Investigation initiated by UK regulatory body concerning the proposed consolidation worth $13.25 billion between Omnicom and Interpublic.
Headline: Advertising Titans Omnicom and Interpublic Feel the Heat from UK's Watchdog
Published: June 17, 2025, 3:45 PM IST
Imagine a giant wave forming on the horizon, ready to sweep over the advertising industry. That's the image that comes to mind when you consider the potential impact of the merger between Omnicom and Interpublic Group. But as this mammoth merge takes shape, it encounters a strong undercurrent—the scrutiny of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The CMA is not a name to trifle with. Currently, it's conducting a detailed investigation into the $13.25 billion union, raising concerns about substantial lessening of competition within the industry. The potential market dominance of the merged entity is a matter of considerable concern, and the CMA's investigation poses a significant hurdle that could significantly alter the course of this merger.
In New Zealand, however, the Commerce Commission has recently granted clearance for Omnicom to acquire 100% of Interpublic's shares, marking a significant regulatory approval milestone. But in the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is still reviewing the proposed deal. Rumors suggest that the FTC is considering an unusual political content clause. If implemented, this could restrict the merged company from refusing ad placements based on political content.
In the UK, the CMA's preliminary probe has raised antitrust red flags, primarily due to Interpublic's annual turnover of £610 million and the merged group's dominance in PR through agencies like FleishmanHillard. Should the CMA proceed to a deeper Phase 2 review, this could extend the timeline beyond 2025, increase costs, and complicate operational integration.
Industry professionals are watching the UK CMA's investigation closely, with many concerned about the potential impact on the buy-side of political content advertising. The uncertainty created by this investigation could affect the advertising landscape and the industry as a whole.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Omnicom-Interpublic merger and the UK CMA's investigation. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter or download our app to catch all the latest news and analysis right in your hands.
[1] https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2025/04/commerce-commission-new-zealand-clears-merge-omnicom-interpublic[2] https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-launches-probe-into-mccann-worldgroup-merger/[3] https://www.cityam.com/451808/onimcom-interpublics-london-pr-merger-comes-under-scrutiny-from-cma[4] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-omnicom-ipg-m-a-exclusive-idUSKCN0YV25I
- Against the backdrop of the Omnicom-Interpublic merger, concerns over the influence of advertising giants on media, politics, finance, and general-news continue to rise, with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigating the potential market dominance of the merged entity.
- The investigation by the CMA could have far-reaching consequences for the advertising industry, particularly with regard to the buy-side of political content advertising, potentially altering the advertising landscape and impacting the entire business sector.
- In addition to the CMA's investigation, regulatory bodies like the Federal Trade Commission in the US are also reviewing the proposed deal, suggesting that the media landscape could see significant changes in financing, business strategies, and news dissemination due to the merger.
