Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG wins shareholder support

Shareholders of Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group of Cos. have approved the advertising giants’ proposed merger, clearing one of the final hurdles in the $13 billion deal. Omnicom shook up the ad world in December by announcing its plan to buy rival IPG in a deal that would create the world’s largest agency holding company. Shareholders’ approval of the deal was widely expected. Earlier this month, ISS and Glass Lewis recommended votes in favor of the acquisition. “We are very pleased to reach this important milestone,” said John Wren, chairman and CEO of Omnicom, in a statement. “The strong support of our stockholders confirms the compelling value proposition of the transaction and the leading-edge services, products and platforms it will create for our people and clients.” Philippe Krakowsky, CEO of IPG, added: “With an overwhelming majority voting in favor of the transaction, it is clear that our stockholders see the immense opportunity of Interpublic joining forces with Omnicom.” More than 90% of each company’s shareholders who voted approved the deal, an Omnicom spokesperson said. A slight majority of IPG shareholders (nearly 53% of outstanding shares) approved “golden parachute” payments for a group of executives, including Krakowsky, who is set to receive roughly $49 million. Also: Inside Philippe Krakowsky’s $49 million golden parachute The acquisition still needs regulatory approval in the U.S. and abroad. The Federal Trade Commission has been reviewing the deal and last week issued a second request for information, a move that could delay the approval process for months or ultimately lead to a lawsuit seeking to block it. Second requests for information in U.S. antitrust reviews come in only 1.5%-3% of cases, and aren’t necessarily related to the size of the deal, Michelle Mantine, an attorney with Reed Smith who specializes in antitrust, previously told Ad Age. Tracking the latest Omnicom-IPG merger news and analysis The FTC’s lawyers have been asking about principal media buying and media company incentives to agencies, in addition to how a bigger agency group might affect both media companies and brand marketers in those areas, according to people familiar with the matter. In a statement last week, Omnicom and IPG said a second request is “a standard part of the regulatory process,” adding that “both parties continue to expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2025.” Contributing: Brian Bonilla

Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG wins shareholder support

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