{{short description|Facility services and security company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox company | name = Allied Universal | logo = Allied_Universal_company_logo.png | type = Private | founder = | area_served = {{ubl|Canada|Honduras|Mexico|Nicaragua|United Kingdom|United States<ref name=business1>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessworldit.com/ai/mark-mullison-cio-at-allied-universal-discusses-artificial-intelligence-cyber-security-and-the-launch-of-heliaus/ |title=Mark Mullison, CIO at Allied Universal Discusses Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and the Launch of HELIAUS |website=Business World IT |date=2019-06-20|access-date=2021-01-18}}</ref>}} | key_people = {{ubl|Steve Jones|{{small|(Chairman & CEO)}}<ref name=bloomberg1>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/20857780 |title=Steve Jones Chairman/CEO |website=Bloomberg |access-date=2021-01-18}}</ref>}} | industry = {{ubl|Event Staffing|Janitorial|Security|Security Systems|Surveillance}} | revenue = {{increase}}US$18 billion (2021)<ref name=bizorlando1/> | num_employees = 800,000<ref name=bizorlando1/> | subsid = G4S STAFF PRO | homepage = {{URL|https://www.aus.com/|aus.com}} | foundation = {{start date and age|2016}} | location = {{ubl|{{nowrap|Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, US}}|{{small|(Corporate HQ East)}}|{{nowrap|Santa Ana, California, US}}|{{small|(Corporate HQ West)}}<ref name="AUS Offices">{{cite web |title=Offices - Allied Universal |url=https://www.aus.com/offices |website=www.aus.com |access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>}} }} thumb|right|Allied Universal patrol vehicle
'''Allied Universal''' is an American private security and staffing company, based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania and Irvine, California. Formed in 2016 by the merger of AlliedBarton and Universal Services of America,<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |last=Pelts |first=James F. |date=2016-08-04 |title=How the nation's largest security-guard firm adapts to changing threats |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-qa-security-guards-20160804-snap-story.html |access-date=}}</ref> Allied Universal is the world's largest provider of private security guards.<ref name=ocbj1>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocbj.com/news/2016/may/03/universal-services-announces-merger/ |title=Universal Services to Merge |website=OCBJ |date=2016-05-03 |access-date=2021-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-16 |title=G4S saga ends as shareholders accept $5.3 billion Allied Universal offer |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g4s-m-a-allied-universal-idUSKBN2B82F4 |access-date=2023-02-09}}</ref> It is also the third largest United States–based employer globally with 800,000 employees.
==History== Allied Universal started as two different companies: AlliedBarton and Universal Protection Services.<ref name=facility1/>
===AlliedBarton=== {{main|AlliedBarton}} AlliedBarton was founded as Allied Security in 1957 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a provider of contracted security guards and related services.<ref name=nytimes1>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/business/dealbook/wendel-agrees-to-acquire-alliedbarton-security-for-1-67-billion.html|title=Wendel Agrees to Acquire AlliedBarton Security for $1.67 Billion|last=Bray|first=Chad|date=2015-06-30|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2021-01-18}}</ref>
In 2004, Allied Security acquired Malden, Massachusetts-based Security Systems Inc. (SSI) and Atlanta, Georgia-based Barton Protective Services to form AlliedBarton Security Services - creating the largest American-owned contract security services company in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2004/05/24/daily12.html|title=Allied Security to acquire Barton Protective Services - Atlanta Business Chronicle|website=Atlanta Business Chronicle|date=2004-05-24|access-date=2021-01-18}}</ref>
===Universal Protection Service=== {{main|Universal Protection Service}}
Universal Protection Service was founded in 1965.<ref name=memphis1>{{cite news|last1=Nichols|first1=Meagan|title=Memphis security giant Guardsmark bought|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2015/07/28/memphis-security-giant-guardsmark-bought.html|access-date=August 19, 2016|work=Memphis Business Journal|date=July 28, 2015}}</ref> It started as a janitorial company and expanded into security by 1969.
