of individual credit will be used to generate returns through anticipated price changes. At the same time, the Adviser will analyze securities to seek to identify whether their market price is reflective of the value of the issuer of the securities (as determined by the fundamental analysis outlined above and when taking market news into account). In addition, the Adviser intends to use a wider analysis of general economic conditions for portfolio risk management purposes. The Adviser intends to diversify the Fund’s portfolio across different geographic regions and industries.

Please refer to https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 for further information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Fund may invest in derivative contracts and/or hybrid instruments to implement its investment strategies. For example, the Fund may use derivative contracts or hybrid instruments to increase or decrease the portfolio’s exposure to the investments(s) underlying the derivative or hybrid instrument. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of derivative contracts or hybrid instruments will work as intended. Derivative investments made by the Fund are included within the Fund’s 80% policy (as described below) and are calculated at market value.

The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate and increase the Fund’s trading costs, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. An active trading strategy will likely result in the Fund generating more short-term capital gains or losses. Short-term gains are generally taxed at a higher rate than long-term gains. Any short-term losses are used first to offset short-term gains.

What are the Main Risks of Investing in the Fund?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund’s returns include:

■ Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested.

■ Risk of Investing in Emerging Market Countries. Securities issued or traded in emerging markets generally entail greater risks than securities issued or traded in developed markets.

Performance: Bar Chart and Table

A performance bar chart and total return information for the Fund will be provided after the Fund has been in operation for a full calendar year. Updated performance information for the Fund is available under the “ Products ” section at FederatedInvestors.com or by calling 1-800-341-7400 .

Fund Management

The Fund’s Investment Adviser is Federated Investment Management Company and the Fund’s Sub-Adviser, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, is Hermes Investment Management Limited.

Mitch Reznick, CFA, Head of Research and Sustainable Fixed Income and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since inception in September 2019.

Fraser Lundie, CFA, Head of Credit and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since inception in September 2019.

Nachu Chockalingam, CFA and Co-Portfolio Manager, has been the Fund’s portfolio manager since October 2020.

purchase and sale of fund shares

A & C Classes

The minimum investment amount for the Fund’s A and C classes is generally $1,500 for initial investments and $100 for subsequent investments. The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for Individual Retirement Accounts are generally $250 and $100, respectively. There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment amount for employer-sponsored retirement plans. Certain types of accounts are eligible for lower minimum investments. The minimum investment for Systematic Investment Programs is $50.

R6 Class

There are no minimum initial or subsequent investment amounts required. The minimum investment amount for Systematic Investment Programs is $50.

Tax Information

A & C Classes

R6 Class

The Fund’s distributions are taxable as ordinary income or capital gains except when your investment is through a tax-advantagedinvestment plan.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

A & C Classes

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

R6 Class

Class R6 Shares do not make any payments to financial intermediaries, either from Fund assets or from the investment adviser and its affiliates.

What are the Fund’s Investment Strategies?

In managing the assets of the Fund, the Adviser will seek to invest in securities that, in its view, provide the potential for current income and long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (the “ UN Sustainable Development Goals ” ) (as outlined in further detail below). 1 It will do so by performing bottom-up fundamental analysis of financial criteria such as balance sheet quality, franchise value (i.e., brand strength and sustainability of the business model) and quality of management. This fundamental, bottom-up analysis of individual credit will be used to generate returns through anticipated price changes. For example, the Adviser will analyze securities of an issuer to seek to identify the extent to which the securities are exposed to credit risk. This will be done with a view to assessing whether the market price of the security in question is, in the Adviser’s view, reflective of its value (after taking account of the credit risk). At the same time, the Adviser will analyze securities to seek

to identify whether their market price is reflective of the value of the issuer of the securities (as determined by the fundamental analysis outlined above and when taking market news into account). In addition, the Adviser intends to use a wider analysis of general economic conditions for portfolio risk management purposes. The Adviser intends to diversify the Fund’s portfolio across different geographic regions and industries.

