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NEW YORK - Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) and Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG) announced Thursday that Australia’s competition regulator has approved their pending merger, marking the 14th antitrust clearance out of 18 required to complete the transaction. According to InvestingPro data, IPG, currently valued at $9 billion, maintains a GOOD financial health score and offers a notable 5.24% dividend yield.
The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) granted clearance for the acquisition, keeping the companies on schedule to finalize the deal in the second half of 2025, according to a press release statement.
The proposed combination would bring together two major advertising and marketing services companies. Omnicom operates iconic agency brands providing services in advertising, media planning, precision marketing, public relations, and other specialty marketing areas to over 5,000 clients globally.
Interpublic’s portfolio includes agencies such as FCB, McCann, Weber Shandwick, and IPG Mediabrands, among others.
The companies indicated they remain on track with their regulatory approval process, having secured 14 of the 18 required antitrust clearances needed before the transaction can be completed.
Omnicom and Interpublic continue to anticipate closing the transaction in the second half of this year, though the deal still requires additional regulatory approvals before it can be finalized.
In other recent news, Omnicom Group Inc.’s proposed acquisition of The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. has been cleared by both the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The ACCC determined that the merger would not significantly reduce competition, while the FTC reached a consent order with both companies, marking a significant step forward for the transaction. The consent order is subject to a 30-day public comment period before final acceptance. The FTC’s review included specific restrictions aimed at preventing Omnicom from directing advertising away from media publishers based on political viewpoints. The merger, valued at $13.5 billion, will create the world’s largest media buying advertising agency if completed. Omnicom and Interpublic are currently ranked as the third- and fourth-largest media buying agencies in the U.S., respectively. The companies anticipate finalizing the merger in the second half of 2025, pending remaining regulatory approvals.
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