FTC Intends to Block $5.5 Billion Cintas-UniFirst Merger
The FTC informed Cintas and UniFirst of its intention to file a lawsuit to block their $5.5 billion merger, according to a Semafor report, with no formal vote taken yet.
Semafor reported that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officially notified Cintas and UniFirst of its intention to file a lawsuit to block their $5.5 billion merger, as reported by Reuters via MarketScreener on October 27, 2026.
The report clarified that the notification was not yet accompanied by a formal vote from the commission, meaning the final institutional decision to pursue legal action has not been made.
Cintas shares fell by around 6%, and UniFirst shares dropped by about 9% after the news broke.
Both companies and the commission declined to comment immediately to Reuters.
What do these terms mean?
Federal Trade Commission: An independent U.S. agency that protects competition and consumer rights, and reviews mergers that may restrict competition.
Merger: The combination of two or more companies into a single entity, subject to regulatory review when exceeding a certain threshold.
Lawsuit: A legal action brought by a party before a court to claim a right or prevent a specific action.
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