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                       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 the fiscal year ended                                 Commission file number
December 31, 1999                                                  1-6686

                               -----------------

                    THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                              13-1024020
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification  No.)

     1271 Avenue of the Americas
        New York, New York                                          10020
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 399-8000

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                        Name of each exchange on
Title of each class                                         which registered
- -------------------                                     ------------------------
   Common Stock                                          New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

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 12 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 X . No   .
                                      ---    ---

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) 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. X .
                                             ---

The aggregate market value of the registrant's voting stock (exclusive of shares
beneficially  owned by persons  referred  to in  response to Item 12 hereof) was
$12,170,836,232 as of March 23, 2000.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock outstanding at March 23, 2000:  287,967,109 shares.



                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

1.   Portions of the Annual Report to  Stockholders  for the year ended December
     31, 1999 are incorporated by reference in Parts I and II.

2.   Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
     are incorporated by reference in Parts I and III.




                                     PART I

Item 1.    Business
           --------

         The Interpublic  Group of Companies,  Inc. was incorporated in Delaware
in  September  1930  under  the  name  of  McCann-Erickson  Incorporated  as the
successor to the advertising  agency businesses founded in 1902 by A.W. Erickson
and in 1911 by Harrison K. McCann.  It has operated under the  Interpublic  name
since  January  1961.  As  used in  this  Annual  Report,  the  "Registrant"  or
"Interpublic"  refers to The  Interpublic  Group of  Companies,  Inc.  while the
"Company" refers to Interpublic and its subsidiaries.

         The advertising agency business is the primary business of the Company.
This  business  is  conducted   throughout  the  world  primarily   through  two
advertising agency systems,  McCann-Erickson WorldGroup and The Lowe Group, plus
a  number  of  standalone  local  agencies.   Interpublic  also  carries  on  an
independent  media buying  business  through its ownership of  Initiative  Media
Worldwide  and  its  affiliates,  as well as a  separate  relationship  (direct)
marketing  business  through its  ownership of  DraftWorldwide,  a global public
relations  capability through  International  Public Relations,  an internet and
business consultancy through its Zentropy Partners,  and a multi-national sports
and event marketing  organization,  Octagon. The Company also offers advertising
agency services through association  arrangements with local agencies in various
parts of the world. Other activities conducted by the Company within the area of
"marketing communications" include brand equity and corporate identity services,
management consulting,  healthcare marketing,  market research, sales promotion,
internet  services,  sales meetings and events,  multicultural  advertising  and
promotion, and other related specialized marketing and communications services.

         The principal functions of an advertising agency are to plan and create
advertising  programs for its clients and to place  advertising in various media
such as television,  cinema, radio, magazines,  newspapers, direct mail, outdoor
and interactive electronic media. The planning function involves analysis of the
market for the particular product or service,  evaluation of alternative methods
of distribution and choice of the appropriate  media to reach the desired market
most efficiently.  The advertising agency develops a communications strategy and
then creates an advertising  program,  within the limits imposed by the client's
advertising budget, and places orders for space or time with the media that have
been selected.

         The principal  advertising agency subsidiaries of Interpublic operating
within the United States directly or through  subsidiaries  and the locations of
their respective corporate headquarters are:

Campbell-Ewald Company............      Detroit (Warren), Michigan

Campbell Mithun Esty LLC..........      Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dailey & Associates, Inc..........      Los Angeles, California

DraftWorldwide, Inc...............      Chicago, Illinois

Hill, Holliday, Connors,

  Cosmopulos, Inc.................      Boston, Massachusetts

International Public Relations. Inc.    New York, New York, and London, England

Lowe Lintas & Partners..........        New York, New York

McCann-Erickson USA, Inc..........      New York, New York

Zentropy Partners, Inc............      Cambridge, Massachusetts


         In addition to domestic  operations,  the Company provides services for
clients whose  business is  international  in scope as well as for clients whose
business is  restricted to a single  country or a small number of countries.  It
has offices in Canada as well as in one or more cities in each of the  following
countries:

                EUROPE, AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
                ----------------------------------

Austria            Germany         Morocco         Slovakia
Azerbaijan         Greece          Namibia         Slovenia
Bahrain            Hungary         Netherlands     South Africa
Belgium            Israel          Nigeria         Spain
Bulgaria           Ireland         Norway          Sweden
Cameroon           Italy           Oman            Switzerland
Croatia            Ivory Coast     Pakistan        Tunisia
Czech Republic     Jordan          Poland          Turkey
Denmark            Kazakhstan      Portugal        Ukraine
Egypt              Kenya           Qatar           United Arab Emirates
Estonia            Kuwait          Romania         United Kingdom
Finland            Lebanon         Russia          Uzbekistan
France             Mauritius       Saudi Arabia    Zambia
                                   Senegal         Zimbabwe


                   LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
                   -------------------------------

Argentina      Colombia                 Guatemala       Peru
Barbados       Costa Rica               Honduras        Puerto Rico
Bermuda        Dominican Republic       Jamaica         Trinidad
Brazil         Ecuador                  Mexico          Uruguay
Chile          El Salvador              Panama          Venezuela


                      ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
                      --------------------

Australia      Korea                 Philippines        Taiwan
Hong Kong      Malaysia              Singapore          Thailand
India          Nepal                 Sri Lanka          Vietnam
Indonesia      New Zealand           South Korea
Japan          People's Republic
                  of China

         Operations  in the  foregoing  countries  are carried on by one or more
operating companies, at least one of which is either wholly owned by Interpublic
or a subsidiary or is a company in which  Interpublic or a subsidiary owns a 51%
interest or more, except in Malawi and Nepal,  where Interpublic or a subsidiary
holds a minority interest.

         The Company  also  offers  services in  Albania,  Aruba,  the  Bahamas,
Belize, Bolivia, Cambodia, Gabon, Ghana, Grand Cayman, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guyana,
Haiti, Reunion, Ivory Coast, Martinique,  Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Surinam,
Uganda and Zaire through association  arrangements with local agencies operating
in those countries.

         For  information   concerning  revenues  and  long-lived  assets  on  a
geographical  basis for each of the last three years,  reference is made to Note
12:  Geographic Areas of the Notes to the Consolidated  Financial  Statements in
the Company's  Annual  Report to  Stockholders  for the year ended  December 31,
1999, which Note is hereby incorporated by reference.

Developments in 1999
- --------------------

         The Company completed a number of acquisitions within the United States
and abroad in 1999.

         See Note 4 to the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  incorporated by
reference in this Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of acquisitions.

Income from Commissions and Fees
- --------------------------------

         The  Company  generates  income  from  planning,  creating  and placing
advertising   in  various   media  and  from   planning  and   executing   other
communications or marketing programs.  Historically, the commission customary in
the industry was 15% of the gross charge  ("billings") for advertising  space or
time;  more recently  lower  commissions  have been  negotiated,  but often with
additional  incentives  for  better  performance.   For  example,  an  incentive
component  is  frequently   included  in  arrangements  with  clients  based  on
improvements  in an  advertised  brand's  awareness or image,  or increases in a
client's  sales or market  share of the products or services  being  advertised.
Under commission arrangements,  media bill the Company at their gross rates. The
Company bills these amounts to its clients,  remits the net charges to the media
and retains the balance as its  commission.  Some  clients,  however,  prefer to
compensate the Company on a fee basis,  under which the Company bills its client
for the net  charges  billed by the media plus an  agreed-upon  fee.  These fees
usually are calculated to reflect the Company's  salary costs and  out-of-pocket
expenses  incurred on the  client's  behalf,  plus  proportional  overhead and a
profit mark-up.

