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Predictions that the Los Angeles Lakers would miss the playoffs were considered bold at midseason, when Anthony Davis was nursing another injury, Russell Westbrook's inefficiencies were glaring and LeBron James was carrying too great a burden for a 19-year veteran about to face a brutal second-half schedule.

All remain true, and it is starting to feel inevitable that the Lakers will miss the playoffs. What's worse: James suffered an ankle injury he described as "horrible" in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Lakers coach Frank Vogel declared James doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers (31-43) might not even make the play-in tournament. They are clinging to 10th place in the Western Conference, just half a game ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the final play-in spot. They split their season series, and the Spurs currently own the tiebreaker by way of a superior conference record.

It is not as though the Lakers are trying to lose. Their first-round draft pick belongs to New Orleans if they finish with a bottom-10 record and Memphis otherwise. They currently own the league's ninth-worst record.

They have been that bad, and it could get worse.

Six of the Lakers' final eight games are against the West's top six seeds, and that does not include a rematch against the ninth-place Pelicans, who will benefit twofold from Los Angeles missing the playoffs.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James' status for Tuesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks is doubtful. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

The Spurs, meanwhile, beat the bottom-feeding Houston Rockets on Monday and will host a two-game set against the tanking Portland Trail Blazers over the weekend. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would relish the opportunity to oust his longtime rivals from the postseason, and a few wins might be all he needs to do it.

The Lakers have the second-hardest remaining schedule. The Spurs are fifth in that regard.

Davis just completed his first practice six weeks removed from a right mid-foot sprain. He has played 10 games since mid-December, when he suffered a sprained left MCL. Even before then, he was performing well below expectations. There is no telling how much Davis can help over the next two weeks, if at all.

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James' 30.1 points per game lead the NBA, and his 37.2 minutes a night rank third among all players. He is 37 years old and has exceeded 40 minutes in five of his last nine games, including 42 minutes in Sunday's collapse against the Pelicans, the majority of which came after his ankle injury. This is concerning territory.

The Lakers have a negative net rating in meaningful minutes whether or not James or Davis have been in the lineup this season. They are being outscored by 6.6 points per 100 possessions when neither takes the court a bottom-six efficiency level. Force either or both to play the equivalent of playoff basketball for the rest of this season on bad feet, and the Lakers risk injuries that could further limit their chances next year.

The Lakers started Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Austin Reaves, Wenyen Gabriel and Stanley Johnson when James rested a sore left knee last week. Reaves is an undrafted rookie. Gabriel and Johnson did not appear on NBA rosters before Christmas. Howard, the future Hall of Famer, is barely a bit player in his 18th season.

And Westbrook? On only 16 occasions in NBA history has a regular rotational contributor posted a player efficiency rating below 15 and a usage rate greater than 27 for a single season. Westbrook will join that group. Antoine Walker is the only player ever to generate that level of high-volume inefficiency for a playoff team (the 2002-03 Boston Celtics). The last thing the Lakers want to do is hand the keys to Westbrook.

They might not have a choice. DJ Augustin, who signed on March 1, is the only other available point guard on the roster, save for part-time ballhandler Malik Monk. There is no one left to trust beyond James. He is now doubtful, and Westbrook may be the Lakers' best option a month after they tried to dump his contract.

This very well could be the most disappointing season in Lakers history. The closest comparison is the 2012-13 edition that featured Steve Nash and Howard on the infamous Sports Illustrated cover that read, "Now this is going to be fun." That team required 45.5 minutes per game from Kobe Bryant over a late-season stretch of six wins in seven games just to make the playoffs, which ended with his ruptured Achilles.

The Lakers proceeded to miss the playoffs for the next six years. The arrivals of James and Davis saved the franchise from ineptitude for a season, winning the 2020 championship in the bubble, but the Lakers are on a downslope again losing in the first round last season and still fighting for their playoff life late this year.

Missing the play-in tournament would be an embarrassment for a team that features an iconic player and four of the top 75 (plus Howard, who deserved to be on that list). But be honest: Entering the play-in with 30-something wins, needing two wins to make the playoffs, is nothing to text home about. The Lakers have not won consecutive games since beating the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings on Jan. 4 and 7, and it has not been a year since James said of the play-in, "Whoever came up with that s needs to be fired."

Now, it is his only chance, and even that glimmer of hope wanes each day. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the Spurs are now four times as likely to make the playoffs as the Lakers. Imagine that. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard underdog long shots.

Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach

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LeBron James is doubtful, and so are the Lakers' playoff hopes - Yahoo Sports

Ryan Garcia is just 23 years old and still looks like he only needs to shave every four days or so. Hes just getting started in life, with so much to learn about the world and how it works.

