0000029989-15-000003.txt : 20150210 0000029989-15-000003.hdr.sgml : 20150210 20150210163317 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000029989-15-000003 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 14 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20141231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20150210 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20150210 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: OMNICOM GROUP INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000029989 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-ADVERTISING AGENCIES [7311] IRS NUMBER: 131514814 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-10551 FILM NUMBER: 15594308 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 437 MADISON AVE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10022 BUSINESS PHONE: 2124153600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 437 MADISON AVE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10022 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: OMNICOM GROUP INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: DOYLE DANE BERNBACH GROUP INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19861117 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: DOYLE DANE BERNBACH INTERNATIONAL INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19850604 10-K 1 a201410-k.htm 10-K 2014 10-K


______________________________________________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________________________________________
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
____________________________________________________________
Commission File Number: 1-10551
_________________________________________________________________________________
OMNICOM GROUP INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York
 
13-1514814
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
437 Madison Avenue, New York, NY
 
10022
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 415-3600
____________________________________________________________
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.15 Par Value
 
New York Stock Exchange
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
____________________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes  þ
No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes  o
No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes  þ
No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every interactive data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes þ
No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
Large accelerated filer þ
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes  o
No þ
____________________________________________________________
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2014 was $17,860,780,000.

As of January 30, 2015, there were 246,720,508 shares of Omnicom Group Inc. Common Stock outstanding.

Portions of the Omnicom Group Inc. Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on May 18, 2015 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report to the extent described herein.




OMNICOM GROUP INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
PART I
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
 
 
 
PART III
 
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
     Related Stockholder Matters
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 
 
 
 
PART IV
 
 
 
 
 
Selected Quarterly Financial Data



i



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K constitute forward-looking statements, including statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, from time to time, the Company or its representatives have made, or may make, forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s management. Forward-looking statements may be accompanied by words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project” or similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company’s control. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: international, national or local economic, social or political conditions that could adversely affect the Company or its clients; losses on media purchases and production costs incurred on behalf of clients; reductions in client spending, a slowdown in client payments and changes in client advertising, marketing and corporate communications requirements; failure to manage potential conflicts of interest between or among clients; unanticipated changes relating to competitive factors in the advertising, marketing and corporate communications industries; ability to hire and retain key personnel; ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients in the manner anticipated; reliance on information technology systems; changes in legislation or governmental regulations affecting the Company or its clients; conditions in the credit markets; risks associated with assumptions the Company makes in connection with its critical accounting estimates and legal proceedings; and the Company’s international operations, which are subject to the risks of currency fluctuation and currency repatriation restrictions. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company’s business, including those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this report. Except as required under applicable law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and any amendments to those reports, proxy statements and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Documents we file with the SEC are available free of charge on our website at www.omnicomgroup.com/investorrelations, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with the SEC. The information included on or available through our website is not part of this or any other report we file with the SEC. Any document that we file with the SEC is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and also may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room.

ii



PART I
Introduction

This report is both our 2014 annual report to shareholders and our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K required under the federal securities laws.

Omnicom Group Inc. is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and agencies provide advertising, marketing and corporate communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. The terms “Omnicom,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” each refer to Omnicom Group Inc. and our subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.
Item 1. Business
Our Business

Omnicom is a strategic holding company and was formed in 1986 by the merger of several leading advertising, marketing and corporate communications companies. As a leading global provider of advertising, marketing and corporate communications services, we operate in a highly competitive industry. The proliferation of media channels, including the rapid development and integration of interactive technologies and mediums, has fragmented consumer audiences targeted by our clients. These developments make it more complex for marketers to reach their target audiences in a cost-effective way, causing them to turn to service providers such as Omnicom for a customized mix of advertising and marketing services designed to make the best use of their total marketing expenditures.

Our branded networks and agencies operate in all major markets around the world and provide a comprehensive range of services, which we group into four fundamental disciplines: advertising, customer relationship management, or CRM, public relations and specialty communications. The services included in these disciplines are:
advertising
 
investor relations
brand consultancy
 
marketing research
content marketing
 
media planning and buying
corporate social responsibility consulting
 
mobile marketing
crisis communications
 
multi-cultural marketing
custom publishing
 
non-profit marketing
data analytics
 
organizational communications
database management
 
package design
direct marketing
 
product placement
entertainment marketing
 
promotional marketing
environmental design
 
public affairs
experiential marketing
 
public relations
field marketing
 
reputation consulting
financial/corporate business-to-business advertising
 
retail marketing
graphic arts/digital imaging
 
search engine marketing
healthcare communications
 
social media marketing
instore design
 
sports and event marketing
interactive marketing
 
 

Although the medium used to reach a client’s target audience may differ across each of these disciplines, we develop and deliver the marketing message in a similar way by providing client-specific advertising and marketing services.

Our business model was built and continues to evolve around our clients. While our agencies operate under different names and frame their ideas in different disciplines, we organize our services around our clients. The fundamental premise of our business is to deliver our services and allocate our resources based on the specific requirements of our clients. As clients increase their demands for marketing effectiveness and efficiency, they have tended to consolidate their business with larger, multi-disciplinary agencies or integrated groups of agencies. Accordingly, our business model requires that multiple agencies within Omnicom collaborate in formal and informal virtual networks that cut across internal organizational structures to

1



execute against our clients’ specific marketing requirements. We believe that this organizational philosophy, and our ability to execute it, differentiates us from our competitors.

Our agency networks and our virtual networks provide us with the ability to integrate services across all disciplines and geographies. This means that the delivery of our services can, and does, take place across agencies, networks and geographic regions simultaneously. Further, we believe that our virtual network strategy facilitates better integration of services required by the demands of the marketplace for our services. Our over-arching business strategy is to continue to use our virtual networks to grow our business relationships with our clients.

The various components of our business and material factors that affected us in 2014 are discussed in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or MD&A, of this report. None of our acquisitions or dispositions, individually or in the aggregate, in the three year period ended December 31, 2014 was material to our financial position or results of operations. For information concerning our acquisitions, see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.
Geographic Regions and Segments

Our revenue is almost evenly divided between our United States and international operations. As discussed more fully in the Critical Accounting Policies section of the MD&A, we conduct our business on a global basis through our five branded agency networks, which operate in the following geographic regions: The Americas, which includes North America and Latin America; EMEA, which includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and, Asia Pacific, which includes Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and other Asian countries. The agency networks have regional reporting units that are responsible for the agencies in their region. Agencies within the regional reporting units serve similar clients in similar industries and in many cases the same clients and have similar economic characteristics. Accordingly, we aggregate and monitor our agencies on a regional basis. Given the strategic emphasis we place on the geographic regions in which we operate, we provide financial information by geographic region in the MD&A and Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.
Our Clients

Our clients operate in virtually every industry sector of the global economy. In many cases, multiple agencies or networks serve different brand and/or product groups within the same clients. For example, in 2014, our largest client was served by more than 200 of our agencies and represented 2.6% of revenue and no other client accounted for more than 2.5% of revenue. In 2014, our top 100 clients, ranked by revenue, were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies and collectively represented approximately 50% of revenue.
Our Employees

At December 31, 2014, we employed approximately 74,000 people. We are not party to any significant collective bargaining agreements. The skill sets of our workforce across our agencies and within each discipline are similar. Common to all is the ability to understand a client’s brand or product and their selling proposition and to develop a unique message to communicate the value of the brand or product to the client’s target audience. Recognizing the importance of this core competency, we have established tailored training and education programs for our client service professionals around this competency. See the MD&A for a discussion of the effect of salary and related costs on our results of operations.
Executive Officers of the Registrant

At January 30, 2015, our executive officers were:
Name
Position
Age
Bruce Crawford
Chairman of the Board
86
John D. Wren
President and Chief Executive Officer
62
Philip J. Angelastro
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
50
Michael J. O’Brien
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
53
Dennis E. Hewitt
Treasurer
70
Andrew L. Castellaneta
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
56
Peter L. Swieciciki
Senior Vice President, Finance and Controller
56
Jonathan B. Nelson
CEO, Omnicom Digital
47

2



Each executive officer has held his present position for at least five years, except: Mr. Angelastro was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in September 2014, prior to that, Mr. Angelastro served as Senior Vice President Finance and Controller since 2002; Mr. Castellaneta was named Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer in January 2015, prior to that he served as Assistant Controller since 2000; and, Mr. Swieciciki was named Senior Vice President, Finance and Controller in January 2015, prior to that he served as Director of Business Operations since 2013 and held various positions with BBDO Worldwide for more than five years.

Additional information about our directors and executive officers will appear in our definitive proxy statement, which is expected to be filed with the SEC by April 8, 2015.
Item 1A. Risk Factors

Adverse global economic conditions could cause clients to reduce spending on advertising, marketing and corporate communications services and may have a material effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

Adverse global economic conditions have a direct impact on our business, results of operations and financial position. In particular, a contraction in global economic conditions poses a risk that our clients may reduce future spending on advertising, marketing and corporate communications services which could reduce the demand for our services. If domestic or global economic conditions deteriorate, our business, results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected. We will continue to monitor economic conditions closely, client revenue levels and other factors, and may take actions available to us to align our cost structure and manage working capital in response to reductions in client revenue. There can be no assurance whether, or to what extent, our efforts to mitigate any impact of future adverse economic conditions, reductions in our client revenue, changes in client creditworthiness and other developments will be effective.

A reduction in client spending, a delay in client payments or conditions in the credit markets could have a material adverse effect on our working capital.

Global economic uncertainty, turmoil in the credit markets or a contraction in the availability of credit may make it more difficult for us to meet our working capital requirements and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position. Such events could also lead clients to seek to change their financial relationship with us, and reduce spending on our services, delay the payment for our services or take additional actions that would negatively affect our working capital. In response, we could need to obtain additional financing to fund our day-to-day working capital requirements in such circumstances. Such additional financing may not be available on favorable terms, or at all.

In an economic downturn, the risk of a material loss related to media purchases and production costs incurred on behalf of our clients could significantly increase and methods for managing or mitigating such risk may be less available or unavailable.

In the normal course of our business, our agencies enter into contractual commitments with media providers and production companies on behalf of our clients at levels that can substantially exceed the revenue from our services. These commitments are included in accounts payable when the services are delivered by the media providers or production companies. If permitted by local law and the client agreement, many of our agencies purchase media and production services for our clients as an agent for a disclosed principal. In addition, while operating practices vary by country, media type and media vendor, in the United States and certain foreign markets, many of our agencies’ contracts with media and production providers specify that our agencies are not liable to the media and production providers under the theory of sequential liability until and to the extent we have been paid by our client for the media or production services.

Where purchases of media and production services are made by our agencies as a principal or are not subject to the theory of sequential liability, the risk of a material loss as a result of payment default by our clients could increase significantly and such a loss could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

In addition, methods of managing the risk of payment defaults, including obtaining credit insurance, requiring payment in advance, mitigating the potential loss in the marketplace or negotiating with media providers, may be less available or unavailable during a severe economic downturn.

3



Clients periodically review and change their advertising, marketing and corporate communications services requirements and relationships. If we are unable to remain competitive or retain key clients, our business, results of operations and financial position may be adversely affected.

The markets we operate in are highly competitive and are expected to remain so. Key competitive considerations for retaining existing clients and winning new clients include our ability to develop marketing solutions that meet client needs in a rapidly changing environment, the quality and effectiveness of the services we offer and our ability to serve clients efficiently, particularly large international clients, on a broad geographic basis. While many of our client relationships are long-standing, from time to time clients put their advertising, marketing and corporate communications services business up for competitive review. We have won and lost accounts in the past as a result of these reviews. To the extent that we are not able to remain competitive or retain key clients, our revenue may be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
The success of our acquiring and retaining clients depends on our ability to avoid and manage conflicts of interest arising from other client relationships, the retention of key personnel and maintaining a highly skilled workforce.

Our ability to retain existing clients and to attract new clients may, in some cases, be limited by clients’ perceptions of, or policies concerning, conflicts of interest arising from other client relationships. If we are unable to maintain multiple agencies to manage multiple client relationships and avoid potential conflicts of interests, our business, results of operations and financial position may be adversely affected.

