FTC Clears $13.5B Omnicom-IPG Merger with Political Ad Boycott Restrictions

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved Omnicom Group's $13.5 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG), subject to a consent order designed to address antitrust concerns and prevent politically or ideologically motivated ad boycotts. The order bars Omnicom from steering advertising dollars away from media publishers based on their political views unless explicitly directed by individual advertisers, aiming to preserve competition and protect public discourse. This restriction responds to worries about potential anticompetitive coordination among major media buying agencies and its impact on the diversity of information available to consumers. Both Omnicom and IPG executives welcomed the approval, viewing it as a significant step toward closing the deal and combining their complementary capabilities to better serve clients globally. The merger would create the world's largest media buying agency, integrating creative and technology-driven marketing services. The consent order now enters a 30-day public comment period before finalization.