         Normally,  the Company,  like other agencies,  is primarily responsible
for paying the media with  respect to firm  contracts  for  advertising  time or
space. This is a problem only if the client is unable to pay the Company because
of insolvency  or  bankruptcy.  The Company makes serious  efforts to reduce the
risk from a client's  insolvency,  including (1) carrying out credit clearances,
(2)  requiring in some cases  payment of media in advance,  or (3) agreeing with
the media that the Company will be solely liable to pay the media only after the
client has paid the Company for the media charges.

         The Company  also  receives  commissions  from clients for planning and
supervising  work done by outside  contractors  in the physical  preparation  of
finished  print  advertisements  and the  production  of  television  and  radio
commercials  and other forms of  advertising.  This  commission  is  customarily
17.65% of the outside  contractor's net charge,  which is the same as 15% of the
outside contractor's total charges including  commission.  With the expansion of
negotiated fees, the terms on which outstanding  contractors' charges are billed
are  subject  to  wide  variations  and  even  include  in  some  instances  the
elimination of commissions  entirely provided that there are adequate negotiated
fees.

         The  Company  also  derives  income in many other ways,  including  the
planning and placement in media of advertising produced by unrelated advertising
agencies;  the  maintenance  of  specialized  media  placement  facilities;  the
creation and publication of brochures,  billboards,  point of sale materials and
direct  marketing  pieces  for  clients;   the  planning  and  carrying  out  of
specialized   marketing  research;   developments/public   relations  campaigns,
managing special events at which clients'  products are featured;  and designing
and carrying out interactive programs for special uses.

         The five clients of the Company that made the largest  contribution  in
1999 to income from commissions and fees accounted individually for 1.8% to 8.0%
of such income and in the aggregate accounted for over approximately 18% of such
income.  Twenty clients of the Company  accounted for  approximately 28% of such
income.  Based on income from commissions and fees, the three largest clients of
the Company are General Motors Corporation,  Nestle and Unilever. General Motors
Corporation  first became a client of one of the  Company's  agencies in 1916 in
the United States.  Predecessors of several of the Lintas agencies have supplied
advertising services to Unilever since 1893. The client relationship with Nestle
began in 1940 in Argentina.  While the loss of the entire business of one of the
Company's  three largest  clients might have a material  adverse effect upon the
business of the Company,  the Company believes that it is very unlikely that the
entire business of any of these clients would be lost at the same time,  because
it represents  several different brands or divisions of each of these clients in
a number of  geographical  markets - in each case  through  more than one of the
Company's agency systems.

         Representation  of a  client  rarely  means  that the  Company  handles
advertising  for all brands or product  lines of the client in all  geographical
locations.  Any client may  transfer  its business  from an  advertising  agency
within  the  Company  to a  competing  agency,  and  a  client  may  reduce  its
advertising budget at any time.

         The Company's  agencies in many instances  have written  contracts with
their  clients.  As is customary in the industry,  these  contracts  provide for
termination  by either party on  relatively  short  notice,  usually 90 days but
sometimes  shorter or longer. In 1999,  however,  23% of income from commissions
and fees was derived from clients that had been  associated  with one or more of
the Company's agencies or their predecessors for 20 or more years.

Personnel
- ---------

         As of  January 1,  2000,  the  Company  employed  approximately  38,600
persons,  of whom nearly 16,200 were employed in the United  States.  Because of
the personal service  character of the marketing  communications  business,  the
quality of personnel is of crucial  importance to continuing  success.  There is
keen  competition for qualified  employees.  Interpublic  considers its employee
relations to be satisfactory.

         The Company has an active program for training  personnel.  The program
includes  meetings and seminars  throughout the world. It also involves training
personnel in its offices in New York and in its larger offices worldwide.

Competition and Other Factors
- -----------------------------

         The advertising  agency and other marketing  communications  businesses
are highly  competitive.  The Company's agencies and media services must compete
with other agencies and with other providers of creative or media services which
are not themselves  advertising  agencies,  in order to maintain existing client
relationships and to obtain new clients.  Competition in the advertising  agency
business depends to a large extent on the client's  perception of the quality of
an  agency's  "creative   product".   An  agency's  ability  to  serve  clients,
particularly large international clients, on a broad geographic basis is also an
important  competitive  consideration.  On the other  hand,  because an agency's
principal  asset is its  people,  freedom of entry into the  business  is almost
unlimited and quite small  agencies  are, on occasion,  able to take all or some
portion of a client's account from a much larger competitor.

         Moreover,  increasing  size  bring  some  limitations  to  an  agency's
potential  for securing  new  business,  because  many clients  prefer not to be
represented by an agency that represents a competitor.  Also, clients frequently
wish to have different products represented by different agencies. The fact that
the Company owns two separate  worldwide  agency  systems and interests in other
advertising agencies gives it additional competitive opportunities.

         The advertising and marketing  communications  businesses is subject to
government  regulation,  both domestic and foreign. There has been an increasing
tendency  in the  United  States  on the part of  advertisers  to  resort to the
courts, industry and self-regulatory bodies to challenge comparative advertising
on the grounds that the  advertising is false and deceptive.  Through the years,
there has been a continuing  expansion of specific  rules,  prohibitions,  media
restrictions,  labeling disclosures and warning requirements with respect to the
advertising for certain products.  Representatives  within state governments and
the  federal  government  as well as foreign  governments  continue  to initiate
proposals to ban the advertising of specific  products and to impose taxes on or
deny deductions for advertising which, if successful, may have an adverse effect
on advertising expenditures.

         Some countries are relaxing  commercial  restrictions  as part of their
efforts to attract foreign investment.  However,  with respect to other nations,
the  international  operations  of the Company  still remain  exposed to certain
risks which affect foreign  operations of all kinds, such as local  legislation,
monetary  devaluation,  exchange  control  restrictions  and unstable  political
conditions. In addition, international advertising agencies are still subject to
ownership  restrictions  in certain  countries  because they are  considered  an
integral factor in the communications process.


Statement Regarding Forward Looking Disclosure
- ----------------------------------------------

         Certain sections of this report, including "Business", "Competition and
Other Factors" and "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" contain forward looking statements  concerning future
events and developments  that involve risks and  uncertainties,  including those
associated  with the effect of national and regional  economic  conditions,  the
ability of the Company to attract new clients and retain existing  clients,  the
financial  success of clients of the Company,  other  developments of clients of
the  Company,  and  developments  from  changes  in  the  regulatory  and  legal
environment for advertising agencies around the world.

Item 2.    Properties
           ----------

         Most of the operations of the Company are conducted in leased premises,
and  its  physical  property  consists  primarily  of  leasehold   improvements,
furniture,  fixtures  and  equipment.  These  facilities  are located in various
cities in which  the  Company  does  business  throughout  the  world.  However,
subsidiaries of the Company own office buildings in Louisville, Kentucky; Blair,
Nebraska; Warren, Michigan;  Frankfurt,  Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Lima, Peru;
Mexico City,  Mexico;  Santiago,  Chile;  and  Brussels,  Belgium and own office
condominiums  in  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina;   Bogota,  Colombia;   Manila,  the
Philippines;  in England,  subsidiaries  of the Company own office  buildings in
London, Manchester, Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent.

         The Company's  ownership of the office building in Frankfurt is subject
to three  mortgages  which became  effective on or about  February  1993.  These
mortgages  terminate  at  different  dates,  with the last to expire in February
2003.  Reference  is  made to Note  10:  Long-Term  Debt,  of the  Notes  to the
Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders
for the year ended  December  31,  1999,  which Note is hereby  incorporated  by
reference.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings
           -----------------

         Neither  the  Company  nor any of its  subsidiaries  are subject to any
pending material legal proceedings.

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
           ---------------------------------------------------

         Not applicable.

