UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )* The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 460690100 (CUSIP Number) October 9, 2003 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [X] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP: 460690100 Page 1 of 51 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Capital Group International, Inc. 95-4154357 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION California 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 29,276,370 6 SHARED VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES NONE BENEFICIALL Y OWNED BY 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER EACH REPORTING 31,245,340 PERSON WITH: 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER NONE 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 31,245,340 Beneficial ownership disclaimed pursuant to Rule 13d-4 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 8.0% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) HC CUSIP: 460690100 Page 2 of 5 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 Schedule 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Amendment No. Item 1(a) Name of Issuer: The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020 Item 2(a) Name of Person(s) Filing: Capital Group International, Inc. Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: 11100 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025 Item 2(c) Citizenship: N/A Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock Item 2(e) CUSIP Number: 460690100 Item 3 If this statement is filed pursuant to sections 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: N/A Item 4 Ownership Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. See page 2 (a) Amount beneficially owned: (b) Percent of class: (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: CUSIP: 460690100 Page 3 of 5 Capital Group International, Inc. ("CGII") is the parent holding company of a group of investment management companies that hold investment power and, in some cases, voting power over the securities reported in this Schedule 13G. The investment management companies, which include a "bank" as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") and several investment advisers registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, provide investment advisory and management services for their respective clients which include registered investment companies and institutional accounts. CGII does not have investment power or voting power over any of the securities reported herein. However, by virtue of Rule 13d-3 under the Act, CGII may be deemed to "beneficially own" 31,245,340 shares or 8.0% of the 391,598,170 shares of Common Stock believed to be outstanding. Shares reported by Capital Group International, Inc., include 146,620 shares resulting from the assumed conversion of $1,821,000 principal amount of the 144A 4.50% Convertible Note, due 3/15/23; and include 52,550 shares resulting from the assumed conversion of $2,983,000 principal amount of the 1.87% Convertible Subordinate Note, due 6/1/06. Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following: [ ] Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: N/A Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person. 1. Capital Guardian Trust Company (CGTC) 2. Capital International Limited (CIL) 3. Capital International S.A. (CISA) 4. Capital International Research and Management, Inc. dba Capital International, Inc. (CII) Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group: N/A Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of Group: N/A Item 10 Certification By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. CUSIP: 460690100 Page 4 of 5 Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: October 17, 2003 Signature: *David I. Fisher Name/Title: David I. Fisher, Chairman Capital Group International, Inc. *By /s/ Michael J. Downer Michael J. Downer Attorney-in-fact Signed pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated January 30, 2003 included as an Exhibit to Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Capital Group International, Inc. on February 10, 2003 with respect to Acclaim Entertainment Inc CUSIP: 460690100 Page 5 of 5