OMNICOM GROUP INC
PRE 14A, 2000-03-28
ADVERTISING AGENCIES
Previous: ETHIKA CORP, 10KSB40, 2000-03-28
Next: STRATTON MONTHLY DIVIDEND REIT SHARES INC, 24F-2NT, 2000-03-28




                               OMNICOM GROUP, INC.

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

           PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Filed by the Registrant |X|

Filed by a party other than the Registrant |_|

Check the appropriate box:

 |X| Preliminary Proxy Statement     |_| Confidential, for Use of the Commission
                                         Only (as permitted by
                                         Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 |_| Definitive Proxy Statement

 |_| Definitive Additional Materials

 |_| Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                               OMNICOM GROUP, INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

    _________________________________________________________________________
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 |X| No fee required.

 |_| Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

            (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

            (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

            (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
      pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
      filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

            (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

            (5) Total fee paid:

 |_| Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

 |_| Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

            (1) Amount previously paid:

            (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

            (3) Filing Party:

            (4) Date Filed:

<PAGE>

                               OMNICOM GROUP INC.
                               437 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                  May 16, 2000

      The  Annual  Meeting  of the  Shareholders  of  Omnicom  Group  Inc.  (the
"Corporation") will be held at the offices of BBDO Worldwide Inc. (seventh floor
Meeting Room), 1285 Avenue of the Americas (between 51st and 52nd Streets),  New
York,  New  York on  Tuesday,  May 16,  2000 at  10:00  A.M.  for the  following
purposes:

      1.    To elect seven directors;

      2.    To confirm the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as auditors of the
            Corporation for the year 2000;

      3.    To consider  and vote upon a proposal to approve an amendment to the
            Corporation's  Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the
            number of authorized  shares of Common Stock and to decrease the par
            value per share of the Common Stock;

      4.    To  consider  and vote  upon a  proposal  to amend and  restate  the
            Omnicom Group Inc. 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan; and

      5.    To  transact  such other  business as may  properly  come before the
            meeting or any adjournments thereof.

      Only  shareholders  of record at the close of  business  on March 31, 2000
will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

      Whether you expect to attend the meeting or not,  please mark,  sign, date
and return the enclosed  proxy promptly in order that your shares will be voted.
A return  envelope  which  requires no postage if mailed in the United States is
enclosed  for your  convenience.  The proxy is  revocable,  so if you attend the
meeting you may, if you wish, vote your shares in person.

      A copy of the Corporation's Annual Report for 1999 is enclosed.

                                       By order of the Board of Directors

                                               BARRY J. WAGNER
                                                 Secretary

New York, New York
April 11, 2000

<PAGE>

                               OMNICOM GROUP INC.
                               437 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022

                                   ----------

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

      Execution  and return of the enclosed  proxy are solicited by the Board of
Directors  of  Omnicom  Group  Inc.  (the  "Corporation")  for use at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of the Corporation (the "Annual  Meeting") to be held on
May 16, 2000, and at any adjournments thereof, for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying  notice. This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with
the  solicitation of proxies,  and is being mailed on or about April 11, 2000 to
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.

      All valid proxies which are received will be voted,  and unless  otherwise
specified thereon, they will be voted for the election of the seven nominees for
directors  named  under the  heading  "Election  of  Directors,"  to confirm the
appointment of Arthur  Andersen LLP as auditors of the  Corporation for the year
2000,  for the proposal to approve an amendment  to the  Corporation's  Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation  to increase the  authorized  common stock of the
Corporation  (the "Common Stock") and to decrease the par value per share of the
Common  Stock,  and for the proposal to amend and restate the Omnicom Group Inc.
1998  Incentive  Compensation  Plan.  If any nominee for  election as a director
shall be unable to serve,  proxies shall be voted for another nominee designated
by the Board of  Directors.  You may revoke  your proxy at any time before it is
voted by any appropriate  means,  including  appearing at the meeting and voting
your shares in person.

      The  affirmative  vote of a plurality  of the votes cast by the holders of
the  Corporation's  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock  entitled  to vote is
required for the election of directors.  The  affirmative  vote of a majority of
the votes cast by the holders of Common  Stock  entitled to vote is required for
confirmation of the appointment of the auditors,  and to approve the proposal to
amend and restate the  Omnicom  Group Inc.  1998  Incentive  Compensation  Plan,
provided that, in the case of the 1998 Incentive  Compensation  Plan, the number
of shares voted represents at least a majority of the voting power of the Common
Stock.  The  affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority  of the  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock is  required in order to approve  the  amendment  to the
Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Each holder of Common Stock
is  entitled to one vote for each share  held.  There is no right to  cumulative
voting as to any matter.

      The  Corporation  will appoint  inspectors  to act at the Annual  Meeting,
whose duties shall  include  determining  the shares  represented  at the Annual
Meeting and the presence (or  absence) of a quorum and  tabulating  the votes of
shareholders. The presence, by proxy or in person, of a majority of the votes of
shares  entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will  constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.  If a shareholder  abstains from voting on a particular
proposal, or a broker indicates on the proxy that it does not have discretionary
authority as to certain  shares to vote on such proposal (a "broker  non-vote"),
those  shares will not be  considered  as votes cast in favor of or against such
proposal.  Abstentions  and broker  non-votes  will be counted as present at the
meeting for quorum purposes.

      On March 31,  2000,  the record  date for  determination  of  shareholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual  Meeting,  the  Corporation  had
outstanding  177,470,814  shares of Common Stock. At the record date,  4,895,621
shares of Common Stock were owned beneficially (of which 1,961,632 were owned of
record) by the  directors  and  executive  officers  of the  Corporation,  which
constitutes  approximately  2.76% of the  issued and  outstanding  shares of the
Corporation's Common Stock.

<PAGE>

      The following table sets forth  information with respect to the beneficial
ownership of the  Corporation's  Common Stock as of December 31, 1999 by persons
known to the  Corporation  to be the  beneficial  owners  of more than 5% of its
outstanding  Common  Stock  based on  material  filed by such  persons  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                            Beneficial Ownership     Percent of
           Name and Address                   of Common Stock          Class
           -----------------                --------------------     ----------

      FMR Corp. ...........................     19,097,313 (1)         10.8%
      82 Devonshire Street
      Boston, Massachusetts 02109

      AMVESCAP PLC ........................      9,696,318 (2)          5.5%
      11 Devonshire Square
      London EC2M 4YR
      England

      Putnam Investments, Inc. ............      9,170,741 (3)          5.2%
      One Post Office Square
      Boston, Massachusetts 02109

- ----------
(1)   In its filing  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  FMR Corp.
      ("FMR")  reported having sole voting power as to 1,542,008 shares and sole
      dispositive  power  as to  19,097,313  shares.  Edward  C.  Johnson  3d is
      Chairman of FMR and reported owner of approximately 12.0% of the aggregate
      outstanding  voting  stock of FMR, and Abigail P. Johnson is a director of
      FMR and reported owner of approximately  24.5% of such voting stock.  Each
      of Edward C. Johnson 3d and Abigail P. Johnson  reported sole  dispositive
      power over all of the shares  beneficially  owned by FMR. Mr. Johnson also
      reported  sole  voting  power  with  respect  to  1,384,038  of the shares
      beneficially owned by FMR.

(2)   In its filing with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,  AMVESCAP PLC
      (and its  subsidiaries,  AVZ, Inc., AIM  Management  Group Inc.,  AMVESCAP
      Group Services,  Inc.,  INVESCO,  Inc.,  INVESCO North American  Holdings,
      Inc., INVESCO Capital Management, Inc., INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., INVESCO
      Management & Research,  Inc., INVESCO Realty Advisers,  Inc., INVESCO (NY)
      Asset  Management,  Inc.)  reported  having shared voting power and shared
      dispositive power as to 9,696,318 shares.

(3)   In  its  filing  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  Putnam
      Investments, Inc. ("PI") reported having shared voting power as to 945,652
      shares and shared  dispositive power as to 9,170,741  shares.  PI's filing
      indicated  that 945,652  shares as to which PI had shared voting power and
      2,167,712 shares as to which PI had shared dispositive power were owned by
      The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc. ("PAC"), a registered investment adviser
      wholly owned by PI. PI's filing also indicated that 7,003,029 shares as to
      which PI had shared  dispositive  power  were  owned by Putnam  Investment
      Management,  Inc. ("PIM"), a registered investment adviser wholly owned by
      PI.  PI and its  parent,  Marsh &  McLennan  Companies,  Inc.,  disclaimed
      beneficial ownership of the shares held by PAC and PIM.

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

      On the date of the 2000  Annual  Meeting,  the Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation  shall consist of 16 members,  divided into three classes,  with the
term of office of one class  expiring  at the 2000 Annual  Meeting,  the term of
another class expiring at the 2001 Annual Meeting, and the term of the remaining
class  expiring at the 2002 Annual  Meeting.  The Board of  Directors  nominates
incumbent  directors Robert J. Callander,  Susan S. Denison,  John R. Murphy and
John R. Purcell to serve as directors of the  Corporation  until the 2003 Annual
Meeting.  The Board of Directors also nominates Richard I. Beattie to serve as a
director of the Corporation until the 2001 Annual Meeting,  Michael Greenlees to
serve as a director of the  Corporation  until the 2002 Annual Meeting and Linda
Johnson  Rice to serve as a director  of the  Corporation  until the 2003 Annual
Meeting.  Incumbent  directors Quentin I. Smith, Jr. and Egon P.S. Zehnder chose
not to stand for election when their terms expire at the 2000 Annual Meeting.


                                       2
<PAGE>

      Information  relating to the seven nominees for director and the directors
not standing for election is set forth below.

                                                              Year First   Term
                Name, Age and Principal                        Became a    Will
                      Occupation                               Director   Expire
                -----------------------                       ----------  ------

John D. Wren (47) ........................................       1993       2001
   President & Chief Executive Officer
   of the Corporation

Bruce Crawford (71) ......................................       1989       2001
   Chairman of the Corporation

Richard I. Beattie (59) ..................................         --         --
   Partner, Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett

Bernard Brochand (61) ....................................       1993       2002
   President, International Division of
   The DDB Worldwide Communications Group
   Inc. ("DDB"), a subsidiary of the Corporation

Robert J. Callander (69) .................................       1992       2000
   Executive-in-Residence, Columbia School
   of Business, Columbia University;
   Retired Vice Chairman of Chemical
   Banking Corporation

James A. Cannon (61) .....................................       1986       2002
   Vice Chairman & Chief Financial Officer
   of BBDO Worldwide Inc. ("BBDO"),
   a subsidiary of the Corporation

Leonard S. Coleman, Jr. (51) .............................       1993       2002
   Senior Advisor, Major League Baseball

Susan S. Denison (54) ....................................       1997       2000
   Partner, The Cheyenne Group

Peter Foy (59) ...........................................       1999       2002
   Corporate Director

Michael Greenlees (53) ...................................         --         --
   President and CEO of TBWA Worldwide
   ("TBWA"), a subsidiary of the Corporation

Thomas L. Harrison (52) ..................................       1999       2002
   Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of
   the Diversified Agency Services,
   a division of the Corporation

John R. Murphy (66) ......................................       1996       2000
   Vice Chairman of National Geographic Society

John R. Purcell (68) .....................................       1986       2000
   Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of
   Grenadier Associates Ltd.

Keith L. Reinhard (65) ...................................       1986       2001
   Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of DDB

Linda Johnson Rice (42) ..................................         --         --
   President & Chief Operating Officer of
   Johnson Publishing Company, Inc.

Allen Rosenshine (61) ....................................       1986       2001
   Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of BBDO

Gary L. Roubos (63) ......................................       1986       2002
   Retired Chairman of Dover Corporation


                                       3
<PAGE>

      Mr. Beattie has served as a partner of Simpson,  Thacher & Bartlett, a law
firm,  since 1977 and has served as Chairman of the Executive  Committee of that
firm since 1991. Mr. Beattie is a director of Harley-Davidson, Inc.

      Mr. Callander retired from Chemical Banking  Corporation on June 30, 1992,
at which time he held the office of Vice  Chairman.  He served as  President  of
Chemical Bank from August, 1990 through December,  1991, and as Vice Chairman of
that company from January,  1987 through July,  1990. Mr. Callander is presently
serving as Executive-in-Residence  at the Columbia School of Business,  Columbia
University,  New York.  Mr.  Callander  is a director  of Aramark  Incorporated,
Barnes Group Inc.,  Spectrum  Health  Services Inc.,  Scudder Global High Income
Fund, Scudder New Asia Fund and The Korea Fund.

      Mr.  Coleman has served as Senior  Advisor,  Major League  Baseball  since
November,  1999, when he resigned as President,  National  League,  Major League
Baseball.  He had  served  in that  position  since  March,  1994.  He served as
Executive  Director,  Market  Development,  Major League Baseball from December,
1991 to March, 1994, and served as a Vice President,  Kidder,  Peabody & Company
from 1988 to 1991.  Mr.  Coleman is a director  of New Jersey  Resources,  Owens
Corning,  Avis  Rent  A  Car,  Incorporated,  Cendant  Corporation,  H.J.  Heinz
Corporation and Radio Unica.

      Mr. Crawford has served as Chairman of the Corporation  since 1995.  Prior
thereto,  he was President and Chief Executive  Officer of the Corporation.  Mr.
Crawford is a director of Advo Inc.

      Ms. Denison has served as Partner,  The Cheyenne  Group since July,  1999,
and she served as a Partner at TASA Worldwide/Johnson, Smith & Knisely from 1997
to 1999. She served as Executive Vice President,  Entertainment  and Marketing -
Madison  Square  Garden  from 1995 to 1997.  She also served as  Executive  Vice
President/General Manager of Showtime Satellite Networks from 1990 to 1995.

      Mr. Foy served as Chairman of Baring Brothers International, the Corporate
Finance arm of ING's Investment Bank from 1996 until 1998; from 1982 to 1996, he
served as  Managing  Director  UK and Board  Member of  McKinsey & Co.  Inc.,  a
leading  international  management  consulting firm. He is a Director of PepsiCo
Inc., P & O Group and Safeway  PLC. Mr. Foy is a member of the Faculty  Board of
Management  Studies at Oxford  University and an Honorary  Fellow of St. Peter's
and St. Anne's Colleges, Oxford.

      Mr. Greenlees has served as President and Chief Executive  Officer of TBWA
since March,  1998. Prior thereto,  he was Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of
GGT Group plc, which was acquired by the Corporation in May, 1998.

      Mr.  Murphy has served as Vice  Chairman  of National  Geographic  Society
since March,  1998.  From May, 1996 until March,  1998, Mr. Murphy was President
and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  National  Geographic  Society.  He served as
Executive Vice President,  National Geographic Society,  from 1993 to May, 1996;
as Publisher of the  Baltimore  Sun from 1981  through  1992;  and as Editor and
Publisher of the San Francisco  Examiner from 1975 through 1981. Mr. Murphy is a
trustee of Mercer University,  Washington College and the M.S.D.&T.  mutual fund
group; a director of Provant,  Inc.,  Integral Systems Inc. and Baltimore Reads,
Inc.  Mr.  Murphy  is  also  the  immediate  past  president  of the  U.S.  Golf
Association.

