CINTAS CORP
S-3/A, 1999-05-21
MEN'S & BOYS' FURNISHGS, WORK CLOTHG, & ALLIED GARMENTS
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      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 21, 1999
                                                         Registration No. 333-
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933


                               CINTAS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Washington                                             31-1188630
(State or other jurisdiction of    6800 Cintas Boulevard         (IRS Employer
 incorporation or organization)    Cincinnati, Ohio 45262        Identification
                                       (513) 459-1200                Number)

                   (Address, including zip code, and telephone
                         number, including area code, of
                        registrant's principal executive
                                    offices)


                               Mark A. Weiss, Esq.
                       Keating, Muething & Klekamp, P.L.L.
                           14th Floor, Provident Tower
                             One East Fourth Street
                             Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                 (513) 579-6411
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

 Approximate date of commencement of the proposed sale to the public: From time
to time after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

If the only securities  being registered on this form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.[ ]

If any securities  being  registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed
or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other
than   securities   offered  only  in  connection   with  dividend  or  interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [x]

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number of the  earlier  effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ] ______________

If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the  Securities  Act,  check  the  following  box and  list the  Securities  Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering. [ ]
- - ---------------

If delivery  of the  prospectus  is  expected  to be made  pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Title of       Amount      Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum    Amount of
 Shares to Be     to Be       Aggregate Price    Aggregate Offering Registration
  Registered    Registered        Per Unit*            Price*            Fee
============== ============= =================== ================== ===========
 Common Stock     42,096          $63-1/4            $2,662,572         $741
============== ============= =================== ================== ===========

*Estimated  pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the  Securities Act of 1933 solely for
the purpose of calculating the registration fee.

The Registrant hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant  shall file
a further amendment which specifically  states that this Registration  Statement
shall  thereafter  become  effective  in  accordance  with  Section  8(a) of the
Securities  Act of  1933 or  until  this  Registration  Statement  shall  become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
shall determine.


<PAGE>


                               CINTAS CORPORATION

                          42,096 shares of Common Stock


         The shareholders of Cintas Corporation described below are offering and
selling 42,096 shares of Cintas Common Stock.

     The Selling  Shareholders  obtained  their shares of Cintas stock on May 3,
1999 in exchange for JadaBec First Aid & Safety Company.

         The Selling Shareholders may offer their Cintas stock through public or
private  transactions,  on or off the United  States  exchanges,  at  prevailing
market prices, or at privately negotiated prices.

         Cintas stock is traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market under the symbol
"CTAS." On May 19, 1999,  the closing  price of one share of Cintas stock on the
Nasdaq National Market was $66.
                    ----------------------------------------

         The shares of Cintas Common Stock offered  pursuant to this  Prospectus
involve a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning at page 3.
                    ----------------------------------------

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved these  securities,  or determined if this
Prospectus  is truthful or  complete.  Any  representation  to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
                    ----------------------------------------

                 The date of this Prospectus is _________, 1999.



<PAGE>



                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         We file annual,  quarterly and special  reports,  proxy  statements and
other  information with the SEC. You may also read and copy any document we file
at the SEC's public  reference  Our SEC filings are available to the public over
the internet at the SEC's web site at  http://www.sec.gov.  rooms in Washington,
D.C.,  New  York,  New  York  and  Chicago,  Illinois.  Please  call  the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms.

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with  them.  This  Prospectus  incorporates  important  business  and  financial
information  about  Cintas  which is not  included  in or  delivered  with  this
Prospectus.  The  information  incorporated by reference is an important part of
this  prospectus,  and  information  that  we  file  later  with  the  SEC  will
automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference
the  Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q for the  quarters  ended  August 31,  1998,
November 30, 1998, and February 28, 1999, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended May 31, 1998,  the Forms 8-K filed on June 1, 1998,  January 14, 1999
and April 7, 1999 and the Form 8-K/A filed on May 7, 1999 and any future filings
made with the SEC under  Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the securities. We also incorporate by
reference  our  Registration  Statement  on Form  8-A,  SEC  File  No.  0-11399,
registering  the  Company's  Common Stock under  Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
which describes the class of securities being registered by this Prospectus.

