OMNICOM GROUP INC
S-3, 1997-02-28
ADVERTISING AGENCIES
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 1997

                                                      Registration No. 333-_____

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

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-3
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------

                               OMNICOM GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           New York                                      13-1514814
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

                                   ----------
                               437 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022
                                 (212) 415-3600

  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)
 
        BARRY J. WAGNER, ESQ.                       Please send copies of all   
             Secretary                            communications and notices to:
          Omnicom Group Inc.                         MICHAEL D. DITZIAN, ESQ.
         437 Madison Avenue                              Davis & Gilbert
      New York, New York l0022                            1740 Broadway 
(Name, address, including zip code, and              New York, New York 10019
 telephone number, including area code,               (212) 468-4800
         of agent for service)                      
                                              
Approximate  date of commencement of proposed sale to public:  From time to time
after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

     If the only  securities  being  registered  on this Form are being  offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box:   [ ]

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, please check the following box:   [X]

     If this form is filed to  register  additional  securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  Registration  Statement  number  of the  earlier
effective Registration Statement for the same offering   [ ]

     If this form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities
Act  Registration   Statement  number  of  the  Earlier  effective  Registration
Statement for the same offering   [ ]

     If delivery of the  Prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box   [ ]

                                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

=================================================================================================================
                                                           Proposed             Proposed
                                                            maximum              maximum
         Title of securities         Amount  to be      offering price     aggregate offering       Amount of
           to be registered           registered         per share(1)           price(1)        registration fee
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>                   <C>                 <C>                   <C>   
Common Stock, $.50 par value.....    102,871 shs.          $48.5625            $4,995,673            $1,514
=================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Estimated  solely for the  purposes of  calculating  the  registration  fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(c),  based upon the average of the high and low prices
     of the Common Stock of Omnicom on February 24, 1997, as reported by the New
     York Stock Exchange.

                                   ----------

     THE REGISTRANT  HEREBY AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH  SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.

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

<PAGE>

Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of any offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.


                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 28, 1997

PROSPECTUS

                         102,871 Shares of Common Stock
                                ($.50 Par Value)

                               OMNICOM GROUP INC.

                                   ----------

     This Prospectus relates to the offering,  which is not being  underwritten,
of 102,871  shares of the common  stock,  par value $.50 per share (the  "Common
Stock") of Omnicom Group Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company") heretofore
issued  to  the  individuals  listed  as  the  Selling  Shareholders  herein  in
connection with the  acquisition on February 28, 1997 of the outstanding  equity
of Gavin Anderson & Company (Japan),  Inc. a New York corporation  ("GA-Japan").
Such shares of Common Stock are being offered for the respective accounts of the
Selling Shareholders; the Company will receive no proceeds from the sale of such
shares of Common  Stock by the Selling  Shareholders.  The expenses of preparing
and filing the Registration  Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part are
being paid by the  Company,  except for costs of legal  counsel  for the Selling
Shareholders.

     The Company has been advised by the Selling  Shareholders that there are no
underwriting  arrangements  with  respect  to the sale of such  shares of Common
Stock,  and that usual and customary  brokerage fees will be paid by the Selling
Shareholders  in connection with any sale,  which sales may be effected  through
the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  or  in  negotiated  transactions.  The  Selling
Shareholders  may  be  deemed  to be  underwriters  within  the  meaning  of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     The  Company  has agreed to  indemnify  the  Selling  Shareholders  against
certain  liabilities,  including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.  The Selling Shareholders have agreed to indemnify the Company
against certain liabilities,  including certain liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933,  as amended,  limited  however to the amount of proceeds  which the
Selling  Shareholders  actually  receive  from  their  sale of the shares of the
Common Stock registered hereunder.

     The Company's  Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange,  Inc.
under the symbol OMC. On February 24,  1997,  the last  reported  sale price for
such shares, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was $48.75 per share.

     THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE  ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY  REPRESENTATION  TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.

                                   ----------

              The Date of this Prospectus is ____________________.