      Mr.  Purcell  has  served as  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of
Grenadier Associates Ltd., a merchant banking and financial advisory firm, since
January,  1987. He also  previously  served as Chairman of Donnelley  Marketing,
Inc.,  a database  direct  marketing  firm,  from 1991 to 1996;  as Chairman and
President of the former SFN Companies, Inc. from 1982 through 1986; as Executive
Vice  President of CBS Inc. and as Senior Vice  President - Finance and Business
Operations  of  Gannett  Co.,  Inc.  He is a  director  of Bausch & Lomb,  Inc.,
eLoyalty Corp. and Journal Register Company.

      Ms.  Rice has served as  President  & Chief  Operating  Officer of Johnson
Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  since 1987.  In addition to the  management  of the
company, she oversees the editorial content of Ebony, Jet and Ebony South Africa
magazines.  She is also  President  of Fashion  Fair  Cosmetics,  a division  of
Johnson  Publishing.  Ms.  Rice is a director  of Bausch & Lomb,  Kimberly-Clark
Corporation,  VIAD Corp.,  OneNetNow.com,  University  of  Southern  California,
Northwestern  Memorial  Corporation,  Catalyst,  National  Underground  Railroad
Freedom Center, and the Princess Grace Foundation.

      Mr. Roubos served as Chairman of Dover  Corporation from May, 1989 to May,
1999, and as Chief Executive Officer of that company from January,  1981 to May,
1994. Mr. Roubos is a director of Dover Corporation and Bell & Howell Company.

      Mr.  Wren has  served as  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of the
Corporation since January 1, 1997; prior thereto,  he served as President of the
Corporation. Mr. Wren is a director of AGENCY.COM LTD.


                                       4
<PAGE>

                      COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

      The following table provides information,  as of March 31, 2000, as to the
beneficial  ownership  of the Common  Stock of the  Corporation  for each of the
nominees  named for  election  as a  director  of the  Corporation,  each  other
director of the Corporation,  each of the Named Executive Officers, as such term
is  hereinafter  defined,  and  all  directors  and  executive  officers  of the
Corporation as a group.

                                                 Beneficial Ownership    Percent
     Name of Beneficial Owner                     of Common Stock (1)   of Class
      -----------------------                    --------------------   --------
      John D. Wren (2) .......................       1,137,096           .6407
      Bruce Crawford .........................         334,400           .1884
      Richard I. Beattie .....................             200           .0001
      Bernard Brochand (2) ...................         149,000           .0840
      Robert J. Callander ....................           8,000           .0045
      James A. Cannon ........................         419,400           .2363
      Leonard S. Coleman, Jr. ................           1,888           .0011
      Susan S. Denison .......................           1,288           .0007
      Peter Foy ..............................           1,050           .0006
      Michael Greenlees ......................          76,000           .0428
      Thomas L. Harrison (2) .................         101,354           .0571
      John R. Murphy .........................           1,470           .0008
      John R. Purcell ........................          42,000           .0237
      Keith L. Reinhard (2) ..................         980,370           .5524
      Linda Johnson Rice .....................               0              --
      Allen Rosenshine (2) ...................       1,339,240           .7546
      Gary L. Roubos .........................           4,688           .0026
      Quentin I. Smith, Jr. ..................           5,688           .0032
      Egon P.S. Zehnder ......................          10,470           .0059
      All directors and executive
        officers as a group
        (23 persons) .........................       4,895,621          2.7585


- ----------
(1)   Includes  (i) shares held under  restricted  stock  awards  granted by the
      Corporation,  namely,  Mr. Wren 33,836 shares, Mr. Brochand 51,600 shares,
      Mr. Cannon - 34,000 shares,  Mr. Greenlees  22,000 shares,  Mr. Harrison -
      26,800  shares,  Mr.  Reinhard  19,200  shares and Mr.  Rosenshine  40,400
      shares;  (ii) shares previously held under restricted stock awards granted
      by the Corporation,  the payout of which has been deferred at the election
      of the holder,  namely Mr. Wren 59,159 shares,  Mr. Harrison 18,000 shares
      and Mr.  Reinhard  50,000 shares;  (iii) shares which certain of the named
      individuals  have the right to purchase under stock options granted by the
      Corporation,  namely,  Mr. Wren 928,800 shares, Mr. Cannon 359,000 shares,
      Mr.  Greenlees  48,000 shares,  Mr. Harrison  39,000 shares,  Mr. Reinhard
      495,000  shares and Mr.  Rosenshine  1,009,000  shares;  (iv) 8,875 shares
      credited to Mr. Wren's account and 1,257 shares credited to Mr. Harrison's
      account under the Corporation's  Group Profit Sharing  Retirement Plan and
      (v)  452  shares  purchased  for Mr.  Harrison's  account  and 473  shares
      purchased  for Mr.  Reinhard's  account under an employee  stock  purchase
      plan.

(2)   One of the Named Executive Officers of the Corporation.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

      The  Corporation  is  required  to  identify  any  director,  officer,  or
beneficial  owner of in excess of 10% of the  Common  Stock who failed to timely
file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission a required  report relating to
ownership and changes in ownership of the Corporation's equity securities. Based
on material  provided to the  Corporation,  all such persons  complied  with all
applicable filing requirements during 1999.

                          BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

      Five regular  meetings of the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  (the
"Board") were held in 1999. Each of the incumbent  members of the Board attended
at least 80% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board and Committees of the
Board on which he or she served.


                                       5
<PAGE>

      During  1999,  the Audit  Committee  of the  Board  consisted  of  Messrs.
Callander  (Chairman),  Coleman,  Murphy and Smith.  Three meetings of the Audit
Committee were held in 1999. The  responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to
(a) recommend to the Board the appointment of independent  public accountants to
audit the books and records of the  Corporation,  assess the independence of the
public accountants,  and review the impact of their retention by the Corporation
for  non-audit  related  services;   (b)  review  with  the  independent  public
accountants the proposed scope and  administration  of their audit of the annual
consolidated  financial statements of the Corporation and its subsidiaries,  the
Corporation's internal control structure upon which the scope was determined and
the estimated audit fees; (c) review with the independent public accountants and
the  Corporation's  management  the results of the annual  audit,  including the
accountants'  recommendations  relating to  accounting,  financial and operating
procedures  and  controls  and the  financial  statements  to be included in the
Annual Report and Form 10-K; (d) review with the Corporation's internal auditors
the proposed scope of their annual activities and reports of the results of such
activities;  (e) review  undertakings by the Corporation's  management to remedy
fraudulent activity that may be detected within the Corporation;  (f) review the
Corporation's public reporting policies and practices; (g) review the derivative
activities  undertaken by the  Corporation's  management;  and (h) report to the
Board on its activities.

      During 1999, the Compensation  Committee of the Board consisted of Messrs.
Smith  (Chairman),   Callander,  Roubos  and  Zehnder.  Three  meetings  of  the
Compensation   Committee  were  held  in  1999.  The   responsibilities  of  the
Compensation  Committee  are to (a)  review  the  compensation  policies  of the
Corporation  and  its  principal  subsidiaries,   and  when  appropriate,   make
recommendations  with respect to such policies to the Chief Executive Officer of
the Corporation; (b) review proposed compensation plans in which officers and/or
directors  of  the  Corporation  will  be  eligible  to  participate  and,  when
appropriate,  make  recommendations  with  respect  to such  plans to the  Chief
Executive  Officer of the Corporation;  (c) serve as the Committee to administer
and grant awards and options under compensation plans providing for the issuance
of shares of stock of the  Corporation;  (d) make  recommendations  to the Board
with respect to the salary,  bonus and other  elements of  compensation  for the
Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Corporation;  and (e)  review  with the Chief
Executive Officer  management  recommendations  with respect to compensation for
any executive officer of the Corporation or its subsidiaries  whose compensation
is  required  to  be  disclosed  in  the  Corporation's  Proxy  Statement.   The
Compensation  Committee has  discretionary  authority to establish  compensation
arrangements  for  executive  officers of the  Corporation  pursuant to the 1998
Incentive  Compensation  Plan  which  was  adopted  by the  Shareholders  of the
Corporation  at the 1998  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders,  with the  intended
purpose that payments  thereunder qualify as  performance-based  for purposes of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").

      During 1999,  the Nominating  Committee of the Board  consisted of Messrs.
Roubos  (Chairman),  Purcell,  Zehnder and Ms.  Denison.  Three  meetings of the
Nominating  Committee were held in 1999. The  responsibilities of the Nominating
Committee  are to consider  and make  recommendations  to the Board from time to
time with respect to (a) the composition and size of the Board and Committees of
the Board; (b) the criteria for evaluating the qualifications of new individuals
being  considered as candidates  for election to the Board;  (c)  candidates for
election to the Board;  and (d)  potential  conflicts  of interest  arising as a
result  of  other  positions  held or  proposed  to be held  by  directors.  The
Nominating  Committee  will  consider  shareholder  written  recommendations  of
nominees  for  election  to the Board if they are  accompanied  by a  reasonably
comprehensive  written resume of the recommended  nominee's business  experience
and background and a written consent signed by the  recommended  nominee wherein
he or she consents to be  considered  as a nominee and if nominated and elected,
consents  to  serve  as a  director.  Shareholders  should  send  their  written
recommendations  of  nominees  accompanied  by the  aforesaid  documents  to the
offices of the Corporation, attention Corporate Secretary.

                             DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION

      During 1999,  each director who was not an employee of the  Corporation or
one of its subsidiaries was paid (i) a monthly retainer of $2,000, (ii) a fee of
$2,000  for  attendance  at the first  meeting  of the Board of  Directors  or a
Committee  of the Board of  Directors  on a given day, and (iii) a fee of $1,500
for attendance at any subsequent  meeting on the same day.  Pursuant to the 1998
Incentive  Compensation Plan (the "1998 Incentive  Plan"),  each director who is
not an employee of the  Corporation  may elect,  not later than  December 15, to
receive up to the portion of such  director's  annual retainer as a director for
the following  year's service as the Board of Directors shall  determine  (which
may be the entire amount of the annual  retainer),  exclusive of any per meeting
fees,


                                       6
<PAGE>

committee fees or expense  reimbursements,  in shares of Common Stock,  based on
the fair market value of the Common Stock on such December 15. A director who is
an employee of the Corporation or one of its  subsidiaries  does not receive any
compensation for serving as a director.

      The  Corporation  implemented  a  Restricted  Stock Plan for  Non-Employee
Directors effective January 1, 2000. Pursuant to this plan, each director who is
not an employee of the  Corporation or one if its  subsidiaries  will receive on
the first business day after the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders an annual grant
of 250 restricted shares of Common Stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments.

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

      The tables that follow present  information  relating to the  compensation
of, option grants to, option exercises by, and long-term incentive awards to the
Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Corporation  and each of the other  four most
highly  compensated  executive  officers of the Corporation  (collectively,  the
"Named Executive Officers").

Summary Compensation Table

      The following table sets forth  information in respect of the compensation
of  the  Named  Executive  Officers  for  services  in  all  capacities  to  the
Corporation and its  subsidiaries  for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997,
1998 and 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Long Term Compensation
                                               Annual Compensation                   Awards
                                              --------------------   -------------------------------------
                                                                                      Shares    Long-Term
       Name and                                                       Restricted    Underlying  Incentive      All Other
       Principal                                                        Stock         Stock        Plan         Compen-
       Position                      Year     Salary($)   Bonus($)   Awards($)(1)     Options   Payouts (2)   sation($)(3)
       ---------                    ------    ---------   --------   ------------   ----------  ----------    ------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>        <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>            <C>
John D. Wren .....................   1999     $875,000   $2,550,000   $        0     1,500,000   $        0     $22,158
  President and Chief                1998      875,000    2,550,000            0       200,000                   22,552
  Executive Officer                  1997      875,000    1,600,000      949,964       250,000                   22,370
  of the Corporation

Bernard Brochand (4) .............   1999     $550,000   $  916,000   $1,440,000             0   $3,090,000     $11,250
  President,
  International
  Division of DDB

Thomas L. Harrison (4) ...........   1999     $825,000   $2,500,000   $        0        70,000   $        0     $52,210
  Chairman & Chief
  Executive Officer of
  Diversified Agency
  Services

Keith L. Reinhard ................   1999     $925,000   $2,295,000   $        0        90,000   $        0     $27,506
  Chairman &                         1998      925,000   $2,065,000            0        80,000                   26,672
  Chief Executive                    1997      877,806    1,625,000            0       140,000                   25,006
  Officer of DDB

Allen Rosenshine .................   1999     $925,000   $2,400,000   $        0       110,000    $ 750,000(5)  $26,664
  Chairman & Chief                   1998      893,750    2,400,000            0       110,000                   27,627
  Executive Officer                  1997      850,000      925,000   $1,207,375       140,000                   26,983
  of BBDO
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)   Restricted stock awards represent  performance based  compensation for the
      applicable  fiscal  year.  The  awards are  normally  granted in the first
      quarter  of the year  following  the  fiscal  year  end.  The value of the
      restricted  stock awards  reported in the Summary  Compensation  Table was
      determined  by  multiplying  the fair  market  value of the  Corporation's
      Common Stock on the date of the grant by the number of shares awarded, and
      deducting therefrom the consideration paid for the shares,  which is equal
      to the par value ($.50 per share) of the shares.  As of December 31, 1999,
      Mr. Wren held an aggregate of 59,816 shares of restricted stock with a net
      pre-tax  value of  $5,974,746;  Mr.  Brochand  held an aggregate of 55,600
      shares of  restricted  stock with a net pre-tax value of  $5,550,064;  Mr.
      Harrison held an aggregate of 37,200 shares of restricted stock with a net
      pre-tax  value of  $3,711,468;  Mr.  Reinhard  held an aggregate of 41,600
      shares of restricted stock with a net pre-tax value of $4,158,604; and Mr.
      Rosenshine  held an aggregate of 72,800 shares of restricted  stock with a
      net pre-tax value of  $7,271,732.  The net pre-tax value was determined by
      subtracting  the  consideration  paid  from the fair  market  value of the
      shares on December 31, 1999  ($100.19).  Dividends  will be payable on the
      aforementioned  shares  if and to the  extent  paid  on the  Corporation's
      Common Stock  generally,  regardless of whether the shares are at the time
      vested or unvested.  Twenty percent of the shares of restricted stock held
      by each  Named  Executive  Officer  vest on the first  anniversary  of the
      award,  and an  additional  twenty  percent  vest on each of the next four
      anniversaries of the award.


