Hellman & Friedman CEO Patrick Healy emphasized the importance of returning capital to investors during uncertain market conditions at the NEXUS 2026 summit. Speaking with PEI Group's Philip Borel, Healy noted that the firm's long-hold strategy has proven successful, with about 40 percent of capital invested in companies for 10 or more years. The approach began with workforce management business Kronos, acquired in 2007 for $1.8 billion.

Healy explained how H&F navigated the Kronos situation by bringing in GIC and Blackstone as minority investors in 2014, returning capital to Fund VI, and later seeing the business merge into Ultimate Kronos Group valued at $22 billion. The strategy template extended to Hub International, acquired for $4.4 billion in 2013. Hub's valuation climbed to $29 billion after multiple stake sales, including a recent $1.6 billion minority investment led by T Rowe Price and others.

Regarding future plans, Healy suggested Hub International will eventually go public, citing the well-understood nature of insurance brokerage. He addressed pressure to return capital, noting H&F funds typically begin producing meaningful distributions by year four. The firm returned $9 billion last year through various mechanisms including control sales, IPOs, stake sales, and dividends, demonstrating multiple tools available for capital return.