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NEW YORK - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has concluded its antitrust review of Omnicom Group’s (NYSE:OMC) proposed acquisition of Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), clearing a major regulatory hurdle for the advertising industry merger. IPG, currently valued at $8.93 billion, has maintained strong financial health according to InvestingPro analysis, with annual revenue of $9 billion.
The FTC granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act on Monday after reaching agreement with both companies on a consent order, according to a press release statement. The order is now subject to a 30-day public comment period before final acceptance.
"This is an important step toward the completion of the proposed acquisition," said John Wren, Chairman and CEO of Omnicom. The companies still expect to close the transaction in the second half of 2025, pending remaining regulatory approvals.
Philippe Krakowsky, CEO of Interpublic, described the development as "a notable step forward in the process of combining our companies."
The consent order details are available on the FTC’s website. Neither company disclosed specific terms or conditions imposed by regulators.
Omnicom provides marketing and sales solutions through its agency brands to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Interpublic operates several well-known communications agencies including McCann, FCB, and Weber Shandwick.
The transaction, when completed, would combine two of the world’s largest advertising holding companies, creating a more comprehensive range of marketing services incorporating both creative capabilities and technology solutions.
In other recent news, Interpublic Group of Companies reported its first-quarter earnings for 2025, surpassing Wall Street expectations. The company achieved an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.33, exceeding the forecasted $0.2697, and reported revenue of $2 billion, slightly above the anticipated $1.99 billion. This performance indicates a stronger-than-anticipated start to the year despite challenging market conditions. The company is currently navigating a proposed merger with Omnicom Group, valued at $13.5 billion, which has attracted scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC has proposed a consent order to address antitrust concerns, particularly focusing on preventing the merged entity from making advertising placement decisions based on political viewpoints. The merger discussions remain ongoing, with the potential for regulatory conditions to be imposed. Meanwhile, Interpublic continues to focus on strategic transformation and cost reduction, with expectations of significant restructuring savings. Despite the ongoing merger review and restructuring efforts, Interpublic maintains a positive outlook, projecting a full-year revenue target with an organic decrease of 1-2% and an adjusted EBITDA margin target of 16.6%.
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