<PAGE>

     NO  PERSON  IS  AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE  ANY   INFORMATION   OR  TO  MAKE  ANY
REPRESENTATIONS, OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS,  IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING  CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND, IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR  REPRESENTATIONS  MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER.  THIS PROSPECTUS DOES
NOT  CONSTITUTE  AN  OFFER  TO SELL OR A  SOLICITATION  OF AN  OFFER  TO BUY ANY
SECURITIES  OTHER  THAN THE  REGISTERED  SECURITIES  TO WHICH IT  RELATES.  THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY  JURISDICTION  TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO
MAKE SUCH OFFER OR  SOLICITATION IN SUCH  JURISDICTION.  NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS  PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE  HEREUNDER  SHALL,  UNDER ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES,
CREATE  ANY  IMPLICATION  THAT  THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE  AFFAIRS  OF THE
COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION  CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED
BY REFERENCE HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.

                                   ----------

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company has filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission")  a Registration  Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of
1933,  as amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  which  relates to the Common Stock
offered hereby (the "Registration Statement").  This Prospectus does not contain
all of the information contained in the Registration  Statement and the exhibits
and  schedules  thereto,  and  reference  is  hereby  made  to the  Registration
Statement and to Exhibits  thereto for further  information  with respect to the
Company and the Common Stock offered  hereby.  Any statements  contained in this
Prospectus  concerning  the contents of any  contract or other  document are not
necessarily  complete,  and, in each instance,  reference is made to the copy of
such  document  filed as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement or otherwise
filed with the  Commission.  Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by
such reference.

     The Company is subject to the informational  requirements of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in  accordance
therewith  files  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  with the
Commission. Copies of such reports, proxy statements, the Registration Statement
and exhibits  thereto and other  information may be inspected  without charge at
the offices of the  Commission  at  Judiciary  Plaza,  450 Fifth  Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C. 20549, and at the  Commission's  Regional Offices located at 7
World Trade Center,  13th floor,  New York, New York 10048; and Citicorp Center,
500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661, and copies of such
material may be obtained from the Pubic  Reference  Section of the Commission at
its Washington, D.C. or regional offices upon the payment of the fees prescribed
by the  Commission.  The  Commission  maintains  a World  Wide  Web  site on the
Internet  at   http://www.sec.gov   that  contains  reports,   proxy  and  other
information  regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission,
including  the  Company.  In  addition,  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other
information concerning the Company may be inspected and copied at the offices of
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The  documents  listed  below  have  been  filed  by the  Company  with the
Commission and are incorporated herein by reference:

          (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1995,

          (b) The  Company's  Quarterly  Reports  on Form 10-Q for the  quarters
     ended March 31, 1996, June 30, 1996 and September 30, 1996,

          (c) The  Company's  Report  on From  8-K  dated  January  3,  1997 and
     relating to the issuance of certain of its 4 1/4% Convertible  Subordinated
     Debentures  due 2007  pursuant to the  exemption  provided by  Regulation S
     under the Securities Act,



                                       2
<PAGE>

          (d) The Company's  definitive  Proxy Statement dated April 8, 1996 for
     the annual meeting of shareholders held May 20, 1996, and

          (e) The  description  of the Company's  Common Stock  contained in the
     Registration  Statement  filed  pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
     together  with all  amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating
     such description.

     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the  Exchange  Act after the date of this  Prospectus  and prior to the
termination  of the  offering of Common  Stock made hereby shall be deemed to be
incorporated  by reference  into this  Prospectus and to be part hereof from the
date  of  filing  of such  documents.  Any  statement  contained  in a  document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded  for purposes of this  Prospectus to the extent that a
statement  contained  herein or in any other  subsequently  filed document which
also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated  herein modifies or supersedes
such  statement.  Any such  statement  so  modified or  superseded  shall not be
deemed,  except as so  modified  or  superseded,  to  constitute  a part of this
Prospectus.

     The Company  will provide  without  charge to each person to whom a copy of
this  Prospectus  is  delivered,  upon the  written or oral  request of any such
person,  a  copy  of any or all of  the  documents  which  have  been  or may be
incorporated  into this  Prospectus  by reference  (other than  exhibits to such
documents).  Written or telephone requests for such copies should be directed to
Barry J. Wagner,  Secretary,  Omnicom Group Inc., 437 Madison  Avenue,  New York
10022; telephone number (212) 415-3600.

