CINCINNATI, March 22, 2017 -- Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today reported results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2017 which ended February 28, 2017. Revenue for the third quarter was $1.28 billion, an increase of 5.3% over last year’s third quarter. The organic growth rate, which adjusts for the impacts of acquisitions, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and differences in the number of workdays, was 6.5%. Organic growth for the Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment accelerated to a rate of 7.3%.

Third quarter gross margin improved to 44.2% from 43.1% last year. Scott D. Farmer, Cintas’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “This is our 14th consecutive quarter of year-over-year gross margin improvement. This and our industry-leading revenue growth are indicative of a healthy company with significant opportunities ahead. I thank our employees, whom we call partners, for the continuous commitment to improvement that leads to best-in-class execution and results.” Third quarter gross margin for the Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment improved to 45.0%, an increase of 100 basis points compared to last year’s third quarter. The First Aid and Safety Services segment third quarter gross margin improved to 44.8%, an increase of 260 basis points compared to last year’s third quarter primarily due to the realization of synergies from the acquisition of ZEE Medical in fiscal 2016.

Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue were 28.3% in the third quarter compared to 27.3% in last year’s third quarter. Fifty basis points of the increase was the result of favorable workers’ compensation experience in last year’s third quarter. In addition, labor and related expenses increased as a percentage of revenue as we continue to prepare for the acquisition of G&K Services, Inc. (G&K).  

Operating income for the third quarter of $195 million increased 0.9% from last year’s third quarter. Operating income margin was 15.2% compared to 15.9% in last year’s third quarter. Third quarter operating income included $9 million, or 0.7% of third quarter revenue, of transaction expenses related to the acquisition of G&K.   

Net income and earnings per diluted share (EPS) from continuing operations for the third quarter were $119 million and $1.08, respectively. This quarter’s EPS includes a positive impact from a change in the accounting for equity compensation as required under ASU 2016-09, which was adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, as well as a negative impact from transaction expenses such as legal and professional expenses associated with the regulatory review related to the acquisition of G&K. The following table provides a comparison of fiscal 2017 EPS to the comparable period of fiscal 2016:

Mr. Farmer concluded, “Yesterday we completed the acquisition of G&K. We are excited to have the G&K employees join us as Cintas partners and now begin the process of integration. We expect to realize annual synergies in the range of $130 million to $140 million in the fourth full year following the acquisition. The integration process needed to achieve the annual synergies will result in certain non-recurring costs. In addition, we will continue the purchase accounting process, including certain third-party valuations, which may have a significant impact on our future results. While we have estimated these integration costs and the impact of the purchase price accounting results using assumptions from our due diligence, we must confirm our assumptions and complete the purchase accounting process. Therefore, we are pulling our guidance for the remainder of our 2017 fiscal year. We will provide our expectations for results when the impact of these items becomes clearer.”

About Cintas

Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing a wide range of products and services that enhance our customers’ image and help keep their facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. With products and services including uniforms, floor care, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety and compliance training, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday™. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “target,” “forecast,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may” and “will” or the negative versions thereof and similar words, terms and expressions and by the context in which they are used.  Such statements are based upon current expectations of Cintas and speak only as of the date made.  You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.  We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized.  These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in or implied by this Press Release.  Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks inherent with the G&K transaction in the achievement of cost synergies and the timing thereof, including whether the transaction will be accretive and within the expected timeframe; the possibility of greater than anticipated operating costs including energy and fuel costs; lower sales volumes; loss of customers due to outsourcing trends; the performance and costs of integration of acquisitions, including G&K; fluctuations in costs of materials and labor including increased medical costs; costs and possible effects of union organizing activities; failure to comply with government regulations concerning employment discrimination, employee pay and benefits and employee health and safety; the effect on operations of exchange rate fluctuations, tariffs and other political, economic and regulatory risks; uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation; the cost, results and ongoing assessment of internal controls for financial reporting required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; costs of our SAP system implementation; disruptions caused by the inaccessibility of computer systems data, including cybersecurity risks; the initiation or outcome of litigation, investigations or other proceedings; higher assumed sourcing or distribution costs of products; the disruption of operations from catastrophic or extraordinary events; the amount and timing of repurchases of our common stock, if any; changes in federal and state tax and labor laws; and the reactions of competitors in terms of price and service. Cintas undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements or to otherwise update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or to reflect events, circumstances or any other unanticipated developments arising after the date on which such statements are made.  A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2016 and in our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K.  The risks and uncertainties described herein are not the only ones we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties presently not known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also harm our business.

For additional information, contact:

J. Michael Hansen, Sr. VP-Finance and Chief Financial Officer – 513-701-2079

Paul F. Adler, Vice President and Treasurer – 513-573-4195