SoftBank Reportedly Weighs Allied Universal Acquisition to Deploy Robots; Shares Fall Over 9%

Cailian Press reported on Oct. 17 Beijing time, citing people familiar with the matter, that SoftBank Group is considering acquiring Allied Universal, the largest security services company in the United States. The discussions are reportedly at an early stage, and it remains unclear whether a deal will be reached or what the final price might be.

The report also noted that SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son may be interested not only in the security business itself but in a ready-made platform capable of deploying robots on a large scale. Such a network could support robotics in guarding, monitoring, and other service roles.

Following the report, SoftBank shares fell more than 9%. The size of the potential transaction was not disclosed, and neither company has confirmed the talks.

If completed, the acquisition would mark another major SoftBank bet on automation and embodied AI. It would also give the Japanese conglomerate a direct channel into the U.S. security services market, where labor shortages and rising costs have spurred interest in robotics.