The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Omnicom Group has struck a $13.25-billion all-stock deal to buy rival Interpublic Group of Companies, creating the world's largest advertising agency as traditional players look to better compete with Big Tech amid accelerating use of artificial intelligence (all figures U.S.). A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that the deal, announced Monday, could attract regulatory scrutiny as it seeks to merge the world's third-largest ad buyer, Omnicom, with the fourth-largest -- Interpublic. Interpublic investors will receive 0.344 Omnicom share for each share held, or $35.58 based on Omnicom's last close. This represents a premium of 21.6 per cent to Interpublic's close on Friday. "We are pretty confident this is not going to create any regulatory issues. The world isn't divided into four companies -- you have things like Google, Facebook, Amazon servicing people's marketing needs," Omnicom chief executive officer John Wren said on a call with analysts. "Also, there's reason to believe that the change in administration [in the U.S.] will make it more friendly to business." The combined company would have revenue of more than $25-billion. Mr. Wren will lead the new company.