FTC Restricts Omnicom-IPG Merger to Prevent Viewpoint-Based Ad Bias

The Federal Trade Commission approved Omnicom Group Inc.’s approximately $13.5 billion acquisition of The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG) but with strict conditions designed to prevent anticompetitive coordination in the digital advertising market, a restriction that has not been made before. Under this merger, Omnicom is poised to become the world’s largest media buying agency.