MMA Marketplace: Battle of the UFC 152 walkout shirts

It's time to break down UFC 152's main event via the most important factor: walkout shirts. Sure, Vitor Belfort is a historic underdog and is not expected to last long in the fight against UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but what do the shirts say? Let's see.

On the left, Vitor Belfort's shirt by RVCA. It's available in green and white and you can buy it straight from RVCA for $29.95.

On the right, we have Jones' shirt ... maybe? Here's the deal. Jones is now sponsored by Nike, and he tweeted out this "Bones Knows" Nike shirt before UFC 151 was canceled. According to the tweet:

#Nike only made 80 signature T-shirts for UFC 151, I absolutely cannot wait to bless my fans, talk about #exclusive

So, there were only 80 shirts made, but it's not 100 percent clear on how to get them. Nike's online store doesn't have them or any mention of Jones. If you want to buy gear from Jones now, take a look at his UFC store online which has items from his last fight.

By virtue of pretty green color and the ease in buying the shirt, Belfort wins. Tune in Saturday to see if that pans out.

Related UFC news from Yahoo! Sports:

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mma-marketplace-battle-ufc-152-walkout-shirts-140150648--mma.html

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Willis Lease Finance Completes $390 Million ABS Offering - Money

NOVATO, Calif., Sept. 21, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) ? Willis Lease Finance Corporation (Nasdaq:WLFC), the premier lessor of commercial jet engines, reported that its wholly owned subsidiary Willis Engine Securitization Trust II (WEST II), a newly established asset backed securities (ABS) issuer, completed the sale of $390 million of senior secured notes on September 17, 2012. The proceeds of the notes will be used to repay the existing ABS notes of Willis Lease?s subsidiary, Willis Engine Securitization Trust (WEST).

The WEST II ABS securities are a single class of senior notes with a fixed coupon of 5.50%, an expected maturity of 10 years, a weighted average life of 7.3 years and a final maturity of 25 years. The notes are secured by 79 aircraft engines acquired from Willis Lease at a loan to appraised value of approximately 70%.

?The closing of WEST II is a remarkable achievement for Willis Lease and demonstrates our leadership position in the engine leasing marketplace,? said Charles F. Willis, CEO and Chairman. ?Access to capital is one of the most important success factors for any asset-based business. Our successful track record as a previous ABS issuer, leadership position in the market, strong platform and solid reputation have all combined to provide continued access to the capital markets at competitive rates. Our access to low-cost, long-term capital is an important competitive advantage for Willis Lease. The completion of this offering, along with our newly upsized revolving credit facility, as well as our successful joint venture with Mitsui & Co. Ltd. places Willis Lease at the forefront of the global aircraft engine leasing market.?

WEST II Highlights:

-????? Locks in fixed interest rate for the life of the notes, providing certainty of future cash flows.

-????? Significantly reduces principal payments and extends amortization period, improving cash flow.

-????? Releases significant cash from restricted cash and facilitates leverage on previously unlevered assets.

-????? Eliminates certain administrative costs for servicing and other third party expenses.

-????? Provides greater operating flexibility due to elimination of several corporate and portfolio concentration covenants.

-????? Provides greater flexibility to sell engines and reinvest the proceeds to update the portfolio.

?The WEST II ABS funding, combined with the expansion of the revolving credit facility announced earlier this month, provides us with a substantial amount of new capital to continue building a well-diversified engine portfolio for the most popular aircraft types including Boeing 737s, Airbus 320s, Boeing 777s, Airbus 330s and Embraer/Bombardier/ATR regional series aircraft, and expand into new generation products such as the Trent 1000 and the GEnx?and ultimately the PW-GTF and CFM Leap X,? continued Willis. ?We have also begun the leasing of Auxiliary Power Units (APU?s) for the most popular aircraft in service today. ?Our widely used lease pool programs are being expanded to include APU?s as well as other models of engines.?In addition to portfolio expansion, the new capital will allow us to continue our stock repurchase program and to pursue joint venture partnerships or equity investments in our market as well as other aviation equipment investments.?

?The long-term benefits of this transaction including providing capital to expand our portfolio, reducing operating costs and improving cash flow are partially offset by an increase in our average debt cost and by the $15 million pre-tax charge that we will record this quarter for unamortized debt issuance costs, note discount and swap termination costs related to the prior WEST debt extinguished,? said Brad Forsyth, Chief Financial Officer. ?This one-time charge, a portion of which is non-cash, will cause the company to record a loss for the third quarter. As we deploy the new capital, we anticipate solid contributions to profitability from this transaction.?

