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Nov. 30, 2021
Federated Hermes Clover Small Value Fund
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:14pt;margin-left:0%;">Fund Summary Information </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">Federated Hermes Clover Small Value Fund(the “Fund”)</span>
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;text-transform:uppercase;">RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE</span>
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek capital appreciation.
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;text-transform:uppercase;">RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: FEES AND EXPENSES</span>
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell the Fund’s Class A Shares (A), Class C Shares (C), Class R Shares (R), Institutional Shares (IS) and Class R6 Shares (R6). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain classes (e.g., A class) 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 14 and in “Appendix B” to this Prospectus.
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)</span>
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;">your investment)</span>
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">Example</span>
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 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. The expenses used to calculate the Fund’s examples do not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">Portfolio Turnover</span>
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 most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 86% of the average value of its portfolio.
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;text-transform:uppercase;">RISK/RETURN SUMMARY: INVESTMENTS, RISKS and PERFORMANCE </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">What are the Fund’s Main Investment Strategies?</span>
The Fund primarily invests in common stocks and other equity securities of U.S. companies with small market capitalizations. The Fund’s investment adviser (“Adviser”) seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing in companies that the Adviser believes are undervalued relative to the market or their historic valuations. Small-cap companies are considered to be companies with market capitalizations at the time of purchase similar to those in the range of the Russell 2000 Index (which had a market capitalization range of $41.7 million to $19.5 billion as of September 30, 2021). The Fund invests in securities of U.S. companies operating in a broad range of industries based primarily on value characterizations such as price-cash flow, price-earnings and price-book value ratios. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser seeks to identify companies whose stock is out of favor with investors. In searching for undervalued companies in which to invest, the Adviser seeks companies with the fundamental strength to capitalize on change agents, such as internal changes (e.g., management changes, restructuring or merger and acquisition activity or sales mix shifts), external changes (e.g., regulatory changes, marketplace shifts or technological advances) or companies with deep seated advantages (e.g., captive customers, pricing power, patents or strong brand names) that are undergoing short-term challenges. The Fund may, from time to time, have larger allocations to certain broad market sectors, such as financial services, industrials and health care in attempting to achieve its investment objective. The Adviser generally will consider selling a security when its price target for the security has been achieved, its investment thesis has been invalidated or if it finds a more compelling investment alternative.The Fund’s investments may include, but are not limited to, the following: equity securities of domestic issuers (including American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and other domestically traded securities of foreign companies), equity interests issued by real estate investment trusts (REITs), derivative instruments and/or hybrid instruments such as futures and options; and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Fund may use derivative contracts or hybrid instruments to, for example, increase or decrease the portfolio’s exposure to the investment(s) underlying the derivative or hybrid instruments in an attempt to benefit from changes in the value of the underlying investment(s), to realize gains from trading a derivative contract or to 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. Assets of the Fund not invested in the equity securities described above may be invested in other securities such as money market funds and repurchase agreements.The Fund will invest its assets so that at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in small-cap companies. The Fund will notify shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any change in its investment policies 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 small-cap companies.
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">What are the Main Risks of Investing in the Fund?</span>
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 invests 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. The Adviser and its affiliated investment advisers also can manage other funds and accounts that use small-cap or similar investment strategies, and investments in small-cap securities by multiple funds and accounts, including those managed by the Adviser and its affiliates, could impact the availability of suitable small-cap securities and cause a capacity constraint associated with the Fund’s small-cap 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.■  Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 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 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.■  Sector Risk. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain industry sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund.■  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. Derivative contracts and hybrid instruments may also involve other risks described in this Prospectus such as stock market, credit, liquidity and leverage risks.■  Counterparty Credit Risk. A party to a transaction (such as a derivative transaction) involving the Fund may 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.■  Liquidity Risk. The securities in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities. 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.■  Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is created when an investment (such as a derivative transaction) 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.■  Risk of Investing in ADRs and Domestically Traded Securities of Foreign Issuers. Because the Fund may invest in ADRs and other domestically traded securities of foreign companies, 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.■  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.■  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.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.
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;text-transform:uppercase;">Performance: Bar Chart and Table </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">Risk/Return Bar Chart</span>
The bar chart and performance table below reflect historical performance data for the Fund and are intended to help you analyze the Fund’s investment risks in light of its historical returns. The bar chart shows the variability of the Fund’s A class total returns on a calendar year-by-year basis. The Average Annual Total Return Table shows returns averagedover the stated periods, and includes comparative performance information. The Fund’s performance will fluctuate, and past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of future results.Updated performance information for the Fund is available under the “Products” section at FederatedInvestors.com or by calling 1-800-341-7400.
Federated Hermes Clover Small Value Fund – A Class
The total returns shown in the bar chart do not reflect the payment of any sales charges or recurring shareholder account fees. If these charges or fees had been included, the returns shown would have been lower.The Fund’s A class total return for the nine-month period from January 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021, was 23.92%.Within the periods shown in the bar chart, the Fund’s A class highest quarterly return was 32.43% (quarter ended December 31, 2020). Its lowest quarterly return was (35.28)% (quarter ended March 31, 2020).
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0%;">Average Annual Total Return Table</span>
R6 class commenced operations on March 29, 2016. For the period prior to the commencement of operations of R6 class, the performance information shown is for A class adjusted to remove any voluntary waiver of Fund expenses related to the A class that may have occurred during the period prior to the commencement of R6 class. Additionally, the performance information shown below has been adjusted to reflect the absence of sales charges applicable to A class.In addition to Return Before Taxes, Return After Taxes is shown for the Fund’s A class to illustrate the effect of federal taxes on Fund returns. After-tax returns are shown only for A class, and after-tax returns for the C, R and IS classes will differ from those shown for A class. Actual after-tax returns depend on each investor’s personal tax situation, and are likely to differ from those shown.After-tax returns are calculated using a standard set of assumptions. The stated returns assume the highest historical federal income and capital gains tax rates. These after-tax returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors holding Shares through a 401(k) plan, an Individual Retirement Account or other tax-advantaged investment plans.(For the Period Ended December 31, 2020)