                                   THE COMPANY

     The Company through its wholly and partially-owned  companies  (hereinafter
referred to as the "Omnicom Group"),  operates  advertising agencies which plan,
create,  produce  and place  advertising  in various  media such as  television,
radio,  newspaper  and  magazines.  The Omnicom  Group  offers its clients  such
additional services as marketing consultation,  consumer market research, design
and  production of  merchandising  and sales  promotion  programs and materials,
direct mail advertising,  corporate  identification,  and public relations.  The
Omnicom Group offers these services to clients  worldwide on a local,  national,
pan-regional  or global  basis.  Operations  cover the  major  regions  of North
America, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, the Middle East, Latin America,
the Far East and Australia. In 1995 and 1994, 53% and 51%, respectively,  of the
Omnicom Group's billings came from its non-U.S. operations.

     According to the unaudited  industry wide figures  published in 1996 in the
trade  journal,  Advertising  Age,  Omnicom  was  ranked as the  second  largest
advertising agency group worldwide.

     The Omnicom Group operates as three separate,  independent agency networks:
the BBDO  Worldwide  Network,  the DDB  Needham  Worldwide  Network and the TBWA
International Network. The Company also operates Goodby, Silverstein & Partners,
Inc. as an  independent  agency,  and certain  marketing  service and  specialty
advertising  companies  through its  Diversified  Agency Services  division.  In
addition,  a new division has been formed to manage the Omnicom Group's minority
interests in six interactive marketing agencies.

     The principal  executive  offices of the Company are located at 437 Madison
Avenue, New York New York 10022. Its telephone number is (212) 415-3600.

                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

     Pursuant  to a Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated  February  28,  1997  (the
"Purchase  Agreement")  among  the  Company,  Gavin  Anderson  and James S. Rudy
(collectively,  Messrs.  Anderson  and  Rudy  are  referred  to as the  "Selling
Shareholders"), the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of Gavin Anderson & Company (Japan),  Inc., a New York corporation
("GA-Japan").  Such  acquisition is being treated for  accounting  purposes as a
pooling of interests.

     On  January  1,  1990,   Gavin   Anderson,   together  with  certain  other
shareholders,  sold all of his  equity  interests  in Gavin  Anderson & Company,
Inc.,  Gavin  Anderson & Company (U.K.) Ltd.,  Gavin Anderson & Company  (H.K.),
Ltd.  and  Gavin  Anderson  & Company  (California),  Inc.  (collectively,  such
companies being referred to herein as the "Gavin Anderson  Worldwide  Group") to
Gavin Anderson & Company  Worldwide,  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company.


                                       3
<PAGE>

Since such time,  Mr.  Anderson  has been  employed as the  principal  executive
officer of the Gavin Anderson  Worldwide  Group and has served as an officer and
director of each such entity.

     As consideration  for the shares of capital stock of GA-Japan,  the Company
issued to Gavin  Anderson an aggregate  of 90,012  shares of Common Stock of the
Company,  all of which  are  offered  for  sale  pursuant  to this  Registration
Statement, and to James S. Rudy an aggregate of 12,859 shares of Common Stock of
the  Company,  all of which are offered for sale  pursuant to this  Registration
Statement.  Such  issuances  were made in reliance  upon the  private  placement
exemption under the Securities Act. Pursuant to a Registration  Rights Agreement
dated  February  28,  1997,  the Company  agreed to register  the said shares of
Common Stock upon request of the Selling Shareholders;  it is pursuant to such a
request that this Registration Statement is being filed.

     Pursuant to the Purchase  Agreement,  each Selling  Shareholder  has agreed
that he will not sell any shares of Common  Stock until such time as the Company
shall have released and published  financial results of the combined  operations
of the  Company  and  GA-Japan  covering  a period of at least 30 days after the
consummation of the purchase of the shares of GA-Japan by the Company.

     The  following  table sets forth the  aggregate  number of shares of Common
Stock issued to each Selling Shareholder and offered by each Selling Shareholder
hereunder. Neither Selling Shareholder is currently an affiliate of the Company.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Number of  
                                   Shares Beneficially      Shares Being     Shares Beneficially
Name of Selling Stockholder      Owned Prior to Offering       Offered      Owned After Offering
- ------------------------          ---------------------      -----------     -------------------
<S>                                      <C>                    <C>                 <C>  
Gavin Anderson .................         92,012                 90,012              2,000
James S. Rudy ..................         12,859                 12,859                  0