Please refer to https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 for further information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Fund will not be subject to any limitation on the types of companies in which it may invest (either in terms of industry or focus) so long as these companies are viewed by the Adviser to provide the potential for long-term capital appreciation while also contributing to positive societal impact aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund will however, exclude companies that manufacture tobacco and/or controversial weapons. The Fund may, from time to time, have larger allocations to certain broad market sectors in attempting to achieve its investment objective.

■ increase or decrease the effective duration of the Fund portfolio;

■ obtain premiums from the sale of derivative contracts;

■ realize gains from trading a derivative contract; or

■ hedge against potential losses.

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate and increase the Fund’s trading costs, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. An active trading strategy will likely result in the Fund generating more short-term capital gains or losses. Short-term gains are generally taxed at a higher rate than long-term gains. Any short-term losses are used first to offset short-term gains.

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS

What are the Fund’s Principal Investments?

FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES

The following describes the fixed-income securities in which the Fund principally invests:

Preferred Stocks

Corporate Debt Securities (A Type of Fixed-Income Security)

Lower-Rated, Fixed-Income Securities

Demand Instruments (A Type of Corporate Debt Security)

Convertible Securities (A Fixed-Income Security)

The Fund treats convertible securities as fixed-income securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of their unique characteristics.

Contingent Convertible Capital Instrument (A Type of Fixed-Income Security)

FOREIGN SECURITIES

■ it is organized under the laws of, or has its principal office located in, another country;

■ the principal trading market for its securities is in another country;

■ it is classified by an applicable index as based outside the United States.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Derivative Contracts

Until the mandated rulemaking and regulations are implemented completely, it will not be possible to determine the complete impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on the Fund.

Futures Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

Option Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

Swap Contracts (A Type of Derivative)

OTHER INVESTMENTS, TRANSACTIONS, TECHNIQUES

Hedging

Hybrid Instruments

Asset Segregation

Investing in Securities of Other Investment Companies

Investment Ratings for Investment-Grade Securities

Investment Ratings for Noninvestment-Grade Securities

Noninvestment-grade securities are rated below BBB- by an NRSRO. These bonds have greater economic, credit and liquidity risks than investment-grade securities.

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?

Risk Associated with Noninvestment-Grade Securities

ISSUER Credit Risk

downgraded from time to time as an NRSRO’s assessment of the financial condition of a party obligated to make payments with respect to such securities and credit risk changes. The impact of any credit rating downgrade can be uncertain. Credit rating downgrades may lead to increased interest rates and volatility in financial markets, which in turn could negatively affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, its share price and its investment performance. Credit ratings are not a guarantee of quality. Credit ratings may lag behind the current financial conditions of the issuer and/or guarantor and do not provide assurance against default or other loss of money. Credit ratings do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser’s credit assessment.

Risks of Investing for UN Sustainable Development Goals

Counterparty Credit Risk

RISK RELATED TO THE ECONOMY

Epidemic and Pandemic Risk

the future, could continue to negatively affect the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, individual companies, including certain Fund service providers and issuers of the Fund’s investments, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

LIQUIDITY RISK

LeverageD COMpany Risk

Interest Rate Risk

Risk of Foreign Investing

Currency Risk

EUROPEAN UNION AND EUROZONE RELATED RISK

declines in business and consumer spending as well as foreign direct investment. Brexit may also adversely affect UK-based financial firms, including certain subadvisers to the Federated Hermes Funds, that have counterparties in the EU or participate in market infrastructure (trading venues, clearing houses, settlement facilities) based in the EU. These events and the resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on the performance of the Fund.

Leverage Risk

SECTOR RISK

Risk of Investing in Emerging Market Countries

Risk of Investing in Derivative Contracts and Hybrid Instruments

technology Risk

What Do Shares Cost?

CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

You can purchase, redeem or exchange Shares any day the NYSE is open.

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

■ Equity securities listed on an exchange or traded through a regulated market system are valued at their last reported sale price or official closing price in their principal exchange or market.