         You may obtain a copy of these filings  without  charge,  by writing or
telephoning us at the following address:
                                            David T. Jeanmougin
                                            Senior Vice President and Secretary
                                            Cintas Corporation
                                            6800 Cintas Boulevard
                                            Cincinnati, Ohio   45262
                                            (513) 459-1200

         You should rely only on the  information  incorporated  by reference or
provided in this prospectus.  We have not authorized  anyone else to provide you
with different  information.  We are not making an offer of these  securities in
any state  where the offer is not  permitted.  You should  not  assume  that the
information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on
the front of those  documents.  If you would like to request  documents from us,
please  do so by five  business  days  before  you  have  to make an  investment
decision.

         This  Prospectus  and the  documents  "Incorporated  by  Reference"  as
discussed  under "Where You Can Find More  Information"  contain forward looking
statements within the meaning of federal  securities law. Such statements can be
identified  by the use of  forward-looking  terminology  such as "may,"  "will,"
"expect,"  "anticipate,"  "estimate,"  "continue" or other similar words.  These
statements  discuss  future  expectations,  contain  projections  of  results of
operations   or  of  financial   condition  or  state  other   "forward-looking"
information. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in its
forward-looking  statements  are  based on  reasonable  assumptions,  there  are
certain  factors  such  as  general  economic  conditions,   local  real  estate
conditions,  or weather  conditions that might cause a difference between actual
results   and  those   forward-looking   statements.   When   considering   such
forward-looking  statements,  you should keep in mind the risk factors and other
cautionary statements in this prospectus.


                                  RISK FACTORS

         An  investment  in the shares of Cintas Common Stock offered under this
Prospectus  involves a high  degree of risk.  The  following  risk  factors,  in
addition  to the  other  information  contained  in this  Prospectus,  should be
considered carefully in evaluating Cintas and its business.

Acquisitions

         From June 1, 1995 through the fiscal  quarter ended  February 28, 1999,
Cintas  issued  approximately  10,500,000  shares of its  common  stock and paid
approximately $55 million in cash in 126 acquisitions.  On March 24, 1999 Cintas
issued an additional 5,072,124 shares of its common stock in connection with its
acquisition of Unitog Company. As part of its growth strategy, Cintas intends to
continue to actively pursue additional  acquisition  opportunities.  In order to
achieve anticipated  benefits from these acquisitions,  Cintas must successfully
integrate  any  acquired  business  with its existing  operations,  and while it
believes it will be able to fully integrate these businesses into Cintas, it can
give no assurance  that it will be  successful  in this regard.  Cintas can also
give no assurance that it will be able to complete  future  acquisitions or that
all future  issuances of  securities in connection  with  acquisitions  will not
dilute the interests of its shareholders.  Further, Cintas can give no assurance
that it  will  be able to  successfully  integrate  and  profitably  manage  the
business of Unitog Company.

Competition

         Cintas'  customers in the uniform rental and sales  industry  primarily
choose  suppliers  based upon  quality of products,  service and price.  Leading
uniform  competitors include UniFirst  Corporation,  ARAMARK Corporation and G&K
Services,  Inc. In addition to Cintas'  traditional  uniform rental competitors,
Cintas  anticipates that future competition may be with businesses that focus on
selling uniforms and other related items. If existing or future competitors seek
to gain or retain  market  share by  reducing  prices in  reaction to the Unitog
Merger or otherwise,  Cintas may be required to lower  prices,  which would hurt
its operating results. Cintas competitors also generally compete with Cintas for
acquisition candidates, which can increase the price for acquisitions and reduce
the number of available acquisition candidates.

Economic Conditions

         National or regional  economic  slowdowns or certain industry  specific
slowdowns may hurt Cintas' business.  Events or conditions in a particular area,
such as adverse  weather and other factors,  could also hurt operating  results.
Furthermore,  increases  in  interest  rates may lead to a decline  in  economic
activity and adversely affect operating  results.  While Cintas does not believe
that its  exposure  is greater  than that of its  competitors,  Cintas  could be
adversely  affected by increases in the prices of fabric,  fuel, wages and other
components  of product  cost  unless it could  recover  such  increases  through
increases in the prices for its services and products.  Competitive  and general
economic  conditions  might limit the ability of Cintas and its  competitors  to
increase prices to cover such increases.

