Elizabeth White

Federated Hermes, a global leader in active investment, today announced the launch of the Federated Hermes Global Equity Fund, a new Australian Unit Trust fund that seeks to deliver consistent, long-term returns by investing in global equity securities with fundamental and ESG considerations integrated into the investment approach. The Fund is now registered for sale to wholesale investors in Australia and those advised by their Financial Advisers.

The Federated Hermes Global Equity Fund is the firm’s second fund to be launched for Australia’s wholesale investors, further expanding Federated Hermes’ presence in the local wealth management market. This follows the successful launch of the Global Trade Finance Fund in February. In Australia, Federated Hermes has established itself as a leading provider of active investment strategies to institutional investors and as a trusted stewardship adviser to many of the country’s top ten superannuation funds through Federated Hermes’ dedicated stewardship arm EOS, which advises on US$2.3 trillion^[1] (AU$3.38 trillion)^[2] in assets globally.

The Fund benchmarks against the MSCI World ex Australia Index and holds a diversified portfolio of 250-500 stocks identified through a systematic, data driven process combined with disciplined fundamental oversight by an experienced team of investors. The team’s approach includes a proprietary ESG framework containing engagement insights from EOS, while portfolio construction is aided by the investment team’s proprietary multi factor risk model, MultiFRAME that helps the team dynamically manage and control portfolio risk. This approach enables a multi-dimensional assessment of each company, covering financial strength, competitive advantage, leadership quality, and ESG factors, alongside market sentiment and valuation resulting in a diversified, balanced portfolio.

Federated Hermes Global Equities has invested in the global developed markets since the inception of the Global Equity Strategy in 2007, with assets under management of US$5.8 billion^[3] (AU$8.5 billion)^[2] . The Fund is managed by a stable team of highly experienced portfolio managers, led by Geir Lode, Head of Global Equities, as Lead Portfolio Manager, with Lewis Grant (Senior Portfolio Manager), Louise Dudley (Portfolio Manager) and Andrew Hurley (Portfolio Manager) serving as Co‑Portfolio Managers.

Geir Lode, head of global equities at Federated Hermes Limited, said, “Macro driven volatility continues to create meaningful dispersion across markets. Our disciplined, risk aware approach aims to identify resilient businesses that look attractive across multiple dimensions and avoid material weaknesses, while controlling risk and maintaining balanced exposures to help navigate the ever-changing market conditions and seek to deliver attractive long-term returns.”

Liz White, associate director of business development, Australia, at Federated Hermes Limited, added, “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to serving the local wholesale market by meeting investors’ needs. By bringing a global equity strategy to Australian wholesale investors, offering diversified global exposure and investing in companies selected for their fundamental characteristics, we provide an option for those seeking to broaden their portfolios beyond the domestic market.”

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Notes:
[1] As of March 31, 2026.
[2] Figures were announced in USD and converted to AUD for illustrative purposes only. 1 USD = 1.47 AUD based on the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) exchange rate on March 31 2026.
[3] As of March 31, 2026, including pooled and segregated mandates

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Chris McGinley

Federated Hermes, a global leader in active investment management, has announced its entry into Australia’s wholesale investor market with the launch of the Federated Hermes Global Trade Finance Fund, a distinctive uncorrelated income strategy offering the potential for low volatility of return, with negligible interest rate and short credit duration risks^[1].

The Federated Hermes Global Trade Finance Fund is a feeder that invests in an AUD-denominated share class of the Federated Hermes Project and Trade Finance Master Fund (the “Underlying Fund”). This new feeder fund offers Australian wholesale investors, especially those seeking diversification, access for the first time to the trade finance asset class which Federated Hermes has offered to global institutional investors for more than 15 years. Positioned between public and private markets, trade finance can serve as a diversifier in investors’ portfolios due to its limited reliance on traditional return drivers, while providing quarterly liquidity^[2].

The Fund is managed by Chris McGinley, Head of Trade Finance, supported by portfolio managers Maarten Offeringa and Kazaur Rahman. It is registered for sale in Australia, available only to wholesale investors and those advised by their Financial Advisers.

Chris McGinley, Head of Trade Finance at Federated Hermes, said: “The defensive power of trade finance during periods of public market turbulence is well recognized by our institutional clients, who value its diversification benefits. Federated Hermes Trade Finance strategy, now accessible to a wider range of investors in Australia, invests across a broad spectrum of loan types, sectors, and regions, aiming to deliver risk-adjusted returns for investors.”

Liz White, Associate Director of Business Development, Australia, at Federated Hermes commented: “This fund launch marks the first step in rolling out a broader investment strategy for wholesale investors in Australia. While Federated Hermes is best known in Australia as a strategic adviser and provider to institutional investors, we are now leaning on our rich wealth management heritage across the United States and Europe to expand into the wholesale segment with a tailored product that historically has been limited to institutional-grade investors. This move not only paves the way for future offerings, but also demonstrates our understanding of the specific needs of wholesale investors and commitment to building a stronger presence in the market.”

Trade finance has traditionally been the sole domain of large international banks. Federated Hermes gives investors access to this alternative asset class by co-investing with these banks to provide relatively short-term loans used to finance the physical flow of essential goods around the world. These goods are used as the primary source of collateral within the loan, and their essential nature underpins the continued demand for trade finance, even in times of market volatility.

Federated Hermes has established itself over the past several years as a leading provider of active investment strategies for local institutional investors and a trusted partner in delivering stewardship services to Australia’s major superannuation funds, including several of the top 10. Building on its global segment expertise and scale, the firm is now accelerating its expansion into the Australian wealth management market, positioning itself to become a major player in the segment.

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Notes:
[1]Returns are not guaranteed. Negligible interest rate risk through a floating rate structure and self liquidating transactions. All investments contain risk and may lose value.
[2]  Federated Hermes’ Trade Finance Strategy provides quarterly redemptions and daily mark-to- market information

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