SoftBank weighs a deal for Allied Universal valued at up to $18 billion

SoftBank Group Corp. is reportedly in early discussions to buy Allied Universal, the largest security services company in the United States. The potential deal could value Allied’s equity at up to $18 billion. Investors did not love the idea. SoftBank’s American Depositary Receipts, which trade under the ticker SFTBY, fell approximately 9.5% to 10% after the news surfaced on October 16, 2026. What’s on the table The talks remain preliminary. According to the reporting, no decisions have been made on price or deal structure. Both SoftBank and Allied Universal declined to comment on the negotiations. The equity figure is only part of the bill. Allied Universal carries around $12 billion in publicly traded debt. Add that debt to the equity value, and the total enterprise value of a deal could potentially near $30 billion. Allied Universal is currently backed by major investors, including private equity firm Warburg Pincus and La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the Canadian pension fund manager. Any transaction would presumably need their buy-in, though the sources do not detail their stance on a potential sale. The company’s business spans security staffing for corporate clien...