Environmental Regulation

         Various  federal,  state  and  local  laws  and  regulations  governing
hazardous wastes and other  substances  affect Cintas and its competitors in the
uniform rental industry. Specifically, industrial laundries use and must dispose
of detergent waste water and other residues. In the past, Cintas has settled, or
contributed to the  settlement  of,  actions or claims brought  against it which
relate to the disposal of hazardous  materials.  Cintas may have to pay material
amounts to compensate  for the  consequences  of disposals in the future.  Under
environmental laws, an owner or tenant of real estate may be required to pay the
costs of removing or remediating  certain hazardous or toxic substances  located
on or in or emanating  from property  whether or not the owner or tenant knew of
or was responsible for the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. While
Cintas  regularly  engages in  environmental  due diligence in  connection  with
acquisitions,  Cintas  can give no  assurance  that  locations  that  have  been
acquired or leased have been operated in compliance with  environmental laws and
regulations during prior periods or that future uses or conditions will not make
Cintas liable under these laws or expose Cintas to third-party actions including
tort suits.

         In addition,  the federal Environmental  Protection Agency has recently
proposed  a  federal   environmental   regulatory  framework  which  applies  to
industrial  laundry  operations  and, if implemented as proposed,  would replace
local regulations, particularly in the area of waste water compliance. Scheduled
to take effect in 1999,  these  regulations,  if implemented as proposed,  would
require  Cintas to pay  substantial  amounts to be in  compliance,  which  would
increase  operating costs and capital  expenditures.  Cintas and other companies
have had  discussions  with the EPA regarding these proposed  regulations.  As a
result of these discussions, Cintas believes that the final regulations will not
be as extensive as the proposed regulations. To the extent, however, that Cintas
cannot  offset  new costs and  expenses  through  price  increases,  results  of
operations could decline.

Dependence on Senior Management; Ability to Attract and Retain Quality Personnel

         Cintas' success  depends in part on the skills,  experience and efforts
of senior management and certain other key employees. If, for any reason, one or
more senior  executives or key personnel  were not to remain active with Cintas,
results of  operations  could be hurt.  Future  success  also depends on Cintas'
ability to attract and retain  qualified  managers and  technical  and marketing
personnel, as well as sufficient numbers of hourly workers.  Although Cintas has
an excellent track record of attracting and retaining  quality people,  there is
competition  in the market for the services of such  qualified  personnel  and a
tight  market for  hourly  workers.  The  failure  to  attract  and retain  such
personnel or workers could hurt the results of operations.

Information Systems; Year 2000

         Cintas has made a substantial investment in its information systems and
intends to spend  significant  amounts on information  systems in the future. In
particular,  Cintas has evaluated the programming code in its existing  computer
and software systems as the Year 2000 approaches. The issue with respect to Year
2000 is whether systems will properly recognize date sensitive  information when
the  year  changes  to  2000.  Systems  that  do  not  properly  recognize  such
information  could generate  erroneous data or cause complete  system  failures.
Cintas has  completed  an  assessment  of all of its  software  systems  and has
determined  what changes need to be made so that Cintas'  computer  systems will
function properly with respect to dates in the Year 2000 and thereafter.  Cintas
does not expect that the total cost of those changes will be material,  and will
expense  the costs as  incurred.  Cintas  expended  most of its Year 2000  costs
during fiscal 1998,  and expects to expense the  remaining  costs in fiscal 1999
when all  changes  are  expected  to be  completed.  Cintas  is  contacting  key
suppliers to obtain  certification of their systems Year 2000 compliance.  After
Cintas  identifies  which  vendors may fail to become Year 2000  compliant  in a
timely  fashion,  Cintas will develop a strategy to minimize its risks which may
include   contingency  plans  such  as  alternative   suppliers  or  alternative
processes.  Although Cintas believes that the likelihood of the Year 2000 having
a material affect on its operations,  liquidity or financial position is remote,
there can be no such assurance that this will be the case.


