31st Consecutive Year of Uninterrupted Growth in Sales and Profits Q4 Sales at $505 Million; FY2000 Sales Surpass $1.9 Billion Q4 Performance shows Internal Growth Momentum Q4 EPS up 19%; Full Year EPS up 18%

CINCINNATI, July 11 — Cintas Corporation today reported that total revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter ended May 31, 2000, was up 11% to $505 million from $455 million a year ago. On March 24, 1999, Cintas merged with Unitog Company (Unitog). The acquisition was accounted for as a pooling of interests. In accordance with pooling of interests accounting regulations, fiscal 1999 fourth quarter financial results include Unitog's results for a full three-month period as if both companies had always been combined. Fourth quarter net income of $52.8 million increased 168% over that reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999. Excluding the one-time costs related to the acquisition of Unitog, net income for the quarter was up 20% from $44.1 million last year, and earnings per share of $.31 per share (diluted) increased 19% from $.26 per share (diluted).

"Cintas achieved a significant milestone in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000," said Richard T. Farmer, Chairman and Founder of Cintas. "For the first time in the Company's history, total quarterly revenue exceeded half a billion dollars, and the opportunity for continued future growth is excellent."

Cintas' rental revenue, excluding Unitog volume and all other acquisitions and divestitures, was up 15% from last year's fourth quarter. "We're pleased to be in our target range of 14 - 16% for internal growth," Farmer commented. "Expansion of our sales force and improved sales force productivity were major contributors to the strong fourth-quarter performance."

"More businesses than ever before are recognizing the power of the uniform and the power of a positive image," Farmer continued. "Our customers also rely on us for many other important products and services — entrance mats, hygiene services and first aid products — which help make their workplaces cleaner, safer and more pleasant for employees and customers. Our growth in these divisions demonstrates the value these services deliver."

Full Year Marks 31st Consecutive Year of Uninterrupted Growth in Sales and Profits

For the year ended May 31, 2000, Cintas reported total revenue of $1.9 billion, up 9% from $1.75 billion for the year ended May 31, 1999. This growth rate was reduced by several factors related to Unitog. Unitog divested some of its business shortly before the Cintas acquisition. After the acquisition, Cintas sold some additional linen volume and eliminated some unprofitable and undesirable business at the same time. Excluding Unitog business, Cintas' revenues increased 13.3%. Net income for fiscal 2000 reached $193.4 million a 39% increase over that reported in fiscal 1999. Excluding the one-time items related to the acquisition of Unitog, net income for the year increased 18% from $164 million last year, and earnings per share of $1.14 per share (diluted) increased 18% from $.97 per share (diluted). In accordance with pooling of interests accounting regulations, fiscal year 1999 financial results include Unitog's results for a full 12 month period as if both companies had always been combined.

"Fiscal 2000 marked the 31st consecutive year in which Cintas has achieved growth in sales and profits," Farmer said. Over the 31-year period, Cintas sales grew at a compound annual rate of 25 %, while profits grew at a compound annual rate of 33 %. "Further, we have more than doubled the size of the Company over the past three years, and nearly tripled its size over the past four years. Our intent is to build on the momentum, to seize the tremendous opportunities in our markets and continue to grow at an impressive rate."

Cintas believes Unitog's revenue, which had been declining due to the sale of its linen businesses and the high lost-business rates it experienced prior to the merger with Cintas, will begin to grow from its current base. "We have the team in place to leverage the largest transaction in our Company's history, and we now see customer retention rates at Unitog in line with Cintas' historic levels," Farmer said.

Strong Profits Reflect Growth and Benefits of Unitog Consolidation

Since the March 1999 acquisition of Unitog, Cintas has focused on integrating operations, and virtually completed that effort by the end of fiscal 2000. The consolidation included closing 28 of Unitog's 56 uniform rental operations, both Unitog distribution centers and four of six manufacturing operations. Further, all the corporate functions that were performed at Unitog's headquarters in Kansas City were transferred to Cintas headquarters in Cincinnati. The Unitog corporate headquarters building in Kansas City was sold in December 1999.

"Completing the consolidation of Unitog in half the time we anticipated accelerated certain costs such as consulting fees, severance payments, and most importantly, uniform replacements to satisfy former Unitog customers," Farmer said. "Most of those costs are behind us, and now we are focusing on increasing the revenue and profitability of former Unitog facilities."

For fiscal 2000, Cintas' consolidated net margin was 10.2%, compared with 9.4% excluding one-time items in fiscal 1999. The net margin reached 10.5% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000, as revenue growth and improvements in garment and production costs helped offset the planned rise in expenses related to the expanding sales force.

Technology Investment Demonstrates Commitment to Service

Reflecting its commitment to exceed customers' expectations, Cintas invested heavily in technological advancements during fiscal 2000. "Technology is a great tool to enhance customer service," said Robert J. Kohlhepp, Chief Executive Officer. "During the year, we integrated information from various business units into a central data warehouse that can be easily accessed from Cintas locations throughout the United States and Canada. We also continued to equip service sales representatives in both the uniform rental and first aid and safety divisions with hand-held computers."

The Cintas Web site — http://www.cintas-corp.com/ — was named one of "The Net Marketing Top 50" by Advertising Age's Business Marketing magazine. Cintas also developed hundreds of custom Web sites enabling customers to place orders, track orders and talk to Cintas customer service representatives from a secure Internet location.

Strong Financial Position Provides Stable Base for Growth

At May 31, 2000, total assets were $1.6 billion compared with $1.4 billion a year earlier, shareholders' equity reached $1.0 billion, up from $871 million. Cash and marketable securities reached $109 million, up 23% over the prior year. Total debt to capitalization was 20% at May 31, 2000.

Market Opportunities Set Stage for Continued Growth

Over the past 10 years, the uniform rental market has grown at an average rate of 6.3 %, more than twice the GDP rate of growth. Kohlhepp attributed the growth to the service economy shift, along with an increasing awareness of the power of the uniform and a growing number of businesses renting uniforms rather than buying them.

"Approximately two thirds of our new rental customers are companies that are first-time uniform renters," Kohlhepp said. "These companies are adding uniforms to improve their image, boost their team spirit and provide a tangible benefit to attract and retain their employees."

Cintas is the largest company in the corporate identity uniform industry. Cintas has the best long-term growth rates and also is the most profitable company, with the highest returns on sales, equity and assets. Further, Cintas has one of the largest field forces in North America, with thousands of service sales representatives visiting customers on a regular schedule, usually on a weekly basis.

"Our service sales representatives are in regular contact with more than 400,000 business customers," Kohlhepp said. "Our broad field presence, focus on details and customer relationships provide a platform from which we can offer new products and services quickly and economically."

"Our principal objective is to maximize the long-term value for our shareholders and working partners by exceeding our customers' expectations," he continued. "Our unwavering focus on our principal objective has made us an industry leader, and we have very high aspirations for our future."

About Cintas

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation is a leader in the corporate identity uniform industry and also provides a wide range of ancillary services, including entrance mats, sanitation supplies, clean room services, and first aid products and services. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS. Every day, more than 4 million people go to work in a Cintas uniform. Cintas recently was recognized as a "Moody's Dividend Achiever" and one of "America's Finest Companies" as determined by the Staton Institute.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the company's current views as to future events and financial performance with respect to its operations. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this press release. Factors that might cause such a difference include the possibility of greater than anticipated operating costs, lower sales volumes and higher assumed sourcing or distribution costs of products and the reactions of competitors in terms of price and service. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Cintas undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect the events or circumstances arising after the date of which they are made.