How to read the tea leaves in stalled arrangement $ 8b paramount-scydance

Everyone is reading the tea leaves these days in the seemingly stagnant agreement permanently $ 8 billion-paramount.

Tellers Fortune Wall Street continue to seek data if heir Paramount Shari Redstone will pay to President Trump what he wants to repay a $ 20 billion lawsuit against his CBS subsidiary?

If it does, will it be enough to get the agreement approved by its broadcast regulators.

In money there are at least in part to cut Malayy – and tell you that the last tea leaves being examined closely are (as a certain playwright once said) full of sounds and rage, implying nothing.

One of those tea leaves led to the suggestion that Paramount fired people earlier this week, a 3% large enough for its current workforce because it is planning that the deal will not pass.

The extensions of such a size usually occur not when two pairs will join, but long ago, or when there is no agreement in the works. The thought is that current management is changing business size because they plan to function primary for the predictable future.

While in the money was the first to report, the high bronze of paramount – besides Redstone (it is repealed itself because of the possible salary) – is careful about Trump’s payment optics so that Shari can be removed with what has the eggs left by her father, the late Redstone union, Redstone.

They are afraid of opening the company on bribery charges by resolving the frivolous lawsuit – claiming that “60 minutes” fraudulently edited an interview with Kamala Harris in the campaign heat (Trump won the election, so there is no damage) – that the provision of their directors and officers not cover if some prosecutors have a case.

All truth, but dismissals from work had little to do with the future of the agreement, in one way or the other, people close the transaction told about the money.

Skydance had planned to own paramount so far, and was planning the same cuts to make the numbers work before they can invest and grow business, sources said.

With the deal in limbo, Paramount just did it first, so switch that tea leaf outside your list.

The second tea leaf is a little more interesting, though I have been told, just as useless for the result of the agreement.

It includes the appearance of the Skydance chief David Ellison Rings in a UFC 314 war in Miami a few weeks ago with Trump, who was shaking hands and dealing with the likes of Joe Rogan and Shaquille O’Neal.

The conversation of tea leaves here speculated that the deal is again-Trump cannot wait to approve it as a favor for David’s father, and Trump Bestie, Larry Ellison. Why would Trump be seen with Larry’s baby if he was to steal it?

Except, guess who else was ring while Trump made his way through the crowd? Elon Musk, yes he Elon who had just called Trump some really bad names. As bad as earlier this week, Elon released a half apology. He was sitting with his son, not far from Ellison and the young Trump.

So pass it too, the observers of the deals tell me.

For now, those looking for data on how this cramp is over will have to turn a new tea leaf.