Regulatory‑approval timeline & expected close
The filing states that the Omnicom‑IPG merger is now moving from the “exchange‑offer” phase into the formal consent‑solicitation stage. Both companies have indicated that the transaction will be subject to the standard antitrust clear‑ances (U.S. FTC, Department of Justice, and the EU’s competition authority) and to the customary shareholder‑approval processes. In the press release the parties disclosed that:
Regulatory review – The FTC and DOJ are expected to complete their antitrust review within 90 days of the filing of the joint‑statement, and the EU’s competition review is slated for a mini‑review (≈30 days) under the “fast‑track” procedure that the parties have requested. Assuming no major objections, the combined regulatory window should close by late Q4 2025 (mid‑December 2025).
Merger completion – The parties have set a conditional closing date of mid‑Q1 2026 (approximately January 15 2026), contingent on receipt of all required regulatory clearances and a minimum 66 % shareholder vote in favor of the exchange offer. The consent‑solicitation period runs for 30 days (ending September 10 2025), after which the companies will file the definitive proxy statement and schedule the shareholder vote for late October 2025.
Trading implications
With the regulatory timeline now anchored to Q4 2025 and the expected close in Q1 2026, the market has a clear window to price in the merger‑related upside or downside. In the short term, the stock may trade in a tight range as investors await the 30‑day consent‑solicitation outcome and the first regulatory filings. Once the FTC/DOJ review is completed (likely by late December), any material regulatory risk will be largely resolved, allowing the market to focus on the share‑exchange ratio and the post‑merger integration narrative. Traders can consider a buy‑on‑dip if the share price falls below the implied exchange‑offer value after the consent‑solicitation, with a stop‑loss just above the current market price to protect against unexpected regulatory push‑back. The timeline suggests limited upside volatility until the mid‑Q1 2026 closing, at which point the combined entity’s valuation will become the primary driver of price action.