Our employees are our most important assets and our ability to attract and retain key personnel is an important aspect of our competitiveness. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, including highly skilled technically proficient personnel, our ability to provide our services in the manner our clients have come to expect may be adversely affected, which could harm our reputation and result in a loss of clients, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
The loss of several of our largest clients could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

In 2014, approximately 50% of our revenue came from our 100 largest clients. Clients generally are able to reduce advertising and marketing spending or cancel projects at any time on short notice for any reason. It is possible that our clients could reduce spending in comparison to historical patterns, or they could reduce future spending. A significant reduction in advertising and marketing spending by our largest clients, or the loss of several of our largest clients, if not replaced by new clients or an increase in business from existing clients, would adversely affect our revenue and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
We rely extensively on information technology systems and cyber incidents could adversely affect us.

We rely on information technology systems and infrastructure to process transactions, summarize results and manage our business, including maintaining client marketing and advertising information. Our information technology systems are potentially vulnerable to system failures and network disruptions, malicious intrusion and random attack. Likewise, data security incidents and breaches by employees and others with or without permitted access to our systems may pose a risk that sensitive data may be exposed to unauthorized persons or to the public. Additionally, we utilize third parties, including cloud providers, to store, transfer or process data. While we have taken what we believe are prudent measures to protect our data and information technology systems, there can be no assurance that our efforts will prevent system failures or network disruptions or breaches in our systems, or in systems of third parties we use, that could adversely affect our reputation or business.
Government regulation and consumer advocates may limit the scope and content of our services, which could affect our ability to meet our clients’ needs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

Government agencies and consumer groups directly or indirectly affect or attempt to affect the scope, content and manner of presentation of advertising, marketing and corporate communications services, through regulation or other governmental action, which could affect our ability to meet our clients’ needs. Such regulation may seek, among other things, to limit the tax deductibility of advertising expenditures by certain industries or for certain products and services. In addition, there has been a tendency on the part of businesses to resort to the judicial system to challenge advertising practices, which could cause our clients affected by such actions to reduce their spending on our services. Any limitation or judicial action that effects our ability to meet our clients' needs or reduces client spending on our services could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

4



Further, laws and regulations, related to user privacy, use of personal information and Internet tracking technologies have been proposed or enacted in the United States and certain international markets. These laws and regulations could affect the acceptance of new communications technologies and the use of current communications technologies as advertising mediums. These actions could affect our business and reduce demand for certain of our services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

We are a global service business and face certain risks of doing business abroad, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
We face a number of risks associated with a global service business. The operational and financial performance of our businesses are typically tied to overall economic and regional market conditions, competition for client assignments and talented staff, new business and the risks associated with extensive international operations. We also must comply with applicable U.S. and international anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, which can be complex and stringent, in all jurisdictions where we operate. These risks could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. For financial information by geographic region, see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

We are exposed to risks from operating in developing countries and high-growth markets.
We conduct business in numerous developing countries and high-growth markets around the world. Our operations outside the United States are exposed to risks that include: slower receipt of payments; social, political and economic instability, currency fluctuation and currency repatriation restrictions. In addition, commercial laws in developing countries and high-growth markets can be undeveloped, vague, inconsistently enforced or frequently changed. If we are deemed not to be in compliance with applicable laws in countries and markets where we conduct business, our prospects and business in those countries and markets could be harmed, which could then have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

Downgrades of our debt credit ratings could adversely affect us.
Standard and Poor’s Rating Service, or S&P, rates our long-term debt BBB+ and Moody’s Investors Service, or Moody's, rates our long-term debt Baa1. Our short-term debt ratings are A2 and P2 by the respective rating agencies. Our access to the capital markets could be adversely affected by downgrades in our short-term or long-term debt credit ratings.

We may be unsuccessful in evaluating material risks involved in completed and future acquisitions.
We regularly evaluate potential acquisitions of businesses that we believe are complementary to our businesses and client needs. As part of the evaluation, we conduct business, legal and financial due diligence with the goal of identifying and evaluating material risks involved in any particular transaction. Despite our efforts, we may be unsuccessful in ascertaining or evaluating all such risks. As a result, we might not realize the intended advantages of any given acquisition. If we fail to identify certain material risks from one or more acquisitions, our business, results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.

Our goodwill may become impaired, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP or GAAP, we have recorded a significant amount of goodwill in our consolidated financial statements resulting from our acquisition activities, which principally represents the specialized know-how of the workforce at the acquired businesses. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, we review the carrying value of goodwill for impairment annually at the end of the second quarter of the year and whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The estimates and assumptions about future results of operations and cash flows made in connection with the impairment testing could differ from future actual results of operations and cash flows. While we have concluded, for each year presented in the financial statements included in this report, that our goodwill is not impaired, future events could cause us to conclude that the asset values associated with a given operation may become impaired. Any resulting non-cash impairment charge could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

5



We could be affected by future laws or regulations enacted in response to climate change concerns and other actions.
Generally, our businesses are not directly affected by current cap and trade laws and other regulatory requirements aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change by reducing emissions or otherwise; although, our businesses could be in the future. However, we could be indirectly affected by increased prices for goods or services provided to us by companies that are directly affected by these laws and regulations and pass their increased costs through to their customers. Further, if our clients are impacted by such laws or requirements, either directly or indirectly, their spending for advertising and marketing services may decline, which could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial position. Additionally, to comply with potential future changes in environmental laws and regulations, we may need to incur additional costs. At this time, we cannot estimate what impact such costs may have on our business, results of operations and financial position.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties

We have offices throughout the world. The facility requirements of our businesses are similar across geographic regions and disciplines. Our facilities are primarily used by our employees to provide advertising and marketing services to our clients. We believe that our facilities are in suitable and well-maintained condition for our current operations. Our principal corporate offices are located at 437 Madison Avenue, New York, New York; One East Weaver Street, Greenwich, Connecticut and 525 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida. We also maintain executive offices in London, England; Shanghai, China and Singapore.

We lease substantially all our office space under operating leases that expire at various dates. Lease obligations of our foreign operations are generally denominated in their local currency. Office base rent expense was $361.9 million, $369.3 million and $380.1 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, net of rent received from non-cancelable third-party subleases of $11.2 million, $10.6 million and $10.4 million, respectively.

Future minimum office base rent under non-cancelable operating leases, net of rent receivable from existing non-cancelable third-party subleases, is (in millions):
 
Net Rent
2015
$
316.8

2016
229.2

2017
186.6

2018
151.6

2019
133.5

Thereafter
529.0

 
$
1,546.7


See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements for a description of our lease commitments and the MD&A for a description of the impact of leases on our operating expenses.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various legal proceedings. We do not presently expect that these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

6



PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “OMC.” As of January 30, 2015, there were 2,255 registered holders of our common stock.

The quarterly high and low sales prices for our common stock reported by the NYSE and dividends paid per share for 2014 and 2013 were:
 
 
High
 
Low
 
Dividends Paid
Per Share
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
76.87

 
$
70.59

 
$
0.40

Second Quarter
 
72.84

 
65.43

 
0.50

Third Quarter
 
74.14

 
68.32

 
0.50

Fourth Quarter
 
78.49

 
64.03

 
0.50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013
 
 

 
 

 
 

First Quarter
 
$
60.05

 
$
50.40

 
$
0.40

Second Quarter
 
64.29

 
57.73

 
0.40

Third Quarter
 
70.50

 
59.70

 
0.40

Fourth Quarter
 
74.50

 
61.35

 
0.40


Stock repurchase activity during the three months ended December 31, 2014 was:
Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid
Per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
 
Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs
October 2014
 
517,207

 
$
68.97

 
 
November 2014
 
6,710

 
68.17

 
 
December 2014
 
2,105,006

 
77.05

 
 
 
 
2,628,923

 
$
75.44

 
 

During the three months ended December 31, 2014, we purchased 2,551,145 shares of our common stock in the open market for general corporate purposes and withheld 77,778 shares from employees to satisfy estimated statutory income tax obligations related to stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting. The value of the common stock withheld was based on the closing price of our common stock on the applicable exercise or vesting date.

There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the three months ended December 31, 2014.

For information on securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, see “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters,” which relevant information will be included under the caption “Equity Compensation Plans” in our definitive proxy statement, which is expected to be filed with the SEC by April 8, 2015.

7



Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes that begin on page F-1 of this report, as well as the MD&A.
 
(In millions, except per share amounts)
For the years ended December 31:
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Revenue
$
15,317.8

 
$
14,584.5

 
$
14,219.4

 
$
13,872.5

 
$
12,542.5

Operating Income
1,944.1

 
1,825.3

 
1,804.2

 
1,671.1

 
1,460.2

Net Income - Omnicom Group Inc.
1,104.0

 
991.1

 
998.3

 
952.6

 
827.7

Net Income Per Common Share - Omnicom Group Inc.:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
4.27

 
3.73

 
3.64

 
3.38

 
2.74

Diluted
4.24

 
3.71

 
3.61

 
3.33

 
2.70

Dividends Declared Per Common Share
1.90

 
1.60

 
1.20

 
1.00

 
0.80

 
(In millions)
At December 31:
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments
$
2,390.3

 
$
2,728.7

 
$
2,698.9

 
$
1,805.0

 
$
2,300.0

Total Assets
21,559.7

 
22,098.7

 
22,151.9

 
20,505.4

 
19,566.1

Long-Term Obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term notes payable
4,562.6

 
3,780.7

 
3,789.1

 
2,523.5

 
2,465.1

Convertible debt

 
252.7

 
659.4

 
659.4

 
659.5

Long-term liabilities
774.3

 
685.1

 
739.9

 
602.0

 
576.5

Total Shareholders’ Equity
2,850.0

 
3,582.4

 
3,460.8

 
3,504.3

 
3,580.5


In 2014 and 2013, we incurred expenses in connection with the proposed merger with Publicis Groupe S.A., or Publicis, of $8.8 million and $41.4 million, respectively, which are primarily comprised of professional fees. On May 8, 2014, the proposed merger was terminated. Excluding the effect of the merger expenses from both years, Operating Income, Net Income - Omnicom Group Inc. and Diluted Net Income per Common Share - Omnicom Group Inc. for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were $1,952.9 million, $1,101.4 million, and $4.23 and $1,866.7 million, $1,026.0 million and $3.84, respectively.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We are a strategic holding company providing advertising, marketing and corporate communications services to clients through multiple agencies around the world. On a global, pan-regional and local basis, our agencies provide these services in the following disciplines: advertising, CRM, public relations and specialty communications. Our business model was built and continues to evolve around our clients. While our agencies operate under different names and frame their ideas in different disciplines, we organize our services around our clients. The fundamental premise of our business is that our clients’ specific requirements should be the central focus in how we deliver our services and allocate our resources. This client-centric business model results in multiple agencies collaborating in formal and informal virtual networks that cut across internal organizational structures to deliver consistent brand messages for a specific client and execute against each of our clients’ specific marketing requirements. We continually seek to grow our business with our existing clients by maintaining our client-centric approach, as well as expanding our existing business relationships into new markets and with new clients. In addition, we pursue selective acquisitions of complementary companies with strong entrepreneurial management teams that typically currently serve or have the ability to serve our existing client base.

On May 8, 2014, the Company and Publicis entered into a termination agreement, or Termination Agreement, under which the Company and Publicis mutually agreed to terminate their proposed merger in view of difficulties in completing the transaction within a reasonable timeframe. Under the Termination Agreement, the Company and Publicis mutually consented to terminate their Business Combination Agreement, dated July 27, 2013, or Business Combination Agreement, governing the proposed combination of the parties’ respective businesses, and mutually agreed to release each other from all claims, obligations and liabilities arising out of, in connection with or relating to the Business Combination Agreement. The Termination Agreement provided that no termination fee was payable by either party.

8



As a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company, we operate in all major markets around the world and have a large and diverse client base. In 2014, our largest client accounted for 2.6% of our revenue and no other client accounted for more than 2.5% of our revenue. Our top 100 clients accounted for approximately 50% of our revenue in 2014. Our business is spread across a significant number of industry sectors with no one industry comprising more than 13% of our revenue in 2014. Although our revenue is generally balanced between the United States and international markets and we have a large and diverse client base, we are not immune to general economic downturns.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, as described in more detail below, our revenue increased 5.0% compared to 2013. Revenue increased in the United States 7.7%. In Europe, revenue increased modestly for the year, which reflects the strengthening of the British Pound against the U.S. Dollar and a flat U.S. Dollar relative to the Euro on a year-over-year basis, despite the weakening of the British Pound and a significant weakening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar in the fourth quarter of 2014. For the year, the Russian Rouble decreased significantly against the U.S. Dollar. Revenue increased moderately in most of our other markets, but the rate of growth was significantly impacted by the weakening of most currencies, in the fourth quarter, against the U.S. Dollar.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, substantially all foreign currencies weakened against the U.S. Dollar. As a result, changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue in the fourth quarter by 3.1%, or $129.4 million. Our results of operations are subject to risk from the translation to U.S. Dollars of the revenue and expenses of our foreign operations, which are generally denominated in their local currency. For the most part, revenue and expenses of our foreign operations are denominated in the same currency, which minimizes the economic impact of changes in foreign exchange rates on our results of operations. Assuming exchange rates at January 30, 2015 remain unchanged, we expect the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates to reduce 2015 revenue by approximately 5%.

