FTC indicates it will sue to block Cintas UniFirst deal

The Federal Trade Commission has indicated to Cintas that it will sue to block its proposed 5.5 billion dollar acquisition of rival UniFirst, Semafor reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Why it matters: The deal, agreed in March, would combine two of North America's largest workwear and facility services providers, and a formal challenge would leave Cintas's multi year pursuit of UniFirst to be decided in court.

Data as of Reuters report of October 27, 2026, read in full in this run, reporting Semafor's account citing people familiar with the matter. The FTC has not announced a suit and, per the report, has not yet voted on whether to sue. Single originating source. Developing item.

The Federal Trade Commission has indicated to uniform rental firm Cintas that it will sue to block its proposed 5.5 billion dollar acquisition of rival UniFirst, Semafor reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter, according to Reuters. The commission has not yet voted on whether to sue, but its staff have privately expressed concerns about the companies’ combined market share, the report added.

Cintas agreed in March to buy UniFirst in a cash and stock deal after at least three formal approaches since 2022. Shares of UniFirst fell 8 percent on Tuesday and Cintas was down about 5 percent, Reuters reported, and neither company nor the FTC immediately responded to requests for comment.

FTC indicates it will sue to block Cintas UniFirst deal

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