Executive Officers of the Registrant
- ------------------------------------

         There follows the information  disclosed in accordance with Item 401 of
Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission") as
required  by Item 10 of Form 10-K with  respect  to  executive  officers  of the
Registrant.

Name                        Age              Office
- ----                        ---              ------

Philip H. Geier, Jr.(1)     65    Chairman of the Board, President
                                  and Chief Executive Officer

Sean F. Orr(1)              45    Executive Vice President, Chief
                                  Financial Officer

Nicholas J. Camera          53    Senior Vice President, General
                                  Counsel and Secretary

John J. Dooner, Jr.(1)      51    Chairman and Chief Executive
                                  Officer of McCann-Erickson
                                  WorldGroup

C. Kent Kroeber             61    Senior Vice President-Human
                                  Resources

Barry R. Linsky             58    Senior Vice President-Planning
                                  and Business Development

Frank B. Lowe(1)            58    Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                  Executive Officer of Lowe Lintas & Partners

Frederick Molz              43    Vice President and Controller

Thomas J. Volpe             64    Senior Vice President-Financial Operations

- ----------
[FN]

(1)  Also a Director

</FN>

         There is no family relationship among any of the executive officers.

         The  employment  histories  for the past five years of  Messrs.  Geier,
Dooner,  Lowe and Orr are  incorporated  by reference to the Proxy Statement for
Interpublic's 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

         Mr.  Camera  joined  Interpublic  in May,  1993.  He was  elected  Vice
President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary in June, 1994, Vice
President,  General  Counsel and  Secretary in December,  1995,  and Senior Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary in February, 2000.

         Mr.  Kroeber  joined  Interpublic  in  January,   1966  as  Manager  of
Compensation and Training. He was elected Vice President in 1970 and Senior Vice
President in May, 1980.

         Mr.  Linsky  joined  Interpublic  in January,  1991 when he was elected
Senior Vice President-Planning and Business Development.  Prior to that time, he
was Executive Vice President,  Account  Management of Lowe & Partners,  Inc. Mr.
Linsky was elected to that  position in July,  1980,  when the  corporation  was
known as The Marschalk Company and was a subsidiary of Interpublic.

         Mr. Molz was elected  Vice  President  and  Controller  of  Interpublic
effective  January,  1999. He joined  Interpublic in August,  1982, and his most
recent position was Senior Vice President-Financial Operations of Ammirati Puris
Lintas Worldwide,  a subsidiary of Interpublic,  since April, 1994. He also held
previous   positions  in  the  Interpublic   Controller's   Department  and  Tax
Department.

         Mr. Volpe joined  Interpublic in March,  1986. He was appointed  Senior
Vice President-Financial  Operations in March, 1986. He served as Treasurer from
January 1, 1987  through May 17, 1988 and the  Treasurer's  office  continues to
report to him.


                                     PART II

Item 5.   Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
          -----------------------------------------------------------------
          Matters
          -------

     The response to this Item is incorporated:

       (i)    by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for
              the year ended  December  31, 1999.  See the  heading:  Results by
              Quarter  (Unaudited),  and Note 2:  Stockholders'  Equity,  of the
              Notes to the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements and  information
              under the heading Transfer Agent and Registrar for Common Stock;

       (ii)   on October 5, 1999, a subsidiary of the  Registrant  acquired 100%
              of the  capital  stock of a  company  in  consideration  for which
              Registrant paid  $2,960,612.88 in cash and issued 24,330 shares of
              Interpublic Stock to the shareholders of the acquired company. The
              shares of  Interpublic  Stock had a market value of $985,365.00 on
              the date of issuance.  The shares of Interpublic Stock were issued
              by  the   Registrant   without   registration   in  an   "offshore
              transaction" and solely to "non-U.S.  persons" in reliance on Rule
              903(b)(3) of Regulation S under the Securities Act;

       (iii)  on October 26, 1999, a subsidiary of the Registrant  acquired 100%
              of the  capital  stock of a  company  in  consideration  for which
              Registrant paid  $1,508,780.00 in cash and issued 17,412 shares of
              Interpublic Stock to the shareholders of the acquired company. The
              shares of Interpublic Stock were valued at $682,332.75 on the date
              of issuance.  The shares of  Interpublic  Stock were issued by the
              Registrant without  registration in an "offshore  transaction" and
              solely to  "non-U.S.  persons" in reliance  on Rule  903(b)(3)  of
              Regulation S under the Securities Act;

       (iv)   on  October  29,  1999,  the  Registrant  issued a total of 63,990
              shares of Interpublic Stock and paid $7,048,233.75 to shareholders
              of a foreign company as installment payments of the purchase price
              of the capital stock of the foreign company. The Interpublic stock
              issued had a market value of (pound)1,412,500  (U.S.$2,353,225) on
              the date of issuance.  The shares of Interpublic Stock were issued
              by  the   Registrant   without   registration   in  an   "offshore
              transaction" and solely to "non-U.S.  persons" in reliance on Rule
              903(b)(3) of Regulation S under the Securities Act;

       (v)    on October 29, 1999, the Registrant  issued an aggregate of 16,243
              shares of  Interpublic  Stock and paid  $416,687.55 in cash to the
              two former  stockholders  of a company  which was  acquired in the
              fourth quarter of 1998. This represented a deferred payment of the
              purchase  price.  The shares of  Interpublic  Stock were valued at
              $625,050.57  on the date of  issuance.  The shares of  Interpublic
              Stock  were  issued  by the  Registrant  without  registration  in
              reliance on Section 4(2) under the  Securities  Act,  based on the
              sophistication of the acquired company's former stockholders;

       (vi)   on November  8, 1999,  a  subsidiary  of the  Registrant  acquired
              substantially all of the assets and assumed  substantially all the
              liabilities of a domestic company in  consideration  for which the
              registrant  paid  $19,230,657.25  in cash  and  issued  a total of
              1,019,831 shares of the  registrant's  common stock par value $.10
              per share  ("Interpublic  Stock") to the  security  holders of the
              company.  The shares of  Interpublic  Stock had a market  value of
              $39,317,646.53 on the date of issuance.  The shares of Interpublic
              Stock  were  issued  by the  Registrant  without  registration  in
              reliance on Section 4(2) under the  Securities  Act,  based on the
              sophistication of the acquired company's former stockholders;


       (vii)  on November 9, 1999, a subsidiary of the Registrant  acquired 100%
              of the capital stock of a domestic  company in  consideration  for
              which the Registrant paid $1,900,000 in cash and issued a total of
              200,131 shares of Interpublic Stock to the security holders of the
              company.  The shares of  Interpublic  Stock had a market  value of
              $7,600,000  on the date of  issuance.  The  shares of  Interpublic
              Stock  were  issued  by the  Registrant  without  registration  in
              reliance on Section 4(2) under the  Securities  Act,  based on the
              sophistication of the acquired company's former stockholders;

       (viii) on November 12, 1999, the Registrant paid U.S.  $8,130,000 in cash
              and  issued a total of  210,948  shares  of  Interpublic  Stock to
              shareholders of a foreign company as an installment payment of the
              purchase price for 100% of the capital stock of a foreign  company
              acquired  in the first  quarter  of 1998.  The  Interpublic  stock
              issued had a market value of (pound)5,000,000 (U.S. $8,250,700) on
              the date of issuance.  The shares of Interpublic Stock were issued
              by  the   Registrant   without   registration   in  an   "offshore
              transaction" and solely to "non-U.S.  persons" in reliance on Rule
              903(b)(3) of Regulation S under the Securities Act;