</TABLE>


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The Selling  Stockholders or pledgees may sell or distribute some or all of
the Common Stock from time to time through dealers or brokers or other agents or
directly to one or more purchasers,  including pledgees,  in transactions (which
may involve  crosses and block  transactions)  on NASDAQ,  privately  negotiated
transactions  (including  sales pursuant to pledges) or in the  over-the-counter
market,  or in a combination  of such  transactions.  Such  transactions  may be
effected by the Selling  Stockholders at market prices prevailing at the time of
sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, at negotiated  prices,
or  at  fixed  prices,  which  may  be  changed.   Brokers,  dealers  or  agents
participating in such transactions as agent may receive compensation in the form
of discounts,  concessions or commissions from the Selling Stockholders (and, if
they act as agent for the purchaser of such shares,  from such purchaser).  Such
discounts, concessions or commissions as to a particular broker, dealer or agent
might be in excess of those customary in the type of transaction involved.

     The Company has advised the Selling Stockholders that the anti-manipulative
Rules  10b-6  and 10b-7 or,  after  April 1,  1997,  of  Regulation  M under the
Exchange  Act may apply to its sales in the market,  has  furnished  the Selling
Stockholders  with a copy of these  Rules  and has  informed  it of the need for
delivery of copies of this Prospectus.

     The  Selling  Stockholders  and any such  brokers,  dealers or agents  that
participate in such distribution may be deemed to be  "underwriters"  within the
meaning of the  Securities  Act, and any  discounts,  commissions or concessions
received  by  any  such  brokers,  dealers  or  agents  might  be  deemed  to be
underwriting  discounts and commissions  under the Securities  Act.  Neither the
Company nor the Selling  Stockholders can presently  estimate the amount of such
compensation.  The Company knows of no existing  arrangements  between a Selling
Stockholder and the other Selling  Stockholder,  or any broker,  dealer or other
agent relating to the sale or distribution of the Common Stock.

     The Company will pay  substantially  all of the  expenses  incident to this
offering of the Common  Stock by the Selling  Stockholders  to the public  other
than  commissions  and  discounts  of brokers,  dealers or agents.  Each Selling
Stockholder  may  indemnify  any broker,  dealer or agent that  participates  in
transactions   involving  sales  of  the  Shares  against  certain  liabilities,
including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

     In order to comply with certain states' securities laws, if applicable, the
Common  Stock  offered  hereby will be sold in such  jurisdictions  only through
registered or licensed  brokers or dealers.  In addition,  in certain states the


                                       4
<PAGE>

Common  Stock may not be sold  unless the Common  Stock has been  registered  or
qualified  for  sale  in  such  state  or  an  exemption  from  registration  or
qualification is available and is complied with.

     Any securities  covered by this Prospectus  which qualify for sale pursuant
to Rule 144 under the  Securities  Act may be sold under that Rule  rather  than
pursuant to this Prospectus.

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     The Company's  authorized  capital consists of 150,000,000  shares of $0.50
par value Common Stock,  of which  80,428,571  were  outstanding on December 31,
1996, and 7,500,000 shares of $1.00 par value Preferred Stock,  none of which is
outstanding.

     Each share of Common Stock  entitles the holder  thereof to one vote on all
matters  submitted  to a vote of  shareholders.  All shares of Common Stock have
equal rights and are entitled to such  dividends as may be declared by the Board
of Directors out of funds legally  available  therefor and to share ratably upon
liquidation  in the assets  available  for  distribution  to  stockholders.  The
Company is not aware of any restrictions on its present or future ability to pay
dividends. However, in connection with certain borrowing facilities entered into
by the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries,  the  Company  is  subject  to  certain
restrictions  on the ratio of net cash flow to  consolidated  indebtedness,  the
ratio of total consolidated  indebtedness to total  consolidated  capitalization
and  on its  ability  to  make  investments  in  and  loans  to  affiliates  and
unconsolidated  subsidiaries.  The  Common  Stock  is not  subject  to  call  or
assessment,  has no preemptive conversion or cumulative voting rights and is not
subject to redemption.  The Company's  shareholders  elect a classified board of
directors and may not remove a director except by an affirmative two-thirds vote
of all outstanding  shares. A two-thirds vote is also required for the Company's
shareholders to amend the Company's by-laws or certain provisions of its charter
documents, and to change the number of directors comprising the full board.