                                       7
<PAGE>

(2)   Mr.  Brochand's  award  represents the settlement of a 1997 award based on
      the profit growth in the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 as compared to 1996 for
      DDB's non-United States  companies,  excluding  Australia,  Mexico and New
      Zealand.  Mr. Rosenshine's award represents a cash payout in settlement of
      Performance Share Units awarded under the 1998 Incentive Plan. Performance
      Shares units  entitle the holder  thereof to payouts of cash and/or Common
      Stock, as determined by the Compensation Committee, up to a maximum amount
      equal to the  value of one share of Common  Stock on the  payout  date for
      each  Performance  Share,  depending on the  three-year  average  compound
      annual growth in the Corporation's fully diluted earnings per share before
      extraordinary items and the effect of any changes in accounting principles
      ("EPS") in the specified three-year award period.

(3)   All Other  Compensation  paid for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1999
      consists of (i) employer  contributions to the Corporation's  Group Profit
      Sharing  Retirement  Plan in the  amount of  $20,800  on behalf of each of
      Messrs.  Wren,  Harrison  and  Rosenshine  and  $11,200  on  behalf of Mr.
      Reinhard;  (ii) an employer contribution to the DDB/TLP Joint Savings Plan
      in the amount of $6,400 on behalf of Mr. Reinhard;  (iii) employer premium
      payments for life insurance in the amount of $1,358 on behalf of Mr. Wren,
      $11,250  on behalf of Mr.  Brochand,  $31,410  on behalf of Mr.  Harrison,
      $9,906 on behalf of Mr. Reinhard and $5,864 on behalf of Mr. Rosenshine.

(4)   Messrs.  Brochand  and Harrison  each became an  executive  officer of the
      Corporation on January 1, 1999.

(5)   Mr. Rosenshine has declined $450,000 of this award,  which the Corporation
      has donated at his request to the BBDO  Minority  Education  and  Training
      Fund.

Options

      The  following  table  shows all grants of options to the Named  Executive
Officers in 1999.

                       Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       Potential Realizable
                                                                                      Value at Assumed Annual
                                                                                       Rates of Stock Price
                                  Individual Grants                               Appreciation for Option Term (3)
                        --------------------------------------                    --------------------------------
                          Number     % of Total
                         of Shares    Options
                        Underlying   Granted to     Exercise
                          Options    Employees       Price          Expiration
      Name               Granted(1)   in 1999    ($ per Share)        Date (2)         5%($)         10%($)
   ----------           -----------  ----------  -------------      ----------         -----         ------
<S>                      <C>          <C>           <C>            <C>              <C>           <C>
John D. Wren             1,250,000    36.0518%      $91.2188       Dec. 06, 2009    $71,708,766   $181,724,093
                           250,000     7.2104%      $65.5000       Feb. 25, 2009     10,298,150     26,097,533
Bernard Brochand                 0          0             --                  --             --             --
Thomas L. Harrison          70,000     2.0189%      $65.5000       Feb. 25, 2009      2,883,482      7,307,309
Keith L. Reinhard           90,000     2.5957%      $65.5000       Feb. 25, 2009      3,707,334      9,395,112
Allen Rosenshine           110,000     3.1726%      $65.5000       Feb. 25, 2009      4,531,186     11,482,914
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)   Each of the options is  exercisable  as to 30% of the total shares granted
      on and after the first  anniversary of the grant,  as to an additional 30%
      on and after the second  anniversary of the grant, and as to the remaining
      40% on and after the third  anniversary of the grant.  Each of the options
      granted is a non-qualified  stock option,  and the Corporation is entitled
      to a tax  deduction  equal to the excess of the fair  market  value of the
      acquired shares over the exercise price of the option.

(2)   Upon an optionee's  termination  of employment by reason of: (i) voluntary
      termination  or termination  for cause,  all  outstanding  options will be
      canceled; (ii) retirement or involuntary termination,  options outstanding
      for less than 12 months will be canceled and the other outstanding options
      will become  exercisable in full only during the 36 month period following
      termination;  or (iii) total disability or death, all outstanding  options
      will become  exercisable in full only during the 36 month period following
      termination.  In no event will a  post-termination  of  employment  option
      exercise  period extend beyond the expiration  date of the option term. In
      the event of a change of control  transaction,  outstanding  options  will
      become exercisable in full at the effective time of the transaction absent
      an  agreement  of the  ultimate  parent of the entity  which  survives the
      change  of  control  transaction  to assume  the  outstanding  options  or
      substitute new options for the outstanding  options,  on identical or more
      favorable terms.

(3)   These columns  present  hypothetical  future  values of the  Corporation's
      Common Stock  obtainable  upon exercise of the options net of the options'
      exercise price, assuming that the market price of the Corporation's Common
      Stock appreciates at the specified compound annual rates over the ten year
      term of the  option.  The  five  and ten  percent  rates  of  stock  price
      appreciation  are presented as examples  pursuant to SEC rules, and do not
      reflect  management's  assessment of the Corporation's  future stock price
      performance. The potential realizable values presented are not intended to
      indicate the options' value.


                                       8
<PAGE>

      The following  table  provides  information  as to the  aggregated  option
exercises by the Named Executive Officers in 1999, and as to unexercised options
held by the Named Executive Officers on December 31, 1999.

                 Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
                        and Fiscal Year End Option Values

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Number of Shares
                                                                          Underlying          Value of Unexercised
                                                                          Unexercised             In-the-Money
                                      Number                              Options at               Options at
                                     of Shares                         December 31, 1999       December 31, 1999
                                    Acquired on         Value            Exercisable/             Exercisable/
       Name                          Exercise      Realized ($)(1)       Unexercisable          Unexercisable (2)
       -----                        -----------    ---------------     -----------------      --------------------
<S>                                   <C>           <C>                <C>                   <C>
John D. Wren ....................           0       $         0        693,800/1,740,000     $55,881,858/35,577,832
Bernard Brochand ................           0                 0                       --                         --
Thomas L. Harrison ..............           0                 0             9,000/91,000          517,782/3,638,473
Keith L. Reinhard ...............     294,000        19,993,461          388,000/202,000      31,248,890/10,598,945
Allen Rosenshine ................     180,000        13,365,628          917,000/243,000      78,117,937/12,501,478
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)   Value  calculated by  subtracting  the exercise price from the fair market
      value of the Corporation's Common Stock on the exercise date.

(2)   Value  calculated by  subtracting  the exercise price from the fair market
      value of the  Corporation's  Common Stock on December 31, 1999, said value
      being $100.19 per share.

Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards

      The following table shows all long-term incentive plan awards to the Named
Executive Officers in 1999.

              Long-Term Incentive Plan - Awards in Last Fiscal Year

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Performance or
                                      Number         Other Period            Estimated Future Payouts Under
                                    of Shares,           Until              Non-Stock Stock Price-Based Plans
                                     Units or         Maturation        ----------------------------------------
       Name                        Other Rights        or Payout        Threshold        Target          Maximum
       ----                        ------------     --------------      ---------        ------          -------
<S>                                    <C>            <C>                <C>               <C>          <C>
John D. Wren ...................       (1)            1999 - 2001        $695,000          --           $3,822,500
Bernard Brochand ...............        --                --                --             --                --
Thomas L. Harrison .............        --                --                --             --                --
Keith L. Reinhard ..............       (2)            1998 - 2000         834,000          --            1,946,000
                                       (1)            1998 - 2000         208,500          --              486,500
Allen Rosenshine ...............       (2)            1998 - 2000         834,000          --            1,946,000
                                       (1)            1998 - 2000         208,500          --              486,500
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)   Messrs. Wren, Reinhard and Rosenshine received awards of performance share
      units pursuant to the 1998 Incentive  Plan. The number of units to which a
      recipient of such awards will be entitled  will depend upon the EPS in the
      three year award  period,  as  measured  from 1999 EPS, in the case of the
      award granted to Mr. Wren for the 1999-2001  award period,  or as measured
      from  1998  EPS,  in the  case  of the  awards  to  Messrs.  Reinhard  and
      Rosenshine for the 1998-2000 award period.  These units entitle the holder
      to  payouts  of  cash  and/or  Common  Stock  (in  such  proportion  as is
      determined by the Compensation  Committee) up to a maximum amount equal to
      the fair market value of one share of Common Stock on the date as of which
      the payout of these units is deemed to be made.  Maximum  payouts  will be
      made in respect of these units only if the average  compound annual growth
      in the  Corporation's  EPS equals or  exceeds  120  percent  for the award
      period. No payouts will be made if such growth is 110 percent or less. The
      threshold and maximum  payouts are  representative  amounts,  based on the
      fair market value of Common Stock on the grant date. There is no estimated
      future target payout  because,  under the Incentive  Plan, no  performance
      target for these performance units is specified.

(2)   This award has the same terms as the  awards  described  above in Note (1)
      except that the number of units to which Messrs.  Reinhard and  Rosenshine
      will be entitled  will  depend,  respectively,  upon the average  compound
      annual  growth in the net  profits of DDB and BBDO in the three year award
      period, as measured from 1998 net profit.


                                       9
<PAGE>

                          COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

Compensation Committee

      The Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors is composed entirely
of independent  outside  directors.  The  responsibilities  of the  Compensation
Committee and the frequency of Compensation  Committee  Meetings during 1999 are
described on page 6 of this Proxy Statement.

Compensation Program for Executive Officers

      The  Corporation's  compensation  program  for its  executive  officers is
designed to enable it to attract and retain  highly  qualified  personnel and to
motivate  them  to  achieve  corporate   performance   objectives  and  increase
shareholder value.

      The  program  is  comprised  of  base  salary,  and  performance   related
compensation  in the form of an incentive  cash bonus and long-term  stock-based
awards which are intended to align executive and shareholder interests.

      The  compensation  of the Chief  Executive  Officer  and the  other  Named
Executive  Officers  is  determined  by  the  Compensation  Committee,  and  the
compensation  of the Chief  Executive  Officer is subject to the approval of the
Board of Directors.  In  determining  the  compensation  of the Named  Executive
Officers,  the Compensation  Committee considers the factors described below and
the  recommendations  of the Chief  Executive  Officer with respect to the other
Named Executive Officers.

      Adjustments   in  base  salary  for  executive   officers  are  considered
periodically (currently every eighteen months), and are discretionary in nature.
In  determining  base salary and  individual  adjustments to base salary for the
Named Executive Officers,  the Compensation  Committee considers the executive's
level of  responsibility,  the profitability of the Corporation and the business
unit with which the executive is  associated  and the  Compensation  Committee's
knowledge of executive  compensation  practices  of similar  advertising  agency
holding  companies.  Profitability of the Corporation is determined by reference
to its earnings  per share  ("EPS"),  and  profitability  of a business  unit is
determined  by  reference  to its net profit  after tax.  Salaries of  executive
officers  who are not  Named  Executive  Officers  are  determined  by the Chief
Executive Officer.

      For 1999,  incentive  compensation  (cash  bonus) for the Named  Executive
Officers was awarded  pursuant to the 1998 Incentive Plan which is  administered
by the Compensation Committee.

      Prior  to  or  shortly  after  the  beginning  of  the  fiscal  year,  the
Compensation Committee determines which executive officers are to participate in
the Incentive  Plan for the fiscal year,  the incentive  level  assigned to each
participant,  and  the  performance  goals  applicable  to the  year.  An  award
agreement is entered  into with each  participant  in the  Incentive  Plan;  the
participating  executives will receive bonus compensation only pursuant to their
award agreements.

      Performance goals are based on one or more business criteria  specified in
the  Incentive  Plan:  EPS,  net  income,  operating  margin,  return on equity,
stockholder  total return,  revenue and cash flow.  The  Compensation  Committee
establishes the specific  performance  goals for each  participant  based on the
business criteria and assigns weights to the goals.

      At the end of the fiscal  year,  the  Compensation  Committee  reviews the
performance  of the  participants  against the  established  performance  goals.
Awards are only paid after the  Compensation  Committee has certified in writing
that the  performance  goals  have been  attained.  The  Compensation  Committee
considers the  recommendations  of the Chief Executive  Officer (with respect to
the Named  Executive  Officers  other  than  himself)  and may  reduce,  but not
increase,  the  amount  of an award  otherwise  payable  to a  participant  upon
attainment of the performance goals.

      Restricted  stock award  grants for  executive  officers who are not Named
Executive Officers are recommended by the Chief Executive Officer and determined
by the Compensation  Committee in a discretionary  manner,  and cash bonuses for
such executive officers are determined by the Chief Executive Officer.

      The annual cash bonus represents a substantial portion of the total annual
cash compensation of executive officers and is intended to serve as an incentive
to improve  annual  profitability.  Restricted  stock  awards are granted by the
Compensation  Committee  annually to a relatively broad group of key executives,
and 20% of the shares  vest on each of the first five  anniversary  dates of the
award.

      Stock options are granted annually by the Compensation Committee to a much
smaller  group of key  executives  (including  executive  officers) who have the
ability  to  influence  increases  in  shareholder  value.  There  is no  target
ownership or grant level for executive  officers.  In determining a stock option
grant,  the  Compensation  Committee


                                       10
<PAGE>

considers,  on a discretionary  basis,  the  executive's  previous grant and the
revenue growth and  profitability  of the Corporation and the business unit with
which the  executive  was  associated  during the prior fiscal  year.  Except in
unusual circumstances, there will be no increase in the size of a grant over the
previous grant for an executive  associated  with a business unit absent revenue
or profit  growth by such unit over the prior fiscal  year,  or for an executive
not  associated  with a business  unit  absent  revenue or profit  growth by the
Corporation  over the prior fiscal year. The per share option  exercise price is
not less than the fair market value of a share of the Corporation's Common Stock
on the grant date,  and the option is exercisable as to 30% of the shares on and
after  each of the  first  two  anniversary  dates  of the  grant  and as to the
remaining 40% on and after the third anniversary date.

      Stock  incentives in the form of restricted stock awards and stock options
are  intended to align the  long-term  interests of the  executive  officers and
shareholders,  serve as an incentive for executive officers to build shareholder
value, and provide a vehicle for retaining and attracting executive officers and
other key employees.

      The Compensation  Committee has granted certain executive  officers of the
Corporation the right to earn  Performance  Share Units. An award of Performance
Shares is made based on the Committee's  review of the  Corporation's EPS growth
over a three year period, and if the executive officer is affiliated with one of
the  Corporation's   subsidiaries,   on  a  formula  which  considers  both  the
Corporation's  EPS growth over a three year period and the three year net profit
growth of that subsidiary.  The Committee may pay such awards either in stock or
in cash. Pursuant to a pre-existing  incentive compensation  agreement,  in 1999
the Committee  awarded one of the Named Executive  Officers a cash award in lieu
of Performance Shares.

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

      In early 1999,  Mr. Wren was granted an option to purchase  250,000 shares
of Common Stock. The Compensation  Committee made this grant after consideration
of the Corporation's  strong 1998 financial  performance,  namely that basic EPS
was up 24%,  revenues  were up 30% over 1997 and operating  margin  increased to
13.1% from 12.5%.

