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US/France: Along with big hype, big concerns over mega-advertising merger

By  |  August 1, 2013

Following news that advertising giants Publicis and Omnicom plan to merge as equals and form the world’s largest advertising firm, various ad groups have voiced their concern over the deal and its potential effects on client confidentiality and lack of competition throughout the industry. Both Publicis, based in France, and Omnicom, based in the US, await approval from nearly 40 regulators throughout the globe before they can proceed with their deal. The World Federation of Advertisers, which will also have to clear the deal, has already expressed doubts and announced “mixed responses” from some of its smaller clients. UK-based advertiser group the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers similar spoke out on the deal, pointing out the “potential dangers” for client confidentiality and other competition issues the merger creates. The ad firms expect the deal to finalize next year.

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