                                   THE COMPANY

         Cintas is a leader in the  uniform  rental and sales  business  and has
particular expertise in designing,  planning and implementing corporate identity
uniform programs. The Company concentrates on uniform rental services and custom
uniform sales.  Cintas received 74% of its revenues for fiscal 1998 from uniform
rental services and non-uniform rental items, including dust mops, entrance mats
and wiping  cloths.  The balance of the  Company's  revenues  were  derived from
custom  uniform  sales,  the sale of first aid and safety  products,  consumable
cleanroom  supplies and sales of related items. The Company provides uniform and
related  rental  products and services  through a network of  approximately  200
rental  locations,  six  cleanroom  facilities  and seven  distribution  centers
located in various  parts of the United  States.  At its fourteen  manufacturing
facilities  the  Company  manufactures  a  substantial  portion  of the  uniform
trousers  and uniform  shirts  supplied to its  customers.  First aid and safety
products  are sold to  industrial  users either  directly  from Cintas or Cintas
subsidiaries or through independent distributors.

         During the past five years, Cintas has made several  acquisitions which
significantly affected the Company's revenues and net income. These acquisitions
were  completed  using  cash,   seller-financing,   Cintas  Common  Stock  or  a
combination of these methods. The Company intends to continue to expand, through
both  internal  growth,   including  the  establishment  of  operations  in  new
geographic  areas,  and by continuing  its  acquisition  program of both uniform
rental and sale companies and companies that engage in the sale and distribution
of first aid and safety products.

         Cintas was  incorporated  under the laws of the State of  Washington in
1986 and is the successor to a business begun in 1929. Its executive offices are
located at 6800 Cintas  Boulevard,  Mason,  Ohio 45040;  telephone  number (513)
459-1200.

                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

         The 42,096 shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus, all of which are
being offered for sale hereby,  are offered by the Selling  Shareholders  in the
denominations set forth below:

         Robert F. Ward.................................. 23,345
         J. Robert Ford.................................. 18,751
                                                          ------
         Total..........................................  42,096

         On May 3, 1999, Cintas consummated the acquisition of JadaBec First Aid
& Safety Company. The Selling Shareholders  received the shares of Cintas Common
Stock described in this Prospectus in exchange for their shares in JadaBec First
Aid & Safety Company.

          The Selling  Shareholders  own no other shares of Cintas  Common Stock
other than those offered under this Prospectus. If the Selling Shareholders sell
all of the shares offered under this Prospectus, they will not own any shares of
Cintas Common Stock.

         Shares   acquired  by  gift  from  the  shares  owned  by  the  Selling
Shareholders may also be sold pursuant to the Prospectus by any such donee. This
Prospectus may also be used by transferees, assignees, distributees and pledgees
of the Selling Shareholders.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         Cintas will not receive any proceeds from the shares being sold in this
offering.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The Company is  registering  the shares offered hereby on behalf of the
Selling  Shareholders.  The Company has been advised by the Selling Shareholders
that they may sell or  transfer  all or a portion of the shares  offered  hereby
from time to time to third parties directly or by or through  brokers,  dealers,
agents or underwriters, who may receive compensation in the form of underwriting
discounts,  concessions or commissions from the Selling Shareholders and/or from
purchasers  of the shares for whom they may act as agent.  However,  the Selling
Shareholders  have  advised  the  Company  that they have not  entered  into any
agreements,   understandings   or   arrangements   with  any   underwriters   or
broker-dealers  regarding  the  sale  of  their  securities,  nor  is  there  an
underwriter or coordinating  broker acting in connection with the proposed sales
or transfers of shares by the Selling Shareholders.  Such sales and transfers of
the shares may be effected from time to time in one or more  transactions on the
Nasdaq  National  Market,   in  the   over-the-counter   market,  in  negotiated
transactions or otherwise,  at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at
market prices  prevailing at the time of sale, at negotiated  prices, or without
consideration,  through put or call options transactions relating to the shares,
through  short sales of shares or a  combination  of such methods of sale, or by
any other legally available means.

