SoftBank weighs $18 billion acquisition of Allied Universal

SoftBank Group is considering an acquisition of US-based security services provider Allied Universal in a deal that could value the company at approximately $18 billion, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter.

Allied Universal provides security staffing for businesses, venues, and major events, and maintains a presence in the data center industry. The potential acquisition aligns with founder Masayoshi Son’s focus on artificial intelligence. SoftBank reportedly aims to eventually utilize AI-powered robots to handle certain security tasks, though the implementation of humanoid-like security workers is expected to take time.

Deliberations are currently preliminary, and no final decisions have been made regarding the acquisition or the specific price. SoftBank has declined to comment on the report.