      Under  Mr.   Wren's  award   agreement,   which   provided  for  incentive
compensation  in the form of a cash  bonus if a specific  performance  goal (the
Corporation's  1999 EPS  evaluated  relative to 1998 EPS) was met, he received a
cash bonus of $2,550,000 (the maximum payable  pursuant to his award  agreement)
in respect of 1999.

      Mr. Wren received no award of restricted  stock in 1999 and his salary has
not been  increased  since January 1, 1997. He received an award of  performance
units under the 1998  Incentive  Plan,  the payout of which will be made in 2002
based on the three year average growth in the Corporation's  EPS. Should average
EPS growth be 110% or less, no award will be made.  The  Compensation  Committee
retains the discretion to reduce any performance award Mr. Wren may otherwise be
entitled to receive.

      At its  December  meeting,  the  Committee  recommended  to the  Board  of
Directors  that an additional  option grant be made to Mr. Wren, to  acknowledge
the  Corporation's  performance  in recent  years,  to reward  Mr.  Wren for his
performance  during that period,  and to serve as an incentive to Mr. Wren.  The
Committee  recommended  that Mr.  Wren's  salary  and  bonus be  frozen at their
current levels for a number of years,  but in order to reinforce the Committee's
support for Mr. Wren and to evidence his long-term commitment to the Corporation
and its continued growth, it recommended  making a substantial  multi-year grant
of options to him.  The Board of  Directors  concurred  and  approved a grant of
options to purchase  1,250,000  shares of Common  Stock to Mr. Wren in December,
1999. Mr. Wren will be ineligible for consideration of increased salary or bonus
or the grant of any additional options until the first calendar quarter of 2003.

Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)

      Section  162(m)  places  a limit of $1  million  on the  deductibility  of
compensation  paid by the Corporation to its Chief Executive Officer and certain
other  executive   officers   during  each  fiscal  year  of  the   Corporation.
Compensation that qualifies as  "performance-based  compensation"  under Section
162(m) is, however, excepted from the $1 million deduction cap.

      The 1998  Incentive  Plan  provides for  compensation  that may qualify as
"performance-based   compensation"   for   purposes  of  Section   162(m).   The
Compensation  Committee  intends to  continue  to  structure  the  Corporation's
incentive  arrangements  for the Chief Executive  Officer and certain  executive
officers of the Corporation  under the cash bonus and stock programs in order to
qualify  the  compensation  payments  to  such  officers  as  "performance-based
compensation" for purposes of Section 162(m),  provided that, in the judgment of
the Compensation Committee,  this is consistent with the goals of motivating the
executives to achieve corporate performance  objectives and increase shareholder
value.


                                       11
<PAGE>

Quentin I. Smith,  Jr., Chairman
Robert J. Callander
Gary L. Roubos
Egon P.S. Zehnder
Members of the Compensation Committee

      The above Compensation  Committee Report shall not be deemed  incorporated
by  reference by any general  statement  incorporating  by reference  this Proxy
Statement  into  any  filing  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933 or  under  the
Securities   Exchange  Act  of  1934,  except  to  the  extent  the  Corporation
specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise
be deemed filed under such Acts.

                                PERFORMANCE GRAPH

      The graph below  compares  cumulative  total  return on the  Corporation's
Common Stock,  the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Index ("S&P 500 Index") and a
group of  publicly-held  advertising  holding  companies ("Ad Peer Group Index")
consisting of Grey Advertising Inc., The Interpublic  Group of Companies,  Inc.,
True North Communications Inc., WPP Group plc and, for 1994 - 1996, Cordiant plc
(formerly  Saatchi & Saatchi  plc);  beginning in 1997,  the Ad Peer Group Index
includes,  instead of Cordiant plc, Cordiant  Communications Group and Saatchi &
Saatchi,  the two  companies  resulting  from the  demerger of  Cordiant  plc in
December,  1997.  The graph assumes the investment of $100 on January 1, 1994 in
the Corporation's Common Stock, the S&P 500 Index and the Ad Peer Group Index.

 [The following table was represented as a line graph in the printed material.]

                              1994     1995     1996     1997     1998     1999
                              ----     ----     ----     ----     ----     ----
Omnicom Group                100.00   146.99   183.49   344.56   476.60   827.82
S&P 500 Index                100.00   137.55   169.11   225.52   289.96   350.63
Ad Peer Group Index          100.00   129.67   162.61   213.78   311.54   574.85

      Returns for the  Corporation's  Common Stock depicted in the graph are not
indicative of future performance.

      The above  graph  shall not be deemed  incorporated  by  reference  by any
general  statement  incorporating  by reference  this Proxy  Statement  into any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  except to the  extent  the  Corporation  specifically  incorporates  this
information  by  reference,  and shall not  otherwise be deemed filed under such
Acts.


                                       12
<PAGE>

                 EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS/TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
                    ARRANGEMENTS FOR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

      An  agreement  was entered into  between  BBDO and Mr.  Rosenshine  (as of
January  9,  1989)  under  which  BBDO  has  agreed  to  make  annual  severance
compensation  payments  for periods of up to ten years  following  cessation  of
employment,  the period  being  determined  on the basis of his age and years of
service with BBDO,  its  subsidiaries  or its parent at the time of cessation of
employment.  BBDO is not  obligated  to make  payments  under this  agreement if
employment  with BBDO,  its  subsidiaries  or its parent is terminated for cause
(defined therein as misconduct involving willful malfeasance,  such as breach of
trust,  fraud or  dishonesty).  The payment  period under the  agreement for Mr.
Rosenshine is ten years. The amount of an annual payment under this agreement is
limited to the lesser of (i) an assigned  percentage  of his annual  salary,  or
(ii) an  assigned  percentage  of the  consolidated  net  profit  before tax (as
defined in the agreement) of BBDO or its parent  company,  whichever is greater.
BBDO has agreed to make these payments so long as Mr.  Rosenshine  refrains from
engaging in  activities  harmful to,  competitive  with or of the same nature as
those of his  former  employer,  and  remains  available  to  render  consulting
services  to his  former  employer.  If Mr.  Rosenshine  should  die  before the
expiration of the payment  period,  BBDO has agreed to make an annual payment to
his  beneficiary for the number of years he would have been entitled to payments
had he lived, in an amount equal to  seventy-five  percent of the annual payment
he would have  received had he lived.  Payments  under this  agreement are to be
accrued as costs in the year in respect of which the payments are made.

      Agreements  were entered into between the Corporation and Mr. Brochand (as
of September 15, 1989),  Mr. Harrison (as of January 30, 1997), Mr. Reinhard (as
of December 22, 1988) and Mr. Wren (as of November 26, 1990), in each case under
the  Corporation's   Executive  Salary   Continuation   Plan,  under  which  the
Corporation has agreed to make salary continuation payments annually for periods
of up  to  ten  years  following  cessation  of  employment,  the  period  being
determined  on the basis of the  individual's  age and years of service with the
Corporation  or its  subsidiaries  at the time of cessation of  employment.  The
Corporation  is not  obligated to make  payments  under these  agreements if the
individual's  employment with the Corporation or its  subsidiaries is terminated
for cause (defined  therein as the  individual's  misconduct  involving  willful
malfeasance,  such as breach of trust, fraud or dishonesty).  The payment period
under these agreements is currently nine years for Mr. Brochand,  four years for
Mr. Harrison,  ten years for Mr. Reinhard and six years for Mr. Wren. The amount
of an annual payment is limited to the lesser of (i) an assigned percentage, not
to exceed fifty percent,  of the individual's annual salary, or (ii) an assigned
percentage  of the  consolidated  net  profit  before  tax  (as  defined  in the
agreement) of the Corporation. The Corporation has agreed to make these payments
so long as the  individual  refrains  from  engaging in  activities  harmful to,
competitive  with or of the same  nature as those of his  former  employer,  and
remains available to render consulting  services to his former employer.  If the
individual  should  die  before  the  expiration  of  the  payment  period,  the
Corporation has agreed to make an annual payment to the individual's beneficiary
for the number of years the individual  would have been entitled to payments had
he lived, in an amount equal to  seventy-five  percent of the annual payment the
individual would have received had he lived. Payments under these agreements are
to be accrued as costs in the year in  respect of which the  payments  are made.
Any  payments  that may be made to Mr.  Reinhard  under  his  agreement  will be
reduced by the value of  payments  to be made under a prior  agreement  with DDB
described below.

      Mr.  Reinhard  entered into an agreement with DDB as of September 1, 1986,
under which he or his  beneficiary is to be paid  retirement  compensation  on a
monthly  basis for a period of ten years  beginning in the month  following  the
month he ceases to be in the employ of DDB. The annual rate of retirement income
to be paid to Mr. Reinhard is the greater of $66,667 or one-third of his average
annual  salary during the last 60 months of his  employment,  subject to limited
increase  for annual  cost of living  adjustments.  Mr.  Reinhard  has agreed to
refrain  from  rendering  specified  services  that  would be  competitive  with
services  rendered  by DDB and its  subsidiaries  during  the  one  year  period
following cessation of his employment, and to refrain from engaging in specified
activities during the ten year period following such cessation of employment. If
Mr. Reinhard  breaches these  provisions,  DDB may  discontinue  making payments
under the  agreement.  Further,  Mr.  Reinhard  has  agreed,  provided he is not
disabled  and is  under  age 65,  to  render  consulting  services  to DDB  when
requested  for up to five days  during  each  month he is  entitled  to  receive
payments under the agreement, and if he breaches this provision of the agreement
DDB may discontinue making payments during the period of the breach.


                                       13
<PAGE>

      Mr.  Reinhard  entered  into an  agreement  with DDB on July 6, 1993 under
which he is to receive monthly severance  compensation payments for the 15 month
period  ("payment  period")  following  termination  of his DDB employment for a
reason other than for cause  (defined  therein as  dishonesty  affecting  DDB or
conviction of an indictable offense or crime involving moral turpitude;  willful
neglect or refusal to perform  assigned  duties  after  warning;  or willful act
expected  to injure  the  business  of DDB).  The gross  amount of each  monthly
payment shall equal  one-twelfth of Mr. Reinhard's annual rate of base salary at
the date of termination  of employment.  If the employment is terminated by DDB,
the payments shall be reduced,  even up to the entire  amount,  by the amount of
any  compensation  earned by Mr. Reinhard from specified  activities  during the
payment period.  If the employment is terminated by Mr.  Reinhard,  the payments
shall cease if Mr. Reinhard fails to render  requested  consulting  services and
the payments shall be reduced,  even up to the entire  amount,  by the amount of
any  compensation  earned by Mr. Reinhard  during the payment  period.  Payments
shall cease if Mr. Reinhard should die during the payment period. As part of the
agreement,  Mr.  Reinhard has  forfeited his right to  compensation  payments by
reason of termination of employment under DDB policy (under current policy,  Mr.
Reinhard may have been eligible to receive salary continuation payments for nine
months if his employment were to be terminated by DDB other than for cause).

                  DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' LIABILITY INSURANCE

      In August,  1999,  the  Corporation  obtained a one-year  extension to the
two-year  policy of insurance from the Federal  Insurance  Company that had been
purchased in 1998. The 1999 and 2000 premiums are $223,000 for each policy year.
The  Corporation  and the officers  and  directors  of the  Corporation  and its
subsidiaries  are  insured,  subject  to  certain of the  standard  policy  form
exclusions and specified  deductibles,  against losses arising from any claim or
claims  which may be made  against any of the insureds by reason of any wrongful
act in their respective capacities as directors or officers.  The term "wrongful
act" means any error,  misstatement  or misleading  statement,  act or omission,
neglect  or  breach of duty  committed,  attempted  or  allegedly  committed  or
attempted  by the  insureds  or claimed  against  them solely by reason of their
being  directors  or  officers  of  the  Corporation  or  a  subsidiary  of  the
Corporation. Also in August, 1999, the Corporation obtained a one-year extension
to the two-year excess liability policy of insurance from the Federal  Insurance
Company which  provides  additional  limits of coverage for the wrongful acts as
described above. The 1999 and 2000 premiums for this policy are $86,800 for each
policy  year.  To date,  no payments  have been made to the  Corporation  or any
officer or director under these insurance policies or any predecessor policy.

                       INDEMNITY AGREEMENTS WITH DIRECTORS

      Each director of the Corporation has received an Indemnification Agreement
from the  Corporation  which  provides  that  the  Corporation  indemnifies  the
director  against  liabilities  or costs  arising  out of any  alleged or actual
breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement,  misleading statement, omission or
other act  allegedly or actually done or attempted by the director or any matter
claimed  against the  director  solely by reason of serving as a director.  This
indemnification  does not  apply to claims  against  the  director  for libel or
slander, return of remuneration to the Corporation,  or an accounting of profits
from the sale or purchase of securities of the  Corporation  required  under the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, or to claims  against the director  based upon
the director  gaining an illegal  profit or advantage or the  dishonesty  of the
director. This indemnification does not apply to the extent that the director is
entitled to recovery  under the aforesaid  directors'  and  officers'  liability
policies.

                                    AUDITORS

      On the recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Corporation, the Board
of Directors of the Corporation has appointed Arthur Andersen LLP as auditors of
the  Corporation  for 2000,  to serve at the  pleasure of the Board.  Management
recommends a vote "FOR" confirmation by the shareholders.

      Representatives  of Arthur  Andersen LLP are expected to be present at the
Annual  Meeting.  They will be  available to make a statement if they so desire,
and to answer appropriate questions.


                                       14
<PAGE>

    APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO
     INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK AND TO DECREASE THE PAR VALUE PER
                           SHARE OF THE COMMON STOCK

      On March 27, 2000, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution, subject to
shareholder  approval,   amending  the  Corporation's  Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation  to increase  the number of shares of  authorized  common stock by
700,000,000,  from 300,000,000 to 1,000,000,000  shares, and to decrease the par
value of the common  stock from $.50 per share to $.15 per share.  The  proposed
amendment is set forth in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.

      As of March 31, 2000, of the currently  authorized shares of Common Stock,
177,470,814 were outstanding and 10,252,121 were held in treasury.  The proposed
amendment would not increase the number of authorized  preferred  shares,  which
would remain at 7,500,000.

      Although  currently  authorized  shares are  sufficient  to meet all known
needs,  the  Board  of  Directors  considers  it  desirable  that  it  have  the
flexibility to authorize and issue an additional  amount of Common Stock without
further   shareholder   action,   unless  required  by  law  or  stock  exchange
regulations.  This will enhance the Corporation's flexibility in connection with
possible  stock splits,  stock  dividends,  acquisitions,  financings  and other
corporate purposes, should the Board of Directors deem such actions to be in the
best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders.

