UniFirst shares surge 15.62% premarket after renewed Cintas acquisition talks with $275/share offer.

Unifirst (UNF) surged 15.62% in premarket trading following reports that the company is in active acquisition talks with Cintas Corp., which resubmitted a $275-per-share takeover offer in December. The renewed discussions, after years of on-again, off-again attempts, triggered a significant price jump, with shares rising to $230.01 from Monday’s close of $199.84. Cintas had previously withdrawn its bid in 2023 due to a lack of substantive engagement, but recent developments suggest a fresh phase in negotiations. UniFirst’s CEO confirmed the board is evaluating the proposal, though no final terms have been set. The stock’s sharp rise reflects investor optimism about a potential deal, as the $275 offer represents a premium to its recent market value. Analysts and market participants are monitoring the talks for clarity on valuation and strategic alignment, with Cintas’ market cap ($78 billion) dwarfing UniFirst’s ($3.6 billion). The Croatti family’s controlling stake and dual-class structure remain key variables in the outcome.