Global economic conditions have a direct impact on our business and financial performance. In particular, a contraction in global economic conditions poses a risk that our clients may reduce future spending on advertising, marketing and corporate communications services which could reduce the demand for our services. In 2014, the United States experienced modest economic growth and the major economies of Asia and Latin America continued to expand. Economic conditions in the Euro Zone in 2014 were unsettled and the fiscal issues facing many countries in the European Union continue to cause economic uncertainty in many of our Euro Zone markets. We will continue to monitor economic conditions closely, client revenue levels and other factors and, in response to reductions in our client revenue, if necessary, we will take actions available to us to align our cost structure and manage working capital. There can be no assurance whether, or to what extent, our efforts to mitigate any impact of future adverse economic conditions, reductions in our client revenue, changes in client creditworthiness and other developments will be effective.

Certain business trends have had a positive impact on our business and industry. These trends include our clients increasingly expanding the focus of their brand strategies from national markets to pan-regional and global markets and integrating traditional and non-traditional marketing channels, as well as utilizing new communications technologies and emerging digital platforms. Additionally, in an effort to gain greater efficiency and effectiveness from their total marketing expenditures, clients continue to require greater coordination of marketing activities. We believe these trends have benefited our business in the past and over the medium and long term will continue to provide a competitive advantage to us.

In the near term, barring unforeseen events and excluding the impact from changes in foreign exchange rates, as a result of continued improvement in operating performance by many of our agencies and new business activities, we expect our 2015 revenue to increase modestly in excess of the weighted average nominal GDP growth in our major markets. We expect to continue to identify acquisition opportunities intended to build upon the core capabilities of our strategic business platforms, expand our operations in the emerging markets and enhance our capabilities to leverage new technologies that are being used by marketers today.

Given our size and breadth, we manage our business by monitoring several financial indicators. The key indicators that we focus on are revenue and operating expenses. We analyze revenue growth by reviewing the components and mix of the growth, including growth by principal regional market, growth by marketing discipline, impact from foreign currency fluctuations, growth from acquisitions and growth from our largest clients. In recent years, our revenue has been divided almost evenly between our domestic and international operations.

In 2014, our revenue increased 5.0% compared to 2013. Changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue by 0.8%, acquisitions, net of dispositions increased revenue 0.1% and organic growth increased revenue 5.7%. Across our principal regional markets, revenue increased 6.5% in North America, 7.2% in the Middle East and Africa, 4.1% in Europe and 0.9% in Asia and Latin America. The increase in revenue in Europe was the result of growth in the U.K., Spain and Germany, partially

9



offset by reductions in several countries in the Euro Zone, and the strengthening of the British Pound against the U.S. Dollar. Revenue in Asia Pacific increased 1.4% compared to 2013, but the rate of growth was negatively impacted by the weakening of most currencies in that region against the U.S. Dollar. The weakening of the currencies in Latin America against the U.S. Dollar offset revenue growth in that region and revenue decreased 1.1%. The increase in revenue in 2014 compared to 2013 in our four fundamental disciplines was: advertising 8.1%, CRM 1.7%, public relations 5.0% and specialty communications 1.1%.

We measure operating expenses in two distinct cost categories: salary and service costs and office and general expenses. Salary and service costs consist of employee compensation and related costs and direct service costs. Office and general expenses consist of rent and occupancy costs, technology costs, depreciation and amortization and other overhead expenses. Each of our agencies requires professionals with the skill sets that are common across our disciplines. At the core of the skill sets is the ability to understand a client’s brand or product and its selling proposition and the ability to develop a unique message to communicate the value of the brand or product to the client’s target audience. The facility requirements of our agencies are also similar across geographic regions and disciplines, and their technology requirements are generally limited to personal computers, servers and off-the-shelf software.

As a service business, we monitor salary and service costs and office and general costs in relation to revenue. Salary and service costs, which tend to fluctuate in conjunction with changes in revenue, increased $625.6 million, or 5.8%, in 2014 compared to 2013. Office and general expenses, which are are less directly linked to changes in revenue than salary and service costs, decreased $11.1 million, or 0.5%, in 2014 compared to 2013.

In 2014 and 2013, we incurred $8.8 million and $41.4 million, respectively, of expenses in connection with the proposed merger with Publicis, which were primarily comprised of professional fees. On May 8, 2014, the proposed merger was terminated. Excluding the merger expenses from both years, office and general expenses for 2014 increased $21.5 million compared to 2013, but decreased as a percentage of revenue reflecting our continuing efforts to control the cost structures of our agencies.

In 2014, operating margins increased to 12.7% from 12.5% in 2013. Excluding the merger expenses from both years, operating income and operating margin for 2014 and 2013 were $1,952.9 million and 12.7% and $1,866.7 million and 12.8%, respectively.

Net interest expense decreased $30.3 million to $134.1 million in 2014 from $164.4 million in 2013. In October 2014, we issued $750 million of 3.65% Senior Notes due 2024, or 2024 Notes. On September 29, 2014, we entered into an interest rate swap on the 4.45 % Senior Notes due 2020, or 2020 Notes. In 2014, the benefit from the interest rate swap on the 2020 Notes substantially offset the interest expense on the 2024 Notes. Interest expense for 2014 decreased $20.0 million to $177.2 million, primarily resulting from the benefit from the interest rate swap on the 3.625% Senior Notes due 2022, or 2022 Notes, entered into on May 1, 2014. The interest rate swaps have the economic effect of converting the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes from fixed rate debt to floating rate debt. Interest income increased $10.3 million to $43.1 million in 2014 resulting from our cash management efforts and interest earned on cash balances in our international treasury centers.

In 2014, our effective tax rate decreased to 32.8% from 34.0% in 2013. Income taxes for 2014 and 2013 reflect the recognition of an income tax benefit of $11.4 million and $6.5 million, respectively, related to expenses incurred in connection with the proposed merger with Publicis. Prior to the termination of the proposed merger on May 8, 2014, the majority of the merger costs were capitalized for income tax purposes and the related tax benefits were not recorded. Because the proposed merger was terminated, the merger costs were no longer required to be capitalized for income tax purposes. Excluding the income tax effect of the merger expenses from both years, our effective tax rate for 2014 and 2013 was 33.2% and 33.6%, respectively.

Net income - Omnicom Group Inc. for 2014 increased $112.9 million, or 11.4%, to $1,104.0 million from $991.1 million in 2013. The year-over-year increase is due to the factors described above. Diluted net income per common share - Omnicom Group Inc. increased 14.3% to $4.24 in 2014, compared to $3.71 in 2013 due to the factors described above, as well as the impact of the reduction in our weighted average common shares outstanding. The reduction in our weighted average shares outstanding was the result of repurchases of our common stock, net of shares issued for the conversion of the Convertible Notes due 2032, or 2032 Notes, stock option exercises and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan. In the second quarter of 2014, following the termination of the proposed merger with Publicis, we resumed repurchases of our common stock. Excluding the net effect of the merger expenses, net income - Omnicom Group Inc. for 2014 and 2013 was $1,101.4 million and $1,026.0 million, respectively, and diluted net income per common share - Omnicom Group Inc. was $4.23 and $3.84, respectively.

10



CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following summary of our critical accounting policies provides a better understanding of our financial statements and the related discussion in this MD&A. We believe that the following policies may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity in their application than most of our accounting policies and represent the critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our financial statements. Readers are encouraged to consider this summary together with our financial statements and the related notes, including Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, for a more complete understanding of the critical accounting policies discussed below.
Estimates

Our financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP and require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses that are reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We use a fair value approach in testing goodwill for impairment and when evaluating our cost-method investments to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
Acquisitions and Goodwill

We have made and expect to continue to make selective acquisitions. In making acquisitions, the valuation of potential acquisitions is based on various factors, including specialized know-how, reputation, competitive position, geographic coverage and services offered of the target businesses, as well as our experience and judgment.

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method and, accordingly, the assets acquired, including identified intangible assets, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquired business are recorded at their acquisition date fair values. In circumstances where control is obtained and less than 100% of an entity is acquired, we record 100% of the goodwill acquired. Acquisition-related costs, including advisory, legal, accounting, valuation and other costs, are expensed as incurred. Certain of our acquisitions are structured with contingent purchase price obligations (earn-outs). Contingent purchase price obligations are recorded as a liability at the acquisition date fair value. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the liability are recorded in our results of operations. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in our results of operations from the acquisition date. In 2014, we completed 10 acquisitions of new subsidiaries and made additional investments in businesses in which we had an existing minority ownership interest.

Our acquisition strategy is focused on acquiring the expertise of an assembled workforce in order to continue to build upon the core capabilities of our various strategic business platforms and agency brands through the expansion of their geographic reach and/or their service capabilities to better serve our clients. Additional key factors we consider include the competitive position and specialized know-how of the acquisition targets. Accordingly, as is typical for most service businesses, a substantial portion of the intangible asset value we acquire is the know-how of the workforce, which is treated as part of goodwill and is not valued separately. For each acquisition, we undertake a detailed review to identify other intangible assets and a valuation is performed for all such identified assets. A significant portion of the identifiable intangible assets acquired is derived from customer relationships, including the related customer contracts, as well as trade names. In valuing these identified intangible assets, we typically use an income approach and consider comparable market participant measurements.

We review the carrying value of goodwill for impairment annually at the end of the second quarter of the year and whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. We identified our regional reporting units as components of our operating segments, which are our five agency networks. The regional reporting units of each agency network monitor the performance and are responsible for the agencies in their region. They report to the segment managers and facilitate the administrative and logistical requirements of our client-centric strategy for delivering services to clients in their regions. We have concluded that for each of our operating segments, their regional reporting units have similar economic characteristics and should be aggregated for purposes of testing goodwill for impairment at the operating segment level. Our conclusion was based on a detailed analysis of the aggregation criteria set forth in FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or FASB ASC, Topic 280, Segment Reporting, and the guidance set forth in FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other. Consistent with our fundamental business strategy, the agencies within our regional reporting units serve similar clients in similar industries, and in many cases the same clients. The main economic components of each agency are employee compensation and related costs and direct service costs and office and general costs, which include rent and occupancy costs, technology costs that are generally limited to personal computers, servers and off-the-shelf software and other overhead expenses. Finally, the expected benefits of our acquisitions are typically shared across multiple agencies and regions as they work together to integrate the acquired agency into our client service strategy.

11



Goodwill Impairment Review - Estimates and Assumptions

We use the following valuation methodologies to determine the fair value of our reporting units: (1) the income approach, which utilizes discounted expected future cash flows, (2) comparative market participant multiples for EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and (3) when available, consideration of recent and similar acquisition transactions.

In applying the income approach, we use estimates to derive the expected discounted cash flows (“DCF”) for each reporting unit that serves as the basis of our valuation. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth and operating margin, EBITDA, tax rates, capital expenditures, weighted average cost of capital and related discount rates and expected long-term cash flow growth rates. All of these estimates and assumptions are affected by conditions specific to our businesses, economic conditions related to the industry we operate in, as well as conditions in the global economy. The assumptions that have the most significant effect on our valuations derived using a DCF methodology are: (1) the expected long-term growth rate of our reporting units' cash flows and (2) the weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”).

The range of assumptions for the long-term growth rate and WACC used in our evaluations as of June 30, 2014 and 2013 were:
 
June 30,
 
2014
 
2013
Long-Term Growth Rate
4%
 
4%
WACC
9.9% - 10.6%
 
10.1% - 10.7%

Long-term growth rate represents our estimate of the long-term growth rate for our industry and the markets of the global economy we operate in. The average historical revenue growth rate of our reporting units for the past ten years was 5.6% and the Average Nominal GDP growth of the countries comprising our major markets that account for substantially all of our revenue was 4.2% over the same period. We considered this history when determining the long-term growth rates used in our annual impairment test at June 30, 2014. We believe marketing expenditures over the long term have a high correlation to GDP. We also believe, based on our historical performance, that our long-term growth rate will exceed Average Nominal GDP growth in the markets we operate in. For the annual test as of June 30, 2014, we used an estimated long-term growth rate of 4% for our reporting units.

