Welcome to Yahoo Finances Morning Brief. I'm Julie Hyman. On this Tuesday, February 17th, we of course are coming off of a holiday weekend and also some turmoil in the markets, especially in tech, even as stocks move towards record highs.So, let's take a look at what's going on in the futures this morning on the back of all of that in the wake of all that with that as the backdrop. And we still have some stocks under pressure this morning. The Dow futures indicating a drop of about 72 points at the open. S& ...

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Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is concerned about potential employee departures if Paramount's Skydance successfully acquires the company over Netflix, which could lead to job insecurity among its workforce [1][2]. Group 1: Employee Concerns - WBD's board expressed that there may be significant employee and talent losses during the pre-closing period if Paramount's bid is selected over Netflix's [2]. - The board highlighted that the issue of employee retention has been a persistent concern, previously mentioned in a January filing [2]. Group 2: Financial Implications - Paramount has promised investors $6 billion in cost savings, which WBD's board believes would likely result from workforce reductions due to overlapping business operations [6]. - Netflix has indicated it expects to save between $2 billion and $3 billion if it acquires WBD's assets, primarily through reduced licensing costs rather than significant layoffs [7]. Group 3: Bidding Details - Netflix's bid stands at $27.75 per share for WBD's most valuable assets, while Paramount has proposed $30 per share for the entire company, including its cable networks [8]. - Both bids are all-cash offers, and the final decision may hinge on the valuation of WBD's TV networks and the extent of Paramount's willingness to increase its bid [8].

Warner Brothers Discovery setting a special meeting date to March 20th and unanimously recommending uh shareholders vote for the Netflix merger, but it's giving Paramount an opportunity to negotiate a better deal. David Faber joins us now. David, all over the weekend, you know, I saw other financial types all saying, "Look, uh, there's things under the surface here, uh, going on in terms of Paramount and Warner Brothers and something is likely uh to be happening." Um, can you make sense of of what it actual ...

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has reopened negotiations with Paramount Skydance, allowing Paramount seven days to present its best and final offer to surpass an existing agreement with Netflix [1][2]. Group 1: Negotiation Dynamics - WBD has maintained its binding agreement with Netflix while rejecting multiple enhanced offers from Paramount, leading to a hostile $108.4 billion takeover attempt directly with shareholders [1]. - WBD has set a deadline of February 23 for Paramount to submit its best and final offer, indicating that the board has not yet determined if Paramount's proposal could lead to a superior transaction compared to the Netflix merger [2]. - A special waiver from Netflix was secured by WBD's board to initiate discussions with Paramount, emphasizing the company's commitment to the Netflix transaction while remaining open to potential offers from Paramount [3]. Group 2: Offer Details and Implications - Paramount has increased its offer for WBD to $30.01 per share and has proposed to cover a $2.8 billion fee owed to Netflix if it withdraws from the deal, along with a multibillion-dollar refinancing plan to reduce $1.5 billion in costs [6]. - A "ticking fee" of approximately $650 million in cash will be added each quarter if the deal is not finalized by the end of the year [7]. - Paramount has backed its offer with a $40 billion personal equity guarantee from Larry Ellison, and plans to nominate new board members at WBD to challenge the Netflix deal [8]. Group 3: Strategic Considerations - The Netflix deal, valued at $82.7 billion, would allow Netflix to acquire WBD's key assets, including Warner Bros and HBO, while the global networks operation will be spun off into a separate entity for WBD investors [5][6]. - Analysts suggest that setting a final offer date will expedite the merger process and provide Paramount an opportunity to make its strongest bid, although the current offers are already substantial [5].

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is navigating a competitive landscape with Paramount, as Paramount has made a $30-per-share tender offer for WBD shareholders after losing a bidding war for a media empire [3][4] - Netflix has granted WBD a seven-day waiver to reengage with Paramount, indicating ongoing negotiations and potential adjustments to the offer [4][6] - Paramount has hinted at a willingness to increase its offer to $31 per share if discussions resume, showcasing the high stakes involved in this negotiation [5][8] Group 1: Company Actions - WBD is attempting to maximize shareholder value and maintain optionality in its dealings with Paramount [6][7] - Paramount's strategy includes enhancing its offer while avoiding significant cash increases, indicating a complex negotiation dynamic [4][6] - The upcoming shareholder meeting on March 20 is critical for all parties involved, as it may determine the future direction of negotiations [7] Group 2: Market Reactions - Both Paramount and WBD shares experienced a 3% increase in premarket trading, reflecting investor interest in the ongoing negotiations [7] - The situation has drawn attention from analysts and investors, highlighting the drama and competitive nature of the media industry [8]

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is set to resume negotiations with Paramount Skydance, following a revised offer from Paramount that could reignite competition with Netflix for the acquisition of WBD [1]. Group 1: Acquisition Offers - Paramount Skydance has increased its all-cash offer for WBD to $30 per share, which includes a $2.8 billion termination fee to Netflix and a "ticking fee" of $650 million for WBD shareholders [1]. - A representative from Paramount indicated a willingness to raise the offer to $31 per share if WBD engages in meaningful discussions regarding the deal [2]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The potential bidding war for WBD is heating up, with Netflix also having made an offer to acquire the company [3].

Warner said it had restarted negotiations after Paramount signaled it would be willing to raise its offer to $31 a share. ...

Warner Bros. Discovery reopens sale talks with Paramount while setting a date in March to vote on its proposed deal with Netflix https://t.co/NztfulAESu ...

Group 1 - Activist investor Jana Partners has acquired a stake in Fiserv and is urging the company to take actions to improve its declining share price [1] - Fiserv's shares increased by 6.5% in premarket trading following the news [1] - The company's stock has experienced a significant decline, dropping over 67% in 2025 [1]