Exhibit 99.1


[INTERPUBLIC LOGO]           THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.

                             WORLDWIDE ADVERTISING AND MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
                             1271 Avenue of the Americas,  New York, N.Y. 10020


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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                       INTERPUBLIC ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO
                      SETTLE CLASS ACTION SHAREHOLDER SUITS

                        Charge Taken in Third Quarter in
                      Anticipation of Potential Settlement

NEW YORK, NY (December 5, 2003) - The Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) announced
today that it has reached an agreement to settle the consolidated class action
shareholder suits currently pending in federal district court in New York. The
settlement is subject to the execution of a definitive settlement agreement and
to approval from the federal district court judge. Interpublic is also working
towards a settlement of the other pending lawsuits relating to the 2002 earnings
restatements as part of this same settlement package.

     Under terms of the proposed settlement, Interpublic will pay $115 million,
of which $20 million will be cash and $95 million will be common stock of
Interpublic. The shares to be disbursed will be valued at $14.50 per share. The
company will therefore distribute to the class 6,551,725 shares of Interpublic
common stock. The company had disclosed its best estimate for pending legal
actions and consequently taken a charge of $127.6 million in the third quarter
of this year, which included $12.6 million for an unrelated legal settlement.

     The parties have also agreed that, should the price of Interpublic common
stock drop below $8.70 per share prior to final approval of the settlement,
Interpublic will issue at its sole discretion either additional stock or cash so
that the consideration for the stock portion of the settlement will have a total
value of $57 million.


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About Interpublic
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Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies
and marketing services companies. Major global brands include Draft, Foote, Cone
& Belding Worldwide, Golin/Harris International, Initiative Media, Lowe &
Partners Worldwide, McCann-Erickson, Universal McCann and Weber Shandwick
Worldwide. Leading domestic brands include Campbell-Ewald, Deutsch and Hill
Holliday.


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Contact Information

Press:                            General Inquiries:              Analysts:
Philippe Krakowsky                Julie Tu                        Dan Leib
(212) 399-8088                    (212) 445-8456                  (212) 621-5767