       (ix)   on November 24,  1999,  the  Registrant  issued a total of 178,763
              shares of Interpublic  Stock to  shareholders of a foreign company
              in full  payment  of the  purchase  price for 100% of the  capital
              stock of the foreign company.  The Interpublic  stock issued had a
              market value of (pound)4,350,000  (U.S. $7,074,536) on the date of
              issuance.  The  shares of  Interpublic  Stock  were  issued by the
              Registrant without  registration in an "offshore  transaction" and
              solely to  "non-U.S.  persons" in reliance  on Rule  903(b)(3)  of
              Regulation S under the Securities Act;

       (x)    on December 10, 1999, a subsidiary of the Registrant acquired 100%
              of the issued and outstanding shares of a company in consideration
              for which the Registrant paid $1,000,000 in cash and issued 31,764
              shares   of   Interpublic   Stock   to  the   acquired   company's
              shareholders.  The shares of Interpublic  Stock had a market value
              of $1,500,000 on the date of issuance.  The shares of  Interpublic
              Stock  were  issued  by the  Registrant  without  registration  in
              reliance on Section 4(2) under the  Securities  Act,  based on the
              sophistication of the acquired company's former stockholders;

       (xi)   on December 14, 1999, the Registrant  paid U.S.  $4,481,636.20  in
              cash and issued a total of 31,838 shares of  Interpublic  Stock to
              shareholders  of a foreign company in full payment of the purchase
              price for 51% of the  capital  stock of the foreign  company.  The
              Interpublic  stock issued had a market value of DM 2,900,000 (U.S.
              $1,505,633)  on the date of  issuance.  The shares of  Interpublic
              Stock were issued by the  Registrant  without  registration  in an
              "offshore  transaction"  and  solely  to  "non-U.S.   persons"  in
              reliance on Rule  903(b)(3) of  Regulation S under the  Securities
              Act;

       (xii)  on December 16, 1999, the Registrant paid U.S. $11,416,000 in cash
              and  issued a total of  237,279  shares  of  Interpublic  Stock to
              shareholders  of a foreign company in full payment of the purchase
              price for 100% of the capital  stock of the foreign  company.  The
              Interpublic  stock issued had a market  value of  (pound)7,080,000
              (U.S.  $11,338,903)  on  the  date  of  issuance.  The  shares  of
              Interpublic   Stock  were   issued  by  the   Registrant   without
              registration in an "offshore  transaction" and solely to "non-U.S.
              persons" in reliance on Rule  903(b)(3) of  Regulation S under the
              Securities Act;

       (xiii) on December 17, 1999, the Registrant paid U.S.  $1,302,000 in cash
              and  issued  a total  of  3,321  shares  of  Interpublic  Stock to
              shareholders  of a foreign company in full payment of the purchase
              price for 60% of the  capital  stock of the foreign  company.  The
              Interpublic  stock  issued  had a market  value of  Mexican  Pesos
              1,505,900 (U.S.  $159,776) on the date of issuance.  The shares of
              Interpublic   Stock  were   issued  by  the   Registrant   without
              registration in an "offshore  transaction" and solely to "non-U.S.
              persons" in reliance on Rule  903(b)(3) of  Regulation S under the
              Securities Act;

       (xiv)  on December 20, 1999, the Registrant  acquired 100% of the capital
              stock  of a  domestic  company  in  consideration  for  which  the
              Registrant  paid  $4,915,500  in cash and issued a total of 31,773
              shares  of  Interpublic  Stock  to  the  security  holders  of the
              company.  The shares of  Interpublic  Stock had a market  value of
              $1,638,500  on the date of  issuance.  The  shares of  Interpublic
              Stock  were  issued  by the  Registrant  without  registration  in
              reliance on Section 4(2) under the  Securities  Act,  based on the
              sophistication of the acquired company's former stockholders;

       (xv)   on December 23, 1999, a subsidiary of the Registrant  acquired 60%
              of the capital  stock of a foreign  company in  consideration  for
              which   Registrant  paid  $867,900  in  cash  and  issued  without
              registration  13,770 shares of the Common Stock, $.10 par value of
              Registrant (the  "Interpublic  Stock") to the  shareholders of the
              acquired  company.  The shares of  Interpublic  Stock had a market
              value  of  $710,100  on  the  date  of  issuance.  The  shares  of
              Interpublic   Stock  were   issued  by  the   Registrant   without
              registration in an "offshore  transaction" and solely to "non-U.S.
              persons" in reliance on Rule  903(b)(3) of  Regulation S under the
              Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act");

       (xvi)  on December 23, 1999, the Registrant  acquired 100% of the capital
              stock of three  related  companies,  in  consideration  for  which
              Registrant  paid  $7,309,292  in cash and issued  53,927 shares of
              Interpublic Stock to the shareholders of the acquired company. The
              shares of Interpublic  Stock were valued at $2,696,350 on the date
              of issuance.  The shares of  Interpublic  Stock were issued by the
              Registrant without  registration in an "offshore  transaction" and
              solely to  "non-U.S.  persons" in reliance  on Rule  903(b)(3)  of
              Regulation S under the Securities Act;

       (xvii) on December 30, 1999, the Registrant  acquired 100% of the capital
              stock of a company  in  consideration  for which  Registrant  paid
              $4,065,501.13 in cash and issued 9,658 shares of Interpublic Stock
              to the  shareholders  of  the  acquired  company.  The  shares  of
              Interpublic  Stock  were  valued  at  $536,622.63  on the  date of
              issuance.  The  shares of  Interpublic  Stock  were  issued by the
              Registrant without  registration in an "offshore  transaction" and
              solely to  "non-U.S.  persons" in reliance  on Rule  903(b)(3)  of
              Regulation S under the Securities Act;

       (xviii)on October 13, 1999, a subsidiary of the Registrant  acquired 100%
              of the capital stock of a domestic  company in  consideration  for
              which  Registrant paid $2,025,000 in cash and issued 17,159 shares
              of  the  Common  Stock,   $.10  par  value,   of  Registrant  (the
              "Interpublic  Stock") to the shareholders of the acquired company.
              The shares of Interpublic  Stock were valued at $674,992.16 on the
              date of issuance.  The shares of Interpublic  Stock were issued by
              the Registrant  without  registration  in reliance on Section 4(2)
              under  the  Securities  Act,  based on the  sophistication  of the
              acquired company's former stockholders;

       (xix)  on December 7, 1999,  IPG  acquired  all of the common  stock of a
              company in  exchange  for which  Interpublic  issued to the former
              stockholders  of the company  357,833 shares of Interpublic  Stock
              with a value on the date of issuance of $15,000,000. The shares of
              Interpublic   Stock  were   issued  by  the   Registrant   without
              registration in reliance on Section 4(2) under the Securities Act,
              based  on the  sophistication  of the  acquired  company's  former
              stockholders; and

       (xx)   on December 1, 1999, a subsidiary of the Registrant  acquired 100%
              of the capital  stock of a foreign  company in  consideration  for
              which Registrant issued 5,158,122 shares of the Common Stock, $.10
              par  value  of  Registrant  (the   "Interpublic   Stock")  to  the
              shareholders  of the acquired  company.  The shares of Interpublic
              Stock  had a  market  value  of U.S.  $239,853,000  on the date of
              issuance.  The  shares of  Interpublic  Stock  were  issued by the
              Registrant without  registration in an "offshore  transaction" and
              solely to  "non-U.S.  persons" in reliance  on Rule  903(b)(3)  of
              Regulation  S under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
              "Securities Act").

Item 6.   Selected Financial Data
          -----------------------

         The  response  to  this  Item  is  incorporated  by  reference  to  the
Registrant's  Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 1999
under the heading Selected Financial Data for Five Years.

Item 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
          ---------------------------------------------------------------
          Results of Operations
          ---------------------

         The  response  to  this  Item  is  incorporated  by  reference  to  the
Registrant's  Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 1999
under the heading  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition
and Results of Operations.

Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
           ----------------------------------------------------------

         The  response  to  this  Item  is  incorporated  by  reference  to  the
Registrant's  Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 1999
under the heading  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition
and Results of Operations.

Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
          -------------------------------------------

         The response to this Item is  incorporated  in part by reference to the
Registrant's  Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 1999
under the headings Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated  Financial
Statements.  Reference is also made to the Financial  Statement  Schedule listed
under Item 14(a) of this Report on Form 10-K.

Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
          ---------------------------------------------------------------
          Financial Disclosure
          --------------------

         Not applicable.


                                    PART III

Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
           --------------------------------------------------

         The  information  required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
the  Registrant's  Proxy  Statement for its 2000 Annual Meeting of  Stockholders
(the  "Proxy  Statement"),  to be filed not later than 120 days after the end of
the 1999 calendar year,  except for the description of  Interpublic's  Executive
Officers  which  appears in Part I of this Report on Form 10-K under the heading
"Executive Officers of the Registrant".

Item 11.   Executive Compensation
           ----------------------

         The  information  required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
the Proxy  Statement.  Such  incorporation  by reference  shall not be deemed to
incorporate  specifically  by  reference  the  information  referred  to in Item
402(a)(8) of Regulation S-K.

Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
           --------------------------------------------------------------

         The  information  required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
the Proxy Statement.

Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
           ----------------------------------------------

         The  information  required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
the Proxy  Statement.  Such  incorporation  by reference  shall not be deemed to
incorporate  specifically  by  reference  the  information  referred  to in Item
402(a)(8) of Regulation S-K.


                                     PART IV

Item 14.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedule, and Reports on Form 8-K
           ---------------------------------------------------------------

         (a) Listed  below are all  financial  statements,  financial  statement
schedules and exhibits filed as part of this Report on Form 10-K.

         1.   Financial Statements:

                  See the Index to Financial Statements on page F-1.

         2.   Financial Statement Schedule:

                  See the Index to Financial Statement Schedule on page F-1.

         3.   Exhibits:

         (Numbers used are the numbers  assigned in Item 601 of  Regulation  S-K
and the EDGAR Filer Manual. An additional copy of this exhibit index immediately
precedes  the  exhibits  filed  with this  Report on Form 10-K and the  exhibits
transmitted to the Commission as part of the electronic filing of the Report.)

Exhibit No.       Description
- ------------      -----------
3        (i)      The Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation of the Registrant,
                  as amended is  incorporated by reference to its Report on Form
                  10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999. See Commission  file
                  number 1-6686.

         (ii)     The  By-Laws of the  Registrant,  amended as of  February  19,
                  1991, are incorporated by reference to its Report on Form 10-K
                  for the year ended  December 31,  1990.  See  Commission  file
                  number 1-6686.

4        Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders.

          (i)     Indenture,  dated as of September 16, 1997 between Interpublic
                  and The Bank of New York is  incorporated  by reference to the
                  Registrant's  Report  on  Form  10-Q  for  the  quarter  ended
                  September 30, 1998. See Commission file number 1-6686.

         (ii)     The Preferred  Share  Purchase  Rights Plan as adopted on July
                  18,  1989  is   incorporated   by  reference  to  Registrant's
                  Registration  Statement  on Form 8-A dated August 1, 1989 (No.
                  00017904)  and,  as  amended,  by  reference  to  Registrant's
                  Registration  Statement  on Form 8 dated  October 3, 1989 (No.
                  00106686).

10       Material Contracts.

         (a)      Purchase  Agreement,  dated  September  10,  1997,  among  The
                  Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.  ("Interpublic"),  Morgan
                  Stanley & Co.,  Incorporated,  Goldman  Sachs and Co.  and SBC
                  Warburg Dillon Read Inc. is  incorporated  by reference to the
                  Registrant's  Report  on  Form  10-Q  for  the  quarter  ended
                  September 30, 1999. See Commission file number 1-6686.

         (b)      Employment,  Consultancy and other  Compensatory  Arrangements
                  with Management.

                  Employment  and  Consultancy  Agreements and any amendments or
                  supplements thereto and other compensatory  arrangements filed
                  with the Registrant's Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended
                  December 31, 1980  through  December  31, 1998  inclusive,  or
                  filed  with  the  Registrant's  Reports  on Form  10-Q for the
                  periods ended March 31, 1999,  June 30, 1999 and September 30,
                  1999 are  incorporated  by  reference  in this  Report on Form
                  10-K.  See  Commission  file number  1-6686.  Listed below are
                  agreements or amendments to agreements  between the Registrant
                  and its executive officers which remain in effect on and after
                  the  date  hereof  or were  executed  during  the  year  ended
                  December 31, 1999 and thereafter, unless previously submitted,
                  which are filed as exhibits to this Report on Form 10-K.

                  (i)  Sean F. Orr
                       -----------

                       (a)  Employment  Agreement  dated as of April  27,  1999
                            between Interpublic and Sean F. Orr.

                       (b)  Executive Special Benefit Agreement dated as of
                            May 1, 1999 between Interpublic and Sean F. Orr.

                       (c)  Executive Severance Agreement dated as of April 27,
                            1999 between Interpublic and Sean F. Orr.

                 (ii)  Eugene P. Beard
                       ---------------

                       (a)  Executive Special Benefit Agreement dated as of
                            March 13, 2000 between Interpublic and Eugene P.
                            Beard.

                       (b)  Letter Agreement dated as of January 17, 2000
                            between Interpublic and Eugene P. Beard.

                 (iii) Martin F. Puris
                       ---------------

                       (a)  Termination Letter dated as of November 1, 1999
                            between Interpublic and Martin F. Puris.


         (c)      Executive Compensation Plans.

                  (i)        Trust Agreement,  dated as of  June 1, 1990 between
                             Interpublic,     Lintas   Campbell-Ewald   Company,
                             McCann-Erickson    USA,   Inc.,     McCann-Erickson
                             Marketing,  Inc.,  Lintas,  Inc. and Chemical Bank,
                             as  Trustee,   is  incorporated  by   reference  to
                             Registrant's  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K for  the
                             year ended December 31, 1990. See  Commission  file
                             number 1-6686.

                  (ii)       The Stock  Option Plan  (1988) and the  Achievement
                             Stock Award Plan of the Registrant are incorporated
                             by  reference   to   Appendices  C  and  D  of  the
                             Prospectus  dated May 4, 1989  forming  part of its
                             Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-28143).

                  (iii)      The Management  Incentive  Compensation Plan of the
                             Registrant  is  incorporated  by  reference  to the
                             Registrant's  Report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter
                             ended June 30,  1995.  See  Commission  file number
                             1-6686.

                  (iv)       The 1986 Stock  Incentive Plan of the Registrant is
                             incorporated  by reference to  Registrant's  Annual
                             Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
                             1993. See Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (v)        The 1986 United  Kingdom  Stock  Option Plan of the
                             Registrant   is   incorporated   by   reference  to
                             Registrant's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the
                             year ended December 31, 1992.  See Commission  file
                             number 1-6686.

                  (vi)       The  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan  (1985) of the
                             Registrant,   as  amended,   is   incorporated   by
                             reference  to  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form
                             10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  1993.  See
                             Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (vii)      The  Long-Term  Performance  Incentive  Plan of the
                             Registrant is incorporated by reference to Appendix
                             A of the Prospectus dated December 12, 1988 forming
                             part of its Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No.
                             33-25555).

