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Van Gogh’s Starry Night recreated as park in Bosnian hills

VISOKO, Bosnia and Herzegovina — Amid the green hills and meadows of central Bosnia, a local businessman has realized his long-held dream: recreating one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous paintings, The Starry Night, in the form of a nature park.

Halim Zukic from the town of Visoko decided to create a park after buying some land and a cottage in a nearby village 20 years ago, but he had no clear idea of what it should look like.

Then, six years ago, as he stood on a hill watching tractors in a hay meadow, he noticed their spiral-shaped wheel tracks in the earth, which reminded him of the swirling motifs in Van Gogh’s canvas from 1889.

“From that moment, I was no longer in doubt,” Mr. Zukic told Reuters. But his vision took time, money and effort to realize.

Mr. Zukic wanted the 10-hectare Starry Night park to be part of a larger complex offering a retreat to visitors. He planted more trees and created 13 lakes using existing natural streams.

To match the painting, 130,000 bushes of lavender in six different shades were planted, as well as other medicinal and aromatic herbs such as sage, echinacea, wormwood and chamomile, forming colorful circles, spirals, and natural amphitheaters.

Mr. Zukic did all the landscaping himself. He said recreating the painting had helped him understand artists and the creative challenges they face.

“This is the largest representation of The Starry Night, and the result of 20 years of dreams, of living those dreams to make them real,” he said.

The Starry Night park will focus on art programs and the promotion of central Bosnia’s cultural heritage, Mr. Zukic said. — Reuters

Cosco Capital Q2 profit rises 21% to P3.55B on recovering demand

LUCIO L. CO-led retail holding company Cosco Capital, Inc. recorded a 21% increase in its consolidated net income for the second quarter to P3.55 billion from P2.94 billion last year, led by growth across all its business segments amid recovering consumer demand.

Consolidated revenue jumped by 9.6% to P55.55 billion from P50.7 billion last year, Cosco Capital said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

For the first half, Cosco Capital saw a 15.5% jump in consolidated net income to P6.97 billion from P6 billion last year.

Consolidated revenue surged by 8.4% to P106.4 billion from P98.2 billion a year ago.

“The group continued to benefit from the economic recovery amidst the prevailing macroeconomic challenges by way of sustained and stronger revenue growth across all its business segments, which indicates the recovering consumer demand,” Cosco Capital said.

Among segments, the grocery business group led by Puregold Price Club, Inc. and S&R Membership Shopping Club contributed 71% of total net income, followed by the liquor distribution business with 20%, the commercial real estate business with 7%, the energy and minerals business with 1.5%, and the specialty retail business with 0.5%.

First-half net income of the grocery retail group rose by 12.5% to P4.95 billion from P4.4 billion. Net sales increased by 8% to P98.5 billion on store expansion and higher comparative sales.

“During the period, the enterprise experienced positive same-store sales growth of 1.9% from Puregold Stores driven by higher traffic and 2.4% from S&R Warehouse clubs driven by higher ticket size. The company continues to see a buoyant trajectory in top line growth for the second half of 2024,” Cosco Capital said.

Cosco Capital’s liquor distribution business led by The Keepers Holdings, Inc. saw a 23% jump in its first-half net income to P1.43 billion due to the better sales performance of imported brandy, spirits, wines, and specialty beverages.

Consolidated revenue surged by 19% to P7.7 billion, carried by the 22% growth in the volume of cases sold.

The commercial real estate segment grew its January-to-June net income by 5% to P486 million from P463 million last year. Rental revenue increased by 9.4% to P613 million, led by the improved business operations of tenants, as well as the full resumption of rental rates based on contracts. 

In the specialty retailing segment, Office Warehouse, Inc. increased its net income by 10.5% to P39 million, while revenue declined by 4.3% to P994 million.

The energy and minerals segment generated a P98 million net income, while revenue reached P172 million.

Cosco Capital stocks were unchanged at P4.80 per share on Tuesday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

PERA contributions climb by 24%

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PERSONAL Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) contributions jumped by 24.3% in the first half of the year, data from the central bank showed.

Contributions to PERA rose to P457.6 million in the first semester from P368 million in the same period a year ago, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) website.

The total number of contributors likewise rose by 5.3% to 5,688 in the period from 5,402 a year earlier.

Broken down, ​​the bulk or 69% of the total were employee contributions, equivalent to P315.7 million.

This was followed by overseas Filipino worker (OFW) contributions at P78.8 million, and self-employed contributions at P63.1 million.

Launched in 2016, the PERA is a voluntary fund scheme meant to supplement retirement benefits from the Government Service Insurance System or the Social Security System, as well as private employers.

