G4S Plc was a British multinational private security company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company provided security solutions through two primary segments: Secure Solutions and Cash Solutions.
Secure Solutions offered integrated security services for commercial organizations, including risk consulting, manned security, and security systems. The division also delivered services for governments such as critical infrastructure protection, care and justice services, and border protection. Cash Solutions managed outsourced cash cycle operations for central banks, financial institutions, and retailers.
G4S operated in more than 90 countries worldwide and employed over 533,000 people before its acquisition. The company was the largest European and African private employer by 2012. Allied Universal completed the acquisition of G4S in April 2021 for £3.8 billion, creating the largest security company globally with combined revenues exceeding $18 billion.
G4S History
G4S Co-founders
G4S Competitors
G4S operated in a competitive global security services market alongside several major international players. The company competed for contracts across manned guarding, cash solutions, electronic security, and justice services.
| Company | Headquarters | Key Services | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Securitas AB | Stockholm, Sweden | Security guarding, remote monitoring, aviation security | Founded 1934, operates globally |
| Allied Universal | Irvine, California, USA | Integrated security, facility services | Acquired G4S in 2021 |
| GardaWorld | Montreal, Canada | Physical security, cash services | Made competing offer for G4S |
| ADT Inc. | Boca Raton, Florida, USA | Home and business security systems | Founded 1874, residential focus |
| Prosegur | Madrid, Spain | Manned guarding, cash logistics, alarms | Largest Spanish security firm |
| SECOM | Tokyo, Japan | Electronic security, monitoring services | Leading Asian security provider |
| Brink’s Company | Richmond, Virginia, USA | Cash management, secure logistics | Purchased G4S cash businesses |
| Loomis | Stockholm, Sweden | Cash handling, ATM services | Spun off from Securitas in 2008 |
| ISS A/S | Copenhagen, Denmark | Facility management, workplace services | Global facility services provider |
| Tyco International | Cork, Ireland | Fire protection, security products | Now part of Johnson Controls |
G4S Marketcap
G4S traded on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker GFS and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 index from 2007. The company’s market capitalization fluctuated based on market conditions, contract wins, and operational challenges throughout its public trading history.
At the time of the Allied Universal acquisition in April 2021, G4S was valued at £3.8 billion based on the offer price of 245p per share. This represented a significant premium over the company’s market price before takeover discussions began.
G4S Revenue
G4S revenue fluctuated between £6 billion and £8 billion during its final decade of operation. The company reached peak revenue of £7.8 billion in 2019 before declining to £6.96 billion in 2020 due to pandemic impacts on certain service lines.
The Americas region generated the highest revenue share, followed by Europe and the Middle East. Major corporate clients and government contracts formed the core customer base across all geographic segments.
G4S Acquisitions
G4S built its global presence through strategic acquisitions spanning multiple decades. The 2002 purchase of The Wackenhut Corporation for $570 million established the company as a major player in the US security market. Wackenhut was the second-largest security services company in the United States at the time, founded in 1954 by former FBI agents.
The 2008 acquisition spree transformed G4S capabilities significantly. The company purchased ArmorGroup International, a provider of defensive and protective services to governments and international agencies. GSL (Global Solutions Limited), acquired for £355 million, added expertise in UK court escorting, prisoner transport, and electronic monitoring. RONCO Consulting Corporation brought humanitarian mine action and ordnance disposal capabilities.
Additional acquisitions included Touchcom Inc. for $23 million in 2008, Adesta (US-based integrated security systems), Hill & Associates Consultants Limited (Asia’s leading risk mitigation consulting firm), and All Star International (facilities management and base operations support). The 2010s saw continued expansion in Brazil with Plantech and Interativa acquisitions, plus Deposita in South Africa for retail cash solutions.
In 2020, G4S sold the majority of its conventional cash handling businesses to The Brink’s Company for an enterprise value of £727 million. This divestiture allowed the company to focus on higher-margin security technology and services before the Allied Universal acquisition.