Allied Universal

Allied Universal started as two different companies: AlliedBarton and Universal Protection Services.

{{main|AlliedBarton}}

AlliedBarton was founded as Allied Security in 1957 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a provider of contracted security guards and related services.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

{{main|Universal Protection Service}}

Universal Protection Service was founded in 1965.{{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}} It started as a janitorial company and expanded into security by 1969.

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.{{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}}

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. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thisamericanlife.org/647/ladonna|title=LaDonna|date=2018-05-18|website=This American Life|access-date=2021-01-18}} 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.{{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}} In July, Allied Universal announced the purchase of Georgia-based US Security Associates along with its affiliate Staff Pro for $1.5 billion.{{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}}

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.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

In January 2021, Allied Universal acquired Atlanta-based competitor SecurAmerica.{{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}}

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.{{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=}} The acquisition was completed in April 2021, creating a combined company of 800,000 employees, with revenues of more than 18 billion USD.{{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=}}

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”.{{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}} Allied Universal was also said to have divested from Israel.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1535252D:US|title=Allied Universal Security Services LLC|access-date=2021-01-19|publisher=Bloomberg}} Allied Universal operates in the United States (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua. As of February 2022, it employed about 800,000 people.{{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}}

{{Reflist}}

• [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