Defined Contribution Plans

12 Months Ended

May 31, 2012

Defined Contribution Plans [Abstract]

Defined Contribution Plans

Defined Contribution Plans

Cintas' Partners' Plan (the Plan) is a non-contributory profit sharing plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for the benefit of substantially all U.S. Cintas employee-partners who have completed one year of service. The Plan also includes a 401(k) savings feature covering substantially all U.S. employee-partners. The amounts of contributions to the Plan and ESOP, as well as the matching contribution to the 401(k), are made at the discretion of Cintas. Total contributions, including Cintas' matching contributions, which approximate cost, were $26.0 million, $21.1 million and $19.8 million for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Cintas has a non-contributory deferred profit sharing plan (DPSP), which covers substantially all Canadian employees. In addition, a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) is offered to those employees. The amounts of contributions to the DPSP, as well as the matching contribution to the RRSP, are made at the discretion of Cintas. Total contributions, which approximate cost, were $1.3 million, $1.0 million and $0.9 million for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Cintas has a supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code for the benefit of certain highly compensated Cintas employees. The SERP allows participants to defer the receipt of compensation which would otherwise become payable to them. Matching contributions are made at the discretion of Cintas. Total matching contributions were $5.7 million, $6.1 million and $5.0 million for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.