Omnicom and Interpublic close to merger, Wall Street Journal reports

Omnicom Group is in advanced talks to acquire Interpublic Group in an all-stock deal that is likely to value Interpublic at between $13 billion and $14 billion, excluding debt, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

A transaction could be announced as early as this week, the report said.

Omnicom is one of the world’s big 4 integrated advertising and communications networks, competing against Publicis Groupe, WPP and Interpublic. Omnicom is composed of five major agency networks that oversee 1500+ agencies as parent companies. The networks are BBDO Worldwide, Diversified Agency Services (DAS), DDB Worldwide, Omnicom Media Group (OMG) and TBWA Worldwide.

Interpublic had a market value of around $10.9 billion as of Friday and its shares have fallen 10.36% year to date to $29.48. 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.

Earlier this year, Omnicom announced the formation of Omnicom Advertising Group (OAG), a new global organisation aligning creative networks BBDO, DDB, TBWA, as well as leading agencies within the Advertising Collective including Goodby Silverstein & Partners, GSD&M, Merkley & Partners and Zimmerman. The organisation will be led by Aussie expat Troy Ruhanen as global CEO and comes into effect on January 1, 2025.