      At  the  time  the  proposed  amendment  to  the  Corporation's   Restated
Certificate of Incorporation  becomes effective,  and without any further action
on the part of the Corporation or its  shareholders,  each share of Common Stock
with a par  value of $.50  then  issued  and  outstanding  will be  changed  and
reclassified into a fully paid and  non-assessable  share of Common Stock with a
par value of $.15.  The  stated  capital  account  of the  Corporation  would be
decreased  to  reflect  such  change and  reclassification.  This would have the
effect of increasing the surplus account from which the  Corporation  may, under
New York law, pay dividends.  Certificates  representing shares of Common Stock,
par value  $.50 per share  would,  from and  after the time  proposed  amendment
becomes  effective,  represent shares of Common Stock, par value $.15 per share.
Accordingly,  it  would  not  be  necessary  for  any  shareholder  to  exchange
certificates representing currently outstanding shares.

      The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" approval of the adoption of
the Amendment.

                      APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
                        1998 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

      The  1998  Incentive   Compensation  Plan,   originally  approved  by  the
shareholders of the Corporation at the 1998 Annual Meeting, provides performance
incentives to key employees who are largely  responsible  for the management and
growth  of the  business  of the  Corporation  and its  subsidiaries.  The  1998
Incentive Plan permits the Corporation to provide incentive  compensation of the
types  commonly known as stock  options,  performance  incentives and restricted
stock, as well as other types of incentive compensation, and allows non-employee
directors  to elect to receive a portion of their  annual  retainer in shares of
Common Stock.

      The Board of Directors has adopted  amendments to the 1998  Incentive Plan
effective as to awards granted on or after May 17, 2000, and is submitting  such
amendments for approval of the  shareholders of the  Corporation.  The following
description  is a  summary  of the  1998  Incentive  Plan as so  amended  and is
qualified  by  reference to the full text of the 1998  Incentive  Plan  attached
hereto  as  Exhibit  A.  In  the  event  the  shareholders  do not  approve  the
amendments, awards will continue to be made under the existing terms of the 1998
Incentive Plan.

Summary of the 1998 Incentive Plan

      The Proposed  Amendments.  The proposed  amendments to the 1998  Incentive
Plan will extend the term of the plan until  March 24,  2003 and will  replenish
shares available for awards. The amendments provide that the number of shares of
Common Stock  available for awards  generally under the 1998 Incentive Plan from
and after May 17, 2000 will be  8,250,000,  the number of shares  available  for
awards (other than upon exercise of options) from and after May 17, 2000 will be
2,250,000 (of which no more than 100,000 shares granted in any calendar year may
be subject to  restrictions  that lapse less than three  years after the grant),
and the  maximum  amounts  of shares and cash  payments  which may be awarded as
"performance-based  awards"  for  purposes  of Section  162(m) of the Code to an
individual  participant  in any  calendar  year will be  500,000  shares and $10
million.  The  amendments  also eliminate the limitation on the number of shares
that may be subject to incentive stock options.


                                       15
<PAGE>

      Administration.   The  1998   Incentive  Plan  is   administered   by  the
Compensation  Committee,  except  that the  Board of  Directors  determines  the
portion of the annual  retainer a non-employee  director may elect to receive in
shares of Common Stock.

      Shares Available.  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock in respect
of which awards may be granted under the 1998  Incentive Plan from and after May
17, 2000 is 8,250,000.  As of March 31, 2000, the closing price per share of the
Common Stock on the New York Stock  Exchange was  $________.  Shares  subject to
awards that are forfeited may become  available for future  awards.  As of March
31, 2000, ________ shares of Common Stock were the subject of outstanding awards
granted under the 1998 Incentive Plan.

      Eligibility.  Participants may be selected by the  Compensation  Committee
from  among  the key  employees  of the  Corporation  and its  subsidiaries.  In
addition,  non-employee directors may elect to receive shares of Common Stock in
lieu of all or a portion their annual retainer.  Approximately 300 key employees
and 9 non-employee  directors are currently  eligible to participate in the 1998
Incentive Plan.

      Awards.  The 1998  Incentive  Plan provides for the grant of the following
awards.

      Stock  Options.  Options to  purchase  shares of Common  Stock,  including
options  intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the
Code ("ISOs"),  may be awarded under the 1998 Incentive Plan. The exercise price
of an option  will be  determined  by the  Committee  at the time the  option is
granted,  but  generally  may not be less  than the "fair  market  value" of the
Common Stock on the grant date.  Fair market  value  generally is the average of
the high and low sales  prices of Common Stock on the award grant date (or if no
sale is made on such date,  the  weighted  average of the  average  high and low
sales  prices on the next  preceding  day and the next  succeeding  day on which
sales were made).

      The  terms  of each  option,  the  times  at  which  each  option  will be
exercisable,  and provisions  requiring  forfeiture of unexercised options at or
following  termination  of employment  will be  determined  by the  Compensation
Committee.  Options may be exercised by payment of the exercise price in cash or
in Common  Stock,  in a combination  of both, in other awards or other  property
(including  notes or other  obligations to make payment on a deferred  basis, or
through "cashless exercise" arrangements,  to the extent permitted by applicable
law or rules), as the Compensation Committee may determine.

      Restricted  Stock.  Awards of Common  Stock,  subject to  restrictions  on
transfer and to a risk of forfeiture in the event of  termination  of employment
under  certain  circumstances  or other  events,  may be granted  under the 1998
Incentive  Plan. The period during which the shares are restricted will continue
for three  years to five  years  after the grant  date;  however,  up to 100,000
shares of  restricted  stock may be  awarded  in any  calendar  year  subject to
restrictions  lapsing in less than three years. The participant will have all of
the rights of a shareholder with respect to the restricted stock,  including the
rights to vote and to receive  dividends,  unless  otherwise  determined  by the
Compensation Committee.  Dividends or distributions paid in Common Stock will be
restricted to the same extent as the  underlying  shares of Common Stock.  Other
than upon the exercise of options, no more than 2,250,000 shares of Common Stock
may be  awarded  under the 1998  Incentive  Plan  from and  after  May 17,  2000
(including awards in the form of restricted stock). If certificates representing
restricted stock are registered in the name of the participant, the certificates
may bear a legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable
to the restricted stock.

      Performance Incentives.  A "Performance Incentive" is a right to receive a
payment in cash,  Common  Stock or a  combination  of cash and  Common  Stock if
performance  goals are met during a specified  time period  which must be longer
than twelve months;  the performance  goals and time period will be specified by
the Compensation  Committee at the time the Performance  Incentive is granted. A
performance  goal may be the attainment by the  Corporation  (or any subsidiary,
division or  department) of specific  amounts of, or increases in:  earnings per
share, net income,  return on equity,  total stockholder return,  revenue,  cash
flow,  shareholders'  equity,  market  performance,  the  completion  of certain
business  or  capital   transactions,   and/or  any  other  measurement   deemed
appropriate  by the  Compensation  Committee.  These  measures  may be evaluated
either in absolute terms or in relation to other companies.

      Other Awards. The Compensation  Committee may grant shares of Common Stock
as a bonus  and  grant  shares  of  Common  Stock  or  other  awards  in lieu of
obligations  under other plans or compensatory  arrangements.  The  Compensation
Committee  also may grant cash payments,  including  cash bonuses,  whether as a
separate  award or


                                       16
<PAGE>

as a supplement to any stock-based awards, and rights to receive, in tandem with
any  stock-based  award  other  than  restricted  stock,  amounts  equal  to the
dividends paid on a share of Common Stock.

      Other Terms of Awards.  In the discretion of the  Compensation  Committee,
awards may be settled in cash, Common Stock, other awards or other property (and
may be made in a single payment or transfer,  in installments,  or on a deferred
basis). The Compensation  Committee may require or permit  participants to defer
the  distribution  of all or part of an award in accordance  with such terms and
conditions as the  Compensation  Committee may establish,  including  payment of
reasonable interest on any deferred amounts or installments.

      Generally, awards granted under the 1998 Incentive Plan may not be pledged
or encumbered and are not transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent
and  distribution.  The  Compensation  Committee  may  provide  that an award is
transferable,  without consideration,  to family members, as defined in the 1998
Incentive Plan, and to certain family trusts and other entities.

      The  Compensation  Committee  may at any time offer to exchange or buy out
any  previously  granted  award for a payment in cash,  Common  Stock,  or other
awards or property,  subject to the terms of the 1998 Incentive Plan. Except for
anti-dilution adjustments or adjustments in response to unusual or non-recurring
events or to changes in laws or accounting  principles,  the per share  exercise
price of any option or the purchase price of any other award  conferring a right
to purchase Common Stock may not be decreased after the grant, nor may an option
or any such  award be  surrendered  in  exchange  for a new  award  with a lower
exercise or purchase price.  The Corporation may not make,  guarantee or arrange
for a loan to a participant  with respect to the exercise of any option or other
payment in connection with an award.

      The Compensation Committee may grant an award which is intended to qualify
as a  "performance-based  compensation"  under  Section  162(m)  of the  Code (a
"Performance-Based  Award").  The goals for a  Performance-Based  Award  must be
based upon the attainment by the  Corporation  (or any  subsidiary,  division or
department)  of specific  amounts of, or increases in:  earnings per share,  net
income,  operating margin, return on equity, total stockholder return,  revenue,
cash flow,  net worth,  book value,  shareholders'  equity,  market  performance
and/or  the  completion  of certain  business  or  capital  transactions.  These
measures  may be  evaluated  either in  absolute  terms or in  relation to other
companies.  The Compensation Committee will make all determinations necessary to
establish  the terms of the  Performance-Based  Award within  ninety days of the
beginning  of  the  performance  period,  including,  among  other  things,  the
performance  criteria and performance  goals and the dollar amounts or number of
shares of Common Stock payable upon achievement of the performance goals. Before
any compensation pursuant to a Performance-Based Award is paid, the Compensation
Committee must certify in writing that the applicable  goals were achieved.  The
maximum  amount  which  may  be  granted  as  Performance-Based  Awards  to  any
participant  in any calendar year will not exceed 500,000 shares of Common Stock
and cash payments of $10 million.

      Adjustments  upon Changes in  Capitalization,  Merger,  Sale of Assets and
Other Events. In the event of any stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split,
reorganization,  merger,  consolidation,  spin-off,  combination,  repurchase or
share exchange,  or other similar  corporate event,  the Compensation  Committee
will make  equitable  adjustments to (i) the number and kind of shares which may
thereafter  be issued in  connection  with  awards,  (ii) the number and kind of
shares issuable in respect of outstanding  awards,  (iii) the number and kind of
shares  available  under the 1998 Incentive  Plan, and (iv) the exercise  price,
grant price,  or purchase price relating to any award or, if  appropriate,  make
provision for a cash payment with respect to any outstanding award.

      The  Compensation  Committee  also may adjust  performance  conditions and
other  terms of awards in  response  to  unusual  or  nonrecurring  events or to
changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting  principles.  Furthermore,
the Compensation  Committee can waive any condition applicable to any award, and
may adjust any performance  condition specified in connection with any award, if
necessary  to take account of a change in strategy,  performance  of  comparable
companies or other  circumstances.  No adjustment  may be made which would cause
the 1998 Incentive Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code or to adversely
affect   the   status   of   any   outstanding   Performance-Based   Awards   as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code.

      Non-Employee  Directors' Equity Compensation  Election.  Each non-employee
director may elect,  not later than December 15 in each calendar year (or, if he
or  she  commences   service  after  December  15,  within  30  days  after  the
commencement  of  service),  to receive up to the portion of his or her retainer
for the following year's service as the Board of Directors determines (which may
be the entire amount of the annual retainer), exclusive of


                                       17
<PAGE>

any per meeting fees,  committee  fees or expense  reimbursements,  in shares of
Common  Stock.  Payment  in  shares  of Common  Stock  will be made in  arrears,
following  the year in respect of which the election was made.  The total number
of shares  payable  will be based on the fair  market  value of shares of Common
Stock as of December 15  preceding  each year in respect of which an election is
made (or, in the case of a  non-employee  director who  commences  service after
December  15, as of the date of his or her  election),  or if such date is not a
business day, as of the immediately preceding business day.

      Change  in  Control.  In  the  event  of a  "change  of  control"  of  the
Corporation,  all  awards  granted  under  the 1998  Incentive  Plan  (including
Performance-Based Awards) that are outstanding and not yet vested or exercisable
or which are  subject to  restrictions,  immediately  will become 100% vested in
each participant,  exercisable, or free of any restrictions immediately prior to
the first date the change of control is effective.

      A "change of control"  occurs upon:  (i) the  acquisition by any person or
group  (other  than a trustee or other  fiduciary  holding  securities  under an
employee  benefit plan of the  Corporation or a subsidiary) of any securities of
the  Corporation,  which  results in such person or group,  either  beneficially
owning  more than 20% of the  Corporation's  outstanding  voting  securities  or
otherwise  having the ability to elect a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors;  (ii) a change in the composition of the Board of Directors such that
a majority of the members of the Board of  Directors  were not  directors on the
effective  date of the 1998 Incentive Plan (or nominated or elected to the Board
by vote of a majority of such directors);  or (iii) a merger or consolidation of
the Corporation (other than a merger or consolidation  which would result in the
outstanding  voting  securities of the Corporation  continuing to represent,  or
being converted into voting securities  representing,  at least 80% of the total
voting power of the Corporation or surviving entity), a complete  liquidation of
the Corporation,  or the sale or disposition of all or substantially  all of the
Corporation's  assets.  None of the foregoing events will constitute a change of
control if approved in advance by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors who were  directors on the effective  date
of the 1998  Incentive  Plan (or  nominated or elected to the Board by vote of a
majority of such directors).

      Term; Amendment and Termination. The 1998 Incentive Plan will continue for
a period of five years from its  effective  date (until March 24, 2003) or until
earlier termination by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may amend,
alter,  suspend,  discontinue,  or  terminate  the  1998  Incentive  Plan or the
Compensation  Committee's  authority to grant awards thereunder  without further
shareholder approval or the consent of the participants, except that shareholder
approval must be obtained within one year after such Board action if required by
federal or state law or regulation  or under the rules of any stock  exchange or
automated  quotation  system on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.
Unless approved by the shareholders,  no amendment will: (i) change the class of
persons eligible to receive awards; (ii) increase the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to the 1998  Incentive  Plan; or (iii) increase the maximum number
of shares or the maximum dollar amount which may be granted as Performance-Based
Awards to any participant in any calendar year.

      Certain  Federal Income Tax  Consequences.  The following  discussion is a
brief summary of the principal  United States  federal  income tax  consequences
under  current  laws  relating to awards  under the 1998  Incentive  Plan.  This
summary is not  intended to be  exhaustive  and,  among other  things,  does not
describe state, local or foreign income and other tax consequences.

      A  participant  will not  realize  any income  upon the award of an option
(including any other  stock-based award in the nature of a purchase right), or a
Performance  Incentive,  nor  will  the  Corporation  be  entitled  to  any  tax
deduction.