Most of us thought we knew it all when we were 23, only to discover after another 23 years of living how much we still have to learn.

Garcia worked out for the media in San Diego on Tuesday in preparation for his fight in San Antonio on DAZN against Emmanuel Tagoe on April 9. Banners on the wall dubbed the fight The Return, which in many ways was discomfiting because 23-year-olds should be just beginning, not trying to start over.

But here was Garcia, now trained by Joe Goossen, preparing to fight for the first time since an impressive finish of Luke Campbell on Jan. 2, 2021, in Dallas. On that night, after Garcia finished the one-time Olympic gold medalist with a wicked body shot to win the interim WBC lightweight title, Garcia seemed ready, to borrow a phrase from Teofimo Lopez, to take over.

His arrow was pointing up and he was being trained not only by the best trainer in the world but working alongside Canelo Alvarez, the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.

He was only 22 at the time and superstardom seemed at hand.

Now, 14 months later, were ready for The Return, with as many questions as answers.

On April 24, he withdrew from a planned defense of the interim WBC belt against Javier Fortuna to manage his health and well-being. Garcia announced he was fighting mental health issues and stepped away from the sport for a while.

It was the wisest decision he could have made, shrewd beyond his 22 years at the time.

Ryan Garcia, 23, appears to be wise beyond his years. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Mental health is far too often ignored, and those who talk about it are treated as pariahs by many. Thankfully, thats changing, and Garcia received an outpouring of support, though it was not as widespread as it should have been.

We know what broken bones and torn ligaments are and, as lay people, can accept those and understand the timeframe to return. We know what cancer is and have had enough bad experiences with it to wish full blessings on anyone who may happen to get it.

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Mental health issues are not as clearly defined and easy to understand. Theyre impossible to see, and so if we cant see it and touch it, we tend to wonder if it exists.

We expect our athletes, fighters in particular, to be tough and to grit their teeth and work their way through injuries. We see fighters with massive cuts that impair their vision, or with broken bones in their hands, bravely soldier on, and wonder why someone who isnt damaged, has no visible injury, cant do the same.

Garcia, who is 21-0 with 18 knockouts, used a boxing analogy to explain his illness.

I got knocked out for the first time in my life and I took it well, he said. I reacted the way I imagined I would.

Alvarez was harsh. He told Complex that he felt Garcia was wasting his talent and spoke out in an attempt to motivate him.

Garcia was supposed to come back to fight Jojo Diaz in October, but suffered a hand injury that required surgery.

Alvarez questioned whether Garcia is fully committed to the sport that has, already, given him so much.

Look, Ryan has a lot of talent, Alvarez told Complex. But to me in my eyes, hes wasting a lot of time and wasting his talent. I look at him and dont see him 100 percent dedicated and, to us, thats a bad signal.

Alvarez and Garcia's former trainer, Eddy Reynoso, would know better than just about anyone whether the young fighter works hard enough in the ring. They were around him every day.

Alvarez is great because he has natural talent, but hes got a work ethic that few can match. Hes like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in that regard. They were the most physically talents of their eras, but they also worked the hardest to maximize that ability.

But dont misinterpret Alvarezs words about Garcia. Garcia did 100 percent the right thing withdrawing from the Fortuna fight and addressing his mental health issues.

Garcias choice of Goossen as his new trainer is curious if one looks at Garcia as a malingerer of sorts, a guy who doesnt give his all to his job.

Goossen is a notoriously hard-nosed trainer who will call his fighters out for a lack of effort. Rare is a Goossen-trained fighter who is not in peak physical condition. So if youre not prepared to go all out in pursuit of greatness, why willingly seek out Goossen?

It doesnt make much sense.

Goossen knew Garcia from afar, and said his impressions of the talented 23-year-old have been confirmed since they began to work together.

"I knew he had something special, Goossen said. We got along and there was something about him that appealed to me personality-wise and fighting-wise. Hes really attacking this like hes obsessed and possessed. Im genuinely impressed.

Its easy to be impressed by Ryan Garcia: By the ear-to-ear smile, by the massive social media following, by the fast hands and the crunching power.

But Im impressed with Garcia for a lot more than that. Hes a leader at 23, and wise enough to know that despite how tough he is, he has nothing to prove to anyone. You have to take care of a mental health issue just like you have to take care of a cold, or a sprained ankle, or a migraine headache.

Admitting to a mental health issue didnt make Ryan Garcia weak.

It just showed how smart he really is.

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The supremely talented Ryan Garcia remains on the right track - Yahoo Sports

The big shareholder groups in MSD Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:MSDA) have power over the company. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Companies that have been privatized tend to have low insider ownership.