When performing the annual impairment test as of June 30, 2014 and estimating the future cash flows of our reporting units, we considered the current macroeconomic environment, as well as industry and market specific conditions at mid-year 2014. In the first half of 2014, we experienced an increase in our revenue of 5.1%, which excludes growth from acquisitions and the impact from changes in foreign exchange rates. Economic conditions in the Euro Zone in 2014 were unsettled and the fiscal issues facing many countries in the European Union continue to cause economic uncertainty in many of our Euro Zone markets. We considered the effect of these conditions in the annual impairment test.

The WACC is comprised of: (1) a risk-free rate of return, (2) a business risk index ascribed to us and to companies in our industry comparable to our reporting units based on a market derived variable that measures the volatility of the share price of equity securities relative to the volatility of the overall equity market, (3) an equity risk premium that is based on the rate of return on equity of publicly traded companies with business characteristics comparable to our reporting units and (4) a current after-tax market rate of return on debt of companies with business characteristics similar to our reporting units, each weighted by the relative market value percentages of our equity and debt.

Our five reporting units vary in size with respect to revenue and the amount of debt allocated to them. These differences drive variations in fair value among our reporting units. In addition, these differences as well as differences in book value, including goodwill, cause variations in the amount by which fair value exceeds book value among the reporting units. The reporting unit goodwill balances and debt vary by reporting unit primarily because our three legacy agency networks were acquired at the formation of Omnicom and were accounted for as a pooling of interests that did not result in any additional debt or goodwill being recorded. The remaining two agency networks were built through a combination of internal growth and acquisitions that were accounted for using the acquisition method and as a result, they have a relatively higher amount of goodwill and debt.

12



Goodwill Impairment Review - Conclusion

Under U.S. GAAP, we have the option of either assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the carrying value of our reporting units exceeds their respective fair value or proceeding directly to Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test. Although not required, we performed Step 1 of the annual impairment test and compared the fair value of each of our reporting units to its respective carrying value, including goodwill. Based on the results of the impairment test, we concluded that our goodwill was not impaired at June 30, 2014, because the fair value of each of our reporting units was substantially in excess of their respective net book value. The minimum decline in fair value that one of our reporting units would need to experience in order to fail Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test was approximately 70%. Notwithstanding our belief that the assumptions we used in our impairment testing for our WACC and long-term growth rate are reasonable, we performed a sensitivity analysis for each of our reporting units. The results of this sensitivity analysis on the impairment test as of June 30, 2014 revealed that if the WACC increased by 1% and/or the long-term growth rate decreased by 1%, the fair value of each of our reporting units would continue to be substantially in excess of their respective net book values and would pass Step 1 of the impairment test.

We will continue to perform the impairment test at the end of the second quarter of each year unless events or circumstances trigger the need for an interim impairment test. The estimates used in our goodwill impairment test do not constitute forecasts or projections of future results of operations, but rather are estimates and assumptions based on historical results and assessments of macroeconomic factors affecting our reporting units. We believe that our estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but they are subject to change from period to period. Actual results of operations and other factors will likely differ from the estimates used in our discounted cash flow valuation and it is possible that differences could be material. A change in the estimates we use could result in a decline in the estimated fair value of one or more of our reporting units from the amounts derived as of our latest valuation and could cause us to fail Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test if the estimated fair value for the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of the net assets of the reporting unit, including its goodwill. A large decline in estimated fair value of a reporting unit could result in a non-cash impairment charge and may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position.

Subsequent to the annual impairment test at June 30, 2014, there were no events or circumstances that triggered the need for an interim impairment test. Additional information about acquisitions and goodwill appears in Notes 2, 4 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and applicable SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins. Substantially all of our revenue is derived from fees for services based on a rate per hour or equivalent basis. Revenue is realized when the service is performed in accordance with the client arrangement and upon the completion of the earnings process. Prior to recognizing revenue, persuasive evidence of an arrangement must exist, the sales price must be fixed or determinable, delivery, performance and acceptance must be in accordance with the client arrangement and collection must be reasonably assured. These principles are the foundation of our revenue recognition policy and apply to all client arrangements in each of our service disciplines: advertising, CRM, public relations and specialty communications. Certain of our businesses earn a portion of their revenue as commissions based upon performance in accordance with client arrangements. Because the services that we provide across each of our disciplines are similar and delivered to clients in similar ways, all of the key elements in revenue recognition apply to client arrangements in each of our four disciplines.

In the majority of our businesses, we act as an agent and record revenue equal to the net amount retained when the fee or commission is earned. Although we may bear credit risk with respect to these activities, the arrangements with our clients are such that we act as an agent on their behalf. In these cases, costs incurred with third-party suppliers are excluded from our revenue. In certain arrangements, we act as principal and we contract directly with third-party suppliers and media providers and production companies and we are responsible for payment. In these circumstances, revenue is recorded at the gross amount billed since revenue has been earned for the sale of goods or services.

Some of our client arrangements include performance incentive provisions designed to link a portion of our revenue to our performance relative to quantitative and qualitative goals. We recognize performance incentives in revenue when the specific quantitative goals are achieved, or when our performance against qualitative goals is determined by the client.

13



In May 2014, the FASB issued FASB Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASU 2014-09, which replaces all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early application is not permitted. ASU 2014-09 provides for one of two methods of transition: retrospective application to each prior period presented; or, recognition of the cumulative effect of retrospective application of the new standard in the period of initial application. We will apply ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2017. However, we are not yet in a position to assess the transition method we will choose, or the impact of the application on our results of operations or financial position.

Additional information about our revenue recognition policy appears in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.
Share-Based Compensation

Share-based compensation is measured at the grant date fair value based on the fair value of the award. We use the Black-Scholes option valuation model to determine the fair value of stock option awards. This valuation model uses several assumptions and estimates such as expected life, rate of risk free interest, volatility and dividend yield. If different assumptions and estimates were used to determine the fair value, our actual results of operations and cash flows would likely differ from the estimates used and it is possible that differences could be material. The fair value of restricted stock awards is determined and fixed on the grant date using the closing price of our common stock. Additional information about these assumptions and estimates appears in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

Share-based compensation expense of $93.5 million, $86.3 million and $80.8 million, in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, was primarily attributed to restricted stock awards. Information about our specific awards and stock plans can be found in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Additional information regarding new accounting guidance can be found in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements. Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements provides a summary of our significant accounting policies.

14



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2014 Compared to 2013 (in millions):
 
2014
 
2013
Revenue
$
15,317.8

 
$
14,584.5

Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
Salary and service costs
11,350.0

 
10,724.4

Office and general expenses
2,023.7

 
2,034.8

Total Operating Expenses
13,373.7

 
12,759.2

Add back: Amortization of intangible assets
107.1

 
100.8

 
13,266.6

 
12,658.4

Earnings before interest, taxes and amortization of intangible assets (“EBITA”)
2,051.2

 
1,926.1

EBITA Margin - %
13.4
%
 
13.2
%
Deduct: Amortization of intangible assets
107.1

 
100.8

Operating Income
1,944.1

 
1,825.3

Operating Margin - %
12.7
%
 
12.5
%
Interest Expense
177.2

 
197.2

Interest Income
43.1

 
32.8

Income Before Income Taxes and Income From Equity Method Investments
1,810.0

 
1,660.9

Income Tax Expense
593.1

 
565.2

Income From Equity Method Investments
16.2

 
15.9

Net Income
1,233.1

 
1,111.6

Net Income Attributed To Noncontrolling Interests
129.1

 
120.5

Net Income - Omnicom Group Inc.
$
1,104.0

 
$
991.1


In 2014 and 2013, we incurred $8.8 million and $41.4 million of expenses in connection with the proposed merger with Publicis, which were primarily comprised of professional fees. On May 8, 2014, the proposed merger was terminated. Excluding the merger expenses, operating income and operating margin for 2014 and 2013 were $1,952.9 million and 12.7% and $1,866.7 million and 12.8%, respectively, and EBITA and EBITA margin for 2014 and 2013 were $2,060.0 million and 13.4% and $1,967.5 million and 13.5%, respectively. Excluding the income tax effect of the merger expenses of $11.4 million in 2014 and $6.5 million in 2013, income tax expense was $604.5 million in 2014 and $571.7 million in 2013. Excluding the after-tax effect of the merger expenses, net income - Omnicom Group Inc. was $1,101.4 million in 2014 and $1,026.0 million in 2013.

EBITA, which we define as earnings before interest, taxes and amortization of intangible assets, and EBITA Margin, which we define as EBITA divided by Revenue, are Non-GAAP financial measures. We use EBITA and EBITA Margin as additional operating performance measures, which exclude the non-cash amortization expense of acquired intangible assets. The table above reconciles EBITA and EBITA Margin to the U.S. GAAP financial measure of Operating Income for the periods presented. We believe that EBITA and EBITA Margin are useful measures to evaluate the performance of our businesses. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information presented in compliance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures reported by us may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies.
Revenue

In 2014, revenue increased $733.3 million, or 5.0%, to $15,317.8 million from $14,584.5 million in 2013. Changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue $112.6 million, acquisitions net of dispositions increased revenue $19.0 million and organic growth increased revenue $826.9 million.

15



The components of 2014 revenue change in the United States (“Domestic”) and the remainder of the world (“International”) were (in millions):
 
Total
 
Domestic
 
International
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
December 31, 2013
$
14,584.5

 
 
 
$
7,569.7

 
 
 
$
7,014.8

 
 
Components of revenue change:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Foreign exchange impact
(112.6
)
 
(0.8
)%
 

 
 %
 
(112.6
)
 
(1.6
)%
Acquisitions, net of dispositions
19.0

 
0.1
 %
 
(48.4
)
 
(0.6
)%
 
67.4

 
0.9
 %
Organic growth
826.9

 
5.7
 %
 
631.4

 
8.3
 %
 
195.5

 
2.8
 %
December 31, 2014
$
15,317.8

 
5.0
 %
 
$
8,152.7

 
7.7
 %
 
$
7,165.1

 
2.1
 %

The components and percentages are calculated as follows:
The foreign exchange impact is calculated by first converting the current period’s local currency revenue using the average exchange rates from the equivalent prior period to arrive at a constant currency revenue (in this case $15,430.4 million for the Total column). The foreign exchange impact equals the difference between the current period revenue in U.S. Dollars and the current period revenue in constant currency ($15,317.8 million less $15,430.4 million for the Total column).
The acquisition component is calculated by aggregating the applicable prior period revenue of the acquired businesses, less revenue of any business included in the prior period revenue that was disposed of subsequent to the prior period.
Organic growth is calculated by subtracting both the foreign exchange and acquisition components from total revenue growth.
The percentage change is calculated by dividing the individual component amount by the prior period revenue base of that component ($14,584.5 million for the Total column).

For the year ended December 31, 2014, changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue by 0.8%, or $112.6 million, compared to 2013. The most significant impacts resulted from the weakening of several currencies, including the Australian Dollar, Brazilian Real, Canadian Dollar, Japanese Yen, Russian Rouble and South African Rand, against the U.S. Dollar. This was partially offset by the strengthening of the British Pound against the U.S. Dollar.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, substantially all foreign currencies weakened against the U.S. Dollar. As a result, changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue in the fourth quarter of 2014 by 3.1%, or $129.4 million. Our results of operations are subject to risk from the translation to U.S. Dollars of the revenue and expenses of our foreign operations, which are generally denominated in their local currency. However, for the most part, revenue and expenses of our foreign operations are denominated in the same currency, which minimizes the economic impact of changes in foreign exchange rates on our results of operations. Assuming exchange rates at January 30, 2015 remain unchanged, we expect the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates to reduce 2015 revenue by approximately 5%.

Revenue for 2014 and the percentage change in revenue and organic growth from 2013 in our principal regional markets were (in millions):
 
$
 
% Change
 
% Organic Growth
Americas:
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
8,688.7

 
6.5
 %
 
7.5
%
Latin America
432.6

 
(1.1
)%
 
4.0
%
EMEA:
 
 
 
 
 
Europe
4,337.9

 
4.1
 %
 
2.4
%
Middle East and Africa
256.1

 
7.2
 %
 
10.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asia Pacific
1,602.5

 
1.4
 %
 
4.5
%
 
$
15,317.8

 
5.0
 %
 
5.7
%


16



Europe comprises the United Kingdom and various Euro currency countries and other European countries that have not adopted the European Union Monetary standard. In 2014, the percentage of revenue attributed to the U.K. was 9.8% and the percentage of revenue attributed the Euro currency and other European countries was 18.5%. In 2014, total revenue growth for the U.K. was 12.5% and total revenue growth for the Euro currency and other European countries was 0.1%.