      When a participant  who has been granted an option which is not designated
as an ISO exercises that option and receives Common Stock,  the participant will
generally realize  compensation  income subject to withholding taxes. The amount
of that  compensation  income will equal the excess of the fair market  value of
the Common Stock on the date of exercise of the option over its exercise  price,
and the  Corporation  will  generally be entitled to a tax deduction in the same
amount  and at the same  time as the  compensation  income  is  realized  by the
participant.

      If a  participant  exercises an option which is  designated as an ISO, the
participant  will  generally not realize any income upon the exercise of the ISO
(although  alternative  minimum tax liability may result),  and the  Corporation
will not be entitled to any tax deduction. If the participant sells or exchanges
any of the shares acquired upon the exercise of the ISO more than one year after
the transfer of the shares to the  participant and more than two years after the
date of grant of the ISO,  any gain or loss (based upon the  difference  between
the  amount


                                       18
<PAGE>

realized and the exercise price of the ISO) will be treated as long-term capital
gain or loss to the  participant.  If such sale,  exchange or other  disposition
takes  place  within two years of the grant of the ISO or within one year of the
transfer of shares to the participant,  the sale,  exchange or other disposition
will generally  constitute a  "disqualifying  disposition" of such shares.  As a
result,  to the extent that the gain realized on the  disqualifying  disposition
does not exceed the  difference  between the fair market  value of the shares at
the time of exercise  of the ISO over the  exercise  price,  such amount will be
treated as compensation income in the year of the disqualifying disposition, and
the  Corporation  will be entitled to a deduction  in the same amount and at the
same time as the compensation income is realized by the participant. The balance
of the gain,  if any, will be treated as capital gain and will not result in any
deduction by the Corporation.

      With respect to other  awards  (including a  Performance  Incentive  and a
Dividend  Equivalent  Right)  granted under the 1998  Incentive Plan that may be
settled  either  in cash or in  Common  Stock or other  property  that is either
transferable  or not subject to a substantial  risk of forfeiture  under Section
83(c) of the Code, the participant will realize compensation income equal to the
amount of cash or the fair market  value of the Common  Stock or other  property
received. The Corporation will be entitled to a deduction in the same amount and
at the same time as the compensation income is realized by the participant.

      With respect to awards  involving  Common Stock or other  property that is
both nontransferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture,  unless an
election  is made under  Section  83(b) of the Code,  as  described  below,  the
participant will realize  compensation  income equal to the fair market value of
the Common Stock or other  property  received at the first time the Common Stock
or other property is either transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture.  The Corporation  will be entitled to a deduction in the same amount
and at the same time as the compensation income is realized by the participant.

      Even though  Common  Stock or other  property may be  nontransferable  and
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture,  a participant may elect (within 30
days of  receipt  of the  Common  Stock or other  property)  to include in gross
income the fair market value (determined without regard to such restrictions) of
such Common Stock or other  property at the time  received.  In that event,  the
participant  will not realize  any income at the time the Common  Stock or other
property either becomes  transferable or is not subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture,  but if the participant  subsequently  forfeits such Common Stock or
other  property,  the  participant's  loss would be  limited  only to the amount
actually paid for the Common Stock or other property. While such Common Stock or
other  property  remains  nontransferable  and subject to a substantial  risk of
forfeiture,  any  dividends  or  other  income  will be  taxable  as  additional
compensation income.

      The Board of Directors  recommends a vote "FOR"  amendment and restatement
of the 1998 Incentive Plan.

                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

      Shareholders  wishing to present resolutions at the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders must submit copies of such proposed  resolutions to the Corporation
at its  executive  offices,  437  Madison  Avenue,  New  York,  New York  10022,
Attention: Corporate Secretary, no later than December 6, 2000 in order for such
proposed  resolutions to be considered for inclusion in the Corporation's Notice
of Meeting, Proxy Statement and proxy relating to the 2001 Annual Meeting.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

      The  Corporation's   by-laws  require  that  there  be  furnished  to  the
Corporation  written  notice  with  respect  to the  nomination  of a person for
election as a director (other than a person  nominated by or at the direction of
the Board of Directors),  as well as the submission of a proposal  (other than a
proposal  submitted  by or at the  direction of the Board of  Directors),  at an
annual meeting of  shareholders.  In order for any such nomination or submission
to be  proper,  the notice  must  contain  certain  information  concerning  the
nominating or proposing shareholder and the nominee or the proposal, as the case
may be, and must be furnished to the  Corporation not less than 60 days prior to
the meeting,  which, in the case of the 2000 Annual Meeting, was March 17, 2000.
A copy of the applicable by-law provisions may be obtained, without charge, upon
written request to the Secretary of the  Corporation at its principal  executive
offices.


                                       19
<PAGE>

      In the  event  that  the  Corporation  receives  notice  of a  shareholder
proposal  prior to the  date  specified  by its  by-laws,  then,  so long as the
Corporation  includes in its proxy statement  advice on the nature of the matter
and how the named proxies intend to vote the shares for which they have received
discretionary authority,  such proxies may exercise discretionary authority with
respect to such matter,  subject to limited exceptions.  The Corporation has not
received notice of any matters to be submitted for  consideration  at the Annual
Meeting other than those set forth in the accompanying notice and,  accordingly,
if any matters properly come before the Annual Meeting for action,  the enclosed
proxy will be voted on such matters in accordance  with the best judgment of the
persons named in the proxy.

                              COST OF SOLICITATION

      The cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the  Corporation.  In
addition  to  solicitation  by mail,  directors,  officers,  and  other  regular
employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries may solicit proxies personally
by telephone or by telefax. The Corporation will reimburse persons holding stock
in their  names or those of their  nominees  for their  reasonable  expenses  in
sending proxy  material to their  principals  and obtaining  their  proxies.  In
addition,  the  Corporation  has retained  D.F. King & Co. Inc. to assist in the
solicitation of proxies,  and will pay a fee of up to $12,500 plus reimbursement
of out-of-pocket expenses for such services.

      Shareholders are urged to send in their proxies without delay.

                                       By order of the Board of Directors

                                                BARRY J. WAGNER
                                                  Secretary

New York, New York
April 11, 2000


                                       20
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
               INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED
         SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FROM 300,000,000 SHARES TO 1,000,000,000
          SHARES AND TO DECREASE THE PAR VALUE OF THE COMMON STOCK FROM
                        $.50 PER SHARE TO $.15 PER SHARE

Article Fourth of the Corporation's  Restated Certificate of Incorporation would
be amended to read in its entirety as follows:

      "FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock which the  Corporation  will
have authority to issue is 1,007,500,000 shares. Of these,  1,000,000,000 shares
are classified as Common Stock,  par value $.15 per share,  and 7,500,000 shares
are classified as Preferred  Stock,  par value $1.00 per share. At the effective
time of the  amendment  to this Article  decreasing  the par value of the Common
Stock to $.15 per  share,  and  without  any  further  action on the part of the
Corporation or its shareholders,  each share of Common Stock with a par value of
$.50 then issued and outstanding  shall be changed and reclassified into a fully
paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock with a par value of $.15.

      The Board of Directors is  authorized  to divide the  7,500,000  shares of
Preferred  Stock from time to time into one or more series,  and to determine or
change by resolution  for each series its  designation,  the number of shares of
the series and the  powers,  preferences  and  rights,  and the  qualifications,
limitations  or  restrictions  of the shares of the series.  The  resolution  or
resolutions  of the Board of Directors  providing  for the division of Preferred
Stock into series within a class may include the following provisions:

      (1) The  distinctive  designation of each series and the maximum number of
shares of each series which may be issued, which number may be increased (except
where  otherwise  provided by the Board of  Directors in creating the series) or
decreased  (but not below the number of shares of the series  then  outstanding)
from time to time by action of the Board of Directors;

      (2) Whether the holders of the shares of each series are  entitled to vote
and, if so, the matters on which they are entitled to vote,  the number of votes
to which the holder of each share is  entitled,  and  whether  the shares of the
series are to be voted separately or together with shares of other series;

      (3) The  dividends  to which  holders  of  shares of each  series  will be
entitled; any restrictions,  conditions or limitations upon the payment of those
dividends; whether the dividends will be cumulative and, if cumulative, the date
or dates from which the dividends will be cumulative;

      (4) Whether the shares of one or more series will be subject to redemption
and, if so, whether  redemption will be mandatory or optional,  and if optional,
at whose option,  the manner of selecting shares for redemption,  the redemption
price and the manner of redemption;

      (5) The amount payable on shares of each series if there is a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, which amount may vary at different
dates and depending upon whether the  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up is
voluntary or involuntary;

      (6) The  obligation,  if any, of the  Corporation  to maintain a purchase,
retirement or sinking fund for shares of each series;

      (7) Whether the shares of one or more series will be convertible  into, or
exchangeable  for,  any other types of  securities,  either at the option of the
holder  or of the  Corporation  and,  if so,  the  terms of the  conversions  or
exchanges;

      (8) Any other provisions regarding the powers, preferences and rights, and
the  qualifications,  limitations or restrictions,  of each series which are not
inconsistent with applicable law.

      All  shares of a series of  Preferred  Stock will be  identical  with each
other in all respects,  except that shares of any one series issued at different
times may  differ as to the dates  from  which  dividends  on those  shares,  if
cumulative, shall cumulate."


                                      A-1
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                               OMNICOM GROUP INC.
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                        1998 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

1. Purpose of the Plan

      The purpose of the Omnicom Group Inc.  Amended and Restated 1998 Incentive
Compensation Plan (the "Plan") is to further the interests of Omnicom Group Inc.
(the  "Company") and its  shareholders  by providing  performance  incentives to
those  key  employees  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  who  are  largely
responsible for the management and growth of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and to strengthen the link of non-employee directors of the Company
directly with the interests of the shareholders.

2. Definitions

      For  purposes  of the Plan,  the  following  terms shall be defined as set
forth below:

      (a) "Award" means any Option,  Performance  Incentive,  Restricted  Stock,
Stock  granted as a bonus or in lieu of cash or other  obligations  under  other
plans or compensatory  arrangements,  cash payments,  including cash bonuses, or
Dividend Equivalent Right granted to a Participant under the Plan.

      (b) "Award Agreement" means the written agreement,  instrument or document
evidencing an Award.

      (c) "Change of Control" means and includes each of the following:  (i) the
acquisition,  in one or more transactions,  of beneficial  ownership (within the
meaning of Rule  13d-3  under the  Exchange  Act) by any person or entity or any
group of persons or  entities  who  constitute  a group  (within  the meaning of
Section  13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act),  other than a trustee or other fiduciary
holding  securities  under  an  employee  benefit  plan  of  the  Company  or  a
Subsidiary,  of any  securities  of the Company  such that,  as a result of such
acquisition,  such person,  entity or group either (A) beneficially owns (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly,  more
than 20% of the Company's  outstanding  voting securities  entitled to vote on a
regular  basis for a majority  of the members of the Board of  Directors  of the
Company or (B) otherwise  has the ability to elect,  directly or  indirectly,  a
majority of the members of the Board;  (ii) a change in the  composition  of the
Board of  Directors  of the  Company  such that a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors  of the Company are not  Continuing  Directors;  or (iii) the
consummation  of a  merger  or  consolidation  of the  Company  with  any  other
corporation  which has been approved by the  shareholders of the Company,  other
than a merger or  consolidation  which would result in the voting  securities of
the Company  outstanding  immediately  prior  thereto  continuing  to  represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving  entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the
voting   securities  of  the  Company  or  such  surviving  entity   outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the consummation of a plan of
complete  dissolution or liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale
or  disposition  by  the  Company  of  (in  one  or  more  transactions)  all or
substantially  all of the  Company's  assets  which  has  been  approved  by the
shareholders of the Company.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, the preceding events shall not be deemed to
be a Change of Control if, prior to any transaction or transactions causing such
change,  a majority of the  Continuing  Directors  shall have voted not to treat
such transaction or transactions as resulting in a Change of Control.

      (d) "Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended from time
to time.

      (e)  "Committee"  has the  meaning  attributed  to such term in  Section 3
hereof.

      (f) A "Continuing  Director" means, as of any date of  determination,  any
member of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  who (i) was a member of such
Board on the  effective  date of the Plan or (ii) was  nominated for election or
elected to such Board with the affirmative  vote of a majority of the Continuing
Directors  who were  members  of such  Board at the time of such  nomination  or
election.

      (g)  "Dividend   Equivalent   Amount"  means  the  amount  resulting  from
multiplying  (i) the dividend per share of Stock  payable on a dividend  payment
date by (ii) the number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock-Based Award with
respect to which a Dividend Equivalent Right is granted.


                                      B-1
<PAGE>

      (h) "Dividend  Equivalent Right" means a right granted to a Participant to
receive with respect to any  Stock-Based  Award  (other than  Restricted  Stock)
granted to such Participant the Dividend  Equivalent  Amount on the payment date
of each  dividend  on Stock  during  the  period  from the date of grant of such
Stock-Based Award to the final payment of such Stock-Based Award.

      (i) "Exchange Act" means the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.

      (j) "Fair Market Value"  means,  with respect to Stock,  Awards,  or other
property,  the  fair  market  value of such  Stock,  Awards,  or other  property
determined by such methods or procedures  as shall be  established  from time to
time by the  Committee  in good faith and in  accordance  with  applicable  law.
Unless  otherwise  determined by the  Committee,  the Fair Market Value of Stock
shall  mean the mean of the high and low sales  prices of Stock on the  relevant
date as reported on the stock exchange or market on which the Stock is primarily
traded,  or if no sale is made on such date,  then the Fair  Market  Value shall
mean the  weighted  average of the mean of the high and low sales  prices of the
Stock on the next preceding day and the next  succeeding day on which such sales
were made,  as  reported  on the stock  exchange or market on which the Stock is
primarily traded.

      (k) "ISO" means any Option  designated as an incentive stock option within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

      (l)  "Non-Employee  Director" means any director of the Company who is not
also an employee of the Company or of a Subsidiary.

      (m) "Option"  means a right granted to a  Participant  pursuant to Section
6(b)  hereof to  purchase  Stock at a  specified  price  during  specified  time
periods.  An Option may be either an ISO or a nonstatutory Option (an Option not
designated as an ISO).

      (n) "Participant" has the meaning  attributed to such term in Section 3(a)
hereof  and  includes,  to the extent  applicable  hereunder,  any  Non-Employee
Director who elects to receive Stock pursuant to Section 8 hereof.

      (o)  "Performance-Based  Award" has the meaning attributed to such term in
Section 7(g) hereof.

      (p)  "Performance  Incentive"  means  a  right  granted  to a  Participant
pursuant  to  Section  6(c)  hereof to  receive a  payment  in cash,  Stock or a
combination  of cash and  Stock,  if  specified  performance  goals are met in a
specified time period of more than twelve months.

