The New Zealand Commerce Commission has published a statement of preliminary issues concerning Omnicom Group Inc's application to acquire 100% of The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. This acquisition is being reviewed to assess its potential impact on competition within the New Zealand market.

The statement highlights the key competition issues that the Commission will consider in its decision-making process. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their comments on the competitive effects of the proposed acquisition, with submissions due by 9 April 2025.

The Commission aims to make a decision on the application by 1 May 2025, although this timeline may be extended if necessary. The Commission will only grant clearance if it is satisfied that the merger will not substantially lessen competition in the market.

For further details on how the Commission evaluates merger applications, additional information is available on their official website, along with the Statement of Preliminary Issues and a public version of the application on the Commission’s case register.