MSD Acquisition is a smaller company with a market capitalization of US$705m, so it may still be flying under the radar of many institutional investors. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it seems that institutions own shares in the company. We can zoom in on the different ownership groups, to learn more about MSD Acquisition.

View our latest analysis for MSD Acquisition

ownership-breakdown

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

MSD Acquisition already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see MSD Acquisition's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

earnings-and-revenue-growth

Hedge funds don't have many shares in MSD Acquisition. MSD Sponsor Holdings, LLC is currently the largest shareholder, with 20% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 4.2% and 3.5%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 52% of the ownership is controlled by the top 12 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

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While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. As far as we can tell there isn't analyst coverage of the company, so it is probably flying under the radar.

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of MSD Acquisition Corp. in their own names. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. It seems the board members have no more than US$1.5m worth of shares in the US$705m company. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

With a 30% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over MSD Acquisition. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

It seems that Private Companies own 20%, of the MSD Acquisition stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 4 warning signs for MSD Acquisition (2 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free free list of interesting companies.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Could The MSD Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:MSDA) Ownership Structure Tell Us Something Useful? - Yahoo Finance

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With Hasbro's stock (HAS) hovering at a 52-week low, the battle with its new activist investor Alta Fox Capital is heating up.

Alta Fox founder Connor Haley tells Yahoo Finance his firm a 2.5% holder in Hasbro has been rebuffed in its effort to reach a settlement.

We've got a world class slate of advisers, and they are all collectively stunned at the level of entrenchment of the current Hasbro board. I think we went well out of our way to offer a beyond reasonable settlement," Haley told Yahoo Finance.

Haley says it sought a compromise of adding one of its nominees to Hasbro's board and the creation of a capital allocation committee. The company didn't agree, signaling to Haley it may add two new gaming executives to its board shortly in a defensive move.

"Hasbro is committed to engaging with all shareholders in a constructive and thoughtful manner. In keeping with that commitment, Hasbros Board of Directors and management team have had multiple conversations with Alta Fox to listen to its views and attempt to come to a resolution of this campaign in a manner that is in the best interests of all shareholders. Hasbro will shortly file its preliminary proxy statement containing the companys position on these matters," a Hasbro spokesperson told Yahoo Finance via email.

UKRAINE - 2021/03/21: In this photo illustration a Hasbro logo is seen on a smartphone and a pc screen. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Haley launched his activist campaign the most high-profile one yet for Alta Fox back in February. Haley contends Hasbro could be worth $200 a share if the company spins off its lucrative Wizards of the Coast business. The firm also put forth a slate of five new directors to Hasbro's board.

Hasbro has said it believes in its brand blueprint strategy put forth by former CEO Brian Goldner. It's a plan expected to be executed upon by new CEO Chris Cocks.

The activist added that he suggested to Hasbro that it spins off part of Wizards of the Coast while retaining a stake, which could help it potentially maximize value of the asset and attract key talent.

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With talks at a standstill, Haley says he wouldn't be surprised if there is a hostile bid for Hasbro.

"It would not surprise me at all if somebody came around and said look, we're gonna bid for the whole company in a hostile way. It would not surprise me at all, and we've had a lot of inbound inquiries among investment firms that have a history of doing just that," Haley added.

Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn.

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Hasbro activist investor Alta Fox: We are stunned that company is not compromising - Yahoo Finance

If you feel swept up in all the hype surrounding Ethereums impending upgrade, you arent alone.

Google searches for Ethereum merge have seen an uptick over the past 12 months, recently hitting a peak.

Along with all the interest, Ethers price has seen a boost as well. It hit a two-and-a-half month high this morning when it neared $3,350. Its currently trading at around $3,406, up 6% in the last 24 hours, and almost 19% in the last week.

Why all the hype? Investors might be experiencing a bit of FOMO, or fear of missing out, Ilan Solot, a partner at the Tagus Capital Multi-Strategy Fund, a blockchain-focused venture capital fund, told CoinDesk.

"FOMO is kicking for ETH pre-merge.

So, is the FOMO warranted? Maybe a little bit.

After all, the merge is a really big deal, Matt Hougan, Bitwise Asset Management chief investment officer, told Fortune. The market will be pricing this change in for months. If the merge is successful, ETH will be one of the most popular crypto assets for institutional investors for the foreseeable future.

Heres whats driving all the feels.

Ethereum currently relies on whats known as proof-of-work, in which miners must complete complex puzzles to validate transactions and create new coins. This process requires a huge amount of computer power, and is often criticized due to its environmental impact.

With the planned upgrade, Ethereum is moving to proof-of-stake, which would let users validate transactions according to how many coins they contribute, or stake.

If it happens as planned, the merge would be an important milestone for several reasons.

