US regulator asks Omnicom and IPG for information ahead of vote on acquisition deal

The US Federal Trade Commission has asked Omnicom and Interpublic for information regarding the proposed acquisition ahead of a shareholder vote on the deal due to take place next week. 

Omnicom said each of the holdcos had received a “request for additional information and documentary material from the regulator in connection with Omnicom’s proposed acquisition of Interpublic."

Omnicom said the request was “a standard part of the regulatory process."

“Omnicom and Interpublic have been engaged with the FTC throughout the regulatory process and will continue to address its queries going forward,” the company said in a statement.

“Both parties continue to expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2025.”

The move comes ahead of two simultaneous votes by the shareholders of Omnicom and IPG, who need to give their formal approval, on Tuesday (18 March). 

Two leading proxy advisory groups have recommended shareholders vote in favour of the deal, while campaign group Clean Creatives has warned shareholders of “significant business and reputational risks” tied to the agency groups' ongoing work with fossil fuel clients. 

In the US, it is reported Democratic senators have asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Elon Musk is using his influence in the Trump administration to pressure advertisers to return to X, following reports he was strong-arming Interpublic to get clients to spend more with the social media platform, using the deal with Omnicom as leverage.

Under the terms of the acquisition, Omnicom will pay 0.344 of Omnicom stock for each IPG share, valuing IPG at about $13.3 billion. 

Omnicom and IPG must also obtain regulatory approval in up to 17 markets around the world in order to complete the merger.