                  (viii)     Resolution  of the Board of  Directors  adopted  on
                             February   16,   1993,   amending   the   Long-Term
                             Performance   Incentive  Plan  is  incorporated  by
                             reference  to  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form
                             10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  1992.  See
                             Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (ix)       Resolution of the Board of Directors adopted on May
                             16,  1989   amending  the   Long-Term   Performance
                             Incentive  Plan is  incorporated  by  reference  to
                             Registrant's Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                             December  31,  1989.  See  Commission  file  number
                             1-6686.

                  (x)        The 1996 Stock  Incentive Plan of the Registrant is
                             incorporated  by  reference  to  the   Registrant's
                             Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended June 30,
                             1996. See Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (xi)       The  1997   Performance   Incentive   Plan  of  the
                             Registrant  is  incorporated  by  reference  to the
                             Registrant's  Report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter
                             ended June 30,  1997.  See  Commission  file number
                             1-6686.

         (d)      Loan Agreements.

                  (i)        Amendment  dated  August  31,  1999  to the  Credit
                             Agreement   dated  as  of  June  25,  1996  between
                             Interpublic  and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly
                             known as Chemical Bank).

                  (ii)       Other Loan and Guaranty  Agreements filed with  the
                             Registrant's  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K for  the
                             years  ended  December  31, 1988 and  December  31,
                             1986  are  incorporated by reference in this Report
                             on Form 10-K. Other Credit Agreements,  amendments
                             to   various   Credit    Agreements,   Supplemental
                             Agreements,     Termination    Agreements,     Loan
                             Agreements,  Note Purchase  Agreements,  Guarantees
                             and   Intercreditor   Agreements  filed  with   the
                             Registrant's  Report  on Form  10-K for  the  years
                             ended  December 31, 1989 through December 31, 1998,
                             inclusive  and filed with  Registrant's  Reports on
                             Form 10-Q for  the periods  ended  March 31,  1999,
                             June  30,   1999  and   September   30,  1999   are
                             incorporated by reference into this Report  on Form
                             10-K. See Commission file number 1-6686.

         (e)      Leases.

                  Material  leases of premises are  incorporated by reference to
                  the  Registrant's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the years
                  ended  December 31, 1980 and December 31, 1988. See Commission
                  file number 1-6686.

         (f)      Acquisition Agreement for Purchase of Real Estate.

                  Acquisition       Agreement      (in      German)      between
                  Treuhandelsgesellschaft  Aktiengesellschaft  & Co. Grundbesitz
                  OHG  and  McCann-Erickson  Deutschland  GmbH & Co.  Management
                  Property KG  ("McCann-Erickson  Deutschland")  and the English
                  translation of the Acquisition  Agreement are  incorporated by
                  reference to  Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                  year ended  December  31,  1992.  See  Commission  file number
                  1-6686.

         (g)      Mortgage Agreements and Encumbrances.

                  (i)      Summaries   in  German  and   English   of   Mortgage
                           Agreements  between  McCann-Erickson  Deutschland and
                           Frankfurter     Hypothekenbank     Aktiengesellschaft
                           ("Frankfurter  Hypothekenbank"),  Mortgage Agreement,
                           dated  January  22,  1993,  between   McCann-Erickson
                           Deutschland and Frankfurter Hypothekenbank,  Mortgage
                           Agreement,    dated   January   22,   1993,   between
                           McCann-Erickson  Deutschland and  Hypothekenbank  are
                           incorporated  by  reference  to  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
                           1993. See Commission file number 1-6686. Summaries in
                           German and  English of  Mortgage  Agreement,  between
                           McCann-Erickson Deutschland and Frankfurter Sparkasse
                           and  Mortgage  Agreement,   dated  January  7,  1993,
                           between  McCann-Erickson  Deutschland and Frankfurter
                           Sparkasse   are    incorporated   by   reference   to
                           Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                           ended December 31, 1992.  See Commission  file number
                           1-6686.

                  (ii)     Summaries in German and English of Documents creating
                           Encumbrances  in favor of Frankfurter  Hypothekenbank
                           and  Frankfurter  Sparkasse  in  connection  with the
                           aforementioned   Mortgage  Agreements,   Encumbrance,
                           dated  January  15,  1993,  in favor  of  Frankfurter
                           Hypothekenbank,  and  Encumbrance,  dated January 15,
                           1993,   in  favor  of   Frankfurter   Sparkasse   are
                           incorporated  by  reference  to  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
                           1992. See Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (iii)    Loan Agreement (in English and German), dated January
                           29,  1993  between   Lintas   Deutschland   GmbH  and
                           McCann-Erickson   Deutschland  is   incorporated   by
                           reference to Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
                           for the year ended  December 31, 1992. See Commission
                           file number 1-6686.

11       Computation of Earnings Per Share.

13       This  Exhibit  includes:  (a) those  portions  of the Annual  Report to
         Stockholders  for the year ended  December  31, 1999 which are included
         therein   under   the   following   headings:   Financial   Highlights;
         Vice-Chairman's  Report  of  Management;  Management's  Discussion  and
         Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Consolidated
         Balance Sheet; Consolidated Statement of Income; Consolidated Statement
         of Cash  Flows;  Consolidated  Statement  of  Stockholders'  Equity and
         Comprehensive  Income; Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements (the
         aforementioned  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  together  with the
         Notes  to  Consolidated   Financial  Statements  hereinafter  shall  be
         referred  to as the  "Consolidated  Financial  Statements");  Report of
         Independent  Accountants;  Selected  Financial  Data  for  Five  Years;
         Results by Quarter (Unaudited); and Stockholders Information.

21       Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

23       Consent of Independent Accountants:
            PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
         Consent of Independent Auditors:  Ernst & Young
         Consent of Independent Auditors:  Ernst & Young LLP

24       Power of Attorney to sign Form 10-K and resolution of Board of
         Directors re Power of Attorney.

27       Financial Data Schedules.

99       The Company filed the following reports on Form 8-K during the quarter
         ended December 31, 1999:

         (i)      Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of December 20, 1999,
                  between  The  Interpublic  Group of  Companies,  Inc.  and NFO
                  Worldwide,  Inc., is  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1
                  of the Registrant's Form 8-K dated December 20, 1999.

         (ii)     Stock Option Agreement, dated as of December 20, 1999, between
                  The  Interpublic  Group of Companies,  Inc. and NFO Worldwide,
                  Inc.,  is  incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  2.2 of the
                  Registrant's Form 8-K dated December 20, 1999.

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 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.

                                       THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
                                                    (Registrant)


March 21,2000                          BY: Philip H. Geier, Jr.
                                           --------------------
                                           Philip H. Geier, Jr.
                                           Chairman of the Board, President
                                           and Chief Executive Officer
                                           (Principal Executive 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.

         Name                        Title                        Date
         ----                        -----                        ----

/s/ Philip H. Geier, Jr.    Chairman of the Board,            March 21, 2000
- ------------------------    President and Chief Executive
  Philip H. Geier, Jr.      Officer (Principal Executive
                            Officer)

/s/ Sean F. Orr             Executive Vice President          March 21, 2000
- ------------------------    Chief Financial Officer
  Sean F. Orr               (Principal Financial
                            Officer) and Director

/s/ Frank J. Borelli        Director                          March 21, 2000
- ------------------------
  Frank J. Borelli

/s/ Reginald K. Brack       Director                          March 21, 2000
- ------------------------
  Reginald K. Brack

/s/ Jill M. Considine       Director                          March 21, 2000
- ------------------------
  Jill M. Considine

/s/ John J. Dooner, Jr.     Director                          March 21, 2000
 ------------------------
  John J. Dooner, Jr.