For one, crypto mining on Ethereum would become obsolete, which would reduce the blockchains environmental impact substantially. The supply of Ether after the merge would also likely begin to decline, because fewer coins are expected to be issued post-merge, thereby increasing scarcity and price. Blockchain security against potential attack will supposedly improve. And because of all the aforementioned upgrades, institutional investment in the Ethereum network is expected to increase.

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Though theres no official timeline for the merge yet, some predict it might happen this summer.

All of this has translated into a boost in Ethers price, which is reflected in its current jump.

I think ETH's strong performance recently is due in part to anticipation of the merge, Hougan said.

An increase in mainstream media attention surrounding the merge may also be contributing to the hype, and subsequent FOMO.

I think non-crypto natives are becoming aware of the merge for the first time. There really wasn't much discussion of the merge outside of crypto channels until a few weeks ago, he said. Now that the mainstream media is picking up on it, and institutional investors are hearing about it, people are realizing what a big deal it is.

While the potential for the merge to complete successfully is cause for understandable excitement, it's worth noting, of course, that it's not without risk: It's a very high stakes technological upgrade, and there are risks it could be delayed or there could be issues in the implementation, Hougan said.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Ethereum is approaching the merge and crypto investors are having major FOMO - Yahoo Finance

BOSTON, March 29, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starry, Inc. (the "Company" or "Starry"), a next generation licensed fixed wireless technology developer and internet service provider, today became a publicly listed company trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") with its Class A common stock under the new ticker symbol "STRY." Starry completed the previously announced transaction with FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corp. on March 29, 2022.

Starrys executive management team and co-founding team were on-hand for the ringing of the opening bell at NYSE on March 29, 2022, to celebrate the company's public listing.

"Starry was founded with a singular mission: to transform how broadband networks were built so that we could meaningfully improve peoples lives with faster, better, more affordable internet access," said Chet Kanojia, co-founder and CEO of Starry. "Today marks the next chapter in Starrys journey. Im deeply proud of our team and the company we have built."

Starry believes broadband is essential and is committed to delivering on its mission offering customers a superior internet service that is fast, reliable, uncapped and competitively-priced, while also working to improve digital access and equity. Starry has successfully deployed its gigabit network in six U.S. cities including Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Denver, and Columbus, OH covering more than 5.3 million households. As a publicly listed company, Starry intends to further develop its offerings and expand its network to bring better broadband to more Americans.

Starrys executive leadership team spans decades of experience across a diverse set of technology and telecommunications companies and includes:

Chaitanya "Chet" Kanojia, co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Joseph Lipowski, co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer

Alex Moulle-Berteaux, co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer

Komal Misra, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

Virginia Lam Abrams, co-Founder and Executive Vice President, Government Affairs & Strategic Advancement

William Lundregan, Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President

Jeremy MacKechnie, Executive Vice President, Head of People and Customer Experience

Brian Regan, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Chief of Staff

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Starrys new Board of Directors likewise delivers diverse breadth of industry expertise and consists of:

Chet Kanojia, Chairman of the Board, co-founder and CEO of Starry

Amish Jani, Founder and Partner at FirstMark Capital

Jim Chiddix, former Chairman and CEO of OpenTV Corp.

Elizabeth Graham, Chief Operating Officer of Indigo

Rob Nabors, Director of North America for the Gates Foundation

To learn more about Starry, visit starry.com.

About Starry

At Starry, ("Starry") (NYSE: STRY), we believe the future is built on connectivity and that connecting people and communities to high-speed, broadband internet should be simple and affordable. Using our innovative, wideband hybrid-fiber fixed wireless technology, Starry is deploying gigabit capable broadband to the home without bundles, data caps, or long-term contracts. Starry is a different kind of internet service provider. Were building a platform for the future by putting our customers first, protecting their privacy, ensuring access to an open and neutral net, and making affordable connectivity and digital equity a priority. Headquartered in Boston, Starry is currently available in Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Denver and Columbus, OH. To learn more about Starry or to join our team and help us build a better internet, visit: https://starry.com.

About FirstMark

FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corp. ("FirstMark") was formed as a special purpose acquisition company with the mission of driving long-term value creation by actively supporting the next generation of iconic public companies. FirstMarks team was comprised of a team of seasoned investors and industry executives with an extensive track record of identifying transformative trends across innovative subsectors of technology. Notably, FirstMark's management team was composed of the founders and executives of FirstMark Capital, a prominent technology venture capital firm founded in 2008 with $2.3 billion in total capital commitments, which has backed entrepreneurs that have created leading companies, many valued at over a billion dollars.