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

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

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

Fair Valuation and Significant Events Procedures

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

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

SALES CHARGE INFORMATION

The following table summarizes the minimum investment amount and the maximum sales charge, if any, that you will pay on an investment in the Fund. Keep in mind that financial intermediaries may charge you fees for their services in connection with your Share transactions.

	Minimum Initial/Subsequent Investment Amounts 1	Maximum Sales Charges
Shares Offered	Minimum Initial/Subsequent Investment Amounts 1	Front-End Sales Charge 2	Contingent Deferred Sales Charge 3
A	$1,500/$100	4.50%	0.00%
C	$1,500/$100	None	1.00%

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are generally $250 and $100, respectively. There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment amount required for employer-sponsored retirement plans; however, such accounts remain subject to the Fund’s policy on “ Accounts with Low Balances ” as discussed later in this Prospectus. Please see “ By Systematic Investment Program ” for applicable minimum investment. Financial intermediaries may impose higher or lower minimum investment requirements on their customers than those imposed by the Fund.

To maximize your return and minimize the sales charges and marketing fees, purchases of C class are generally limited to $1,000,000. Purchases equal to or in excess of this limit may be made in A class. If your Shares are held on the books of the Fund in the name of a financial intermediary, you may be subject to rules of your financial intermediary that differ from those of the Fund. See “ Purchase Restrictions on C Class ” below.

After C Shares have been held for ten years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to A Shares on the next monthly conversion processing date, provided that certain conditions are satisfied. See “ How is the Fund Sold? ” This conversion is a non-taxable event.

Front-End Sales Charge is expressed as a percentage of public offering price. See “ Sales Charge When You Purchase. ”

See “ Sales Charge When You Redeem. ”

As shown in the table above, each class of Shares has a different sales charge structure. In addition, the ongoing annual operating expenses ( “ expense ratios ” ), as well as the compensation payable to financial intermediaries, also vary among the classes. Before you decide which class to purchase, you should review the different charges and expenses of each class carefully, in light of your personal circumstances, and consult with your financial intermediary.

Among the important factors to consider are the amount you plan to invest and the length of time you expect to hold your investment (for example, whether the investment is in connection with a long-term retirement program). You should also consider, for example, that it may be possible to reduce, or eliminate, the front-end sales charges imposed on purchases of A class. Among other ways, A class has a series of “ breakpoints, ” which means that the front-end sales charges decrease (and can be eliminated entirely) as the amount invested increases. (The breakpoint schedule is set out below, along with detailed information on ways to reduce, or eliminate, front-end sales charges.) On the other hand, C class does not have front-end sales charges, but does impose a contingent deferred sales charge only if redeemed within one year after purchase; however, the asset-based 12b-1 fees charged to C class are greater than those charged to A class.

You should also consider that the expense ratio for A class will be lower than that for C class. Thus, the fact that no front-end charge is imposed on purchases of C class does not always make them preferable to A class.

SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE

The following table lists the sales charges which will be applied to your Share purchase, subject to the breakpoint discounts indicated in the table and described below.

REDUCING THE SALES CHARGE WITH BREAKPOINT DISCOUNTS

A:
Purchase Amount	Sales Charge as a Percentage of Public Offering Price	Sales Charge as a Percentage of NAV
Less than $100,000	4.50%	4.71%
$100,000 but less than $250,000	3.75%	3.90%
$250,000 but less than $500,000	2.50%	2.56%
$500,000 but less than $1 million	2.00%	2.04%
$1 million or greater 1	0.00%	0.00%

A contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Shares originally purchased in an amount of $1 million or more and redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where a financial intermediary received an advance payment on the transaction. CDSC exceptions may apply. See “ Sales Charge When You Redeem. ”

Your investment may qualify for a reduction or elimination of the sales charge, also known as a breakpoint discount. The breakpoint discounts offered by the Fund are indicated in the table above.

You or your financial intermediary must notify the Fund’s Transfer Agent of eligibility for any applicable breakpoint discount at the time of purchase.

