Cintas Corporation has provided an update on its merger with UniFirst Corporation, detailing progress in regulatory reviews. This merger is significant for the men's and boys' furnishings, work clothing, and allied garments industry. The deal is expected to strengthen Cintas's position in the market. Cintas anticipates closing the merger by the end of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

Details of the Merger

As previously disclosed, on March 10, 2026, Cintas Corporation, a Washington corporation, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with UniFirst Corporation, Bruin Merger Sub I, Inc., and Bruin Merger Sub II, LLC. The Merger Agreement outlines that, subject to certain conditions, Merger Sub Inc. will merge with UniFirst, followed by a second merger where UniFirst will merge with Merger Sub LLC. This will result in UniFirst becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Cintas.

Regulatory Review Progress

On June 11, 2026, both Cintas and UniFirst received a request for additional information from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the merger. On October 2, 2026, they certified compliance with the FTC's request and entered into a timing agreement with the FTC. This agreement stipulates that the mergers cannot be finalized before December 11, 2026, unless the FTC closes its investigation sooner.

International Considerations

Additionally, on July 2, 2026, Cintas and UniFirst received a Supplementary Information Request from the Canadian Competition Bureau (CCB) related to the merger. They completed their response to this request by September 29, 2026.

Future Expectations

Cintas continues to expect that the mergers will close before the end of the calendar year 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. This merger is poised to enhance Cintas's market position and operational capabilities in the industry.

Conclusion

This update marks a significant step in Cintas's efforts to expand its business through strategic mergers. The anticipated completion of the merger with UniFirst could reshape the competitive landscape in the men's and boys' furnishings, work clothing, and allied garments sector.