Additional Information about the Business Combination and Where to Find It

In connection with the business combination, Starry Group Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Starry Holdings, Inc., "Starry Group Holdings"), now the parent company of Starry, filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Form S-4") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 5, 2021 (as amended on December 20, 2021, January 14, 2022, February 4, 2022 and February 9, 2022). The Form S-4 includes a proxy statement of FirstMark and a prospectus of Starry Group Holdings, referred to as a proxy statement/prospectus. The Form S-4 was declared effective by the SEC and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus was sent to all FirstMark stockholders. Additionally, Starry Group Holdings and FirstMark have also filed and may continue to file other relevant materials with the SEC. Copies of the Form S-4, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant materials filed or that will be filed with the SEC by FirstMark or Starry Group Holdings may be obtained free of charge at the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this communication are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the business combination between FirstMark and Starry. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believe," "predict," "potential," "continue," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "would," "seem," "seek," "outlook" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Starrys and FirstMarks expectations with respect to the anticipated financial impacts of the business combination. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of FirstMarks registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-248916), its Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended from time to time, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. In addition, there are risks and uncertainties described in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed by Starry Group Holdings and other documents filed by FirstMark or Starry Group Holdings from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside Starrys, Starry Group Holdings and FirstMarks control and are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ from the forward-looking statements in this communications, including but not limited to: (1) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against FirstMark, Starry or Starry Group Holdings following the announcement of the business combination; (2) volatility in the price of Starry Group Holdings securities; (3) the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the consummation of the business combination; 4) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain key employees; (5) costs related to the business combination; (6) changes in the applicable laws or regulations; (7) the possibility that the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (8) the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive industry in which Starry operates; (9) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; (10) Starrys ability to obtain or maintain rights to use licensed spectrum in any market in which Starry operates and potential declines in the value of Starrys FCC licenses; (11) the potential inability of Starry to raise additional capital needed to pursue its business objectives or to achieve efficiencies regarding other costs; (12) the enforceability of Starrys intellectual property, including its patents, and the potential infringement on the intellectual property rights of others, cyber security risks or potential breaches of data security; and (13) other risks and uncertainties described in FirstMarks registration statement on Form S-1 and Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended from time to time, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed by Starry Group Holdings. These risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant economic uncertainty. Starry, Starry Group Holdings and FirstMark caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive or exhaustive and not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made. None of Starry, Starry Group Holdings or FirstMark gives any assurance that Starry, Starry Group Holdings or FirstMark will achieve its expectations. None of Starry, Starry Group Holdings or FirstMark undertakes or accepts any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, or should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220329005575/en/

Contacts

Investors for Starry and Starry Group Holdings:investors@starry.com

Investors for FirstMark: Eric D. Cheungeric@firstmarkcap.com

Media Contact: Mimi Ryals, Starrymryals@starry.com press@starry.com

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Starry Debuts on the New York Stock Exchange - Yahoo Finance

A retirement reform plan known as SECURE 2.0 is finally set to move forward on Capitol Hill.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer recently announced the addition of the bill known formally as the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 to this weeks docket of votes.

Expanding on a landmark 2019 retirement bill, the bipartisan SECURE 2.0 aims to further expand Americans' ability to save for retirement and increase their options for doing so. If it passes, SECURE 2.0 could be a boon for savers from people still paying student loans to retirees behind on their bills.

SECURE 2.0 is fundamentally designed to make it easier for people to save, Susan Neely, American Council of Life Insurers President and CEO, told Yahoo Finance Live on Monday. She added theres a lot going on in this bill that will be great for retirement savings and it has momentum, thank goodness.

The bill unanimously cleared the House Ways and Means committee about 11 months ago. Despite the bipartisan support, it languished as lawmakers wrangled over a separate retirement proposal that Democrats had hoped to include in the now-moribund Build Back Better Act.

Now, the resurrected SECURE 2.0 endorsed by outside groups like AARP and the Red Cross could be on track to pass. I look forward to the bill passing the House with significant support from both sides of the aisle, and I hope the Senate swiftly follows our lead and sends the measure to President Bidens desk, House Ways and Means chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) told Yahoo Finance in a statement.

Here are a few ways the bill could change the way Americans save for retirement.

Proponents note Secure 2.0 will give retirees who are living longer than previous generations more flexibility as they manage a longer retirement.

For one thing, it gives workers more options for catch-up" contributions as they near retirement, up to $10,000 per year. Another key provision raises the age for taking mandatory distributions from 401(k) plans or IRAs to 75 from 72.

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Some lawmakers want to take things even further with required minimum distributions. My goal is to get rid of it completely, Rep.Kevin Brady (R-TX) said of the age restrictions on distributions during an appearance at the Bipartisan Policy Center Solutions Summit streamed on Yahoo Finance in 2020.

