Publicis Omnicom merger clears European regulators

The move to create the largest marketing holding company in the world has cleared another hurdle with Publicis Omincom receiving unconditional approval from European regulators for the proposed tie-up.

The release in full:

Omincom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) and Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577) today announced that they have received approval from the European Commission in connection with the pending merger of Publicis Groupe and Omnicom. The proposed merger was notified to the European Commission on November 25, 2013 and was authorized today without condition following a phase 1 review.

This approval follows previously disclosed clearances in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine and the expiration of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (HSR) review period in the United-States.