3 days ago
F.T.C. May Hit a Mega Ad Merger With an Unusual Rule: No Boycotting
As the Trump administration considers approving a proposed merger between two of the world's largest advertising agencies, Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group, regulators may impose unusual conditions.
A proposed consent decree would prevent the merged company from boycotting platforms because of their political content by refusing to place their clients' advertisements on them, according to two people briefed on the matter.
The restrictions being discussed by the Federal Trade Commission as part of its merger review are part of an effort by the Trump administration to use federal agencies to root out what it considers political bias in corporate America against conservative voices and causes.
The two people, who requested anonymity because the talks are confidential, said that the terms of the merger review between the F.T.C. and the two advertising companies were not finalized and could change.
A spokesman for the F.T.C. declined to comment. Spokeswomen for Omnicom and Interpublic did not have an immediate comment.
Omnicom and Interpublic announced their plans to combine in December, setting them up to create an advertising goliath that would generate around $25 billion in annual revenue. Analysts quickly questioned whether antitrust enforcers would approve the deal because it brings together two of the largest advertising agencies.
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