         The  term,  "Selling  Shareholders"   includes  donees,   pledgees  and
assignees in interest selling shares from the named Selling  Shareholders  after
the date of this prospectus. Any or all of the shares may be sold or transferred
from time to time by the Selling  Shareholders  by means of (a) a block trade in
which the broker or dealer so engaged  will  attempt to sell the shares as agent
but may position  and resell a portion of the block as  principal to  facilitate
the transaction;  (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by
such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus;  (c) ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;
(d) through the writing of options on the shares;  (e) pledges as  collateral to
secure  loans,  credit  or  other  financing  arrangements  and  any  subsequent
foreclosure, if any, thereunder; (f) gifts, donations and contributions; and (g)
any other  legally  available  means.  The aggregate net proceeds to the Selling
Shareholders  from the sale of the  shares  will be the  purchase  price of such
shares less any commissions.

         In order to comply  with the  securities  laws of  certain  states,  if
applicable,  the  shares  will  be  sold  in  such  jurisdictions  only  through
registered or licensed  brokers or dealers.  In addition,  in certain states the
shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in
the applicable  state or an exemption  from the  registration  or  qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.

         The  Selling   Shareholders  and  any  brokers,   dealers,   agents  or
underwriters that participate in the distribution of the shares may be deemed to
be "underwriters"  within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, in
which event any discounts, concessions and commissions received by such brokers,
dealers,  agents or  underwriters  and any  profit on the  resale of the  shares
purchased  by them may be deemed to be  underwriting  commissions  or  discounts
under the Securities Act.  Because the Selling  Shareholders may be deemed to be
"underwriters"  within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the  Securities  Act, the
Selling Shareholders will be subject to the prospectus delivery  requirements of
the  Securities  Act, which may include  delivery  through the facilities of the
Nasdaq  National  Market.  Additionally,  the  anti-manipulative  provisions  of
Regulation  M  promulgated  under  the  Exchange  Act may  apply to sales by the
Selling Shareholders in the market.

         No underwriter, broker, dealer or agent has been engaged by the Company
in connection with the distribution of the shares.

         Any shares covered by this  Prospectus  which qualify for sale pursuant
to Rule 144 under the  Securities  Act may be sold under  Rule 144  rather  than
pursuant to this Prospectus. There is no assurance that the Selling Shareholders
will sell any of the shares.  The Selling  Shareholders may transfer,  devise or
gift shares by other means not described herein.

         The Company will pay all of the expenses  incident to the  registration
of the shares,  other than underwriting  discounts and selling  commissions,  if
any.

         The Selling  Shareholders  may agree to indemnify any agent,  dealer or
broker-dealer  that  participates  in  transactions  involving  sales of  shares
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

         Upon the Company being  notified by the Selling  Shareholders  that any
material  arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of
shares  through  a block  trade,  special  offering,  exchange  distribution  or
secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this
prospectus  will be  filed,  if  required,  pursuant  to Rule  424(b)  under the
Securities  Act. The supplement  will disclose (i) the name of each such selling
shareholders  and of the  participating  broker-dealer(s),  (ii) the  number  of
shares  involved,  (iii) the price at which such shares  will be sold,  (iv) the
commissions  to be  paid or  discounts  or  concessions  to be  allowed  to such
broker-dealer(s),  where  applicable,  (v) that  such  broker-dealer(s)  did not
conduct any  investigation  to verify the information set out or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. A
supplement  to this  prospectus  will be filed if the Company is notified by the
Selling  Shareholders  that a donee or  pledgee  intends  to sell  more than 500
shares.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         The legality of the Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for
Cintas by Keating, Muething & Klekamp, P.L.L., Cincinnati, Ohio, of which Donald
P.  Klekamp,  a Director  of the  Company,  is a  partner.  Members of that firm
participating  in  matters  connected  with the  issuance  of shares  under this
Prospectus beneficially own 174,488 shares of Cintas Common Stock.

