About
Founded in 1984 by Warren Hellman and Tully Friedman, Hellman & Friedman is one of the oldest and most experienced private equity firms operating today, headquartered in San Francisco with additional offices in New York and London. The firm has developed a distinctive investment philosophy centered on large-scale equity investments in market-leading companies with significant growth potential, having deployed over $100 billion in total equity across its operating history. H&F operates a focused, concentrated portfolio strategy, seeking to build deep expertise in select sectors including technology, healthcare, consumer services, retail, financial services, business services, energy, and industrials across both the United States and Europe. The firm specializes in control and minority investments through various transaction structures, with recent average equity check sizes around $1.8 billion per investment. H&F has ranked 13th among the world's largest private equity firms according to Private Equity International's PEI 300 ranking, and manages multiple buyout funds including the Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners series (VII through XI). The firm's portfolio comprises 89 companies as of early 2026, with a team of 56 partners driving investment decisions and portfolio company management. Notable recent investments include a $1.4 billion stake in software company Splunk acquired in 2022, establishing H&F as the largest shareholder. For institutional investors, the firm provides both strategic and financial management support to portfolio companies, leveraging decades of sector expertise and operational experience. The firm focuses exclusively on a single private equity strategy rather than pursuing diversified fund offerings, allowing concentrated attention on large-scale buyouts and growth investments in industries where H&F has demonstrated operational knowledge and market relationships.