Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG creates world’s largest advertising holding company

A day after the European Union approved the Omnicom-IPG combination, Omnicom issued a statement confirming the development and indicating that the deal is expected to close by late Wednesday, Nov. 28, reports MediaPost.

Omnicom is in the process of acquiring Interpublic Group (IPG) in a multi-billion-dollar all-stock deal that will create the world’s largest advertising holding company by combining the two companies, which are, currently, the third and fourth-largest globally.

As it did when it announced the pending transaction a year ago, adds MediaPost, it is likely that the company will schedule an analyst’s call to review some of the highlights of the combined company’s integration going forward.

On its quarterly earnings call in October, Omnicom CEO John Wren said details including leadership roles, organizational structure, strategic priorities and more would be revealed shortly after the closing.

Wren also noted at the time that planning has been ongoing and that the companies expect to “hit the ground running from day one” following the closing.

Omnicom Group Inc., states Wikipedia, is an American global media, marketing, and corporate communications holding company, headquartered in New York City. Omnicom’s branded networks and specialty firms provide services in four disciplines: advertising,  customer relationship management (CRM), public relations, and specialty services. The services included in these disciplines are media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, sports and events marketing, field marketing, and brand consultancy.  Omnicom Group serves as the parent company of Omnicom Media Group, comprising three agencies, OMD, PHD, and Hearts & Science, as well as three global advertising agency networks: BBDO, DDB, and TBWA. As of 2024, the company employees around 74,900 employees globally.

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG), states Wikipedias, is an American publicly traded advertising company. The company consists of five major networks: FCB, IPG Mediabrands, McCann Worldgroup, MullenLowe Group and Marketing Specialists, as well as several independent specialty agencies in the areas of public relations, sports marketing, talent representation and healthcare. It is one of the “Big Four” agency companies, alongside WPP, Publicis, and Omnicom.