For this transaction, Credit Agricole Securities was the Sole Structuring Agent and a Joint Bookrunner along with ?Goldman, Sachs & Co.?Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP provided legal counsel for WEST II and the Company.?Clifford Chance US LLP provided counsel to the underwriters.?The WEST II Notes were rated A(sf) by both Standard & Poor?s and Fitch Ratings.

About Willis Lease Finance

Willis Lease Finance Corporation leases spare commercial aircraft engines and aircraft to commercial airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers, air cargo carriers and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with the purchase and resale of used and refurbished commercial aircraft engines.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.?Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees.?Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; and we undertake no obligation to update them.?Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements.?Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as terrorist activity, changes in oil prices and other disruptions to the world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet the changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company?s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT: Brad Forsyth          Chief Financial Officer          (415) 408-4700

Source: http://money.ca/money/2012/09/21/willis-lease-finance-completes-390-million-abs-offering/

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South Africa carves its outsourcing niche amid flurry of acquisitions ...

on September 20, 2012 7:06 am in Africa Business News / 1 comment

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South Africa carves its outsourcing niche amid flurry of acquisitions ZDNet South Africa carves its outsourcing niche amid flurry of acquisitions. Summary: Companies from India and the UK are snapping up South African business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, as the country asserts itself as an offshore outsourcing destination. and more??

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Source: http://www.thefinancialherald.com/?p=289102

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Headwinds for Romney in Latest Poll (WSJ)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/249896922?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Oracle's 1Q earnings rise 11 pct despite sales dip

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Oracle joined a recent procession of technology companies that have stumbled in a shaky economy, but management's forecast for the next few months seemed to persuade investors the business software maker will quickly regain its stride.

The quarterly results announced Thursday provided the latest indication that companies and government agencies are clamping down on technology spending until they get a better sense of where the economy is heading.

The decision-makers in technology departments have been especially reluctant to invest in new personal computers and other expensive hardware. That trend has caused leading PC manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard. Co. and Dell Inc., and a range of microprocessor makers to report disappointing numbers and bleak outlooks.

Oracle's specialty, though, is database software and applications that automate administrative tasks ? products that so far are still generating higher sales even in uncertain times. That helped Oracle boost its revenue from new software and online subscriptions by 5 percent from the same time last year, an encouraging sign because those licenses hatch more moneymaking opportunities in the form of future upgrades and maintenance fees.

In a particularly heartening sign, Oracle predicted its sales of software licenses and subscriptions in the current quarter will climb by 5 percent to 15 percent from the same time last year.

But Oracle is also trying to muscle its way into the computer server market, a foray punctuated by its $7.3 billion acquisition of Sun Microsystems in 2010. The expansion hasn't paid off yet, although Oracle executives have pledged it will prove to be a lucrative move. In its most recent quarter, Oracle's hardware revenue plunged 19 percent from the same time last year.

The erosion dragged down Oracle's overall numbers for its fiscal first quarter, a three-month period spanning from June through August. Like many U.S. companies that depend on overseas customers for a lot of their sales, Oracle was hurt by weakened currencies in Europe and other parts of the world. The currency fluctuations translated into fewer dollars during the latest quarter compared to a year ago.

Oracle Corp. earned $2.03 billion, or 41 cents, per share in the quarter. That's an 11 percent increase from net income of $1.84 billion, or 36 cents per share, at the same time last year.

Excluding certain accounting items, the company said it would have earned 53 cents per share, mirroring the average projection of analysts surveyed by FactSet.

Total revenue dipped 2 percent from last year to $8.18 billion. That was more than $200 million below analyst forecasts.

Oracle's fiscal first quarter is typically sluggish because it falls during the summer when deals are tougher to close because of vacations.

The sales decline in the past quarter might have been more worrisome if not for Oracle's projection for the current quarter ending in November. The company, which is based in Redwood Shores, Calif., foresees its revenue at worst remaining unchanged from last year and perhaps rising by as much as 4 percent.

Assuming Oracle's results come in at the mid-point of that forecast, the company's revenue in the current quarter will be about $9 billion. That's about $200 million under current analyst projections.

Excluding costs for past acquisitions and stock paid to its employees, Oracle expects its earnings in the current quarter to range from 59 cents to 63 cents. Analysts forecast 61 cents per share.

Oracle shares initially fell by as much as $1.21 in extended trading after the fiscal first-quarter numbers came out, but bounced back as investors digested the numbers and listened to management's heartening remarks. By late Thursday, Oracle's stock price had edged up 12 cents to $32.38 in extended trading.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oracles-1q-earnings-rise-11-pct-despite-sales-235808055--finance.html

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Romney: 'My campaign is about the 100 percent of America'

(Jim Young/Reuters)MIAMI--Still in damage control mode over his "47 percent" remark captured by a hidden camera, Mitt Romney repeatedly insisted Wednesday that he is running to represent "100 percent" of America and that he has a record of being inclusive.