/s/ Frank B. Lowe           Director                          March 21, 2000
- -------------------------
  Frank B. Lowe

/s/ Michael A. Miles        Director                          March 21, 2000
- -------------------------
  Michael A. Miles

/s/ Frederick Molz          Vice President and                March 21, 2000
- -------------------------   Controller (Principal
  Frederick Molz            Accounting Officer)

/s/ Leif H. Olsen           Director                          March 21, 2000
- -------------------------
  Leif H. Olsen

/s/ Allen Questrom          Director                          March 21, 2000
- -------------------------
     Allen Questrom

/s/ J. Phillip Samper       Director                          March 21, 2000
- -------------------------
  J. Phillip Samper


By: /s/ Nicholas J. Camera
    ----------------------
      Nicholas J. Camera




                                      F-1

                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The Financial  Statements  appearing under the headings:  Financial  Highlights,
Vice-Chairman's  Report of Management;  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of
Financial   Condition  and  Results  of   Operations,   Consolidated   Financial
Statements,  Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements,  Report of Independent
Accountants,  Selected  Financial  Data for Five  Years and  Results  by Quarter
(Unaudited),  accompanying  the Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended
December 31, 1999,  together with the report  thereon of  PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP dated February 22, 2000 are incorporated by reference in this report on Form
10-K. With the exception of the  aforementioned  information and the information
incorporated  in Items 5, 6 and 7, no other data  appearing in the Annual Report
to  Stockholders  for the year ended  December 31, 1999 is deemed to be filed as
part of this report on Form 10-K.

The following  financial  statement  schedule should be read in conjunction with
the  financial  statements in such Annual  Report to  Stockholders  for the year
ended  December 31, 1999.  Financial  statement  schedules  not included in this
report on Form 10-K have been  omitted  because they are not  applicable  or the
required information is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

Separate financial  statements for the companies which are 50% or less owned and
accounted for by the equity method have been omitted because,  considered in the
aggregate  as  a  single  subsidiary,  they  do  not  constitute  a  significant
subsidiary.

              INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

                                                            Page

Report of Independent Accountants on
     Financial Statement Schedule                           F-2

Financial Statement Schedule Required to be filed by Item 8 of this form:

    VIII    Valuation and Qualifying Accounts               F-3




                                      F-2

                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                         ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.

Our audits of the consolidated  financial  statements  referred to in our report
dated February 22, 2000 appearing in the 1999 Annual Report to  Stockholders  of
The  Interpublic  Group  of  Companies,  Inc.  (which  report  and  consolidated
financial statements are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form
10-K) also included an audit of the Financial  Statement Schedule listed in Item
14 (a)(2) of this Form 10-K. In our opinion,  this Financial  Statement Schedule
presents  fairly,  in all material  respects,  the information set forth therein
when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York
February 22, 2000




                                      F-3

                                                                   SCHEDULE VIII


          THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
                        VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

              For the Years Ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997

================================================================================

                             (Dollars in thousands)

COLUMN A     COLUMN B      COLUMN C   COLUMN D       COLUMN E           COLUMN F
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    Additions
                                    ---------

                                         Charged
              Balance at  Charged to    to Other                         Balance
               Beginning     Costs &   Accounts-   Deductions-            at End
Description    of Period    Expenses    Describe      Describe         of Period
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowance for
  Doubtful Accounts -
  deducted from
  Receivables in the
  Consolidated
  Balance Sheet:


1999         $53,093       $21,271    $5,148(5)      $(22,780)(3)       $57,841
                                       2,934(1)        (1,215)(2)
                                                         (610)(4)

1998         $44,110       $18,362    $6,471(1)      $(15,247)(3)       $53,093
                                       2,111(5)        (3,310)(4)
                                         596(2)


1997         $37,049       $16,753    $2,256(1)      $ (2,553)(2)       $44,110
                                         848(5)        (7,869)(3)
                                                       (2,374)(4)


- ----------------------
[FN]

  (1)  Allowance for doubtful accounts of acquired and newly consolidated
       companies.
  (2)  Foreign currency translation adjustment.
  (3)  Principally amounts written off.
  (4)  Reversal of previously recorded allowances on accounts receivable.
  (5)  Miscellaneous.

</FN>

                               INDEX TO DOCUMENTS

Exhibit No.         Description
- ------------        -----------

3        (i)        The  Restated    Certificate   of   Incorporation   of   the
                    Registrant,  as amended is  incorporated by reference to its
                    Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999. See
                    Commission file number 1-6686.

         (ii)       The By-Laws of the  Registrant,  amended as of February  19,
                    1991,  are  incorporated  by reference to its Report on Form
                    10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1990.  See  Commission
                    file number 1-6686.

4        Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders.

         (i)        Indenture,   dated  as  of   September   16,  1997   between
                    Interpublic  and The  Bank of New  York is  incorporated  by
                    reference  to the  Registrant's  Report on Form 10-Q for the
                    quarter ended September 30, 1998. See Commission file number
                    1-6686.

         (ii)       The Preferred  Share Purchase Rights Plan as adopted on July
                    18,  1989  is  incorporated  by  reference  to  Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated August 1, 1989 (No.
                    00017904)  and, as amended,  by  reference  to  Registrant's
                    Registration  Statement on Form 8 dated October 3, 1989 (No.
                    00106686).

10       Material Contracts.

         (a)        Purchase  Agreement,  dated  September  10, 1997, among  The
                    Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. ("Interpublic"), Morgan
                    Stanley & Co.,  Incorporated, Goldman  Sachs and Co. and SBC
                    Warburg Dillon Read Inc. is incorporated by reference to the
                    Registrant's  Report  on Form  10-Q  for  the  quarter ended
                    September 30, 1999. See Commission file number 1-6686.

         (b)        Employment, Consultancy and other Compensatory  Arrangements
                    with Management.

                    Employment and Consultancy  Agreements and any amendments or
                    supplements  thereto  and  other  compensatory  arrangements
                    filed  with the  Registrant's  Reports  on Form 10-K for the
                    years ended  December  31, 1980  through  December  31, 1998
                    inclusive,  or filed with the  Registrant's  Reports on Form
                    10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 1999, June 30, 1999 and
                    September  30, 1999 are  incorporated  by  reference in this
                    Report on Form 10-K.  See  Commission  file  number  1-6686.
                    Listed below are  agreements  or  amendments  to  agreements
                    between the  Registrant  and its  executive  officers  which
                    remain  in  effect  on and  after  the date  hereof  or were
                    executed  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  1999  and
                    thereafter,  unless previously submitted, which are filed as
                    exhibits to this Report on Form 10-K.

                    (i)    Sean F. Orr
                           -----------

                           (a)      Employment  Agreement  dated as of April 27,
                                    1999 between Interpublic and Sean F. Orr.

                           (b)      Executive Special Benefit Agreement dated as
                                    of May 1, 1999 between  Interpublic and Sean
                                    F. Orr.

                           (c)      Executive  Severance  Agreement  dated as of
                                    April 27, 1999 between  Interpublic and Sean
                                    F. Orr.

                    (ii)   Eugene P. Beard
                           ---------------

                           (a)      Executive Special Benefit Agreement dated as
                                    of March 13, 2000  between  Interpublic  and
                                    Eugene P. Beard.

                           (b)      Letter  Agreement  dated as of  January  17,
                                    2000  between   Interpublic  and  Eugene  P.
                                    Beard.

                    (iii)  Martin F. Puris
                           ---------------

                           (a)      Termination  Letter  dated as of November 1,
                                    1999  between   Interpublic  and  Martin  F.
                                    Puris.

         (c)  Executive Compensation Plans.

                  (i)      Trust  Agreement,  dated as of June 1,  1990  between
                           Interpublic,     Lintas    Campbell-Ewald    Company,
                           McCann-Erickson USA, Inc., McCann-Erickson Marketing,
                           Inc., Lintas,  Inc. and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, is
                           incorporated  by  reference  to  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
                           1990. See Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (ii)     The Stock  Option  Plan  (1988)  and the  Achievement
                           Stock Award Plan of the Registrant  are  incorporated
                           by reference to Appendices C and D of the  Prospectus
                           dated May 4, 1989  forming  part of its  Registration
                           Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-28143).

                  (iii)    The  Management  Incentive  Compensation  Plan of the
                           Registrant  is   incorporated  by  reference  to  the
                           Registrant's  Report  on Form  10-Q  for the  quarter
                           ended  June 30,  1995.  See  Commission  file  number
                           1-6686.

                  (iv)     The 1986 Stock  Incentive  Plan of the  Registrant is
                           incorporated  by  reference  to  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
                           1993. See Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (v)      The 1986  United  Kingdom  Stock  Option  Plan of the
                           Registrant   is    incorporated   by   reference   to
                           Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                           ended December 31, 1992.  See Commission  file number
                           1-6686.

                  (vi)     The  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan  (1985)  of  the
                           Registrant,  as amended, is incorporated by reference
                           to  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
                           year ended  December 31, 1993.  See  Commission  file
                           number 1-6686.

                  (vii)    The  Long-Term  Performance  Incentive  Plan  of  the
                           Registrant is incorporated by reference to Appendix A
                           of the  Prospectus  dated  December  12, 1988 forming
                           part of its  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (No.
                           33-25555).

                  (viii)   Resolution  of the  Board  of  Directors  adopted  on
                           February 16, 1993, amending the Long-Term Performance
                           Incentive  Plan  is   incorporated  by  reference  to
                           Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                           ended December 31, 1992.  See Commission  file number
                           1-6686.

                  (ix)     Resolution  of the Board of Directors  adopted on May
                           16, 1989 amending the Long-Term Performance Incentive
                           Plan is  incorporated  by reference  to  Registrant's
                           Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
                           1989. See Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (x)      The 1996 Stock  Incentive  Plan of the  Registrant is
                           incorporated by reference to the Registrant's  Report
                           on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996. See
                           Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (xi)     The 1997 Performance Incentive Plan of the Registrant
                           is  incorporated  by  reference  to the  Registrant's
                           Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  June 30,
                           1997. See Commission file number 1-6686.

         (d)      Loan Agreements.

                  (i)      Amendment   dated  August  31,  1999  to  the  Credit
                           Agreement   dated  as  of  June  25,   1996   between
                           Interpublic  and The Chase  Manhattan  Bank (formerly
                           known as Chemical Bank).

                  (ii)     Other  Loan and  Guaranty  Agreements  filed with the
                           Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years
                           ended  December  31, 1988 and  December  31, 1986 are
                           incorporated  by  reference  in this  Report  on Form
                           10-K. Other Credit Agreements,  amendments to various
                           Credit    Agreements,     Supplemental    Agreements,
                           Termination   Agreements,   Loan   Agreements,   Note
                           Purchase  Agreements,  Guarantees  and  Intercreditor
                           Agreements filed with the Registrant's Report on Form
                           10-K for the years ended  December  31, 1989  through
                           December   31,   1998,   inclusive   and  filed  with
                           Registrant's  Reports  on Form  10-Q for the  periods
                           ended March 31, 1999, June 30, 1999 and September 30,
                           1999 are  incorporated  by reference into this Report
                           on Form 10-K. See Commission file number 1-6686.

         (e)      Leases.

                  Material  leases of premises are  incorporated by reference to
                  the  Registrant's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the years
                  ended  December 31, 1980 and December 31, 1988. See Commission
                  file number 1-6686.

         (f)      Acquisition Agreement for Purchase of Real Estate.

                  Acquisition       Agreement      (in      German)      between
                  Treuhandelsgesellschaft  Aktiengesellschaft  & Co. Grundbesitz
                  OHG  and  McCann-Erickson  Deutschland  GmbH & Co.  Management
                  Property KG  ("McCann-Erickson  Deutschland")  and the English
                  translation of the Acquisition  Agreement are  incorporated by
                  reference to  Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                  year ended  December  31,  1992.  See  Commission  file number
                  1-6686.

         (g)      Mortgage Agreements and Encumbrances.

                  (i)      Summaries   in  German  and   English   of   Mortgage
                           Agreements  between  McCann-Erickson  Deutschland and
                           Frankfurter     Hypothekenbank     Aktiengesellschaft
                           ("Frankfurter  Hypothekenbank"),  Mortgage Agreement,
                           dated  January  22,  1993,  between   McCann-Erickson
                           Deutschland and Frankfurter Hypothekenbank,  Mortgage
                           Agreement,    dated   January   22,   1993,   between
                           McCann-Erickson  Deutschland and  Hypothekenbank  are
                           incorporated  by  reference  to  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
                           1993. See Commission file number 1-6686. Summaries in
                           German and  English of  Mortgage  Agreement,  between
                           McCann-Erickson Deutschland and Frankfurter Sparkasse
                           and  Mortgage  Agreement,   dated  January  7,  1993,
                           between  McCann-Erickson  Deutschland and Frankfurter
                           Sparkasse   are    incorporated   by   reference   to
                           Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                           ended December 31, 1992.  See Commission  file number
                           1-6686.

                  (ii)     Summaries in German and English of Documents creating
                           Encumbrances  in favor of Frankfurter  Hypothekenbank
                           and  Frankfurter  Sparkasse  in  connection  with the
                           aforementioned   Mortgage  Agreements,   Encumbrance,
                           dated  January  15,  1993,  in favor  of  Frankfurter
                           Hypothekenbank,  and  Encumbrance,  dated January 15,
                           1993,   in  favor  of   Frankfurter   Sparkasse   are
                           incorporated  by  reference  to  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
                           1992. See Commission file number 1-6686.

                  (iii)    Loan Agreement (in English and German), dated January
                           29,  1993  between   Lintas   Deutschland   GmbH  and
                           McCann-Erickson   Deutschland  is   incorporated   by
                           reference to Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
                           for the year ended  December 31, 1992. See Commission
                           file number 1-6686.

11       Computation of Earnings Per Share.

13       This  Exhibit  includes:  (a) those  portions  of the Annual  Report to
         Stockholders  for the year ended  December  31, 1999 which are included
         therein   under   the   following   headings:   Financial   Highlights;
         Vice-Chairman's  Report  of  Management;  Management's  Discussion  and
         Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Consolidated
         Balance Sheet; Consolidated Statement of Income; Consolidated Statement
         of Cash  Flows;  Consolidated  Statement  of  Stockholders'  Equity and
         Comprehensive  Income; Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements (the
         aforementioned  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  together  with the
         Notes  to  Consolidated   Financial  Statements  hereinafter  shall  be
         referred  to as the  "Consolidated  Financial  Statements");  Report of
         Independent  Accountants;  Selected  Financial  Data  for  Five  Years;
         Results by Quarter (Unaudited); and Stockholders Information.

21       Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23       Consent of Independent Accountants:
            PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
         Consent of Independent Auditors:  Ernst & Young
         Consent of Independent Auditors:  Ernst & Young LLP

24       Power of Attorney to sign Form 10-K and resolution of Board of
         Directors re Power of Attorney.

27       Financial Data Schedules.

99       The Company filed the following reports on Form 8-K during the quarter
         ended December 31, 1999:

         (i)      Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of December 20, 1999,
                  between  The  Interpublic  Group of  Companies,  Inc.  and NFO
                  Worldwide,  Inc., is  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1
                  of the Registrant's Form 8-K dated December 20, 1999.

         (ii)     Stock Option Agreement, dated as of December 20, 1999, between
                  The  Interpublic  Group of Companies,  Inc. and NFO Worldwide,
                  Inc.,  is  incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  2.2 of the
                  Registrant's Form 8-K dated December 20, 1999.