In order to receive the applicable breakpoint discount, it may be necessary at the time of purchase for you to inform your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent of the existence of other accounts in which there are holdings eligible to be aggregated to meet a sales charge breakpoint ( “ Qualifying Accounts ” ). Qualifying Accounts mean those share accounts in the Federated Hermes funds held directly or through a financial intermediary or through a single-participant retirement account by you, your spouse, your parents (if you are under age 21) and/or your children under age 21, which can be linked using tax identification numbers (TINs), social security numbers (SSNs) or broker identification numbers (BINs). Accounts held through 401(k) plans and similar multi-participant retirement plans, or through “ Section 529 ” college savings plans or those accounts which cannot be linked using TINs, SSNs or BINs, are not Qualifying Accounts.

In order to verify your eligibility for a breakpoint discount, you will be required to provide to your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent certain information on your New Account Form and may be required to provide account statements regarding Qualifying Accounts. If you purchase through a financial intermediary, you may be asked to provide additional information and records as required by the financial intermediary. Failure to provide proper notification or verification of eligibility for a breakpoint discount may result in your not receiving a breakpoint discount to which you are otherwise entitled. Breakpoint discounts apply only to your current purchase and do not apply retroactively to previous purchases. The sales charges applicable to the Shares offered in this Prospectus, and the breakpoint discounts offered with respect to such Shares, are described in full in this Prospectus. Because the Prospectus is available on FederatedInvestors.com free of charge, Federated Hermes does not disclose this information separately on the website.

Contingent upon notification to the Transfer Agent, the sales charge at purchase of the A class only, may be reduced or eliminated by:

Larger Purchases

■ Purchasing the A class in greater quantities to reduce the applicable sales charge;

Concurrent and Accumulated Purchases

■ Excluding any Federated Hermes fund A class without a sales charge ( “ no-load A class ” ), combining concurrent purchases of and/or current investments in the A class, B class, C class, F class and R class of any Federated Hermes fund made or held by Qualifying Accounts; the purchase amount used in determining the sales charge on your additional Share purchase will be calculated by multiplying the respective maximum public offering price times the number of the A class, B class, C class,F class and R class shares of any Federated Hermes fund currently held in Qualifying Accounts and adding the dollar amount of your current purchase; or

Letter of Intent

■ Signing a letter of intent to purchase a qualifying amount of the A class within 13 months. (Call your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information.) The Fund’s custodian will hold Shares in escrow equal to the maximum applicable sales charge. If you complete the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will release the Shares in escrow to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will redeem the appropriate amount from the Shares held in escrow to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

PURCHASE restrictions ON C CLASS

In order to maximize shareholder returns and minimize sales charges and marketing fees, an investor’s purchases of the C class are generally limited to $1,000,000 (except for employer-sponsored retirement plans held in omnibus accounts). In applying the limit, the dollar amount of the current purchase is added to the product obtained by multiplying the respective maximum public offering price times the number of the A class, B class, C class, F class and R class of any Federated Hermes fund currently held in linked Qualifying Accounts, as defined in the section entitled “ Reducing the Sales Charge with Breakpoint Discounts. ” If the sum of these two amounts would equal or exceed the limit, then the current purchase order will not be processed. Instead, the Distributor will attempt to contact the investor or the investor’s financial intermediary to offer the opportunity to convert the order to the A class.

If your Shares are held on the books of the Fund in the name of a financial intermediary, you may be subject to rules of your financial intermediary that differ from those of the Fund.

ELIMINATING The SALES CHARGE

Your investment may qualify for a sales charge waiver. Sales charge waivers offered by the Fund are listed below. In order to receive a sales charge waiver, you must inform your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent at the time of each purchase that your investment is eligible for a waiver. It is possible that your financial intermediary may not, in accordance with its policies, procedures and system limitations, be able to ensure your receipt of one or more of these waiver categories. In this situation, you would need to invest directly through the Fund’s Transfer Agent. If you do not let your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent know that your investment is eligible for a sales charge waiver at the time of purchase, you may not receive the waiver to which you may otherwise be entitled.

