Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) and Interpublic (NYSE: IPG) have successfully cleared the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) antitrust review for Omnicom's proposed acquisition of Interpublic. This marks a significant milestone in the process of combining the two companies and creating a new era in marketing and sales solutions.
The agreed consent order, which is publicly available on the FTC's website, has resulted in the early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. The consent order is now subject to a 30-day public comment period and then final acceptance by the FTC.
Omnicom, a leading provider of data-inspired, creative marketing and sales solutions, operates in more than 70 countries and serves over 5,000 clients. Their iconic agency brands offer a wide range of services including advertising, strategic media planning and buying, precision marketing, retail and digital commerce, branding, experiential, public relations, and healthcare marketing.
This development indicates a notable step forward for both companies in terms of combining their talent, complementary capabilities, and geographic strengths. It sets the stage for them to be exceptionally well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of clients in a consumer and media landscape being transformed by technology and data.
The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of this year, subject to obtaining the remaining regulatory approvals, consistent with the expectations set when the transaction was announced. As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved 0.8% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $72.27. If you want to know more, read the company's complete 8-K report here.
