If you’re a follower of the financial services industry, you may have heard about Federated Investors’ recent name change to Federated Hermes. But what does this mean for the company and its investors? Let’s dive in.
What is Federated Investors?
Federated Investors is an investment management firm that was founded in 1955. The company offers a variety of investment products to individual and institutional investors, including mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts.
Why the Name Change?
In June of 2019, Federated Investors announced that it would be acquiring a majority stake in Hermes Investment Management, a UK-based asset manager. The acquisition was completed in early 2020, and as part of the deal, Federated Investors agreed to adopt the Hermes name.
What Does This Mean for Investors?
For investors in Federated’s products, not much will change beyond the name on their statements. The company’s investment strategies and portfolio management teams will remain largely unchanged.
However, there are some potential benefits to the merger for both companies. For Federated, the acquisition provides access to Hermes’ expertise in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing. For Hermes, the deal brings access to a wider range of distribution channels in North America.
What About Shareholders?
From a shareholder perspective, the merger appears to be beneficial as well. The combined company is expected to generate cost savings through synergies in areas such as technology and operations.
In addition, both Federated and Hermes have strong track records of delivering value to shareholders. According to a press release announcing the merger completion: “Over their respective histories as independent companies through Dec. 31, 2019: Federated’s total return was 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) versus 9% CAGR for the S&P 500 and Hermes’ total return was 12% CAGR versus 10% CAGR for the FTSE All-Share.”
Conclusion
In summary, Federated Investors’ name change to Federated Hermes is a result of the company’s acquisition of Hermes Investment Management. For investors and shareholders, the merger appears to be a positive development, with potential benefits including increased access to ESG expertise and cost savings through synergies.