"My campaign is about the 100 percent of America," Romney said in a forum sponsored by the Spanish-language network Univision.

Romney made his comments just days after a video came to light that captured Romney suggesting President Barack Obama's supporters?which he identified as 47 percent of the voting electorate?had a "victim" mentality and were dependent on government handouts. The video was recorded on a hidden camera at a Florida fundraiser earlier this year.

Asked about the video, Romney insisted he was running to represent all Americans, using the phrase "100 percent" four separate times. He pointed to his record as governor of Massachusetts, a mostly Democratic state, as proof that he can lead all people, regardless of political party.

"I have a record," Romney insisted. "I have demonstrated my capacity to help the 100 percent."

Addressing a large Hispanic audience, Romney tempered his rhetoric on the subject of immigration?insisting his policy will not be to "round up people and deport them."

"Our system isn't to deport people," Romney insisted.

Echoing a speech he delivered earlier this week before a Hispanic business group, Romney cited the importance of "legal immigration" in America's culture and history and said the issue of immigration reform has been a "political football" for too long.

The GOP candidate slammed Obama for not delivering on a campaign promise to overhaul the nation's immigration system.

"It needs to be fixed," Romney said. "When I'm president, I will actually do what I promise, I will put in place an immigration reform system that resolves this issue."

But Romney repeatedly dodged the question when asked how we would address the issue of so-called "DREAMers," young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents. He criticized Obama's decision earlier this year to offer a temporary waiver allowing those young illegals to obtain work permits without fear of being deported--suggesting it has hurt the larger cause of implementing immigration reform.

"These kids deserve something better than temporary," Romney said. "They deserve a permanent solution."

But Romney declined to say specifically how he would handle the "DREAMers" or whether he would keep the waiver approved by Obama in place permanently. But he insisted repeatedly he would not "round up people" and deport them.

"We're not going to round up 12 million people, and that includes the kids," Romney said, referring to the estimated number of illegal immigrants in the country. "We need to provide a long-term solution."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/romney-univision-campaign-100-percent-america-234334429--election.html

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Playground peers can predict adult personalities

ScienceDaily (Sep. 20, 2012) ? Even on the playground, our friends know us better than we know ourselves. New research has revealed that your childhood peers from grade school may be able to best predict your success as an adult.

Lisa Serbin of the Department of Psychology at Concordia University and Alexa Martin-Storey, a recent Concordia graduate and a current post-doctoral student at the University of Texas -- both members of the Concordia-based Centre for Research in Human Development -- recently published a study online, which reveals that childhood peer evaluation of classmate personalities can more accurately predict adulthood success than self-evaluation at that age.

"This study, known as the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project, was started in 1976 by my colleagues in the Department of Psychology, Alex Schwartzman and Jane Ledingham, who is now at the University of Ottawa," says Serbin. "Over two years, Montreal students in grades 1, 4 and 7 completed peer evaluations of their classmates and rated them in terms of aggression, likeability and social withdrawal. The students also did self-evaluations."

Over the next twenty years, these children were closely followed as researchers used the exhaustive longitudinal study to track their progress into adulthood. A follow-up survey was conducted between 1999 and 2003 with nearly 700 of the participants from the initial study. The survey included measurement of adult personality traits, such as levels of neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness.

"We were able to compare peer and self-perceptions of the childhood behaviours to these adult personality factors," says Martin-Storey. "We found the evaluations from the group of peers were much more closely associated with eventual adult outcomes than were their own personality perceptions from childhood. This makes sense, since children are around their peers all day and behaviours like aggressiveness and likeability are extremely relevant in the school environment."

For example, children who perceived themselves as socially withdrawn exhibited less conscientiousness as adults. On the other hand, kids whose peers perceived them as socially withdrawn grew up to exhibit lower levels of extraversion, the latter being a more accurate association. Peer-perceived likeability also predicted a more accurate outcome, associating the personality trait with higher levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness, and lower levels of neuroticism than those who thought of themselves as likeable.

Overall, the findings supported the use of peer rather than self-ratings of childhood personalities in the prediction of adulthood success.

"Adult personality traits are associated with a lot of important life factors, such as health, mental health and occupational satisfaction," says Serbin. "The information from our study could be used to promote better longitudinal outcomes for children by helping kids and parents develop effective mechanisms for addressing aggressive or socially withdrawn behaviours and promoting more pro-social behaviour."

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/i9P0WXpx75E/120920140148.htm

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