On Monday, Neely also highlighted provisions that will makes annuities or other lifetime income options more accessible which, she said, "can be really really helpful in rounding out your retirement."

A recent study found that one in three adults have less than $5,000 in retirement savings and nearly half (46%) have taken no steps to prepare for the likelihood that they could outlive their savings.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), left, and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) have teamed up to co-sponser the "Secure 2.0" legislation. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

According to the latest government data, only about half of private sector workers participate in a retirement plan at work. Many dont participate because they have no access, but many simply havent signed up for available benefits.

To remedy this situation, the bill would push more employers to automatically enroll new employees into their companys retirement plan if one is offered. Studies have shown that employers with auto-enrollment retirement plans have higher rates of participation.

The bill also includes inducements to help employers, particularly small businesses and nonprofits, with the daunting start-up costs of offering new plans. Employers can also receive credits for matching workers' contributions. Currently, only 42% of part-time workers have access to a retirement plan at work.

One part of the bill that will surely get the attention of younger people would allow people to save while paying down student loans.

The idea here is to allow businesses to contribute to employees' retirement accounts when workers make student loan payments. In other words, if you put $100 towards your student loan, your company could match it with up to $100 going into a retirement plan like a 401(k).

Data from Bankrate suggests that college graduates with student loans often have to delay other priorities. Thirty-four percent report having delayed emergency savings, 23% say they have delayed buying a home, and 29% have delayed retirement savings.

In a recent webinar co-hosted by Yahoo Finance and the Bipartisan Policy Center, Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) touted these provisions in particular as a thing that I think everybody can get behind because it's incentivizing people to save.

Other provisions in the bill include changes to streamline the SAVERS credit, which lets certain lower-income workers get additional tax breaks when they save for retirement and makes it easier for military spouses to save for retirement.

The bill also provides a "clearinghouse" for employees to find lost retirement accounts through a national database. Recent studies have found that tens of thousands of retirement plans go unclaimed when workers move from company to company and lose track.

Like the 2019 Act, Secure 2.0 addresses changes to the private retirement system but doesnt tackle the more challenging issue of Social Security, which a recent U.S. Treasury report found is currently projected to only pay out full benefits through 2033.

Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC.

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Retirement reform is set for a key vote on Capitol Hill this week - Yahoo Finance

Disney (DIS) is fighting back against Florida's controversial Parental Rights in Education Act, which critics have infamously dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill.

On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially signed the bill into law. The media giant released the following statement in response:

Floridas HB 1557, also known as the Dont Say Gay bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law. Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that. We are dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country.

Disney's statement follows a string of employee-staged walkouts in protest of CEO Bob Chapek's handling of the law, which prohibits classroom discussions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools for students between kindergarten and third grade.

The law, which will go into effect on July 1, states, Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards. Parents will be able to sue districts over violations.

Chapek, who initially decided not to speak publicly on the matter, opted to work behind the scenes in an attempt to soften the legislation. It didn't work.

The executive eventually reversed course following intense backlash. He publicly denounced the act during the company's annual shareholder meeting on March 9, but was still criticized for taking a soft stance.

Two days later, Chapek went a step further and directly apologized to employees in a company memo, writing in part, "You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry."

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Still, some workers think the gesture was too little, too late.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek faced heavy backlash amid the company's initial response to Florida's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill

"We expect more from the CEO," Nicholas Luis Maldonado, a current Disney employee who participated in last week's walkout, told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview.

"I just want to be proud to say I'm a Disney World employee [again], but at this time right now, I'm just not feeling the Disney magic," he continued.

A Disney spokesperson responded to the walkouts in a statement, writing, "We know how important this issue is for our LGBTQ+ employees, their families and allies, we respect our colleagues right to express their views, and we pledge our ongoing support of the LGBTQ+ community in the fight for equal rights."

The statement followed an all-company virtual town hall (dedicated to issues surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community), in addition to the revelation of a new task force that Disney says will "develop action plans to make more LGBT-aware content for children and family."

The company also unveiled that Chapek and other senior leaders will conduct a global listening tour and meet with employees in the U.S. and internationally.

"It's a step in the right direction by their statement, but so much more is needed to be done beyond today," Maldonado said. He added that he hopes the company holds more town halls and open forums, in addition to further public statements both in support of the community, and "against any future anti-LGBTQ legislation."

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 22: Disney employee Nicholas Maldonado holds a sign while protesting outside of Walt Disney World on March 22, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Employees are staging a company-wide walkout today to protest Walt Disney Co.'s response to controversial legislation passed in Florida known as the Dont Say Gay bill. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), told Yahoo Finance that "this is a necessary fight."