Contributors aged 18 and above and have a tax identification number are allowed to open a PERA account. Self-employed and locally employed contributors can make an annual contribution of P200,000 while OFWs can invest up to P400,000.

The PERA Law also offers various incentives to contributors, such as tax exemptions on earnings from PERA investments, a 5% income tax credit on contributions that can be used for paying income tax liabilities, and a tax-free distribution on qualified withdrawal of PERA investments.

In 2020, the BSP launched the digital platform for PERA to make it more accessible, allowing Filipinos to open PERA accounts, choose different accredited products, and settle transactions online.

Central bank officials said last month that PERA take-up has been slow despite the scheme’s digitalization. They said wider use of PERA can help increase government savings, foster investment and capital market development, which would support economic growth.

The BSP is also working to incorporate open finance in the PERA program, they said. — L.M.J.C. Jocson

Crypto startups raised more VC money during market slowdown

TRAXER-UNSPLASH

CRYPTO STARTUPS raised more money but closed fewer deals in the most recent quarter, mirroring the broader slowdown seen in the digital-asset world.

Venture capital (VC) investment in crypto companies totaled $2.7 billion in the three months ended in June, a 2.5% increase from the first quarter and a 9.8% decrease from the year-earlier period, PitchBook data show. The number of deals closed dropped 12.5% from the first quarter.

Overall, the crypto market faced a more challenging period after prices reached all-time highs in the first quarter amid the exuberance over the introduction of US exchange-traded funds (ETFs) being allowed to hold Bitcoin for the first time. Investor inflows into the ETFs slowed to $2.8 billion in the second quarter, down 80% from $13.7 billion in the quarter before, based on Bloomberg’s estimates.

“While still far below the 2021 and early 2022 highs, VC investing in crypto reached somewhat of a fever pitch in March and April,” said Rob Hadick, a general partner at crypto venture fund Dragonfly. “Later stages have continued to be soft and as the market turned in late April and into May, the VC market slowed again.” 

Crypto market bellwether Bitcoin fell 13% in the second quarter, and has been little changed so far this quarter.

It was the third sequential quarterly increase in the total value of investment. The broader recovery this year in token prices and continued institutional adoption of digital assets suggests that fund raising will grow, Robert Le, senior analyst at PitchBook, wrote in a report on Monday.

The rise in valuations of projects in the second quarter came “as founders tried to capture the more rosy secondary market,” said Jason Kam, a founder of crypto venture firm Folius Ventures.

Investment continued to be focused on infrastructure projects such as new blockchains, while venture capitalists remained leery of consumer-focused applications. Shuyao Kong, co-founder of blockchain startup MegaETH, raised $20 million in a seed funding round in June, saying the fundraise came as the market remained “hungry” for high-performance blockchains.

The only large funding round that closed in the past quarter for a crypto application was for the social media platform Farcaster, which raised $150 million in May. Venture capitalists said there’s growing fatigue in infrastructure investment, and more VCs are looking for investment opportunities in applications, which has also contributed to the slowdown in the second quarter.

“It is a rebalancing of private investments away from infrastructure to applications,” said Tarun Chitra, a partner at Robot Ventures. “People are looking for applications and there are just fewer of those that are private market investable at the moment.”

At the same time, exit activities — the process by which investors realize returns on their investments by selling stakes in a company, increased to the most since the first quarter of 2022. There are 26 exits in the second quarter, including the acquisition of Bitstamp by Robinhood Markets, Inc. PitchBook expects exit activities could extend throughout the rest of the year.

“We expect more consolidation among crypto exchanges, custodians, and infrastructure providers as the market matures and smaller players seek strategic exits,” the PitchBook report said. — Bloomberg News

Finance for the net-zero transition must maximize and share benefits equitably

MARCIN JOZWIAK-UNSPLASH

THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION stands at a critical juncture, positioned both as a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and a potential leader in transformative climate action. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), alongside our member countries, is steering the region towards a sustainable future through support for a just transition. Our vision aims to reorient economic and social frameworks to foster low-carbon, climate-resilient growth that enhances prosperity and inclusion.

The need for a just transition, one that puts people at the center of the shift to net zero, cannot be overstated. Asia and the Pacific account for over half of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, driven by its dependence on fossil fuels. At the same time, more than 200 million people in the region are impoverished, with many lacking access to basic electricity and relying on traditional biomass for cooking and heating. Women are particularly affected, and often face disproportionate impacts.

As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, ADB prioritizes an inclusive approach to ensure that the costs and benefits of the transition to net zero are fairly distributed. Achieving net zero requires us to restructure our economies and change the way we live and work. It is paramount that in this process, the burdens of change are not imposed on the most vulnerable and that the benefits of a low-carbon economy are both maximized and shared equitably. Ensuring that all segments of society, including women, share in these benefits is critical to the success of our just transition efforts.

