SoftBank Was Reported to Be in Early Talks to Acquire Warburg Pincus-Backed Allied Universal

SoftBank Group is reported to be weighing a purchase of Allied Universal, a U.S. security services business that is the biggest in its field. Bloomberg News said the deal could value Allied's equity at as much as $18 billion, and The Wall Street Journal said the talks are at an early stage.

Allied also has roughly $12 billion of publicly traded loans and bonds. Private Equity Wire said that would take the total transaction value close to $30 billion. Warburg Pincus and La Caisse are among Allied's backers. No decision on a deal or price has been made, and neither company has confirmed the talks.