The California-based union represents several worker classifications within Disney, including costume and custodial.

"Our members expect Disney to be a good corporate citizen...I think for too long corporate America has been looking after its own interests, and not really understanding the impact that that they have on issues that go beyond the workplace," he said.

Huerta went on to explain that big-name corporations like Disney have a responsibility that extends beyond their core businesses, referencing recent employee fights at Starbucks (SBUX), Amazon (AMZN), Kellogg (K), and Netflix (NFLX).

"I think workers realize that they have more power than then they give themselves credit for," Huerta said.

He added that holding employers accountable is "a damn good thing" that's "long overdue."

"Working people do have power and their power is stronger when they stand together, shoulder to shoulder, than when they stand alone," he concluded.

Alexandra is a Senior Entertainment and Food Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alliecanal8193

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Disney to fight 'Dont Say Gay bill: 'It should never have been signed into law' - Yahoo Finance

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard spoke to Yahoo Sports in his first interview since it was announced hed be sidelined for the remainder of the 2021-22 season to continue rehabbing from abdominal surgery he underwent in January.

The six-time All-Star revealed how he feels physically, what he learned during the rehab process, why he believes we havent seen the best of him, what Portland needs to do in the critical offseason to contend for a title, his personal and collective goals and the impact family has had in his recovery.

Chris Haynes: Tell me about your rehab process and where youre at. This is obviously something youve never experienced in the NBA, having to sit out an extended period of time due to an injury. How has it been?

Damian Lillard: Its been cool, bro. I knew it was going be a hurdle to just get used to not playing and traveling, and being in the mix. And once I kind of came to peace with that, which took like a month, I just threw myself into the rehab process and the, the areas I could grow and the things that I could put my energy into. That helped me a lot to this point. I haven't had a chance in 10 years to take a step back and let my mind relax and to let my body fully recover and relax and have a true opportunity to ramp up and train and start back with my foundation, who I am as a player and spend time with my family, my kids and my wife. So, I feel strong, mentally and physically. I still got six, seven months before next season. I feel great. I love the opportunities that I've had through this injury because there were a lot of positives that came from a negative situation. Now, it's just a matter of balancing these next six or seven months and making sure I'm not burning myself out from training or burning myself out from trying to ramp up. Its just cruising the rest of the way.

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard opened up about his rehab after abdominal surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)

CH: You've dealt with that pain in your abdominal the last two or three years. Does that pain exist now?

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DL: No. It's the first time that I can say I was pain-free since maybe 2016, 2017. I think that's when I first started having issues. That was the last time I was probably moving freely, easily and just flowing the way I am right now. Its a good feeling working out the other day and the coaching staff kept asking what I was thinking about because I had a smile on my face. I was just like, Damn, I got so used to playing with that pain that I didn't realize how limited I was and how much I was just catering to playing around it. So, I'm definitely excited to be playing at 100 percent right now and playing free.

CH: You accomplished amazing feats during that period of dealing with that pain. What does that say about you?

DL: I'm not saying Im going to be a thousand times better than what I was because I had some great seasons while dealing with it. I just think it just shows if anything, how strong the mind is and the fact that I was able to still be the level of player that I've been over these last three or four years. I've been able to block out the physical part and the issues I was having. And to get the procedure done now, it was going to be a lot less stress going into games wondering how it's going respond and if it's going lock up on me, or if I'm going to feel stiff and slow. Going into games just knowing I'm healthy and I'm not going to have to deal with it, that factor alone is good enough for me. So, I'm excited about that.

CH: Did you miss the competition of the game? Has it been hard being away?

DL: I got off social media for a little bit just for my own peace of mind. I wanted to at least give myself a chance to miss the game. I actually was telling one of our coaches last night on the bench at our game that I'm finally starting to get that feeling of, damn, I miss playing and being a part of the action. That excitement to play and wanting to be on the court came back. That feeling has been coming back recently. Its not that I never wanted to play, but it's that itch to just get back out there and do something.

CH: Oftentimes, when a star player is absent an extended period, people tend to forget about them. And then there are other emerging stars who are anointed. Is there an eagerness to get back out there and remind those that youre still one of the best point guards in the league?

DL: I don't even take that much of it into consideration. I think theres always going to be a recency bias. This league is always about what have you done for me lately? There are guys that are going to have big games in big stretches and people are going to act like its the best thing in the world. I might have been somebody who benefited from that in the past. That's just a part of the game. But I'm not looking at it like, Theyre going remember me. I just made the 75th Anniversary Team. That's all the validation that I would need. My resume and who I am speaks for itself. I know that the best days for me have yet to come. So, I'm not looking at it like I got to come back and make them remember me. I know who I am. I know what I do. And when I get back on the floor, you know, that's gonna be that. I don't think it has to be some big message that I'm coming back to send. Were in the NBA, great players come along and people find themselves getting the credit they deserve based on performance. But that really don't have anything to do with me because once I get on the court, I am who I am and I do what I do and people will respect my game when they see me on the court. Right now, I haven't been on the court. So it's out of sight, out of mind. I understand that's how fans and media feel.