In the normal course of business, our agencies both gain and lose business from clients each year due to a variety of factors. The net change in 2014 was an overall gain in new business. Under our client-centric approach, we seek to broaden our relationships with all of our clients. Our largest client represented 2.6% and 2.7% of revenue in 2014 and 2013, respectively. No other client represented more than 2.5% of revenue in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our ten largest and 100 largest clients represented 18.1% and 50.4% of revenue in 2014, respectively and 19.1% and 51.3% of revenue in 2013, respectively.

Driven by our clients’ continuous demand for more effective and efficient marketing activities, we strive to provide an extensive range of advertising, marketing and corporate communications services through various client-centric networks that are organized to meet specific client objectives. These services include advertising, brand consultancy, content marketing, corporate social responsibility consulting, crisis communications, custom publishing, data analytics, database management, direct marketing, entertainment marketing, environmental design, experiential marketing, field marketing, financial/corporate business-to-business advertising, graphic arts/digital imaging, healthcare communications, instore design, interactive marketing, investor relations, marketing research, media planning and buying, mobile marketing, multi-cultural marketing, non-profit marketing, organizational communications, package design, product placement, promotional marketing, public affairs, public relations, reputation consulting, retail marketing, search engine marketing, social media marketing and sports and event marketing. In an effort to monitor the changing needs of our clients and to further expand the scope of our services to key clients, we monitor revenue across a broad range of disciplines and group them into the following four categories: advertising, CRM, public relations and specialty communications.

Revenue for 2014 and 2013 and the percentage change in revenue and organic growth from 2013 by discipline were (in millions):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014 vs. 2013
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
Change
 
%
Change
 
% Organic Growth
Advertising
$
7,593.5

 
49.6
%
 
$
7,026.1

 
48.2
%
 
$
567.4

 
8.1
%
 
9.1
%
CRM
5,254.4

 
34.3
%
 
5,166.6

 
35.4
%
 
87.8

 
1.7
%
 
1.9
%
Public relations
1,393.7

 
9.1
%
 
1,327.4

 
9.1
%
 
66.3

 
5.0
%
 
4.1
%
Specialty communications
1,076.2

 
7.0
%
 
1,064.4

 
7.3
%
 
11.8

 
1.1
%
 
3.1
%
 
$
15,317.8

 
 
 
$
14,584.5

 
 
 
$
733.3

 
5.0
%
 
5.7
%

We operate in a number of industry sectors. The percentage of revenue by industry sector for 2014 and 2013 was:
 
 
2014
 
2013
Food and Beverage
 
13
%
 
14
%
Consumer Products
 
10
%
 
10
%
Pharmaceuticals and Health Care
 
10
%
 
10
%
Financial Services
 
7
%
 
7
%
Technology
 
9
%
 
9
%
Auto
 
8
%
 
8
%
Travel and Entertainment
 
6
%
 
5
%
Telecommunications
 
5
%
 
7
%
Retail
 
6
%
 
6
%
Other
 
26
%
 
24
%

17



Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for 2014 compared to 2013 were (in millions):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014 vs. 2013
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
% of Total
Operating
Expenses
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
% of Total
Operating
Expenses
 
$
Change
 
%
Change
Revenue
$
15,317.8

 
 
 
 
 
$
14,584.5

 
 
 
 
 
$
733.3

 
5.0
 %
Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Salary and service costs
11,350.0

 
74.1
%
 
84.9
%
 
10,724.4

 
73.5
%
 
84.1
%
 
625.6

 
5.8
 %
Office and general expenses
2,023.7

 
13.2
%
 
15.1
%
 
2,034.8

 
14.0
%
 
15.9
%
 
(11.1
)
 
(0.5
)%
Operating Expenses
13,373.7

 
87.3
%
 
 
 
12,759.2

 
87.5
%
 
 
 
614.5

 
4.8
 %
Operating Income
$
1,944.1

 
12.7
%
 
 
 
$
1,825.3

 
12.5
%
 
 
 
$
118.8

 
6.5
 %

Salary and service costs tend to fluctuate in conjunction with changes in revenue. Salary and service costs increased $625.6 million in 2014 compared to 2013, reflecting growth in revenue and increases related to changes in the mix of our business during the period, including increased use of freelance labor.

Office and general expenses are less directly linked to changes in our revenue than salary and service costs. Office and general expenses decreased $11.1 million in 2014 compared to 2013.

In 2014 and 2013, we incurred $8.8 million and $41.4 million, respectively, of expenses in connection with the proposed merger with Publicis, which were primarily comprised of professional fees. On May 8, 2014, the proposed merger was terminated. Excluding the merger expenses, office and general expenses for 2014 increased $21.5 million compared to 2013, but decreased as a percentage of revenue reflecting our continuing efforts to control the cost structures of our agencies.

Operating margins in 2014 increased to 12.7% from 12.5% in 2013 and EBITA margins in 2014 increased to 13.4% from 13.2% in 2013. Excluding the merger expenses from both years, operating income and operating margin for 2014 and 2013 were $1,952.9 million and 12.7% and $1,866.7 million and 12.8%, respectively, and EBITA and EBITA margin for 2014 and 2013 were $2,060.0 million and 13.4% and $1,967.5 million and 13.5%, respectively.
Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense decreased $30.3 million to $134.1 million in 2014 from $164.4 million in 2013. In October 2014, we issued $750 million principal amount of our 2024 Notes. On September 29, 2014, we entered into an interest rate swap on the 2020 Notes. In 2014, the benefit from the interest rate swap on the 2020 Notes substantially offset the interest expense on the 2024 Notes. Interest expense for 2014 decreased $20.0 million to $177.2 million, primarily resulting from the benefit from the interest rate swap on the 2022 Notes, entered into on May 1, 2014. The interest rate swaps have the economic effect of converting the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes from fixed rate debt to floating rate debt. Interest income increased $10.3 million to $43.1 million in 2014 resulting from our cash management efforts and interest earned on cash balances in our international treasury centers.
Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate decreased to 32.8% in 2014 from 34.0% in 2013. Income taxes for 2014 and 2013 reflect the recognition of an income tax benefit of $11.4 million and $6.5 million, respectively, related to expenses incurred in connection with the proposed merger with Publicis. Prior to the termination of the proposed merger on May 8, 2014, the majority of the merger costs were capitalized for income tax purposes and the related tax benefits were not recorded. Because the proposed merger was terminated, the merger costs were no longer required to be capitalized for income tax purposes. Excluding the income tax effect of the merger expenses from both years, our effective tax rate for 2014 and 2013 was 33.2% and 33.6%, respectively.


18



Net Income Per Common Share - Omnicom Group Inc.

Net income - Omnicom Group Inc. increased $112.9 million, or 11.4%, to $1,104.0 million in 2014 from $991.1 million in 2013. The year-over-year increase in net income - Omnicom Group Inc. is due to the factors described above. Diluted net income per common share - Omnicom Group Inc. increased 14.3% to $4.24 in 2014, compared to $3.71 in 2013 due to the factors described above, as well as the impact of the reduction in our weighted average common shares outstanding. The reduction in our weighted average shares outstanding was the result of repurchases of our common stock, net of shares issued for the conversion of the Convertible Notes due 2032, or 2032 notes, stock option exercises and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan. In the second quarter of 2014, following the termination of the proposed merger with Publicis, we resumed repurchases of our common stock. Excluding the after-tax effect of the merger expenses from both years, net income - Omnicom Group Inc. for 2014 and 2013 was $1,101.4 million and $1,026.0 million, respectively, and diluted net income per common share - Omnicom Group Inc. was $4.23 and $3.84, respectively.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2013 Compared to 2012 (in millions):
 
2013
 
2012
Revenue
$
14,584.5

 
$
14,219.4

Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
Salary and service costs
10,724.4

 
10,406.8

Office and general expenses
2,034.8

 
2,008.4

Total Operating Expenses
12,759.2

 
12,415.2

Add back: Amortization of intangible assets
100.8

 
101.1

 
12,658.4

 
12,314.1

Earnings before interest, taxes and amortization of intangible assets (“EBITA”)
1,926.1

 
1,905.3

EBITA Margin - %
13.2
%
 
13.4
%
Deduct: Amortization of intangible assets
100.8

 
101.1

Operating Income
1,825.3

 
1,804.2

Operating Margin - %
12.5
%
 
12.7
%
Interest Expense
197.2

 
179.7

Interest Income
32.8

 
35.1

Income Before Income Taxes and Income (Loss) From Equity Method Investments.
1,660.9

 
1,659.6

Income Tax Expense
565.2

 
527.1

Income (Loss) From Equity Method Investments
15.9

 
(15.0
)
Net Income
1,111.6

 
1,117.5

Net Income Attributed To Noncontrolling Interests
120.5

 
119.2

Net Income - Omnicom Group Inc.
$
991.1

 
$
998.3


In 2013, we incurred $41.4 million of expenses in connection with the proposed merger with Publicis, which were primarily comprised of professional fees. On May 8, 2014, the proposed merger was terminated. Excluding the merger expenses, operating income and operating margin for 2013 were $1,866.7 million and 12.8%, respectively, and EBITA and EBITA margin for 2013 were $1,967.5 million and 13.5%, respectively. Excluding the income tax effect of the merger expenses of $6.5 million, income tax expense in 2013 was $571.7 million. Excluding the after-tax effect of the merger expenses, net income - Omnicom Group Inc. in 2013 was $1,026.0 million.

EBITA, which we define as earnings before interest, taxes and amortization of intangible assets, and EBITA Margin, which we define as EBITA divided by Revenue, are Non-GAAP financial measures. We use EBITA and EBITA Margin as additional operating performance measures, which exclude the non-cash amortization expense of acquired intangible assets. The table above reconciles EBITA and EBITA Margin to the U.S. GAAP financial measure of Operating Income for the periods presented. We believe that EBITA and EBITA Margin are useful measures to evaluate the performance of our businesses. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information presented in compliance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures reported by us may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies.

19



Revenue

In 2013, revenue increased $365.1 million, 2.6%, to $14,584.5 million from $14,219.4 million in 2012. Changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue by $84.3 million, acquisitions, net of dispositions, reduced revenue by $51.7 million and organic growth increased revenue by $501.1 million.

The components of 2013 revenue change in the United States (“Domestic”) and the remainder of the world (“International”) were (in millions):
 
Total
 
Domestic
 
International
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
December 31, 2012
$
14,219.4

 
 
 
$
7,363.7

 
 
 
$
6,855.7

 
 
Components of revenue change:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Foreign exchange impact
(84.3
)
 
(0.6
)%
 

 
 %
 
(84.3
)
 
(1.2
)%
Acquisitions, net of dispositions
(51.7
)
 
(0.3
)%
 
(63.8
)
 
(0.9
)%
 
12.1

 
0.1
 %
Organic growth
501.1

 
3.5
 %
 
269.8

 
3.7
 %
 
231.3

 
3.4
 %
December 31, 2013
$
14,584.5

 
2.6
 %
 
$
7,569.7

 
2.8
 %
 
$
7,014.8

 
2.3
 %

The components and percentages are calculated as follows:
The foreign exchange impact is calculated by first converting the current period’s local currency revenue using the average exchange rates from the equivalent prior period to arrive at a constant currency revenue (in this case $14,668.8 million for the Total column). The foreign exchange impact equals the difference between the current period revenue in U.S. Dollars and the current period revenue in constant currency ($14,584.5 million less $14,668.8 million for the Total column).
The acquisition component is calculated by aggregating the applicable prior period revenue of the acquired businesses, less revenue of any business included in the prior period revenue that was disposed of subsequent to the prior period.
Organic growth is calculated by subtracting both the foreign exchange and acquisition components from total revenue growth.
The percentage change is calculated by dividing the individual component amount by the prior period revenue base of that component ($14,219.4 million for the Total column).

In 2013, changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue by 0.6%, or $84.3 million, compared to 2012. The most significant impacts resulted from the weakening of several currencies, including the Australian Dollar, Brazilian Real, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Japanese Yen and South African Rand, against the U.S. Dollar. This was partially offset by the strengthening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar.

