CINTAS CORP
S-3, 1999-03-12
MEN'S & BOYS' FURNISHGS, WORK CLOTHG, & ALLIED GARMENTS
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     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 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 Number)
                                      (513) 459-1200
               (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     12,475          $71-1/4             $888,844            $248
============= ============  ==================  =================  =============

*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

                          12,475 shares of Common Stock
                  --------------------------------------------


        The  shareholder of Cintas  Corporation  described below is offering and
selling 12,475 shares of Cintas Common Stock.

     The Selling Shareholder obtained his shares of Cintas stock on February 26,
1999 in exchange  for  Affirmed  of  Minnesota,  Inc.  d/b/a/  Affirmed  Medical
Services, Inc.

        The Selling  Shareholder  may offer his 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 March 10,  the  closing  price of one  share of Cintas  stock on the
Nasdaq National Market was $71-7/8.

                    ----------------------------------------

        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. Our SEC filings are available to the public over
the internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.  You may also read and
copy any document we file at the SEC's  public  reference  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 and
November  30,  1998,  the Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31,
1998,  the Forms 8-K filed on June 1, 1998 and  January  14, 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

<PAGE>

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 to the date of this  Prospectus,  Cintas  has  issued
approximately  10,500,000 shares of its common stock and paid  approximately $61
million  in cash in 126  acquisitions.  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,  a company that Cintas agreed
to acquire pursuant to a merger agreement dated January 9, 1999.

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.


<PAGE>

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.


<PAGE>

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 73% 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 159 rental  locations
and six cleanroom  facilities and sells uniforms to national  customers  through
distribution  centers located in Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Reno,  Nevada,  Montgomery,
Alabama and Chicago,  Illinois. At its nine garment manufacturing facilities the
Company manufac tures 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.

<PAGE>

        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 SHAREHOLDER

        The 12,475 shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus,  all of which are
being offered for sale hereby,  are offered by Thomas Esterley.  On February 26,
1999, Cintas  consummated the acquisition of Affirmed of Minnesota,  Inc. d/b/a/
Affirmed  Medical  Services,  Inc. Mr.  Esterley  received the 12,475  shares of
Cintas Common Stock  described in this  Prospectus in exchange for his shares in
Affirmed.

         The Selling  Shareholder  owns no other  shares of Cintas  Common Stock
other than those offered under this Prospectus. If Mr. Esterley sells all of the
shares  offered  under  this  Prospectus,  he will not own any  shares of Cintas
Common Stock.

        Shares acquired by gift from the shares owned by the Selling Shareholder
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 Shareholder.


                                 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  Shareholder.  The Company has been  advised by the Selling  Shareholder
that he 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  Shareholder and/or from
purchasers  of the shares for whom they may act as agent.  However,  the Selling
Shareholder has advised the Company that he has not entered into any agreements,
understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding
the sale of her securities,  nor is there an underwriter or coordinating  broker
acting in  connection  with the  proposed  sales or  transfers  of shares by the
Selling Shareholder. 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.


<PAGE>

        The term, "Selling Shareholder" includes donees,  pledgees and assignees
in interest selling shares from the named Selling  Shareholder after the date of
this  prospectus.  Any or all of the shares may be sold or transferred from time
to time by the  Selling  Shareholder  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
Shareholder  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 Shareholder 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 Shareholder may be deemed to be an
"underwriter"  within the meaning of Section  2(11) of the  Securities  Act, the
Selling Shareholder 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 Shareholder 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 Shareholder
will sell any of the shares.  The Selling  Shareholder  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.


<PAGE>



        The Selling  Shareholder  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  Shareholder  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  Shareholder  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,  have  been  audited  by  Ernst & Young  LLP,  independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon incorporated by reference therein
and  incorporated  herein by reference in reliance upon such report,  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 informa tion 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 .......................                       $  248.00
        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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . $5,448.00

        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 her
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.





<PAGE>




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




<PAGE>




               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 March 12, 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.


          Signature                     Title                    Date

 /s/ Richard T. Farmer
- ---------------------------     Chairman of the Board of       March 12, 1999
*Richard T. Farmer              Directors                      


/s/ Robert J. Kohlhepp
- ---------------------------     Chief Executive Officer        March 12, 1999
*Robert J. Kohlhepp             and Director (Principal
                                Executive Officer)

/s/ Scott D. Farmer
- ---------------------------     President, Chief               March 12, 1999
 *Scott D. Farmer               Operating Officer and
                                Director

/s/ Roger L. Howe
- ---------------------------     Director                       March 12, 1999
*Roger L. Howe


- ---------------------------
*John S. Lillard                Director                       March 12, 1999





<PAGE>





/s/ James J. Gardner            Director                       March 12, 1999
- ----------------------------
*James J. Gardner


- ----------------------------    Director                       March 12, 1999
*Donald P. Klekamp


- ----------------------------    Director                       March 12, 1999
 *Gerald V. Dirvin


/s/ William C. Gale             Vice President of Finance      March 12, 1999
- ----------------------------    (Principal Financial
*William C. Gale                Officer and Principal
                                Accounting Officer)









                            TELECOPIER (513) 579-6956


                                 March 12, 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 12,475  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;





<PAGE>



Cintas Corporation
Page 2
March 12, 1999


        2. Cintas  Corporation  has taken all necessary  and required  corporate
actions in connection  with the issuance of 12,475 shares of newly issued Common
Stock and the aforesaid  12,475  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.

        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 12,475 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 the related financial schedule included therein, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.




                                                       ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Cincinnati, Ohio
March 11, 1999



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