      (q)  "Restricted  Stock" means Stock awarded to a Participant  pursuant to
Section 6(d) hereof that may be subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of
forfeiture.

      (r) "Stock" means the common stock, $0.50 par value, of the Company.

      (s)  "Stock-Based  Award" means a right that may be denominated or payable
in, or valued in whole or in part,  by reference to the market value of,  Stock,
including Options, Performance Incentives, Restricted Stock and Stock granted as
a bonus or as an Award in lieu of cash payments.

      (t) "Subsidiary" means any corporation that is a subsidiary of the Company
within  the  meaning  of  Section  424(f) of the Code,  and any  entity  that is
organized  as a limited  liability  company in which the  Company,  directly  or
indirectly,  possesses  50% or more of the voting  power of all  members of such
limited liability company entitled to vote.

3. Administration of the Plan

      The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation  Committee of the Board
of Directors of the Company (the  "Committee").  Except to the extent  expressly
set forth in Section 8 hereof or elsewhere herein,  the Committee shall have and
exercise all power and authority  under the Plan. Any action of the Committee in
administering  the Plan shall be final,  conclusive  and binding on all persons,
including  the  Company,  its  Subsidiaries,  employees,  Participants,  persons
claiming rights from or through Participants and shareholders of the Company.

      Subject to the provisions of the Plan,  the Committee  shall have full and
final  authority  in its  discretion  (a) to select the key  employees  who will
receive Awards pursuant to the Plan ("Participants"),  (b) to determine the type
or types of Awards to be  granted  to each  Participant,  (c) to  determine  the
number  of  shares  of  Stock  to which an Award  will  relate,  the  terms  and
conditions of any Award granted under the Plan  (including,  but not limited to,


                                      B-2
<PAGE>

restrictions as to transferability  or forfeiture,  exercisability or settlement
of  an  Award  and  waivers  or  accelerations   thereof,   and  waivers  of  or
modifications to performance conditions relating to an Award, based in each case
on such  considerations  as the Committee shall determine) and all other matters
to be determined in connection with an Award; (d) to determine whether,  to what
extent,  and under what  circumstances an Award may be settled,  or the exercise
price of an Award may be paid, in cash,  Stock,  other Awards or other property,
or an Award  may be  cancelled,  forfeited,  or  surrendered;  (e) to  establish
performance  goals and to determine  whether,  and to certify that,  performance
goals to which the  settlement  of an Award is  subject  are  satisfied;  (f) to
correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any  inconsistency in the
Plan,  and to adopt,  amend and rescind  such rules and  regulations  as, in its
opinion, may be advisable in the administration of the Plan; and (g) to make all
other   determinations   as  it  may  deem   necessary  or  advisable   for  the
administration  of the Plan.  The Committee may delegate to officers or managers
of the  Company or any  Subsidiary  or to  unaffiliated  service  providers  the
authority,  subject to such terms as the Committee shall  determine,  to perform
administrative  functions  and to perform such other  functions as the Committee
may determine,  to the extent permitted under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act,
Section 162(m) of the Code and applicable law.

4. Participation in the Plan

      Participants in the Plan shall be selected by the Committee from among the
key  employees of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  and shall  include,  to the
extent applicable hereunder, Non-Employee Directors electing to receive Stock in
accordance with Section 8 hereof.

5. Maximum Amount Available for Awards

      (a) Basic Limitation. Subject to the provisions of Sections 5(b), 5(c) and
9(a)  hereof,  the maximum  number of shares of Stock in respect of which Awards
may be granted under the Plan from and after May 17, 2000 is 8,250,000 shares of
Stock.  If  shares of Stock  that are  issued  under  the Plan are  subsequently
forfeited  (or if an Award  with  respect  to shares of Stock is  forfeited)  in
accordance  with the terms of the Award,  the  forfeited  shares of Stock  shall
immediately  be added back to the number of shares of Stock then  available  for
Awards under the Plan from and after May 17, 2000.

      (b) Aggregate  Limitation on  Non-Option  Awards of Stock.  Subject to the
provisions  of Section  9(a)  hereof,  the maximum  number of shares of Stock in
respect of which Awards may be granted  under the Plan (other than upon exercise
of Options)  from and after May 17, 2000 is  2,250,000  shares of Stock.  If any
such shares of Stock that are issued under the Plan are  subsequently  forfeited
(or if an Award with respect to shares of Stock is forfeited) in accordance with
the terms of the Award, the forfeited shares of Stock shall immediately be added
back to the number of shares of Stock then  available  for Awards under the Plan
(other than upon exercise of Options) from and after May 17, 2000.

      (c) Shares  Available for Issuance.  Shares of Stock may be made available
from the  authorized  but unissued  shares or from shares held in the  Company's
treasury and not reserved for some other purpose.  If an Award is payable solely
in cash,  no  shares  of Stock  shall be  deducted  from the  number  of  shares
available for issuance under this Section 5 by reason of such Award.

6. Awards

      (a) General.  Awards may be granted on the terms and  conditions set forth
in this Section 6. In  addition,  the  Committee  may impose on any Award or the
exercise  thereof,  at the date of grant or thereafter  (subject to Section 9(a)
hereof),  such  additional  terms  and  conditions,  not  inconsistent  with the
provisions  of the Plan,  as the  Committee  shall  determine,  including  terms
requiring  forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the
Participant  and  terms  of  partial   payments  for  partial   achievements  of
performance goals; provided, however, that the Committee shall retain full power
to  accelerate  or waive any such  additional  term or  condition as it may have
previously imposed. All Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

      (b) Options.  The Committee may grant Options to Participants (in the case
of ISOs,  limited to the  Participants  who are key employees of the Company and
any  subsidiary  within  the  meaning  of  Section  424(f)  of the  Code) on the
following terms and conditions:


                                      B-3
<PAGE>

            (i)  Exercise  Price.  The  exercise  price of each Option  shall be
      determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted, but (except
      as provided in Section 7(a) hereof) the exercise price of any Option shall
      not be less than the Fair  Market  Value of the  shares  of Stock  covered
      thereby at the time the Option is granted.

            (ii) Time and Method of Exercise.  The Committee shall determine the
      time or times at which an  Option  may be  exercised  in whole or in part,
      whether the exercise price shall be paid in cash, by the surrender at Fair
      Market Value of shares of Stock,  in any combination of cash and shares of
      Stock,  in other Awards,  or in other property  (including  notes or other
      contractual  obligations  of  Participants  to make  payment on a deferred
      basis, such as through  "cashless  exercise"  arrangements,  to the extent
      permitted  by  applicable  law),  and the  methods by which  Stock will be
      delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.

            (iii) ISOs. The terms of any Option granted under the Plan as an ISO
      shall comply in all  respects  with the  provisions  of Section 422 of the
      Code, including,  but not limited to, the requirement that no ISO shall be
      granted more than ten years after the effective date of the Plan.

      (c)  Performance   Incentives.   The  Committee  is  authorized  to  grant
Performance Incentives to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

            (i) Performance  Criteria and Period.  At the time it makes an award
      of  Performance  Incentives,   the  Committee  shall  establish  both  the
      performance goal or goals and the performance period or periods applicable
      to the  Performance  Incentive so awarded.  A performance  goal shall be a
      goal,  expressed  in  terms  of  the  attainment  by  the  Company  or any
      Subsidiary, division or department of specific amounts of, or increase in,
      one or more of the  following,  any of which  may be  measured  either  in
      absolute  terms or as compared to another  company or companies:  earnings
      per  share,  net  income,  return on  equity,  total  stockholder  return,
      revenue,  cash flow,  shareholders'  equity, market performance and/or the
      completion  of  certain  business  or  capital   transactions,   or  other
      measurement  deemed  appropriate by the Committee.  The performance period
      will be the period of time over which one or more of the performance goals
      must be achieved, which may be of such length longer than twelve months as
      the Committee, in its discretion, shall select.

            (ii)  General.  Neither the  performance  goals nor the  performance
      periods need be identical  for all  Performance  Incentives at any time or
      from  time to  time.  The  Committee  shall  have  the  authority,  in its
      discretion,  to accelerate the time at which any  performance  period will
      expire or waive or modify  the  performance  goals of any  Participant  or
      Participants.  The Committee may also make such adjustments, to the extent
      it  deems  appropriate,  to the  performance  goals  for  any  Performance
      Incentive  awarded to compensate for, or to reflect,  any material changes
      which may have occurred in accounting  practices,  tax laws, other laws or
      regulations,  the  financial  structure  of the Company,  acquisitions  or
      dispositions  of business  or  Subsidiaries  or any unusual  circumstances
      outside  of  management's  control  which,  in the  sole  judgment  of the
      Committee,  alters or affects the computation of such performance goals or
      the  performance  of the Company or any relevant  Subsidiary,  division or
      department.

      (d)  Restricted  Stock.  The Committee is  authorized to grant  Restricted
Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

            (i)  Restricted  Period.  Restricted  Stock awarded to a Participant
      shall  be  subject  to such  restrictions  on  transferability  and  other
      restrictions for such periods as shall be established by the Committee, in
      its discretion,  at the time of such Award,  which  restrictions may lapse
      separately or in combination as the Committee may determine, provided that
      such restrictions shall lapse not less than three years nor more than five
      years after the grant of such Award.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the
      Committee,  in its discretion,  may grant awards of Restricted Stock of up
      to 100,000  shares of Stock in any calendar year in the form of Restricted
      Stock subject to restrictions on  transferability  and other  restrictions
      which may lapse less than three years after the grant of such Award.

            (ii)  Forfeiture.  Restricted  Stock  shall  be  forfeitable  to the
      Company upon  termination of employment  during the applicable  restricted
      periods. The Committee,  in its discretion,  whether in an Award Agreement
      or  anytime  after  an Award is  made,  may  accelerate  the time at which
      restrictions  or  forfeiture  conditions  will  lapse or  remove  any such
      restrictions, including upon death, disability or retirement, whenever the
      Committee  determines  that such  action is in the best  interests  of the
      Company.


                                      B-4
<PAGE>

            (iii)  Certificates  for Stock.  Restricted  Stock granted under the
      Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine.  If
      certificates  representing  Restricted Stock are registered in the name of
      the  Participant,   such  certificates  may  bear  an  appropriate  legend
      referring to the terms,  conditions  and  restrictions  applicable to such
      Restricted Stock.

            (iv) Rights as a Shareholder. Subject to the terms and conditions of
      the  Award  Agreement,  the  Participant  shall  have all the  rights of a
      shareholder  with respect to shares of Restricted  Stock awarded to him or
      her, including,  without limitation, the right to vote such shares and the
      right to receive all dividends or other distributions made with respect to
      such shares. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Stock, the
      Stock shall be subject to  restrictions  and a risk of  forfeiture  to the
      same extent as the  Restricted  Stock with  respect to which the Stock has
      been distributed.

      (e)  Stock  as a  Bonus  or in Lieu of  Cash  or  Other  Obligations.  The
Committee is  authorized  to grant Stock as a bonus,  or to grant Stock or other
Awards in lieu of Company or Subsidiary obligations to pay cash or deliver other
property under other plans or compensatory  arrangements.  Stock or other Awards
granted  under  this  Section  6(e)  shall be  subject to such terms as shall be
determined by the Committee.

      (f) Cash  Payments.  The Committee is  authorized,  subject to limitations
under  applicable  law, to grant to Participants  cash payments,  including cash
bonuses, whether awarded separately or as a supplement to any Stock-Based Award.
The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards.

      (g) Dividend  Equivalent  Rights.  The  Committee is  authorized  to grant
Dividend  Equivalent  Rights payable in cash, Stock or a combination of cash and
Stock in tandem with any Stock-Based  Awards (other than Restricted  Stock). The
Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards.

7. Additional Provisions Applicable to Awards

      (a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards. Awards granted
under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee,  be granted either alone
or in addition  to, in tandem  with,  or in  substitution  for,  any other Award
granted  under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Company
or any  Subsidiary,  or any  business  entity  acquired  by the  Company  or any
Subsidiary,  or any other right of a  Participant  to receive  payment  from the
Company or any Subsidiary.  If an Award is granted in  substitution  for another
Award or award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award or
award  in  consideration  for the  grant of the new  Award.  Awards  granted  in
addition to, or in tandem with,  other Awards or awards may be granted either as
of the same time as, or a different time from, the grant of such other Awards or
awards.  The per share  exercise  price of any Option or  purchase  price of any
other Award conferring a right to purchase Stock:

            (i) granted in substitution for an outstanding Award or award, shall
      be not less  than the  lesser of (A) the Fair  Market  Value of a share of
      Stock at the date such substitute Award is granted or (B) such Fair Market
      Value at that date,  reduced to reflect the Fair Market Value at that date
      of the Award or award required to be  surrendered by the  Participant as a
      condition to receipt of the substitute Award; or

            (ii)  retroactively  granted in tandem with an outstanding  Award or
      award,  shall not be less than the  lesser of the Fair  Market  Value of a
      share of Stock at the date of grant of the  later  Award or at the date of
      grant of the earlier Award or award.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in Section 9 hereof, the
per share exercise price of any Award that is an Option or the purchase price of
any other Award  conferring a right to purchase Stock may not be decreased after
the grant of the  Award,  and an Award  that is an  Option  or any  other  Award
conferring a right to purchase Stock may not be surrendered as  consideration in
exchange  for the grant of a new Award that is an Option  with a lower per share
exercise  price or any other Award  conferring  a right to  purchase  Stock at a
lower purchase price.

      (b) Exchange and Buy Out  Provisions.  The Committee may at any time offer
to  exchange  or buy out any  previously  granted  Award for a payment  in cash,
Stock, other Awards (subject to Section 7(a) hereof), or other property based on
such terms and conditions as the Committee  shall determine and communicate to a
Participant at the time that such offer is made.

      (c)  Performance  Conditions.  The right of a  Participant  to exercise or
receive a grant or  settlement  of any  Award,  and the timing  thereof,  may be
subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee.


                                      B-5
<PAGE>

      (d) Term of  Awards.  The term of each  Award  shall,  except as  provided
herein,  be for such period as may be  determined  by the  Committee;  provided,
however, that in no event shall the term of any ISO exceed a period of ten years
from the date of its grant (or such shorter  period as may be  applicable  under
Section 422 of the Code).

      (e) Form of Payment.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any  applicable
Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary
upon the grant,  exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as
the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other
Awards,  or other property (and may be made in a single payment or transfer,  in
installments,  or on a deferred  basis),  in each case  determined in accordance
with rules adopted by, and at the discretion  of, the Committee.  (Such payments
may  include,  without  limitation,  provisions  for the payment or crediting of
reasonable  interest on  installments  or deferred  payments.) The Committee may
authorize  payment  upon the  exercise  of an  Option by net  issuance  or other
cashless exercise methods and may permit a Participant to pay the exercise price
upon the  exercise of an Option by  authorizing  a third party to sell shares of
Stock (or a  sufficient  portion of the shares)  acquired  upon  exercise of the
Option and remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay
the entire exercise price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise.