Revenue for 2013 and the percentage change in revenue and organic growth from 2012 in our principal regional markets were (in millions):
 
$
 
% Change
 
% Organic Growth
Americas:
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
8,159.7

 
2.7
 %
 
3.7
%
Latin America
437.4

 
1.4
 %
 
9.2
%
EMEA:
 
 
 
 
 
Europe
4,168.5

 
3.0
 %
 
1.4
%
Middle East and Africa
238.9

 
(0.2
)%
 
5.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asia Pacific
1,580.0

 
1.4
 %
 
6.1
%
 
$
14,584.5

 
2.6
 %
 
3.5
%


20



In the normal course of business, our agencies both gain and lose business from clients each year due to a variety of factors. The net change in 2013 was an overall gain in new business. Under our client-centric approach, we seek to broaden our relationships with all of our clients. Or largest client represented 2.7% and 2.6% of our revenue in 2013 and 2012, respectively. No other client represented more than 2.5% and 2.6% of our revenue in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our ten largest and 100 largest clients represented 19.1% and 51.3% of revenue in 2013, respectively, and 19.0% and 51.7% of revenue in 2012, respectively.

Revenue for 2013 and 2012 and the percentage change in revenue and organic growth from 2012 by discipline were (in millions):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013 vs. 2012
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
Change
 
%
Change
 
% Organic Growth
Advertising
$
7,026.1

 
48.2
%
 
$
6,769.7

 
47.6
%
 
$
256.4

 
3.8
%
 
4.8
%
CRM
5,166.6

 
35.4
%
 
5,116.1

 
36.0
%
 
50.5

 
1.0
%
 
2.1
%
Public relations
1,327.4

 
9.1
%
 
1,290.3

 
9.1
%
 
37.1

 
2.9
%
 
1.5
%
Specialty communications
1,064.4

 
7.3
%
 
1,043.3

 
7.3
%
 
21.1

 
2.0
%
 
4.6
%
 
$
14,584.5

 
 
 
$
14,219.4

 
 
 
$
365.1

 
2.6
%
 
3.5
%

We operate in a number of industry sectors. The percentage of revenue by industry sector for 2013 and 2012 was:
 
 
2013
 
2012
Food and Beverage
 
14
%
 
14
%
Consumer Products
 
10
%
 
9
%
Pharmaceuticals and Health Care
 
10
%
 
10
%
Financial Services
 
7
%
 
8
%
Technology
 
9
%
 
9
%
Auto
 
8
%
 
9
%
Travel and Entertainment
 
5
%
 
5
%
Telecommunications
 
7
%
 
6
%
Retail
 
6
%
 
6
%
Other
 
24
%
 
24
%
Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for 2013 compared to 2012 were (in millions):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013 vs. 2012
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
% of Total
Operating
Expenses
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
% of Total
Operating
Expenses
 
$
Change
 
%
Change
Revenue
$
14,584.5

 
 
 
 
 
$
14,219.4

 
 
 
 
 
$
365.1

 
2.6
%
Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Salary and service costs
10,724.4

 
73.5
%
 
84.1
%
 
10,406.8

 
73.2
%
 
83.8
%
 
317.6

 
3.1
%
Office and general expenses
2,034.8

 
14.0
%
 
15.9
%
 
2,008.4

 
14.1
%
 
16.2
%
 
26.4

 
1.3
%
Operating Expenses
12,759.2

 
87.5
%
 
 

 
12,415.2

 
87.3
%
 
 

 
344.0

 
2.8
%
Operating Income
$
1,825.3

 
12.5
%
 
 

 
$
1,804.2

 
12.7
%
 
 

 
$
21.1

 
1.2
%


21



Salary and services costs tend to fluctuate in conjunction with changes in revenue. Salary and service costs increased $317.6 million in 2013 compared to 2012 reflecting growth in revenue and an increase in employee compensation, including incentive compensation and severance, as well as increases related to changes in the mix of our business during the year.

Office and general expenses are less directly linked to changes in our revenue than salary and service costs. Office and general expenses increased $26.4 million in 2013 compared to 2012.

In 2013, we incurred $41.4 million of expenses in connection with the proposed merger with Publicis, which were primarily comprised of professional fees. On May 8, 2014, the proposed merger was terminated. Excluding the merger expenses, office and general expenses for 2013 decreased $15.0 million compared to 2012 reflecting our continuing efforts to control the cost structures of our agencies.

Operating margins in 2013 decreased to 12.5% from 12.7% in 2012 and EBITA margins in 2013 decreased to 13.2% from 13.4% in 2012. Excluding the merger expenses, operating income and operating margins for 2013 and 2012 were $1,866.7 million and 12.8% and $1,804.2 million and 12.7%, respectively, and EBITA and EBITA margins for 2013 and 2012 were $1,967.5 million and 13.5% and $1,905.3 million and 13.4%, respectively.
Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense increased to $164.4 million in 2013 from $144.6 million in 2012. Interest expense increased $17.5 million to $197.2 million. The increase in interest expense is primarily attributable to the issuance of $750 million of our 2022 Notes in April 2012 and $500 million of our 2022 Notes in August 2012. Interest income decreased $2.3 million to $32.8 million in 2013.
Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate increased to 34.0% in 2013 from 31.8% in 2012. Excluding the income tax effect of the merger expenses of $6.5 million, which reflects the estimated impact of the non-deductibility of a significant portion of the merger expenses, our effective tax rate for 2013 was 33.6%, which is consistent with our expected effective tax rate for 2013 and reflects the full year effect of the reduction in income tax expense resulting from the implementation of the legal reorganization in the Asia Pacific region, which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Income (Loss) From Equity Method Investments

Income from equity method investments in 2013 was $15.9 million compared to a loss of $15.0 million in the prior year. 2012 reflects a net impairment charge of $29.2 million for an other-than-temporary decline in the carrying value of our equity investment in Egypt.
Net Income Per Common Share - Omnicom Group Inc.

Net income - Omnicom Group Inc. decreased $7.2 million, or 0.7%, to $991.1 million in 2013 from $998.3 million in 2012. The year-over-year decrease in net income - Omnicom Group Inc. is due to the factors described above. Diluted net income per common share - Omnicom Group Inc. increased 2.8% to $3.71 in 2013, as compared to $3.61 in 2012 due to the factors described above, as well as the slight reduction in our weighted average common shares outstanding. The reduction in our weighted average common shares outstanding was the result of repurchases of our common stock through the second quarter of 2013, net of stock option exercises, shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan and shares issued upon the conversion of our 2033 Notes and 2038 Notes. In connection with the proposed merger with Publicis, in the third quarter of 2013 we suspended repurchases of our common stock. Excluding the after-tax effect of the merger expenses, net income - Omnicom Group Inc. for 2013 was $1,026.0 million and diluted net income per common share - Omnicom Group Inc. was $3.84.

22



LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash Sources and Requirements

The majority of our non-discretionary cash requirements is funded from operating cash flow and cash on hand. Working capital is our principal non-discretionary funding requirement. In addition, we have contractual obligations related to our Senior Notes, recurring business operations, primarily related to lease obligations, as well as contingent purchase price obligations (earn-outs) for acquisitions made in prior years.

Our principal discretionary cash uses include dividend payments to common shareholders, capital expenditures, payments for strategic acquisitions and repurchases of our common stock. In the second quarter of 2014, following the termination of the proposed merger with Publicis, we resumed repurchases of our common stock. Our discretionary spending is funded from operating cash flow and cash on hand, as well as, if needed, other available sources of funding, such as issuing commercial paper, borrowing under our $2.5 billion credit line, or Credit Agreement, or other long-term borrowings to finance these activities. We expect to have sufficient liquidity to fund both our non-discretionary cash requirements and our discretionary spending through 2015. However, we may access the capital markets at any time if favorable conditions exist.

We have a seasonal cash requirement normally peaking during the second quarter of the year primarily due to the timing of payments for incentive compensation, income taxes and contingent purchase price obligations. This typically results in a net borrowing requirement that decreases over the course of the year.

Our cash and cash equivalents decreased $322.4 million to $2.4 billion at December 31, 2014, from $2.7 billion at December 31, 2013. The components of the decrease for 2014 are (in millions):
Sources  
Cash flow from operations
 
 
 
$
1,476.5

Add back decrease in operating capital
 
 
 
106.2

Principal cash sources
 
 
 
1,582.7

Uses
Capital expenditures
 
$
(213.0
)
 
 
Dividends paid to common shareholders
 
(468.0
)
 
 
Dividends paid to shareholders of noncontrolling interests
 
(111.3
)
 
 
Acquisition payments of $74.9, net of cash acquired, plus payment of contingent purchase price obligations of $83.2 and acquisition of additional shares of noncontrolling interests of $69.5 less net proceeds from sale of investments of $21.0
 
(206.6
)
 
 
Repurchases of common stock of $1,063.0, net of proceeds from stock plans of $39.3 and tax benefits of $29.6
 
(994.1
)
 
 
Principal cash uses
 
 
 
(1,993.0
)
Principal cash uses in excess of principal cash sources
 
 
 
(410.3
)
Foreign exchange rate changes
 
 
 
(273.9
)
Financing activities and other
 
 
 
468.0

Decrease in operating capital
 
 
 
(106.2
)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
$
(322.4
)

Principal cash sources and principal cash uses amounts are Non-GAAP financial measures. These amounts exclude changes in working capital and other investing and financing activities, including commercial paper issuances and redemptions used to fund working capital changes. This presentation reflects the metrics used by us to assess our sources and uses of cash and was derived from our statement of cash flows. We believe that this presentation is meaningful for understanding the primary sources and primary uses of our cash flow. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures as reported by us may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies. Additional information regarding our cash flows can be found in our consolidated financial statements.


23



Cash Management

We manage our cash and liquidity centrally through our regional treasury centers in North America, Europe and Asia. The treasury centers are managed by our wholly-owned finance subsidiaries. Each day, operations with excess funds invest these funds with their regional treasury center. Likewise, operations that require funds borrow from their regional treasury center. The treasury centers aggregate the net position which is either invested with or borrowed from third parties. To the extent that our treasury centers require liquidity, they have the ability to access local currency uncommitted credit lines, the Credit Agreement or issue up to a total of $2 billion of U.S. Dollar-denominated commercial paper. This process enables us to manage our debt balances more efficiently and utilize our cash more effectively, as well as better manage our risk to foreign exchange rate changes. In countries where we either do not conduct treasury operations or it is not feasible for one of our treasury centers to fund net borrowing requirements on an intercompany basis, we arrange for local currency uncommitted credit lines.

As discussed in Cash Sources and Requirements, cash and cash equivalents decreased $322.4 million from December 31, 2013. Short-term investments decreased $16.0 million from December 31, 2013. Short-term investments principally consist of time deposits with financial institutions that we expect to convert into cash within our current operating cycle, generally one year.

At December 31, 2014, total cash and cash equivalents were $2.4 billion, of which our foreign subsidiaries held approximately $1.4 billion. The majority of the cash is available to us, net of any taxes payable upon repatriation to the United States. Changes in international tax rules or changes in U.S. tax rules and regulations covering international operations and foreign tax credits may affect our future reported financial results or the way we conduct our business.

We have policies governing counterparty credit risk with financial institutions that hold our cash and cash equivalents and we have deposit limits for each financial institution. In countries where we conduct treasury operations, generally the counterparties are either branches or subsidiaries of the financial institutions that are party to our Credit Agreement. These financial institutions generally have credit ratings equal to or better than our credit ratings. In countries where we do not conduct treasury operations, we ensure that all cash and cash equivalents are held by counterparties that meet specific minimum credit standards.

Our net debt position, which we define as total debt outstanding less cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, increased $868.9 million at December 31, 2014 as compared to December 31, 2013, primarily as a result of the excess of principal cash uses in excess of principal cash sources of $410.3 million, as described above in Cash Sources and Requirements, a decrease in foreign cash balances of $273.9 million resulting from the translation of local currencies to U.S. Dollars and increases to net debt related to non-cash changes in the interest rate swaps and other items of $184.7 million. The components of net debt for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were (in millions):
 
2014
 
2013
Debt:
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings, due in less than one year
$
7.2

 
$
5.9

5.9% Senior Notes due 2016
1,000.0

 
1,000.0

6.25% Senior Notes due 2019
500.0

 
500.0

4.45% Senior Notes due 2020
1,000.0

 
1,000.0

3.625% Senior Notes due 2022
1,250.0

 
1,250.0

3.65% Senior Notes due 2024
750.0

 

Convertible Notes due 2032

 
252.7

Other debt
0.5

 
0.5

    Unamortized premium (discount) on Senior Notes, net
11.1

 
14.7

    Adjustment to carrying value for interest rate swaps
51.4

 
15.9

Total debt
4,570.2

 
4,039.7

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments
(2,390.3
)
 
(2,728.7
)
Net debt
$
2,179.9

 
$
1,311.0



24



Net debt as reconciled above, is a Non-GAAP financial measure. This presentation, together with the comparable U.S. GAAP measures, reflects one of the key metrics used by us to assess our cash management performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with US GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures as reported by us may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies.