To create opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth, ADB works with partners to implement robust policy frameworks, enhance institutional capacities and engage stakeholders through participatory processes. These just transition efforts align with global commitments such as the Paris Agreement, and at the country level we support our developing members in crafting policies and programs that respond to their unique climate challenges and development needs.

At COP27, ADB launched a Just Transition Support Platform to help drive a just transition within our developing member countries. This platform focuses on supporting countries to incorporate just transition into their institutional and policy frameworks and identify innovative financing approaches that attract public and private capital for a just transition. The platform also supports the mainstreaming of just transition in ADB’s operations.

Moreover, at COP28, ADB launched an inclusive process to design a Just Transition Finance Facility that will provide targeted finance to address the socio-economic challenges of the transition to net zero. It will help countries realize the economic and social benefits of the transition and ensure these benefits are inclusive and widespread, ultimately supporting a robust and equitable shift to low-carbon and resilient economies.

Just transition is also a core part of ADB’s Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Developed in partnership with ADB member countries, ETM is a scalable initiative that has the potential to be one of the largest carbon-reduction programs in the world. Under it, public and private investments —  governments, multilateral banks, private sector investors, philanthropies, and other long-term investors — finance country-specific ETM funds. These funds are designed to retire or repurpose coal power assets on an earlier schedule compared with a business-as-usual timeline.

Just transition principles are a cornerstone of ETM’s implementation, helping us to ensure that potential negative socio-economic impacts are minimized through policies and programs. For example, retraining and reskilling programs provide new opportunities in emerging industries for women and vulnerable workers.

The importance of managing the social impacts associated with the transition to net zero can be seen through ADB’s work on the Cirebon 1 coal-fired power station in Indonesia. This plant serves as an ETM pilot, for which ADB completed a preliminary just transition assessment earlier this year — the first of its kind for ADB and for the region. The assessment utilized a comprehensive methodology to identify impacts along the coal value chain and within the community and surrounding areas. It also established a process to further assess and develop a plan to manage impacts at the appropriate project stages.

Just transition offers a compelling vision for green and inclusive development across Asia and the Pacific. Its promise lies not only in avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, but in creating a more equitable social order that values well-being and gender equality, provides decent work, and ensures sustainable economic growth.

We must encourage optimism and concerted effort from all sectors of society to embrace the principles of justice and inclusivity that will be needed for a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. This journey faces challenges but is also filled with opportunities for transformative change that can forge a healthier, more equitable and prosperous world. The path we chart now will determine the climate legacy we leave for future generations.

 

Masatsugu Asakawa is president of the Asian Development Bank. This article was first published in the OECD Development Co-operation Report 2024: Tackling Poverty and Inequalities through the Green Transition [https://doi.org/10.1787/357b63f7-en].

Entertainment News (08/14/24)


We Play Here school tour kicks off at UP

AT the UP College of Science Amphitheater at the University of the Philippines Diliman, the We Play Here school tour will be returning for the second year in a row. The first was held in April last year in celebration of Warner Music Philippines’ 30th anniversary. On Aug. 23 at 3 p.m., the second iteration will feature a star-studded lineup: SB19’s Stell, English singer-songwriter Griff, bands Dilaw, Sugarcane, and PLAYERTWO, and Filipino soloists Arthur Miguel and Paul Pablo. Tickets for We Play Here at UP Diliman are priced at P750 and are available here.


Edwin Hurry, Jr. releases new single

FILIPINO singer-songwriter Edwin Hurry, Jr., known for his soothing melodies, is back with another heartwarming track, “Himlay.” Following the success of his single “Dito Ka Lang,” the new love song is dedicated to the tireless efforts of breadwinners. It is a touching reminder of the importance of rest and relaxation, according to Mr. Hurry, who said in a statement that “it is crucial for our well-being.” “Himlay” is now available on all digital streaming platforms.


NIKI releases new album

JAKARTA-born, LA-based singer-songwriter and producer NIKI has dropped her new album, Buzz, via 88rising. Accompanying the release is the music video for title track “Buzz,” directed by Isaac Ravishankara. The video, a cheeky line-by-line depiction of the lyrics, encapsulates the rush of raw emotion and bittersweet nerves of a budding romance. Across 13 tracks on the album, the singer encapsulates the feeling of being on the precipice of something undiscovered. Buzz is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.