Contingent upon notification to the Transfer Agent, the sales charge will be eliminated when you purchase or acquire Shares:

■ within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or greater amount (see “ 120 Day Reinstatement Program ” below);

■ through an eligible program offered by a Financial Intermediary that provides for the purchase of Shares without imposition of a sales charge (for example, a wrap account, self-directed brokerage account, retirement or other fee-based program offered by the Financial Intermediary);

■ with reinvested dividends or capital gains;

■ issued in connection with the merger, consolidation or acquisition of the assets of another fund. Further, the sales charge will be eliminated on purchases of Shares made by a shareholder that originally became a shareholder of a Federated Hermes Fund pursuant to the terms of an agreement and plan of reorganization which permits shareholders to acquire Shares at NAV, provided that such purchased Shares are held directly with the Fund’s transfer agent. If the Shares are held through a financial intermediary, the sales charge waiver will not apply (A class only);

■ as a Federated Life Member (Federated Hermes shareholders who originally were issued shares through the “ Liberty Account, ” which was an account for the Liberty Family of Funds on February 28, 1987, or who invested through an affinity group prior to August 1, 1987, into the Liberty Account) (A class only);

■ as a Trustee, employee or former employee of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates, an employee of any financial intermediary that sells Shares according to a sales agreement with the Distributor, an immediate family member of these individuals or a trust, pension or profit-sharing plan for these individuals; or

■ pursuant to the exchange privilege.

The sales charge will not be eliminated if you purchase Shares of the Fund through an exchange of shares of any no-load A class unless your no-load A class shares were acquired through an exchange of shares on which the sales charge had previously been paid.

120 Day reinstatement program

Within 120 days of redeeming Class A and Class C Shares of the Fund, upon proper notification to the Fund’s Transfer Agent, you may reinvest all or a portion of the redemption proceeds in Class A Shares of the Fund at net asset value, without the imposition of a sales charge or CDSC. Please note:

■ The ownership of the account receiving the purchase is not required to be identical to that of the account in which the redemption was placed; however, the registration of the account receiving the purchase must include at least one registered shareholder of the account from which the redemption occurred.

■ You will not be reimbursed for any fees originally incurred on the redemption (e.g., CDSC or redemption fees) by subsequently participating in the 120 DayReinstatement Program.

■ The 120 Day Reinstatement Program does not supersede or override any restrictions placed on an account due to frequent trading and/or client contractual issues.

Additional operational restrictions may apply, please contact a Client Service Representative at 1-800-341-7400 for more information.

sales charge when you redeem

Your redemption proceeds may be reduced by a sales charge, commonly referred to as a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). Shares otherwise subject to a CDSC will not be charged a CDSC at the time of an exchange; however, the CDSC will continue to be measured from the date of your original purchase. The CDSC schedule applicable to your original purchase will continue to apply to the shares you receive in an exchange.

To keep the sales charge as low as possible, the Fund redeems your Shares in this order:

■ Shares that are not subject to a CDSC; and

■ Shares held the longest. (To determine the number of years your Shares have been held, include the time you held shares of other Federated Hermes funds that have been exchanged for Shares of this Fund.)

The CDSC is then calculated using the Share price at the time of purchase or redemption, whichever is lower.

A:
If you make a purchase of the A class in the amount of $1 million or more and your financial intermediary received an advance commission on the sale, you will pay a 0.75% CDSC on any such Shares redeemed within 24 months of the purchase.
C:
You will pay a 1.00% CDSC if you redeem Shares within 12 months of the purchase date.

Your redemption may qualify for a waiver of the CDSC. The CDSC waivers offered by the Fund are listed below. In order to receive a waiver of the CDSC, you must inform your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent at the time of each redemption that your investment is eligible for a waiver. It is possible that your financial intermediary may not, in accordance with its policies, procedures and system limitations, be able to ensure your receipt of one or more of these waiver categories. In this situation, you would need to invest directly through the Fund’s Transfer Agent in order to take advantage of the waiver. If you do not let your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent know that your redemption is eligible for a CDSC waiver at the time of redemption, you may not receive the waiver to which you may otherwise be entitled.

