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


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

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

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) OF

                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




Date of Report                                          Commission file number
October 24, 2000                                                1-6686
----------------                                        ----------------------


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

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


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


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



Item 5.   Other Events.

On October 20, 2000, The Interpublic  Group of Companies  completed the issuance
and sale of $500 million  principal  amount of senior  unsecured notes due 2005.
The notes bear an interest  rate of 7.875% per annum.  The Company  used the net
proceeds of  approximately  $495.5  million  from the sale of the notes to repay
outstanding  indebtedness  under its  credit  facilities.  The  notes  have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


         Exhibits.

         99.1     Senior Debt Indenture dated as of October 20, 2000, relating
                  to the 7.875% Notes due 2005

         99.2     Underwriting Agreement dated as of October 17, 2000, relating
                  to the 7.875% Notes due 2005





                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                              THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF
                                                COMPANIES, INC.



Date: October 24, 2000                    By: /s/ Nicholas J. Camera
                                              -----------------------------
                                              Nicholas J. Camera
                                              SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL
                                              COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "SALE OF 5-YEAR NOTES", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2962}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES INC", "cik": "0000051644", "assigned-sic": "7311", "irs-number": "131024020", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-06686", "film-number": "744846"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1271 AVE OF THE AMERICAS", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10020", "phone": "2123998000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "136 MADISON AVENUE, 6TH FLOOR", "street2": "4TH FLOOR", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10016"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "MCCANN ERICKSON INC", "date-changed": "19710715"}}
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

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

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) OF

                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report                                          Commission file number
October 24, 2000                                                1-6686
----------------                                        ----------------------

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

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

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

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

Item 5.   Other Events.

On October 20, 2000, The Interpublic  Group of Companies  completed the issuance
and sale of $500 million  principal  amount of senior  unsecured notes due 2005.
The notes bear an interest  rate of 7.875% per annum.  The Company  used the net
proceeds of  approximately  $495.5  million  from the sale of the notes to repay
outstanding  indebtedness  under its  credit  facilities.  The  notes  have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         Exhibits.

         99.1     Senior Debt Indenture dated as of October 20, 2000, relating
                  to the 7.875% Notes due 2005

         99.2     Underwriting Agreement dated as of October 17, 2000, relating
                  to the 7.875% Notes due 2005

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                              THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF
                                                COMPANIES, INC.

Date: October 24, 2000                    By: /s/ Nicholas J. Camera
                                              -----------------------------
                                              Nicholas J. Camera
                                              SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL
                                              COUNSEL AND SECRETARY