FEDERATED HERMES, INC. 8-K

What Happened
Federated Hermes, Inc. filed an 8-K (Item 8.01) on January 30, 2026 disclosing that Hermes GPE Ltd. (HGPE) and Hermes Infrastructure II GP LLP (the General Partner) were served on December 19, 2025 with "Particulars of Claim" by Aberdeen City Council (on behalf of the Aberdeen City Council Pension Fund / North East Scotland Pension Fund). A Claim Form had been filed in the High Court of Justice (Chancery Division) on August 5, 2025. The Plaintiff alleges professional negligence and breaches of the Fund’s limited partnership agreement related to a 2019 investment in a Swedish portfolio of five onshore wind farms (the Ventus Portfolio).

Key Details

• The Fund’s 2019 investment: approx. £90 million initial (≈£104 million total).
• Plaintiff’s derivative claim seeks approx. £87 million of alleged diminished value of the Ventus Portfolio (≈ $120 million using exchange rates as of Jan 28, 2026).
• Plaintiff’s direct claim against the General Partner seeks ~38.1% of the alleged £87M loss (≈ $46 million).
• Federated Hermes, HGPE and the General Partner deny the allegations, intend to vigorously defend, and General Partner does not believe HGPE is liable. A claim has been submitted to Federated Hermes’ insurers.

Why It Matters
This filing notifies investors of pending UK litigation tied to a prior infrastructure investment. While the Plaintiff seeks substantial sums on behalf of the fund, Federated Hermes states it does not currently expect the matter to have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results or cash flows based on the information now available. Investors should watch for further legal developments and any updates to the company’s assessment of potential financial exposure or insurance recoveries.