Contingent upon notification to the Transfer Agent, you will not be charged a CDSC when redeeming Shares:

■ following the death of the last surviving shareholder on the account or the post-purchase disability of all registered shareholders, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the beneficiary on an account with a Transfer on Death registration is deemed the last surviving shareholder on the account);

■ due to the termination of a trust following the death of the trustor/grantor or beneficiary, provided that the trust document specifically states that the trust is terminated upon the death;

■ representing minimum required distributions from an IRA or other retirement plan as required under the Internal Revenue Code;

■ purchased by Trustees, employees of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates, by employees of a financial intermediary that sells Shares according to a sales agreement with the Distributor, by the immediate family members of the above persons and by trusts, pension or profit-sharing plans for the above persons;

■ purchased through an eligible program offered by a Financial Intermediary that provides for the purchase of Shares without imposition of a sales charge (for example, a wrap account, self-directed brokerage account, retirement or other fee-based program offered by the Financial Intermediary);

■ purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains;

■ redeemed by the Fund when it closes an account for not meeting the minimum balance requirements;

■ purchased pursuant to the exchange privilege, if the Shares were held for the applicable CDSC holding period (the holding period on the Shares purchased in the exchange will include the holding period of the Shares sold in the exchange); or

A Class Only

■ purchased in the amount of $1 million or more and redeemed within 24 months of purchase if the Shares were originally purchased through an eligible program offered by a Financial Intermediary that provides for the purchase of Shares without imposition of a sales charge (for example, a wrap account, self-directed brokerage account, retirement or other fee-based program offered by the Financial Intermediary).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN WAIVERS AND DISCOUNTS

The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary. Certain financial intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or CDSC waivers which are discussed in Appendix B to this Prospectus. The information contained in Appendix B is based on information provided by these financial intermediaries. Please contact your financial intermediary to ensure that you have the most current information regarding the sales charge waivers and discounts available to you and that you understand the steps you must take to qualify for available waivers and discounts. In all instances, it is the shareholder’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the shareholder’s Financial Intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the investor for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular financial intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another financial intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.

COMMISSIONS ON CERTAIN SHARES

The Fund does not charge any front-end load, deferred sales charge or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution of R6 Shares. However, if you purchase R6 Shares through a broker acting solely as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to the broker in an amount determined and separately disclosed to you by the broker.

Because the Fund is not a party to any such commission arrangement between you and your broker, any purchases and redemptions of R6 Shares will be made at the applicable net asset value (before imposition of the sales commission). Any such commissions charged by a broker are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the “ Risk/Return Summary: Fees and Expenses ” section of the Fund’s Prospectus and described above nor are they reflected in the “ Performance: Bar Chart and Table, ” because they are not charged by the Fund.

Shares of the Fund are available in other share classes that have different fees and expenses.

How is the Fund Sold?

The Fund has established the following Share classes: Class A Shares (A), Class C Shares (C), Institutional Shares (IS) and Class R6 Shares (R6), each representing interests in a single portfolio of securities. This prospectus relates to the A, C and R6 classes. All Share classes have different sales charges and/or other expenses which affect their performance. Please note that certain purchase restrictions may apply. Contact your financial intermediary or call 1-800-341-7400 for more information concerning the other classes.

A & C Classes

The Fund’s Distributor markets the A and C classes to institutions or to individuals, directly or through financial intermediaries.

R6 Class

The Fund’s Distributor markets the R6 class to Eligible Investors, as described below. The R6 Shares are sold at net asset value and are not subject to any minimum initial or subsequent investment amounts. In connection with a request to purchase the R6 class, you should provide documentation sufficient to verify your status as an Eligible Investor.

R6 Shares do not carry sales commissions or pay Rule 12b-1 fees, or make similar payments to financial intermediaries. As a general matter, the R6 class is not available for direct investment by natural persons. Individual shareholders who purchase R6 Shares through retirement platforms or other intermediaries will not be eligible to hold R6 Shares outside of their respective plan or intermediary platform.