As described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, in July 2014, we redeemed our outstanding Convertible Notes due 2032 for $252.7 million in cash and in June 2013, we redeemed our outstanding Convertible Notes due 2033 and the Convertible Notes due 2038 for $406.7 million in cash. In October 2014, we issued $750 million principal amount of our 2024 Notes. The proceeds from the issuance were $747.6 million before deducting underwriting commissions and offering expenses. The issuance of the 2024 Notes, subsequent to the redemption of the convertible notes, essentially restored our financial leverage to approximate historical levels.

On May 1, 2014, we entered into a fixed-to-floating interest rate swap on the $1.25 billion principal amount of the 2022 Notes and, on September 29, 2014, we entered into a fixed-to-floating interest rate swap on the $1 billion principal amount of the 2020 Notes. The interest rate swaps hedge the risk of changes in fair value of the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes attributable to changes in the benchmark LIBOR interest rate. Under the swap agreements, we receive fixed interest rate payments equal to the coupon interest rate on the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes and pay a variable interest rate on the total principal amount of the notes, equal to three month LIBOR in arrears, plus a spread of 1.05% on the 2022 Notes and a spread of 2.16% on the 2020 Notes. The swaps qualify and are designated as fair value hedges for accounting purposes. The swaps have the economic effect of converting the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes from fixed rate debt to floating rate debt. Gains and losses attributed to changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps substantially offset changes in the fair value of the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes attributed to changes in the benchmark interest rate.
Debt Instruments and Related Covenants

We have committed and uncommitted credit lines. On July 31, 2014, we amended the Credit Agreement to extend the term to July 31, 2019. We have the ability to classify borrowings under the Credit Agreement as long-term. In addition, we can issue up to $2 billion of commercial paper.

We typically fund our day-to-day liquidity by issuing commercial paper. Also, we may borrow under our uncommitted credit lines or Credit Agreement to fund our day-to-day liquidity. At December 31, 2014, there were no outstanding commercial paper issuances or borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

Commercial paper activity for the three years ended December 31, 2014 was (dollars in millions):
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Average amount outstanding during the year
$
909.0

 
$
471.7

 
$
288.5

Maximum amount outstanding during the year
$
1,795.8

 
$
1,027.5

 
$
837.2

Total issuances during the year
$
18,539.9

 
$
11,786.9

 
$
13,935.1

Average days outstanding
20.3

 
14.6

 
7.6

Weighted average interest rate
0.29
%
 
0.33
%
 
0.41
%

At December 31, 2014, short-term borrowings of $7.2 million represent bank overdrafts and credit lines of our international subsidiaries. These bank overdrafts and credit lines are treated as unsecured loans pursuant to the agreements supporting the facilities.

The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a Leverage Ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA to no more than 3 times for the most recently ended 12-month period (under the Credit Agreement, EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and an Interest Coverage Ratio of consolidated EBITDA to interest expense of at least 5 times for the most recently ended 12-month period. At December 31, 2014 we were in compliance with these covenants, as our Leverage Ratio was 2.0 times and our Interest Coverage Ratio was 12.6 times. The Credit Agreement does not limit our ability to declare or pay dividends or repurchase our common stock.


25



S&P rates our long-term debt BBB+ and Moody’s rates our long-term debt Baa1. Our short-term debt credit ratings are A2 and P2 by the respective rating agencies. Our outstanding Senior Notes and Credit Agreement do not contain provisions that require acceleration of cash payments in the event our debt credit ratings are downgraded.

Omnicom Capital Inc., or OCI, our wholly-owned finance subsidiary, together with us, is a co-obligor under all the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes are a joint and several liability of us and OCI and we unconditionally guarantee OCI’s obligations with respect to the Senior Notes. OCI provides funding for our operations by incurring debt and lending the proceeds to our operating subsidiaries. OCI’s assets consist of cash and cash equivalents and intercompany loans made to our operating subsidiaries and the related interest receivable. There are no restrictions on the ability of OCI or us to obtain funds from our subsidiaries through dividends, loans or advances. Our Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations that rank in equal right of payment with all existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness.

At December 31, 2014, the carrying value of our debt and the amount available under the Credit Agreement were (in millions):
 
Debt
 
Available Credit
Short-term borrowings, due in less than one year
$
7.2

 
$

Credit Agreement

 
2,500.0

5.9% Senior Notes due 2016
1,000.0

 

6.25% Senior Notes due 2019
500.0

 

4.45% Senior Notes due 2020
1,000.0

 

3.625% Senior Notes due 2022
1,250.0

 

3.65% Senior Notes due 2024
750.0

 

Other debt
0.5

 

 
4,507.7

 
2,500.0

Unamortized premium (discount) on Senior Notes, net
11.1

 

Adjustment to carrying value for interest rate swaps
51.4

 

 
$
4,570.2

 
$
2,500.0

Credit Markets and Availability of Credit

We will continue to take actions available to us to respond to changing economic conditions and actively manage our discretionary expenditures and we will continue to monitor and manage the level of credit made available to our clients. We believe that these actions, in addition to operating cash flow and the availability of our Credit Agreement, are sufficient to fund our working capital needs and our discretionary spending through 2015.

In funding our day-to-day liquidity, we have historically been a participant in the commercial paper market. We expect to continue funding our day-to-day liquidity through the commercial paper market. However, disruptions in the credit markets may lead to periods of illiquidity in the commercial paper market and higher credit spreads. To mitigate any future disruption in the credit markets and to fund our day-to-day liquidity we may use our uncommitted credit lines or borrow under our Credit Agreement. We will continue to closely monitor our liquidity and the credit markets. We cannot predict with any certainty the impact on us of any future disruptions in the credit markets.

26



Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments

In the normal course of our business we enter into numerous contractual and commercial undertakings. The following tables should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements.

Contractual obligations at December 31, 2014 were (in millions):
 
 
 
Obligation Due
 
Total
Obligation
 
2015
 
2016 - 2017
 
2018 - 2019
 
After 2019
Long-term notes payable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal
$
4,500.5

 
$
0.4

 
$
1,000.1

 
$
500.0

 
$
3,000.0

Interest
1,070.0

 
207.4

 
314.1

 
282.6

 
265.9

Lease obligations
1,654.1

 
366.8

 
462.3

 
293.9

 
531.1

Deferred tax liability - convertible debt
263.1

 
66.0

 
132.0

 
65.1

 

Contingent purchase price obligations
300.7

 
105.5

 
159.2

 
36.0

 

Defined benefit pension plans benefit obligation
222.7

 
7.6

 
17.2

 
19.7

 
178.2

Postemployment arrangements benefit obligation
122.1

 
8.7

 
16.6

 
13.1

 
83.7

Uncertain tax positions
139.8

 
14.0

 
39.2

 
85.9

 
0.7

 
$
8,273.0

 
$
776.4

 
$
2,140.7

 
$
1,296.3

 
$
4,059.6


Commercial commitments at December 31, 2014 were (in millions):
 
 
 
Commitment Expires
 
Total
Commitment
 
2015
 
2016 - 2017
 
2018 - 2019
 
After 2019
Standby letters of credit
$
8.7

 
$
3.3

 
$
2.9

 
$

 
$
2.5

Guarantees
97.8

 
82.1

 
12.4

 
1.4

 
1.9

 
$
106.5

 
$
85.4

 
$
15.3

 
$
1.4

 
$
4.4


Consistent with our acquisition strategy and past practice, certain of our acquisitions include an initial payment at closing and provide for future additional contingent purchase price payments (earn-outs). Contingent purchase price obligations are recorded as a liability at the acquisition date fair value. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the liability are recorded in our results of operations.

The unfunded benefit obligation for our defined benefit pension plans and liability for our postemployment arrangements was $270.4 million at December 31, 2014. In 2014, we contributed $3.2 million to our defined benefit pension plans and paid $9.2 million in benefits for our postemployment arrangements. We do not expect these payments to increase significantly in 2015.

The liability for uncertain tax positions is subject to uncertainty as to when or if the liability will be paid. We have assigned the liability to the periods presented based on our judgment as to when these liabilities will be resolved by the appropriate taxing authorities.

In the normal course of our business, our agencies enter into contractual commitments with media providers and production companies on behalf of our clients at levels that can substantially exceed the revenue from our services. These commitments are included in accounts payable when the services are delivered by the media providers or production companies. If permitted by local law and the client agreement, many of our agencies purchase media and production services for our clients as an agent for a disclosed principal. In addition, while operating practices vary by country, media type and media vendor, in the United States and certain foreign markets, many of our agencies’ contracts with media and production providers specify that our agencies are not liable to the media and production providers under the theory of sequential liability until and to the extent we have been paid by our client for the media or production services.

Where purchases of media and production services are made by our agencies as a principal or are not subject to the theory of sequential liability, the risk of a material loss as a result of payment default by our clients could increase significantly and such a loss could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.


27



In addition, methods of managing the risk of payment defaults, including obtaining credit insurance, requiring payment in advance, mitigating the potential loss in the marketplace or negotiating with media providers, may be less available or unavailable during a severe economic downturn.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

As a global business, we operate in multiple foreign currencies and issue debt in the capital markets. Our regional treasury centers use derivative financial instruments, such as forward foreign exchange contracts, as an economic hedge to better manage the cash flow volatility arising from foreign exchange rate fluctuations. We use derivative financial instruments, such as fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps, to manage the cost of debt more efficiently.

As a result of using derivative instruments, we are exposed to the risk that counterparties to derivative contracts will fail to meet their contractual obligations. To mitigate the counterparty credit risk, we have a policy of only entering into contracts with carefully selected major financial institutions based on specific minimum credit standards and other factors. We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

We evaluate the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and other relevant market risks on our derivative instruments. We periodically determine the potential loss from market risk on our derivative instruments by performing a value-at-risk, or VaR, analysis. VaR is a statistical model that utilizes historical currency exchange and interest rate data to measure the potential impact on future earnings of our derivative financial instruments assuming normal market conditions. The VaR model is not intended to represent actual losses but is used as a risk estimation and management tool. Based on the results of the model, we estimate with 95% confidence a maximum one-day change in the net fair value of our derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2014 was not significant.
Foreign Exchange Risk

Our results of operations are subject to risk from the translation to U.S. Dollars of the revenue and expenses of our foreign operations, which are generally denominated in their local currency. The effects of currency exchange rate fluctuation on the translation of our results of operations are discussed in Note 19 of the consolidated financial statements. For the most part, revenue and expenses of our foreign operations are denominated in the same currency, which minimizes the economic impact of fluctuations in exchange rates on our results of operations.

While our major non-U.S. currency markets are the European Monetary Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China and Japan, our agencies conduct business in more than 50 different currencies. As an integral part of our treasury operations, we centralize our cash and use multicurrency pool arrangements to manage the foreign exchange risk between subsidiaries and their respective treasury centers from which they borrow or invest funds. In certain circumstances, instead of using a multicurrency pool, operations can borrow or invest on an intercompany basis with a treasury center operating in a different currency. To manage the foreign exchange risk associated with these transactions, we use forward foreign exchange contracts. At December 31, 2014, we had outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $113.1 million mitigating the foreign exchange risk of the intercompany borrowing and investment activities. Also, we use forward foreign exchange contracts to mitigate the foreign currency risk associated with activities when revenue and expenses are not denominated in the same currency. In these instances, amounts are promptly settled or hedged with forward contracts. At December 31, 2014, we had outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $44.0 million mitigating the foreign exchange risk of these activities. We designate foreign currency derivative instruments as an economic hedge; therefore, any gain or loss in fair value incurred on those instruments is generally offset by decreases or increases in the fair value of the underlying exposures. By using these financial instruments, we reduced financial risk of adverse foreign exchange changes by foregoing any gain (reward) which might have occurred if the markets moved favorably.

