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Deal with Omnicom set to be finalized and IPG acquisition complete by year's end

Quarterly organic earnings of the parent company climbed by 3% during the second quarter

Deal to merge IPG with Omnicom set to be finalized by year's end
Deal to merge IPG with Omnicom set to be finalized by year's end

Deal with Omnicom set to be finalized and IPG acquisition complete by year's end

The much-anticipated merger between advertising giants Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group (IPG) is progressing steadily, with significant regulatory approvals already in place. As of July 17, 2025, the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted clearance, bringing the total antitrust approvals to 14 out of the 18 required for the acquisition to close.

Earlier, on June 23, 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had completed its antitrust review and approved the deal with a consent order, marking a major regulatory milestone.

John Wren, CEO of Omnicom Group, expressed confidence in the transaction, stating that they are "very comfortable with the guidance that we previously have given you" regarding their full-year growth forecast. He reiterated his expectation that the closing will occur "in just a few months," consistent with prior guidance for completion within this year.

However, potential regulatory delays or conditions could still impact the transaction’s benefits, as noted in Omnicom’s recent filings and earnings reports. Additionally, uncertainties from broader macroeconomic factors, such as tariffs and trade barriers, could potentially cause delays or operational disruption, according to Wren.

As the merger nears completion, both companies remain optimistic about the value it will create by combining their creative, technological, and data-driven marketing capabilities. In Q2 2025, Omnicom Group's revenue increased by 4.2% year-over-year, with the media and advertising division experiencing an organic revenue growth of 8.2%. The precision marketing division also saw an organic revenue growth of 5%.

Despite these positive figures, Phil Angelastro, CFO of Omnicom Group, declined to disclose which countries are yet to grant approval for the acquisition. The European Union remains the largest of the countries yet to grant approval, with the remaining countries awaiting U.S. approval before finalizing their decisions.

Wren also emphasized that they don't plan their growth based on sudden changes in macroeconomic conditions and that there will still be challenges ahead. However, he expressed optimism that Washington D.C. would bring clarity over the rest of the quarter, allowing for better planning as they move into the fourth quarter and beyond.

The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2025, with the remaining countries' decisions pending on the U.S. approval. The exact countries holding out on approval are yet to be disclosed.

[1] Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) grants clearance for the Omnicom-Interpublic Group merger. (2025, July 17). Retrieved from https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-grants-clearance-for-the-omnicom-interpublic-group-merger

[2] Omnicom Group, Inc. 2025 Annual Report. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.omnicomgroup.com/annual-report/

[3] U.S. Federal Trade Commission approves Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group merger with consent order. (2025, June 23). Retrieved from https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2025/06/us-federal-trade-commission-approves-omnicom-group-and-interpublic

[4] Omnicom Group, Inc. Q2 2025 Earnings Release. (2025, July 15). Retrieved from https://www.omnicomgroup.com/investor-relations/financial-results/quarterly-results/q2-2025-earnings-release/

[5] Omnicom Group CEO John Wren expects Washington D.C. to bring clarity over the rest of the quarter. (2025, July 16). Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/16/omnicom-group-ceo-john-wren-expects-washington-d-c-to-bring-clarity-over-the-rest-of-the-quarter.html

  1. The progression of the merger between Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group, fueled by significant regulatory approvals, indicates a positive outlook for growth in the advertising industry, as evidenced by the companies' finance reports and business strategies.
  2. The combination of creative, technological, and data-driven marketing capabilities of both companies is expected to create significant value, with Omnicom Group's Q2 2025 revenue showing a 4.2% year-over-year increase, particularly in the media and advertising division.
  3. Although there are uncertainties from macroeconomic factors and regulatory delays, John Wren, CEO of Omnicom Group, remains optimistic about the merger's benefits, emphasizing their ongoing investments in growth and expecting the acquisition to close in the second half of 2025, subject to the remaining countries' decisions, including those in the European Union.

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