=== After the 2016 merger=== In 2016, AlliedBarton and Universal Services of America merged to form Allied Universal. In February 2017, the company officially began operations under its new name. After the merger, Allied Universal was considered the largest security company in North America.<ref name=facility1>{{Cite news|url=http://facilityexecutive.com/2016/08/merger-creates-allied-universal-security-services/|title=New Allied Universal Formed, Offers Security Services|last=Cosgrove|first=Anne|date=2016-08-01|newspaper=Facility Executive - Creating Intelligent Buildings|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-01}}</ref>
In January 2018, the company paid $90,000 to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit from a Muslim employee in California who sought a religious exemption to the company’s grooming standards and was fired.<ref name=indy1/> Also in 2018, the radio program This American Life ran an hour-long feature story about sexual harassment and racism within Allied's operations at JFK airport and the company's responses to it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thisamericanlife.org/647/ladonna|title=LaDonna|date=2018-05-18|website=This American Life|access-date=2021-01-18}}</ref> In response to the allegations, the company issued a statement saying these “isolated incidents are not indicative of our culture and work ethic,” and it has “zero tolerance against sexual harassment.” A related case was later voluntarily dismissed at the plaintiffs’ request.<ref name=indy1>{{cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/news/durham/durham-city-council-contract-allied-universal/|title=Durham City Council Approves Contract With Company Accused of Harassment, Discrimination|date=2018-05-18|website=Indy Week|access-date=2021-01-19}}</ref> In July, Allied Universal announced the purchase of Georgia-based US Security Associates along with its affiliate Staff Pro for $1.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-allieduniversal-m-a-wendel/allied-universal-to-buy-u-s-security-associates-for-1-billion-idUSKBN1K60E6|title=Allied Universal to buy U.S. Security Associates for $1 billion |website=Reuters |date=2018-07-15 |access-date=2021-01-19}}</ref>
In 2019, the company was attacked with a ransomware scheme by the Maze group that turned out to be a stunt designed to warn companies about system security flaws.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252491480/Maze-ransomware-shuts-down-with-bizarre-announcement |title=Maze ransomware shuts down with bizarre announcement |website=Computer Weekly |date=2020-11-02 |access-date=2021-01-19}}</ref>
In June 2019, the company announced the acquisition of San Francisco-based Cypress Private Security, LP.<ref name="aus/cypress">{{cite web |title=Allied Universal Acquires San Francisco-Based Cypress Private Security, LP |url=https://www.aus.com/press-releases/allied-universalr-acquires-san-francisco-based-cypress-private-security-lp |website=Allied Universal |access-date=1 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
In December, majority owner Wendel sold most of its stake in Allied Universal to a Canadian pension fund Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), and a new investment group led by investment company Warburg Pincus and an affiliate of the investment company J. Safra Group.<ref name=ocbj3>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocbj.com/news/2019/dec/16/allied-universal-shareholder-completes-sale/|title=Allied Universal Holder Completes Sale|date=2019-12-16|access-date=2021-01-18|publisher=OCBJ}}</ref>
In January 2021, Allied Universal acquired Atlanta-based competitor SecurAmerica.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-21 |title=Allied Universal acquires SecurAmerica |url=https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/94388-allied-universal-acquires-securamerica |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202203357/https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/94388-allied-universal-acquires-securamerica |archive-date=2021-02-02 |access-date= |website=Security Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2020, the Board of Directors and shareholders for British security firm G4S unanimously accepted a takeover offer of 5.1 billion USD from Allied Universal.<ref name="security1">{{cite web |last=Ragusa |first=Paul |date=2020-12-08 |title=G4S agrees to be acquired by Allied Universal |url=https://www.securitysystemsnews.com/article/allied-universal-to-buy-g4s-with-5-1b |access-date= |website=Security Systems News |publisher=}}</ref> The acquisition was completed in April 2021, creating a combined company of 800,000 employees, with revenues of more than 18 billion USD.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shabong |first=Yadrisa |date=2021-03-16 |title=G4S saga ends as shareholders accept $5.3 billion Allied Universal offer |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g4s-m-a-allied-universal-idUSKBN2B82F4 |access-date=}}</ref>
In June 2023, it was reported that Allied Universal subsidiary G4S would be divesting completely from Israel in response to years of campaigning from the G4S Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement for its involvement in Israel and the resulting “reputational damage”.<ref name=RPSFG>{{cite news |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230602-report-private-security-firm-g4s-to-divest-from-israel/ |title=Report: Private security firm G4S to divest from Israel |publisher=Middle East Monitor}}</ref> Allied Universal was also said to have divested from Israel.<ref name=RPSFG/>
Allied Universal has security contracts, worth billions of dollars, with the Department of Homeland Security.<ref name="gao/417376.3">{{cite web |title=Universal Protection Service, LP dba Allied Universal Security Services |url=https://www.gao.gov/products/b-417376.2%2Cb-417376.3 |website=United States Government Accountability Office |access-date=1 May 2026}}</ref><ref name="safetyact/Allie-Universal">{{cite web |title=Approved Technologies |url=https://www.safetyact.gov/at/?view=&search=Universal+Protection+Service+d%2Fb%2Fa+Allied+Universal |website=www.safetyact.gov {{!}} DHS SAFETY Act |access-date=1 May 2026}}</ref>
==Services and operations==
Allied Universal provides security products and services, including access control, intrusion, alarm detection, and IP-based video systems; janitorial; transition planning; green cleaning; and staffing services.<ref name="bloomberg2">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1535252D:US|title=Allied Universal Security Services LLC|access-date=2021-01-19|publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref> Allied Universal operates in the United States (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua.<ref name="business1" /> As of February 2022, it employed about 800,000 people.<ref name="bizorlando1">{{cite web |date=July 9, 2020 |title=California security company Allied Universal to hire hundreds in Central Florida |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/07/05/california-security-company-to-hire-dozens.html |access-date=July 20, 2021 |website=Orlando Business Journal}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.aus.com Official website] * [https://denizliozerforklift.com.tr Official Turkish website] * [https://tridentps.com/ Official Orlando Security website]
Category:Security companies of the United States Category:Business services companies established in 2016 Category:Companies based in Santa Ana, California Category:2016 establishments in California Category:Warburg Pincus companies