     The Company may issue  preferred stock in series having whatever rights and
preferences  the  Board  of  Directors  may  determine.  One or more  series  of
preferred stock may be made convertible into Common Stock at rates determined by
the Board of Directors,  and preferred  stock may be given  priority over Common
Stock in payment of dividends,  rights on liquidation,  voting and other rights.
Preferred stock may be issued from time to time upon  authorization of the Board
of  Directors  without  action of the  shareholders.  The Company has no current
plans to issue any preferred stock.

     The Company  currently has outstanding  $218,500,000 of 4 1/4%  Convertible
Subordinated Debentures with a scheduled maturity in 2007, which are convertible
into Common Stock at a conversion price at $63, subject to adjustment in certain
events.

     ChaseMellon  Shareholder Services, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York
10001 is the transfer agent and the registrar of the Common Stock.

     The Company mails to its  stockholders  annual reports  containing  audited
financial statements.

                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated  financial statements and schedules of the Company and its
subsidiaries incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, have been
audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,  independent  public accountants (whose opinion,
insofar as it relates to the financial  statements of Chiat/Day  Holdings,  Inc.
and Ross Roy  Communications,  Inc.  prior to  1995,  is based  solely  upon the
respective  reports of Coopers & Lybrand LLP and  Deloitte & Touche  LLP,  other
independent  public  accountants) to the extent and for the periods indicated in
their report with respect thereto,  and are included herein in reliance upon the
authority  of said firm (and of Coopers & Lybrand LLP and  Deloitte & Touche LLP
with respect to their reports on the financial statements of Chiat/Day Holdings,
Inc. and Ross Roy Communications,  Inc. prior to 1995) as experts in giving said
reports.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain  legal matters in  connection  with the legality of the  securities
offered  hereby  will be passed  upon for the  Company by Davis & Gilbert,  1740
Broadway,  New York, New York 10019. Members of Davis & Gilbert participating in
such matters own an aggregate of 2,660 shares of Common Stock of the Company.



                                       5
<PAGE>

                                     PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

     Expenses  payable in connection  with the  distribution  of the  securities
being registered  (estimated except for the registration fee), all of which will
be borne by the Registrant, are as follows:

     Registration Fee ................................           $1,514.00
     Legal Fees And Expenses .........................           $5,000.00*
     Miscellaneous Expenses ..........................           $  500.00*
                                                                 ---------
                                                                 $7,014.00*
                                                                 =========

- ----------
* Estimated

Item l5. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision limiting
the  liability  of  directors  (except  for  approving  statutorily   prohibited
dividends,  share  repurchases  or  redemptions,   distributions  of  assets  on
dissolution or loans to directors) to acts or omissions in bad faith,  involving
intentional  misconduct  or a knowing  violation  of the law,  or  resulting  in
personal gain to which the director was not legally  entitled.  The Registrant's
By-Laws  provide  that an officer or director  will be  indemnified  against any
costs or  liabilities,  including  attorneys fees and amounts paid in settlement
with the  consent of the  registrant  in  connection  with any claim,  action or
proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the New York Business  Corporation
Law.

     Section  722(a) of the New York  Business  Corporation  Law provides that a
corporation  may  indemnify  any officer or director,  made or  threatened to be
made,  a party to an action or  proceeding  other than one by or in the right of
the corporation, including an action by or on the right of any other corporation
or other enterprise,  which any director or officer of the corporation served in
any  capacity  at the request of the  corporation,  because he was a director or
officer of the corporation, or served such other corporation or other enterprise
in any  capacity,  against  judgments,  fines,  amounts paid in  settlement  and
reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred
as a result  of such  action  or  proceeding,  or any  appeal  therein,  if such
director or officer  acted,  in good faith,  for a purpose  which he  reasonably
believed to be in, or in the case of service for any other  corporation or other
enterprise,  not  opposed  to, the best  interests  of the  corporation  and, in
criminal actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe
that his conduct was unlawful.

     Section  722(c) of the New York  Business  Corporation  Law provides that a
corporation  may  indemnify  any officer or director  made,  or threatened to be
made,  a party to an action by or in the right of the  corporation  by reason of
the fact that he is or was a director  or officer of the  corporation,  or is or
was  serving at the request of the  corporation  as a director or officer of any
other corporation of any type or kind, or other enterprise, against amounts paid
in settlement and reasonable  expenses,  including  attorneys' fees actually and
necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action,  or in connection  with an appeal  therein,  if such director or officer
acted, in good faith,  for a purpose which he reasonably  believed to be in, or,
in the case of service for another corporation or other enterprise,  not opposed
to, the best interests of the  corporation.  The corporation  may not,  however,
indemnify any officer or director pursuant to Section 722(c) in respect of (1) a
threatened  action,  or a pending action which is settled or otherwise  disposed
of, or (2) any claim,  issue or matter as to which such  person  shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the
court in which the action was brought or, if no action was brought, any court of
competent jurisdiction,  determines upon application,  that the person is fairly
and  reasonably  entitled to indemnity  for such portion of the  settlement  and
expenses as the court deems proper.

     Section  723 of the New York  Business  Corporation  Law  provides  that an
officer or director  who has been  successful  on the merits or otherwise in the
defense of a civil or criminal  action of the character set forth in Section 722
is entitled to indemnification as permitted in such section.  Section 724 of the
New York Business  Corporation Law permits a court to award the  indemnification
required by Section 722.



                                      II-1
<PAGE>

     The Company has entered  into  agreements  with its  directors to indemnify
them for  liabilities  or costs  arising out of any alleged or actual  breach of
duty, neglect, errors or omissions while serving as a director. The Company also
maintains and pays premiums for  directors'  and officers'  liability  insurance
policies.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

          Exhibit
          Number             Description of Exhibit
          -------              -------------------

          5       -- Opinion  of Davis & Gilbert  as to the  legality  of the 
                     shares of Common Stock registered hereunder

          23.1    -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

          23.2    -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

          23.3    -- Consent of Coopers & Lybrand LLP

          23.4    -- Consent of Davis & Gilbert (included in Exhibit Number 5)

          24.1    -- Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page)

Item 17. Undertakings.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
     a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
          Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect  in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
          after the effective date of this  Registration  Statement (or the most
          recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
          aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
          in this Registration Statement; and

               (iii) To include any  material  information  with  respect to the
          plan of  distribution  not previously  disclosed in this  Registration
          Statement  or  any  material  change  to  such   information  in  this
          Registration Statement.

          Provided  however,  that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall not apply
     if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
     those  paragraphs is contained in periodic  reports filed by the Registrant
     pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
     1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

          (2)  That,for  the  purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective  amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new  registration  statement  relating  to the  securities  offered
     therein,  and the offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of  post-effective  amendment
     to this Registration Statement any of the securities being registered which
     remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

     The  undersigned  Registrant  further  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is  incorporated  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement  shall be deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the
securities  offered  therein,  and the offering of such  securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be  permitted  to  directors,  officers or persons  controlling  the
Registrant  pursuant  to the  provisions  described  under  Item  15  above,  or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is  against  public  policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for  indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the


                                      II-2
<PAGE>

Registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  Registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                      II-3
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  hereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York on February 28, 1997.


                                               OMNICOM GROUP INC.
                                                   Registrant

                                               By: JOHN D. WREN
                                               ------------------
                                                  John D. Wren
                                             Chief Executive Officer

                                   ----------

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below  constitutes  and appoints  John D. Wren and Barry J. Wagner,  and each of
them,  his true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  with full and  several
power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name,  place and
stead,  in any  and  all  capacities,  to sign  any or all  amendments,  to this
Registration  Statement,  and to file the same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  granting  unto  said  attorneys-in-fact  and agent  full  power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all intents and  purposes as
they or he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



                                      II-4
<PAGE>

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
following capacities.

          Signature                     Title                        Date
                                                               
/s/     JOHN D. WREN          Chief Executive Officer          February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------    and Director (Principal         
        John D. Wren           Executive Officer)              
                                                               
/s/     FRED J. MEYER         Chief Financial Officer          February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------    (Principal Financial Officer)   
        Fred J. Meyer                                          
                                                               
/s/  JONATHAN E. RAMSDEN      Controller             
- ---------------------------    (Principal Accounting Officer)  
     Jonathan E. Ramsden                                       
                                                               
/s/   BERNARD BROCHAND        Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
      Bernard Brochand                                         
                                                               
                              Director                            
- ---------------------------                                    
     Robert J. Callander                                       
                                                               
/s/    JAMES A. CANNON        Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
          James A. Cannon                                      
                                                               
                              Director                            
- ---------------------------                                    
   Leonard S. Coleman, Jr.                                     
                                                               
/s/    BRUCE CRAWFORD         Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
       Bruce Crawford                                          
                                                               
/s/    PETER I. JONES         Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
       Peter I. Jones                                          
                                                               
/s/    JOHN R. MURPHY         Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
       John R. Murphy                                          
                                                               
/s/    JOHN R. PURCELL        Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
       John R. Purcell                                         
                                                               
/s/   KEITH L. REINHARD       Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
      Keith L. Reinhard                                        
                                                               
/s/   Allen Rosenshine        Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
      Allen Rosenshine                                         
                                                               
                              Director                            
- ---------------------------                                    
       Gary L. Roubos                                          
                                                               
                              Director                            
- ---------------------------                                    
    Quentin I. Smith, Jr.                                      
                                                               
                              Director                            
- ---------------------------                                    
       Robin B. Smith                                          
                                                               
/s/  WILLIAM G. TRAGOS        Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                    
     William G. Tragos                                         
                                                               
/s/  EGON P. S. ZEHNDER       Director                         February 28, 1997
- ---------------------------                                  
     Egon P. S. Zehnder



                                      II-5


                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                                 DAVIS & GILBERT
                                  1740 Broadway
                            New York, New York 10019

                                                               February 28, 1997

Omnicom Group Inc.
437 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022

         Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

Gentlemen:

     In our capacity as counsel to Omnicom  Group Inc.,  a New York  corporation
(the "Company"),  we have been asked to render this opinion in connection with a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") being filed by
the Company  contemporaneously  herewith  on behalf of the selling  shareholders
named  therein (the "Selling  Shareholders")  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  covering an aggregate
of 102,871 shares of common stock,  $.50 par value, of the Company being offered
for  the  respective   accounts  of  the  Selling   Shareholders  (the  "Selling
Shareholders' Shares").

     In that connection,  we have examined the Certificate of Incorporation  and
the  By-Laws,  both as amended,  of the  Company,  the  Registration  Statement,
corporate  proceedings  relating to the  issuance  of the Selling  Shareholders'
Shares, and such other instruments and documents as we deemed relevant under the
circumstances.

     In making the aforesaid  examinations,  we have assumed the  genuineness of
all signatures and the conformity to original  documents of all copies furnished
to us as original or photostatic copies. We have also assumed that the corporate
records  furnished to us by the Company include all corporate  proceedings taken
by the Company to date.

     Based upon and subject to the  foregoing,  we are of the  opinion  that the
Selling  Shareholders'  Shares have been  legally  issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable shares of common stock, $.50 par value, of the Company.

     We hereby  consent  to the use of our  opinion  as  herein  set forth as an
exhibit  to the  Registration  Statement  and to the use of our name  under  the
caption  "Legal  Matters" in the  Prospectus  forming  part of the  Registration
Statement.

                                                      Very truly yours,

                                                      DAVIS & GILBERT


                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement
of Omnicom  Group Inc. on Form S-3 of our report dated March 9, 1995 as included
in the  Omnicom  Group  Inc.  Form 10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  1995
(relating to the consolidated  financial  statements of Ross Roy Communications,
Inc. as of December 31, 1994 and for the two years in the period ended  December
31, 1994 not presented  separately herein), and to the reference to us under the
heading "Experts" appearing in this Registration Statement.


                                               DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Detroit, Michigan
February 26, 1997



                                                                    Exhibit 23.2

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement
of our report dated April 7, 1995,  which includes an  explanatory  paragraph on
the ability of the company to continue as a going concern,  of our audits of the
consolidated financial statements of Chiat/Day Holdings,  Inc. for the two years
ended  October 31, 1994, as included in the Omnicom Group Inc. Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1995. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under
the caption "Experts" included in this Registration Statement.


                                               COOPERS & LYBRAND LLP

Sherman Oaks, California
February 26, 1997



                                                                    Exhibit 23.3

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the incorporation
by reference  in this  Registration  Statement of our report dated  February 20,
1996 (except for Note 14 as to which the date is March 1, 1996)  included in the
Omnicom  Group Inc.  Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31, 1995 and to all
references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement.


                                                ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

New York, New York
February 26, 1997



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