CH: What stood out to me is you said your best is yet to come. Looking at your situation in Portland, do you feel like your best is yet to come personally, or collectively with the Trail Blazers?

DL: I think personally my best is yet to come 100 percent. Like I said, this is my first time being able to take a step back and just fully address my development. Over the course of my career, there have always been things that I've wanted to correct or get better at, but maybe I had a long season and went into the playoffs and then we had a quick turnaround. Whatever the case may be, I never had this much time to fully break down my game and really challenge myself development-wise. Working on things that I'm not comfortable with all the time, things that other guys at my position do really well. Ive had a window of time and opportunity to add to my game and to watch film with my coaches and trainers to really address those things that a lot of times might be uncomfortable. Since I had my surgery in January, Ill have around 10 months before the start of next season. So me having that amount of time to look in the mirror to address these things and get my body right, we'll get the most out of it and I'll be the best version of myself individually. And I also think we've taken some steps back as an organization, obviously with the moves that we've made [at the trade deadline]. But we've also positioned ourselves to do something that we haven't been able to do since I've been here, which is weve opened up money, we got picks, we got a $22 million trade exception, we got a $6 million trade exception, we got the full mid-level, we got the biannual. We have an opportunity, and we got flexibility. There are guys we can bring in that can make us a team that can compete for a championship, but we have to execute that.

Jusuf Nurkic, left, and Damian Lillard talk on the bench during a recent Portland Trail Blazers game. (Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

CH: Are you confident that this iteration of what many would deem a rebuild will not extend into next season?

DL: I don't see any way that, where we are right now is even possible to be in this place next season. I just don't see that happening. Theres no way.

CH: A championship in Portland is still your desire?

DL: That's the only thing I care about, honestly. It seems like after I announced that I was having surgery, people were like, Oh, he's 31 and having this done. Man, 31 is not old. They act like youre old when we have guys around the league older than me that are still playing at a high level. Also, my game is not based on me playing above the rim. I'm a sniper. I shoot. I got a good step. I can think the game. I can manipulate the game, and I know how to play. My game will age well, and I don't have a history of injuries. And the one that I just had is not a bad injury to have. I'm going to come back and be fine. Like I said, my best is yet to come. And the only things that I play for at this point is I want to be the MVP of the league and I want to win the championship. And once I do those things, I feel great about the investment that I made to this game over my whole life. If I accomplish those two things, I'm walking away feeling like I literally got the most out of myself as an athlete.

CH: How critical is the offseason for the franchise?

DL: Most definitely. I don't think were in a situation where it's like, we have to win the championship next year, or its a failure, but we just need to position ourselves to compete for the championship and also to where we can continue to build in that direction. I think this is definitely critical, [a] critical summer where we have to capitalize.

CH: What did you learn about yourself as a man, not a player, during this time away from the game?

DL: I think its documented how much of a family person I am, but I think when this is what you do when youre traveling and you hoop and you get immune to spending that time away from your family. But having the time to sit still and waking up every day and seeing my kids in the morning before I leave. Just going to rehab and getting on the court and being able to go on dinner dates with my wife. Attending a Raiders game with my wife, going to the Super Bowl. I went to Cabo with all my kids and my wife and stayed on the resort for a week. I've been able to just be a family man. Ive been able to go out to dinner with my mom and go to dinner with my sister and go to high school basketball games. Ive been able to realize just how much I've missed. Those precious moments with my wife. Ive been able to date her. You get so used to being just partners. When I would I come home off the road, she would be like, Let's go watch a movie. Let's get dinner to kind of catch [up]. But this is my wife. So weve been doing random things together and its been fun. My family is the No. 1 thing to me. That fills me up, and I have better days going to rehab. And then I come back home before my kids go to sleep. My son is laying in the bed with me and my wife. Were watching TV, hes on his iPad. I wake up the next day and I feel better. So, I realized this is really good for me. This makes me happy. This makes me feel stronger. Im more full. My wife and kids contributed a lot to how strong I did in rehab. I would attack rehab happy. I just had a positive attitude. I used this time to connect with my family, and it has been one of the best experiences.

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Damian Lillard talks injury rehab, trying to win title with Blazers: 'The best days for me have yet to come' - Yahoo Sports