28



Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to interest rate risk has been limited because our Senior Notes are fixed rate debt. In 2014, to manage our annual interest cost more efficiently by benefiting from a decline in interest rates, we used fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps to convert specific fixed rate debt into variable rate debt. In 2014, we entered into fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps on the $1.25 billion principal amount of the 2022 Notes and the $1 billion principal amount of the 2020 Notes. Under the swap agreements, we receive fixed interest rate payments equal to the coupon interest rate on the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes and we pay a variable interest rate on the total principal amount of the notes, equal to three month LIBOR in arrears, plus a spread of 1.05% on the 2022 Notes and a spread of 2.16% on the 2020 Notes. The swaps have the economic effect of converting the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes from fixed rate debt to floating rate debt and effectively convert our long-term debt portfolio to 50% fixed rate debt and 50% floating rate debt. At December 31, 2014, we recorded a receivable, which is included in other assets, of $42.7 million representing the fair value of the swaps that was substantially offset by the increase in the carrying value of the 2022 Notes and the 2020 Notes reflecting the change in fair value of the notes.
Credit Risk

We provide advertising, marketing and corporate communications services to several thousand clients who operate in nearly every industry sector of the global economy and we grant credit to qualified clients in the normal course of business. Due to the diversified nature of our client base, we do not believe that we are exposed to a concentration of credit risk as our largest client accounted for 2.6% of revenue in 2014 and no other client accounted for more than 2.5% of revenue. However, during periods of economic downturn, the credit profiles of our clients could change.

In the normal course of our business, our agencies enter into contractual commitments with media providers and production companies on behalf of our clients at levels that can substantially exceed the revenue from our services. These commitments are included in accounts payable when the services are delivered by the media providers or production companies. If permitted by local law and the client agreement, many of our agencies purchase media and production services for our clients as an agent for a disclosed principal. In addition, while operating practices vary by country, media type and media vendor, in the United States and certain foreign markets, many of our agencies’ contracts with media and production providers specify that our agencies are not liable to the media and production providers under the theory of sequential liability until and to the extent we have been paid by our client for the media or production services.

Where purchases of media and production services are made by our agencies as a principal or are not subject to the theory of sequential liability, the risk of a material loss as a result of payment default by our clients could increase significantly and such a loss could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

In addition, methods of managing the risk of payment defaults, including obtaining credit insurance, requiring payment in advance, mitigating the potential loss in the marketplace or negotiating with media providers, may be less available or unavailable during a severe economic downturn.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

See Item 15 Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

29



Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports we file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within applicable time periods. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management, including our CEO and CFO, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2014. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of December 31, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that decisions can be made timely with respect to required disclosures, as well as ensuring that the recording, processing, summarization and reporting of information required to be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 are appropriate.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Management, with the participation of our CEO, CFO and our agencies, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2014. There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on Omnicom’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, dated February 10, 2015.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.

30



PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information regarding Executive Officers of the Registrant is included in Part I, Item 1, “Business.” Additional information called for by this Item, to the extent not included in this document, is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be included under the captions “Corporate Governance,” “Items To Be Voted On - Item 1 - Election of Directors,” “Additional Information - Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Shareholder Proposals For The 2016 Annual Meeting” in our definitive proxy statement, which is expected to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, or our Proxy Statement.
Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information called for by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be included under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Directors' Compensation For Fiscal 2014” and “Corporate Governance - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in our Proxy Statement.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information called for by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be included under the captions “Equity Compensation Plans” and “Stock Ownership” in our Proxy Statement.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information called for by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be included under the captions “Additional Information - Transactions with Related Persons” and “Corporate Governance - Board Composition and Leadership; Stock Ownership Guidelines” in our Proxy Statement.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information called for by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be included under the caption “Audit Related Matters - Fees Paid to Independent Auditors” in our Proxy Statement.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1)
Financial Statements:
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2014
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2014
 
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2014
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2014
 
 
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
 
 
 
(a)(2)
Financial Statement Schedules:
 
 
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2014
 
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable.
 

31



(a)(3)
Exhibits:
Exhibit
Number
Description
3(i)
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Omnicom Group Inc. (Exhibit 3.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-10551) for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
3(ii)
By-laws of Omnicom Group Inc., as amended and restated on May 22, 2012 (Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated May 24, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.1
Form of Senior Debt Securities Indenture (Exhibit 4.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-132625) dated March 22, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.2
First Supplemental Indenture to the Form of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of March 29, 2006, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc., Omnicom Finance Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee, in connection with our issuance of $1 billion 5.9% Notes due 2016 (Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated March 29, 2006 (“March 29, 2006 8-K”) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.3
Second Supplemental Indenture to the Form of the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of July 20, 2012, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, (Exhibit 4.3 to the July 20, 2012 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.4
Form of 5.9% Notes due 2016 (Exhibit 4.3 to the March 29, 2006 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.5
Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2009, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc., Omnicom Finance Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (“2009 Base Indenture”) (Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated July 1, 2009 (“July 1, 2009 8-K”) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.6
First Supplemental Indenture to the 2009 Base Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2009, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc., Omnicom Finance Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, in connection with our issuance of $500 million 6.25% Senior Notes due 2019 (Exhibit 4.2 to the July 1, 2009 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.7
Second Supplemental Indenture to the 2009 Base Indenture, dated as of August 5, 2010, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc., Omnicom Finance Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, in connection with our issuance of $1 billion 4.45% Senior Notes due 2020 (Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated August 5, 2010 (“August 5, 2010 8-K”) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.8
Third Supplemental Indenture to the 2009 Base Indenture, dated as of April 23, 2012, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc., Omnicom Finance Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, in connection with our issuance of $750 million 3.625% Senior Notes due 2022 (Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated April 23, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.9
Fourth Supplemental Indenture to the 2009 Base Indenture, dated as of July 20, 2012, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, (Exhibit 4.4 to July 20, 2012 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.10
Fifth Supplemental Indenture to the 2009 Base Indenture, dated as of August 9, 2012, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, in connection with our issuance of $500 million 3.625% Senior Notes due 2022 (Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated August 9, 2012 (“August 9, 2012 8-K”) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.11
Form of 6.25% Notes due 2019 (Exhibit 4.3 to the July 1, 2009 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.12
Form of 4.45% Notes due 2020 (Exhibit 4.2 to the August 5, 2010 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.13
Form of 3.625% Notes due 2022 (Exhibit 4.2 to the August 9, 2012 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.14
Base Indenture, dated as of October 29, 2014, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, (Exhibit 4.1 to our Current report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated October 29, 2014 (“October 29, 2014 8-K”) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.15
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 29, 2014, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, in connection with our issuance of $750 million 3.65% Senior Notes due 2024 (Exhibit 4.2 to October 29, 2014 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
4.16
Form of 3.65% Notes due 2024 (Exhibit 4.3 to October 29, 2014 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).

32



10.1
Amended and Restated Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, by and among Omnicom Capital Inc., Omnicom Finance plc, Omnicom Group Inc., the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders and initial issuing banks listed on the signature pages thereof, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as lead arrangers and book managers, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agents, BNP Paribas and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agents, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders (Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) filed on August 1, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.2
Instrument of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance, dated October 5, 2006, among Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Capital Inc., Omnicom Finance Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated October 11, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.3
Amended and Restated 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan (Exhibit B to our Proxy Statement (File No. 1-10551) filed on April 10, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.4
Director Equity Plan for Non-employee Directors (Appendix B to our Proxy Statement (File No. 1-10551) filed on April 23, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.5
Standard form of our Executive Salary Continuation Plan Agreement (Exhibit 10.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 1-10551) for the year ended December 31, 2012 (“2012 10-K”) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.6
Standard form of the Director Indemnification Agreement (Exhibit 10.25 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 1-10551) for the year ended December 31, 1989 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.7
Equity Incentive Plan (Exhibit 4.3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-108063) dated August 18, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.8
Senior Management Incentive Plan as amended and restated on December 4, 2008 (Exhibit 10.9 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 1-10551) for the year ended December 31, 2008 (“2008 10-K”) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.9
Omnicom Group Inc. SERCR Plan (Exhibit 10.10 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 1-10551) for the year ended December 31, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.10
Form of Award Agreement under the Omnicom Group Inc. SERCR Plan (Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-10551) dated December 13, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.11
Omnicom Group Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Incentive Award Plan (Appendix A to our Proxy Statement (File No. 1-10551) filed on April 15, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.12
Form of Indemnification Agreement (Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-10551) for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.13
Director Compensation and Deferred Stock Program (Exhibit 10.13 to the 2012 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.14
Restricted Stock Unit Deferred Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.16 to the 2008 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.15
Restricted Stock Deferred Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.17 to the 2008 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.16
Amendment No. 1 to the Restricted Stock Deferred Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.18 to the 2008 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.17
Amendment No. 2 to the Restricted Stock Deferred Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.19 to the 2008 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.18
Form of Grant Notice and Option Agreement (Exhibit 10.20 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 1-10551) for the year ended December 31, 2010 (“2010 10-K”) and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
 
 


33



10.19
Form of Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement (Exhibit 10.21 to 2010 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.20
Form of Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Exhibit 10.22 to 2010 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.21
Form of Grant Notice and Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-10551) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.22
Omnicom Group Inc. 2013 Incentive Award Plan (Appendix A to our Proxy Statement (File No. 1-10551) filed on April 11, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
10.23
Separation Agreement and General Release between Omnicom Management Inc. and Randall J. Weisenburger.
 
 
12
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
 
 
21
Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 
 
23
Consent of KPMG LLP.
 
 
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and President required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
 
31.2
Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
 
32
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and President and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 18 U.S.C. §1350.
 
 
101
Interactive Data File.


34



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
OMNICOM GROUP INC.
February 10, 2015
BY:
/s/ PHILIP J. ANGELASTRO
 
 
Philip J. Angelastro
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
 
 
 
/s/ BRUCE CRAWFORD
Chairman and Director
February 10, 2015
Bruce Crawford
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JOHN D. WREN
Chief Executive Officer and President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
February 10, 2015
John D. Wren
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ PHILIP J. ANGELASTRO
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
February 10, 2015
Philip J. Angelastro
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ANDREW L. CASTELLANETA
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
February 10, 2015
Andrew L. Castellaneta
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ALAN R. BATKIN
Director
February 10, 2015
Alan R. Batkin
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ MARY C. CHOKSI
Director
February 10, 2015
Mary C. Choksi
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ROBERT CHARLES CLARK
Director
February 10, 2015
Robert Charles Clark
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ LEONARD S. COLEMAN, JR.
Director
February 10, 2015
Leonard S. Coleman, Jr.
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ERROL M. COOK
Director
February 10, 2015
 Errol M. Cook
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ SUSAN S. DENISON
Director
February 10, 2015
Susan S. Denison
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ MICHAEL A. HENNING
Director
February 10, 2015
Michael A. Henning
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JOHN R. MURPHY
Director
February 10, 2015
John R. Murphy
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JOHN R. PURCELL
Director
February 10, 2015
John R. Purcell
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ LINDA JOHNSON RICE
Director
February 10, 2015
Linda Johnson Rice
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ GARY L. ROUBOS
Director
February 10, 2015
Gary L. Roubos
 
 

35



MANAGEMENT REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING



Management is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and related information of Omnicom Group Inc. (“Omnicom”). Management uses its best judgment to ensure that the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, Omnicom’s consolidated financial position and results of operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

The financial statements have been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Their report expresses the independent accountant’s judgment as to the fairness of management’s reported financial position, results of operations and cash flows. This judgment is based on the procedures described in the second paragraph of their report.

Omnicom management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, and our agencies, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2014. There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our fourth fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to affect our internal control over financial reporting.

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on Omnicom’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, dated February 10, 2015.

The Board of Directors of Omnicom has an Audit Committee comprised of five independent directors. The Audit Committee meets periodically with financial management, Internal Audit and the independent auditors to review accounting, control, audit and financial reporting matters.
























F-1



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM




The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Omnicom Group Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Omnicom Group Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited financial statement schedule II. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Omnicom Group Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule on page S-1, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Omnicom Group Inc. and subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 10, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
February 10, 2015


F-2



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM




The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Omnicom Group Inc.:

We have audited Omnicom Group Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Omnicom Group Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Omnicom Group Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, and our report dated February 10, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
February 10, 2015


F-3


OMNICOM GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except per share amounts)
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,388.1

 
$
2,710.5

Short-term investments, at cost
2.2

 
18.2

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $24.9 and $32.6
6,524.7

 
6,632.6

Work in process
1,166.6

 
1,288.0

Other current assets
1,108.9

 
1,003.0

Total Current Assets
11,190.5

 
11,652.3

Property and Equipment at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $1,221.2 and $1,230.1
708.0

 
737.4

Equity Method Investments
148.2

 
131.8

Goodwill
8,822.2

 
8,916.0

Intangible Assets, net of accumulated amortization of $611.4 and $552.3
389.4

 
386.0

Other Assets
301.4

 
275.2

TOTAL ASSETS
$
21,559.7

 
$
22,098.7