Settlement ups Ogilvy odds of keeping drug-office biz; $152 mil account, to be awarded in March, is still a long shot for shop.(News)(Brief Article)

Advertising Age, February, 2002

Byline: IRA TEINOWITZ

Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide's $1.8 million settlement with the White House anti-drug office will improve the agency's long-shot odds of retaining the drug-office account now in review. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is slated to award its $152 million account early next month; Ogilvy remains in the competition.

On Feb. 4, the Justice Department said Ogilvy agreed to pay $689,744 in cash immediately, then submit new certified bills for its work for the National Office of Drug Control Policy in 1999 and 2000, with a deduction of $1,150,256.

The settlement costs the shop some immediate cash, but clears the way for the WPP Group agency to get some long-overdue bills paid.

``This settlement...

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