      (f) No Loans. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary may make,  guarantee,
or arrange for a loan or loans to a Participant  with respect to the exercise of
any Option or other payment in connection with any Award.

      (g) Awards to Comply with Section  162(m).  The  Committee may (but is not
required to) grant an Award pursuant to the Plan to a Participant which Award is
intended to qualify as "performance-based  compensation" under Section 162(m) of
the Code (a "Performance-Based Award"). The right to receive a Performance-Based
Award,  other than Options granted at not less than Fair Market Value,  shall be
conditional  upon  the  achievement  of  performance  goals  established  by the
Committee in writing at the time such  Performance-Based  Award is granted. Such
performance   goals,   which  may  vary  from  Participant  to  Participant  and
Performance-Based  Award to  Performance-Based  Award,  shall be based  upon the
attainment by the Company or any Subsidiary,  division or department of specific
amounts of, or increases in, one or more of the  following,  any of which may be
measured  either  in  absolute  terms  or as  compared  to  another  company  or
companies:  earnings per share, net income,  operating margin, return on equity,
total  stockholder   return,   revenue,   cash  flow,  net  worth,  book  value,
shareholders'  equity,  market  performance  and/or  the  completion  of certain
business or capital  transactions.  The Committee shall make all  determinations
necessary to establish the terms of the Award within 90 days of the beginning of
the  performance  period (or such other time period as is required under Section
162(m)),  including,  without limitation,  the designation of the Participant to
whom the  Performance-Based  Award is to be made,  the  performance  criteria or
criterion  applicable to the Award and the performance goals that relate to such
criteria,  and the dollar  amounts or number of shares of Stock payable upon the
achievement  of  the  applicable  performance  goals.  Before  any  compensation
pursuant to a  Performance-Based  Award is paid, the Committee  shall certify in
writing that the performance  goals  applicable to the  Performance-Based  Award
were in fact achieved.

      The maximum amount which may be granted as Performance-Based Awards to any
Participant  in any  calendar  year  shall not  exceed  (i)  Stock-Based  Awards
(whether  payable  in cash or stock)  for  500,000  shares of Stock,  subject to
adjustment  as provided in Section  9(a) hereof,  and (ii) cash  payments of $10
million.

      (h) Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control of the Company,
all Awards granted under the Plan (including  Performance-Based Awards) that are
still  outstanding  and not yet vested or  exercisable  or which are  subject to
restrictions  shall become  immediately 100% vested in each  Participant,  shall
become exercisable or shall be free of any restrictions immediately prior to the
first date that the  definition  of Change of Control  has been  satisfied,  and
shall be exercisable for the remaining duration of the Award.

8. Non-Employee Directors' Equity Compensation Election

      Each  Non-Employee  Director shall have the right to elect, not later than
December  15 in each  calendar  year  during  the  term of the  Plan  (and  each
Non-Employee  Director who commences  service as such after such date shall have
the  right to elect,  not later  than 30 days  after  the  commencement  of such
service),  to receive up to such portion of such Non-Employee  Director's annual
retainer  for the  following  year's  service (or in the case of a  Non-Employee
Director  who  commences  service  as such after  January  1, for the  remaining
portion  of the year) as a director  as the Board of  Directors  of the  Company
shall determine (which may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors,  be the
entire  amount of the  annual  retainer),  exclusive  of any per  meeting  fees,
committee  fees or


                                      B-6
<PAGE>

expense reimbursements, in shares of Stock. The Board of Directors shall, or may
delegate to the Committee the authority to,  prescribe the forms of election and
of the agreement embodying the terms and conditions  applicable to such payments
in  shares  of  Stock,  including  appropriate  adjustments  in  the  event  the
Non-Employee  Director's  services as a director are terminated prior to the end
of the year with  respect to which he or she made such an  election.  Payment in
shares of Stock  shall be made in arrears on the  January 15 (or such other date
on or about  January 15 as the Board of Directors may  designate)  following the
calendar  year in respect of which the  election  was made.  The total number of
shares of Stock  payable to a  Non-Employee  Director  pursuant  hereto shall be
determined  by  dividing  that  portion  (or  all,  as the  case  may be) of the
Non-Employee  Director's  annual  retainer  to be paid in shares of Stock by the
Fair  Market  Value of  shares  of Stock as of the  December  15  preceding  the
calendar  year in  respect of which the  election  was made (or in the case of a
Non-Employee  Director who commences  service after such date, as of the date of
his  or  her  election),  or if  such  date  is not a  business  day,  as of the
immediately  preceding business day, provided that no fractional shares shall be
issued and any amount in lieu thereof shall be paid in cash.

9. Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization; Acceleration in Certain Events

      (a)  Changes  in  Capitalization.  In the event that the  Committee  shall
determine that any stock  dividend,  recapitalization,  forward split or reverse
split, reorganization,  merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase
or share exchange,  or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the
Stock or the book value of the Company such that an adjustment is appropriate in
order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the
Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable,  adjust
any or all of (i) the number and kind of shares of Stock which may thereafter be
issued in  connection  with Awards,  (ii) the number and kind of shares of Stock
issuable in respect of outstanding  Awards,  (iii) the aggregate number and kind
of shares of Stock available under the Plan, and (iv) the exercise price,  grant
price, or purchase price relating to any Award or, if deemed  appropriate,  make
provision for a cash payment with respect to any  outstanding  Award;  provided,
however,  in each case,  that no adjustment  shall be made which would cause the
Plan to  violate  Section  422(b)(1)  of the Code with  respect to ISOs or would
adversely affect the status of a Performance-Based  Award as  "performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code.

      (b) Other  Adjustments.  In addition,  the Committee is authorized to make
adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards
in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation,
events  described  in the  preceding  paragraph)  affecting  the  Company or any
Subsidiary,  or in  response  to changes in  applicable  laws,  regulations,  or
accounting  principles.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  no adjustment shall be
made  in any  outstanding  Performance-Based  Awards  to the  extent  that  such
adjustment would adversely affect the status of that Performance-Based  Award as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code.

10. General Provisions

      (a) Changes to the Plan and Awards.

            (i) The Board of Directors of the Company may amend, alter, suspend,
      discontinue,  or terminate the Plan or the Committee's  authority to grant
      Awards under the Plan without the consent of the Company's shareholders or
      Participants,  except  that any such  amendment,  alteration,  suspension,
      discontinuation,  or  termination  shall be subject to the approval of the
      Company's  shareholders  within one year  after such Board  action if such
      shareholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation
      or the rules of any stock exchange or automated  quotation system on which
      the Stock may then be listed or quoted,  and the Board may  otherwise,  in
      its discretion,  determine to submit other such changes to the Plan to the
      shareholders for approval;  provided, however, that without the consent of
      an   affected   Participant,   no   amendment,   alteration,   suspension,
      discontinuation,  or  termination of the Plan may materially and adversely
      affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore  granted
      and any Award  Agreement  relating  thereto.  The  Committee may waive any
      conditions or rights under,  or amend,  alter,  suspend,  discontinue,  or
      terminate,  any Award theretofore granted and any Award Agreement relating
      thereto;  provided,  however,  that  (A) no  such  amendment,  alteration,
      suspension,  discontinuation or termination may be made to the extent that
      it would  adversely  affect  the  status of a  Performance-Based  Award as
      "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code; and (B)
      without  the  consent  of an  affected  Participant,  no  such


                                      B-7
<PAGE>

      amendment,  alteration,  suspension,  discontinuation  or termination  may
      materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant  under such
      Award.

            (ii)  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  (A) any performance  condition
      specified  in  connection  with  an  Award  shall  not be  deemed  a fixed
      contractual term, but shall remain subject to adjustment by the Committee,
      in its discretion,  at any time in view of the  Committee's  assessment of
      the Company's  strategy,  performance of comparable  companies,  and other
      circumstances,  except  to  the  extent  that  any  such  adjustment  to a
      performance   condition   would   adversely   affect   the   status  of  a
      Performance-Based Award as "performance-based  compensation" under Section
      162(m) of the Code;  and (B) unless  approved by the  shareholders  of the
      Company,  no amendment  will: (x) change the class of persons  eligible to
      receive Awards;  (y) increase the number of shares of Stock subject to the
      Plan as set forth in Section 5 hereof;  or (z) increase the maximum number
      of  shares  or  the  maximum   dollar  amount  which  may  be  granted  as
      Performance-Based  Awards to any  Participant  in any calendar year as set
      forth in Section 7(g) hereof.

      (b) No Right to Award or Employment;  Shareholder  Rights.  No employee or
other  person  shall have any claim or right to receive an Award under the Plan.
Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any
employee  any  right  to be  retained  in  the  employ  of  the  Company  or any
Subsidiary.  There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants.
No Award shall confer on any  Participant  any of the rights of a shareholder of
the  Company  unless  and  until  Stock is duly  issued  or  transferred  to the
Participant in accordance with the terms of the Award.

      (c) Taxes.  The Company or any  Subsidiary  is authorized to withhold from
any Award granted or any payment relating to an Award under the Plan,  including
from a  distribution  of Stock or any payroll or other payment to a Participant,
amounts of withholding  and other taxes due in connection  with any  transaction
involving  an Award,  and to take such other  action as the  Committee  may deem
advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy  obligations for the
payment of withholding  taxes and other tax  obligations  relating to any Award.
This  authority  shall  include  authority to withhold or receive Stock or other
property  and to make cash  payments  in respect  thereof in  satisfaction  of a
Participant's tax obligations.

      (d) Limits on Transferability;  Beneficiaries.  No Award or other right or
interest  of a  Participant  under the Plan  shall be  pledged,  encumbered,  or
hypothecated  to,  or in favor  of,  or  subject  to any  lien,  obligation,  or
liability  of such  Participant  to,  any party,  other than the  Company or any
Subsidiary,  or assigned or  transferred by such  Participant  otherwise than by
will or the laws of descent and  distribution,  and such Awards and rights shall
be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or
his or her guardian or legal representative.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Committee  may,  in its  discretion,  provide  that  Awards  or other  rights or
interests of a Participant  granted  pursuant to the Plan (other than an ISO) be
transferable,  without consideration,  to family members. For purposes hereof, a
"family member" shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent,
grandparent,  spouse,  sibling,  niece,  nephew,  mother-in-law,  father-in-law,
son-in-law,   daughter-in-law,   brother-in-law,  or  sister-in-law,   including
adoptive  relationships,  any person sharing the Participant's  household (other
than a tenant or employee),  a trust in which these persons have more than fifty
percent of the beneficial  interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the
Participant)  control the  management  of assets,  and any other entity in which
these  persons (or the  Participant)  own more than fifty  percent of the voting
interests.  The Committee may attach to such transferability  feature such terms
and conditions as it deems  advisable.  In addition,  a Participant  may, in the
manner  established  by the Committee,  designate a beneficiary  (which may be a
person or a trust) to exercise the rights of the Participant, and to receive any
distribution,  with  respect to any Award upon the death of the  Participant.  A
beneficiary,  guardian, legal representative or other person claiming any rights
under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and
conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement  applicable to such  Participant,
except  as  otherwise  determined  by  the  Committee,  and  to  any  additional
restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

      (e)  Discretion.  In  exercising,  or declining to exercise,  any grant of
authority or  discretion  hereunder,  the  Committee may consider or ignore such
factors  or  circumstances  and may  accord  such  weight  to such  factors  and
circumstances as the Committee alone and in its sole judgment deems  appropriate
and without  regard to the effect such exercise of, or  declination to exercise,
such grant of authority or discretion would have upon the affected  Participant,
any  other  Participant,   any  employee,  the  Company,  any  Subsidiary,   any
shareholder or any other person.


                                      B-8
<PAGE>

      (f) Term;  Effective  Date.  The  effective  date of the Plan is March 24,
1998.  The Plan shall  continue  for a period of five years from such  effective
date until March 24, 2003,  or such earlier date as it may be  terminated by the
Board of  Directors  as provided  herein.  No Award shall be made under the Plan
from and after such termination date.

      (g)  Shareholder  Approval.  The Plan, as amended and restated as provided
herein, is effective as of May 17, 2000, subject to shareholder approval. In the
event such approval of the shareholders is not obtained, Awards will continue to
be made subject to the terms of the Plan prior to its amendment and restatement.


                                      B-9
<PAGE>

                                      PROXY

                               OMNICOM GROUP INC.
                               437 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022

This proxy is solicited  on behalf of the Board of  Directors  and will be voted
FOR the election of Directors and FOR proposals 2, 3 and 4 if no instructions to
the contrary are indicated.

The undersigned  hereby appoints  RANDALL J.  WEISENBURGER  and Barry J. Wagner,
jointly and  severally,  proxies,  with the power of  substitution  and with the
authority  in each to act in the  absence of the  other,  to vote all shares the
undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 16,
2000 or postponements  or adjournments  thereof on all matters that may properly
come before the meeting, and particularly to vote as hereinafter indicated.  The
undersigned  hereby  acknowledges  receipt  of the  Notice of Annual  Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement dated April 11, 2000.

                (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            * FOLD AND DETACH HERE *

<PAGE>

                                                               Please mark
                                                              your votes as  |X|
                                                               indicated in
                                                               this example

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

1.    THE ELECTION OF SEVEN  DIRECTORS.  Nominees Robert J. Callander,  Susan S.
      Denison,  John R.  Murphy,  John R. Purcell and Linda J. Rice for a 3 year
      term,  Nominee Michael  Greenlees for a 2 year term and Nominee Richard I.
      Beattie for a 1 year term.

FOR all nominees listed                   WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
except as marked to                       to vote for all nominees
the contrary                              listed

      |_|                                         |_|

(INSTRUCTION:  To withhold authority to vote for any individual  nominee,  print
that nominee's name below).

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

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

2. CONFIRMATION OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
   AS AUDITORS OF THE CORPORATION
   FOR THE YEAR 2000.

                 FOR          AGAINST       ABSTAIN
                 |_|            |_|           |_|

3. APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE CORPORATION'S RESTATED
   CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
   AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK AND TO DECREASE THE PAR
   VALUE PER SHARE OF THE COMMON STOCK.

                 FOR          AGAINST       ABSTAIN
                 |_|            |_|           |_|

4. APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
   OMNICOM GROUP INC. 1998 INCENTIVE
   COMPENSATION PLAN

                 FOR          AGAINST       ABSTAIN
                 |_|            |_|           |_|

Signature ______________________________________________________________________
Signature if held jointly _______________________ Dated: _________________, 2000

Please sign exactly as your name appears.  If stock is held in the name of joint
holders,  each should  sign.  If you are signing as a trustee,  executor,  etc.,
please so indicate.  Please mark,  sign, date and mail this card promptly in the
postage prepaid return envelope provided.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            * FOLD AND DETACH HERE *



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission