================================================================================ 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.