Publicis/Omnicom Merger Given Green Light in US

    By Geraldine Amiel

    PARIS--U.S.-based advertising group Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) and France's Publicis Groupe SA (PUB.FR) said Friday their planned merger has been given the green light in the U.S. following the expiry of a specific waiting period during which the U.S. antitrust authorities had reviewed the case.

    The expiry of the so-called Hard Scott-Rodino Antitrust review period in the U.S. occured just as the planned merger received approvals from regulatory authorities in Canada, India and Turkey as well as in South Africa and South Korea, the two groups said in a joint statement.

    The two groups announced their planned merger during the summer, with a view to create one of the world's largest advertising and marketing groups.

    Write to Geraldine Amiel at