Following are categories of Eligible Investors:

■ An investor participating in a no-load platform, network or other fee-based program offered by a financial intermediary, for example, a wrap-account or retirement platform where Federated Hermes has entered into an agreement with the intermediary;

■ An employer-sponsored retirement plan;

■ A trust institution investing on behalf of its trust customers;

■ An investor, other than a natural person, purchasing Shares directly from the Fund;

■ A Federated Hermes Fund;

■ An investor (including a natural person) who acquired the R6 class of a Federated Hermes fund pursuant to the terms of an agreement and plan of reorganization which permits the investor to acquire such shares; and

Intra-Fund Share Conversion Program

Class C Share Automatic Conversion Feature

After Class C Shares have been held for ten years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert into Class A Shares on the next monthly conversion processing date, provided that the Fund or financial intermediary has records confirming that the Class C Shares have been held for at least ten years and that the Class A Shares are available for purchase. For Class C Shares acquired in an exchange from another Federated Hermes fund, the date of purchase will be based on the initial purchase of the Class C Shares of the prior Federated Hermes fund. Certain financial intermediaries, record keepers and platforms do not track shareholder level share lot aging for certain types of accounts. These Class C Shares would not satisfy the conditions for the conversion. Contact your financial intermediary or call 1-800-341-7400 for more information.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund’s Class R6 Shares do not make any payments to financial intermediaries, either from Fund assets or from the investment adviser and its affiliates.

FRONT-END SALES CHARGE REALLOWANCES

The Distributor receives a front-end sales charge on certain Share sales. The Distributor pays a portion of this charge to financial intermediaries that are eligible to receive it (the “ Dealer Reallowance ” ) and retains any remaining portion of the front-end sales charge.

When a financial intermediary’s customer purchases Shares, the financial intermediary may receive a Dealer Reallowance as follows:

A:
Purchase Amount	Dealer Reallowance as a Percentage of Public Offering Price
Less than $100,000	4.00%
$100,000 but less than $250,000	3.25%
$250,000 but less than $500,000	2.25%
$500,000 but less than $1 million	1.80%
$1 million or greater	0.00%

ADVANCE COMMISSIONS

When a financial intermediary’s customer purchases Shares, the financial intermediary may receive an advance commission as follows:

A (for purchases over $1 million):
Purchase Amount	Advance Commission as a Percentage of Public Offering Price
First $1 million - $5 million	0.75%
Next $5 million - $20 million	0.50%
Over $20 million	0.25%

Advance commissions are calculated on a year-by-year basis based on amounts invested during that year. Accordingly, with respect to additional purchase amounts, the advance commission breakpoint resets annually to the first breakpoint on the anniversary of the first purchase.

The A class purchases under this program may be made by Letter of Intent or by combining concurrent purchases. The above advance commission will be paid only on those purchases that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge or dealer advance commission. Certain retirement accounts may not be eligible for this program.

C:
	Advance Commission as a Percentage of Public Offering Price
All Purchase Amounts	1.00%

RULE 12b-1 FEES

A & C Classes

The Board has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan, which allows payment of marketing fees of up to 0.05% for A class and 0.75% for C class of average net assets to the Distributor for the sale, distribution, administration and customer servicing of the Fund’s A and C classes. When the Distributor receives Rule 12b-1 Fees, it may pay some or all of them to financial intermediaries whose customers purchase Shares. The Fund’s A class has no present intention of paying, accruing or incurring any Rule 12b-1 Fees until such time as approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. In addition, in connection with the sale of the C class, Federated Hermes and its subsidiaries make advance commission payments to financial intermediaries and in return may receive Rule 12b-1 Fees and contingent deferred sales loads for the C class. Federated Hermes and its subsidiaries may benefit or sustain losses from such arrangements. Because these Shares pay marketing fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost may be higher over time than other shares with different sales charges and marketing fees.

service fees

A & C Classes

ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATION FEES

A & C Classes

RECORDKEEPING FEES

A & C Classes

networking fees

A & C Classes

ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

A & C Classes

The Distributor may pay out of its own resources amounts to certain financial intermediaries, including broker-dealers, banks, registered investment advisers, independent financial planners and retirement plan administrators, that support the sale of Shares or provide services to Fund shareholders. The amounts of these payments could be significant, and may create an incentive for the financial intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell Shares of the Fund to you. Not all financial intermediaries receive such payments, and the amount of compensation may vary by intermediary. In some cases, such payments may be made by or funded from the resources of companies affiliated with the Distributor (including the Adviser). These payments are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the fee table section of the Fund’s Prospectus and described above because they are not paid by the Fund.

These payments are negotiated and may be based on such factors as: the number or value of Shares that the financial intermediary sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; the level and types of services or support furnished by the financial intermediary; or the Fund’s and/or other Federated Hermes funds’ relationship with the financial intermediary. These payments may be in addition to payments, as described above, made by the Fund to the financial intermediary. In connection with these payments, the financial intermediary may elevate the prominence or profile of the Fund and/or other Federated Hermes funds, within the financial intermediary’s organization by, for example, placement on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or granting the Distributor preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the funds in various ways within the financial intermediary’s organization. In addition, as discussed above in “ Commissions on Certain Shares, ” if you purchase R6 Shares through a broker acting solely as an agent on behalf of its customers, you may be required to pay a commission to the broker in an amount determined and separately disclosed to you by the broker. You can ask your financial intermediary for information about any payments it receives from the Distributor or the Fund and any services provided, as well as about fees and/or commissions it charges.

How to Purchase Shares

You may purchase Shares of the Fund any day the NYSE is open. Shares will be purchased at the NAV next calculated after your investment is received by the Fund, or its agent, in proper form. The Fund reserves the right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares. New investors must submit a completed New Account Form. All accounts, with the exception of R6 class accounts, including those for which there is no minimum initial investment amount required, are subject to the Fund’s policy on “ Accounts with Low Balances ” as discussed later in this Prospectus.

For important account information, see the section “ Security and Privacy Protection. ”

A & C Classes

You may purchase Shares through a financial intermediary, directly from the Fund or through an exchange from another Federated Hermes fund.

R6 Class

Eligible Investors may purchase Shares through a financial intermediary, directly from the Fund or through an exchange from another Federated Hermes fund in the manner described above under “ How is the Fund Sold? ”

There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment amount required.

THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY

Financial intermediaries should send payments according to the instructions in the sections “ By Wire ” or “ By Check. ”

Shareholders are encouraged to ask their financial intermediary if they are an authorized agent for the Fund and about any fees that may be charged by the financial intermediary.

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

■ Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account Form; and

■ Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.

By Wire

To facilitate processing your order, please call the Fund before sending the wire. Send your wire to:

You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are restricted.

By Check

Make your check payable to The Federated Hermes Funds , note your account number on the check, and send it to:

The Federated Hermes Funds
P.O. Box 219318
Kansas City, MO 64121-9318

If you send your check by a private courier or overnight delivery service that requires a street address, send it to:

The Federated Hermes Funds
430 W 7 th Street
Suite 219318
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

By Direct Deposit

THROUGH AN EXCHANGE

You may purchase Fund Shares through an exchange from another Federated Hermes fund. To do this you must:

■ meet any applicable shareholder eligibility requirements;

■ ensure that the account registrations are identical;

■ meet any applicable minimum initial investment requirements; and

■ receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.

A & C Classes

You may purchase Shares through an exchange from the same share class of another Federated Hermes fund.

R6 Class

By Online Account Services

BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM (SIP)

BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS

A & C Classes

You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans and IRAs or transfer or rollover of assets). Call your financial intermediary or the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an account fee charged by your financial intermediary.

R6 Class

You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans or transfer of assets). Call your financial intermediary or the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an account fee charged by your financial intermediary.