                                     EXPERTS

         The   consolidated   financial   statements   of   Cintas   Corporation
incorporated by reference in Cintas Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the  year  ended  May 31,  1998  and  the  supplemental  consolidated  financial
statements of Cintas Corporation included in Cintas Corporation's Current Report
on Form  8-K/A  filed May 7,  1999,  have  been  audited  by Ernst & Young  LLP,
independent  auditors,  as set forth in their reports  thereon  incorporated  by
reference  and  included  therein,  respectively,  and  incorporated  herein  by
reference in reliance upon such  reports,  given upon the authority of such firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         No  person  is  authorized  to give  any  information  or to  make  any
representations  other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and, if given or made, such information or  representations  must not
be relied upon as having been authorized. This Prospectus does not constitute an
offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the
registered  securities to which it relates or an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to buy such securities in any  jurisdiction to any person to whom it
is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Neither the
delivery  of  this   Prospectus  nor  any  sale  hereunder   shall,   under  any
circumstances,  create  any  implication  that  there  has been no change in the
affairs  of Cintas  since  the date  hereof  or that the  information  herein is
correct as of any time subsequent to its date.




<PAGE>








                                     PART II

                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS


Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

         The following is a list of estimated  expenses in  connection  with the
issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, with the exception
of underwriting discounts and commissions:

         Registration Fee ................................    $    741.00
         Printing costs...................................         500.00
         Legal fees and expenses..........................       3,000.00
         Accounting fees and expenses.....................       1,500.00
         Blue sky fees and expenses.......................         100.00
         Miscellaneous....................................         100.00
                                                               ----------
         Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   $ 5,941.00

         All  of  the  above  expenses  other  than  the  Registration  fee  are
estimates. All of the above expenses will be borne by Cintas.

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Washington  Business   Corporation  Act,  Section  23A.08.025,   allows
indemnification  by the Registrant to any person made or threatened to be made a
party to any  proceedings,  other  than a  proceeding  by or in the right of the
Registrant,  by  reason  of the  fact  that  he is or was a  director,  officer,
employee or agent of the Registrant,  against expenses,  including judgments and
fines, if he acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or
not  opposed  to the best  interests  of the  Registrant  and,  with  respect to
criminal  actions,  in which he had no  reasonable  cause  to  believe  that his
conduct was unlawful.  Similar  provisions apply to actions brought by or in the
right  of the  Registrant,  except  that  no  indemnification  shall  be made in
proceedings  in which the person  shall have been  adjudged  to be liable to the
Corporation.  Indemnifications  are to be made by a majority vote of a quorum of
disinterested  directors or the written opinion of independent counsel or by the
Shareholders.

         Article V of the  Registrant's  By-Laws  provides that  indemnification
shall be  extended  to any of the  persons  described  above to the full  extent
permitted by the Washington Business Corporation Act.

Item 16.Exhibits.


         Exhibit No.                         Description
  -------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
              5              Opinion re: Legality
             23.1            Consent of Independent Auditors
             23.2            Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5)
              24             Power of Attorney (contained on the signature page)


Item 17.Undertakings.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of
the  Registrant  pursuant  to the  provisions  set forth in Item 15  hereof,  or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is  against  public  policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for  indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  Registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) to file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

     (i)  to  include  any  prospectus  required  by  Section  10(a)(3)  of  the
          Securities Act of 1933;

     (ii) to reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising  after the
          effective  date of the  Registration  Statement  (or the  most  recent
          post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or  in  the
          aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
          in the  Registration  Statement.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  any
          increase  or decrease  in volume of  securities  offered (if the total
          dollar  value of  securities  offered  would not exceed that which was
          registered)  and  any  deviation  from  the  low  or  high  end of the
          estimated  maximum  offering  range  may be  reflected  in the form of
          prospectus  filed with the  Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in
          the aggregate,  the changes in volume and price represent no more than
          a 20% change in the maximum aggregate  offering price set forth in the
          "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective  registration
          statement.

     (iii)to  include  any  material  information  with  respect  to the plan of
          distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
          any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

Provided,  however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a  post-effective  amendment by those  paragraphs  is
contained in periodic  reports filed with or furnished to the  Commission by the
registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

     (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
Registration  Statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities  at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof; and

     (3) to remove from Registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     (4) that,  for purposes of determining  any liability  under the Securities
Act of 1933, each filing of the  Registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section
13(a)  or  Section  15(d)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  that  is
incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be a
new Registration  Statement relating to the securities offering therein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, on May 21, 1999.

                               CINTAS CORPORATION


                             BY: /s/ Robert J. Kohlhepp
                                --------------------------------
                                Robert J. Kohlhepp, Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities  and on the dates  indicated.  The persons whose names appear with an
asterisk (*) below hereby  designate  Robert J.  Kohlhepp or William C. Gale, or
either  of them,  as  attorney-in-fact  to sign  all  amendments  including  any
post-effective  amendments to this Registration Statement as well as any related
registration  statement (or  amendment  thereto)  filed  pursuant to Rule 462(b)
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.



<PAGE>




          Signature                    Title                          Date

/s/ Richard T. Farmer            Chairman of the Board of          May 21, 1999
- - ---------------------------
 *Richard T. Farmer              Directors


/s/ Robert J. Kohlhepp           Chief Executive Officer and       May 21, 1999
- - ---------------------------      Director (Principal Executive
  *Robert J. Kohlhepp            Officer)


/s/ Scott D. Farmer              President, Chief Operating        May 21, 1999
- - ---------------------------
*Scott D. Farmer                 Officer and Director


/s/ Roger L. Howe                Director                          May 21, 1999
- - ---------------------------
 *Roger L. Howe


- - ---------------------------      Director                          May __, 1999
 *John S. Lillard


/s/ James J. Gardner             Director                          May 21, 1999
- - ---------------------------
 *James J. Gardner


- - ---------------------------     Director                           May __, 1999
*Donald P. Klekamp


/s/ Gerald V. Dirvin             Director                          May 21, 1999
- - ---------------------------
 *Gerald V. Dirvin


/s/ William C. Gale              Vice President of Finance         May 21, 1999
- - ---------------------------      (Principal Financial Officer
  *William C. Gale               and Principal Accounting
                                 Officer)







                            TELECOPIER (513) 579-6457

                                  May 21, 1999





Direct Dial:  (513) 579-6560


Cintas Corporation
6800 Cintas Boulevard
Cincinnati, Ohio  45262

Gentlemen:

         We serve as your General Counsel and are familiar with your Articles of
Incorporation, By-laws and corporate proceedings. On this basis, we have made an
examination as to:

     1. The organization of Cintas Corporation;

     2. The legal sufficiency of all corporate proceedings of the Corporation in
connection with the authorization and issuance of all presently  outstanding and
issued Common Stock of the Corporation; and

     3. The legal  sufficiency of all corporate  proceedings taken in connection
with the  authorization  of the issuance of 42,096  shares of Common Stock to be
included in a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

         Based upon such examination, we are of the opinion that:

     1. Cintas Corporation is a duly organized and validly existing  corporation
under the laws of the State of Washington;

     2.  Cintas  Corporation  has taken all  necessary  and  required  corporate
actions in connection  with the issuance of 42,096 shares of newly issued Common
Stock and the aforesaid  42,096  shares of Common Stock are validly  authorized,
legally  issued,  fully  paid and  nonassessable  shares of Common  Stock of the
Corporation free of any preemptive rights.



<PAGE>




         We hereby consent to be named in the aforesaid  Registration  Statement
and the  Prospectus  part  thereof  as the  attorneys  who will pass upon  legal
matters in connection with the issuance of the aforesaid Common Stock and to the
filing  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to  the  Registration  Statement  and
furthermore  consent  to  references  made  to  this  firm  in the  Registration
Statement.

                                Very truly yours,

                                 KEATING, MUETHING & KLEKAMP, P.L.L.


                                 BY:/s/ Robert E. Coletti
                                    --------------------------------------
                                        Robert E. Coletti







                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

         We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption  "Experts" in
the  Registration   Statement  (Form  S-3)  and  related  Prospectus  of  Cintas
Corporation for the registration of 42,096 shares of its common stock and to the
incorporation  by  reference  therein  of our report  dated  July 2, 1998,  with
respect  to  the  consolidated   financial   statements  of  Cintas  Corporation
incorporated  by reference in its Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
May  31,  1998  and  our  report  dated  April  30,  1999  with  respect  to the
supplemental consolidated financial statements of Cintas Corporation included in
its  Current  Report on Form  8-K/A  filed May 7, 1999 with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission.



                                              ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Cincinnati, Ohio
May 20, 1999



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