Ely Buendia solo concert at Newport World Resorts

FILIPINO rock icon Ely Buendia will be performing his greatest hits at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in September. The one-night solo concert will feature tracks from his Eraserhead days as well as recent hits. His repertoire includes “Pare Ko,” “Toyang,” “Tindahan ni Aling Nena,” “Ligaya,” “Kailan,” “Magasin,” “Alapaap,” “With a Smile,” and “Huling El Bimbo.” Mr. Buendia is also known as the frontman of rock band Pupil, rock supergroup The Oktaves, and soul outfit Apartel. Tickets for the show on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. are priced from P1,500 to P8,800. They are now available via TicketWorld.


SB19, Gloc-9 join forces on new single

P-POP boy group SB19 and rapper Gloc-9 have dropped their joint single “Kalakal” via Sony Music Entertainment. The collaboration finds both blending their different styles together. According to SB19, they reached out to Gloc-9 for a potential partnership after performing together on the well-received PAGTATAG! Finale concert, which was held at the Araneta Coliseum a few months ago. All members of SB19 and Gloc-9 contributed individual songwriting parts and verses to the song. “Kalakal” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.


BTS’ Jimin and Jung Kook star in travel reality show

THE TWO youngest members of Korean boy group BTS are part of a travel reality show that has taken them across New York in the United States, Jeju in South Korea, and Sapporo in Japan. The Disney+ series Are You Sure?! centers on Jimin and Jung Kook, who spend time unwinding together across multiple scenic destinations. The eight-part series follows the duo as they eat, shop, cook, camp, canoe, and go on a road trip together. The first-ever travel show starring two BTS members on vacation, the newly released series gives fans an insight into the duo’s friendship. Two episodes are now out on Disney+, with a new episode to be released every Thursday through Sept. 19.

Vivant’s Q2 profit falls 26.6% amid increased service, operating costs

CEBU-BASED company Vivant Corp. posted a 26.6% decline in its second-quarter (Q2) attributable net income to P652.18 million, driven by higher costs of services and operating expenses.

Gross revenues grew by 59.2% to P3.63 billion from P2.28 billion, the company said in a stock exchange disclosure on Tuesday.

Sales of power increased by 88.2% to P2.86 billion. Revenues from management and service fees rose by 15.7% to P23.3 million, while engineering services income increased fourfold to P7.59 million.

The company’s gross expenses soared by 95.2% to P2.85 billion. Operating expenses climbed by 51.8% to P350.3 million, while the cost of services nearly doubled to P2.5 billion.

For the six months ending in June, Vivant posted an attributable net income of P877.39 million, lower by 40.2% from P1.47 billion a year ago.

Gross revenues increased by 41.8% to P5.56 billion.

Power sales grew by 77% to P4.39 billion, led by the improved revenue contribution of the company’s investments in oil-fired power plants, retail electricity supply, and solar rooftop businesses.

Management and services declined by 47.8% to P23.45 million, and engineering service income went up by more than three times to P9.59 million.

Meanwhile, the company’s gross expenses increased by 91.9% to P4.49 billion.

Operating expenses soared by 46.8% to P647.83 million, while the cost of services doubled to P3.84 billion.

Higher costs of services and operating expenses were attributed to increases in generation costs, salaries and employee benefits, taxes and licenses, outside services, professional fees, travel expenses, among others.

Vivant said in June that it plans to invest P15 billion in its renewable energy projects until 2030.

At the local bourse on Tuesday, shares in the company fell by 12.25% to close at P14.04 each. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

High cost of living threatens Filipinos’ financial confidence

IRFAN HAKIMUNSPLASH

FILIPINOS are growing more concerned about their financial well-being due to higher cost of living, according to The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phils.), Inc. (Manulife Philippines).

The 2024 Manulife Asia Care Survey showed that while Filipinos want to be financially secure, increased cost of living will have impact on their confidence, the insurer said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Many Filipinos are grappling with a number of challenges that are impacting their ability to feel secure about their overall well-being within the next decade, including their financial confidence,” Manulife Philippines Chief Health and Products Officer Grace M. Mallabo said.

“It goes to show that a holistic approach to health and wellness — one that addresses physical and mental well-being, as well as financial preparedness — is very important.”

The survey, which included more than 1,000 respondents from the Philippines, showed that more Filipinos are ensuring they have financial safety nets.

The majority or 43% are depending on passive income, followed by building emergency savings (39%), finding ways to attain financial freedom after retirement (32%), having enough savings for healthcare needs (31%) and finding ways to be debt free (26%).

However, respondents are worried about rising healthcare costs (82%), threats of inflation (81%), economic slowdown and recession (78%), increasing interest rates (78%) and health trending down (73%).

“Women are more concerned about rising healthcare costs and inflation (85%) impacting their financial goals than men (80% and 78%, respectively),” Manulife Philippines said.

“Filipinos aged 50-60 have more concerns on the rising healthcare costs (86%) and health trending down (75%) than younger segments,” it added.

Manulife Philippines’ premium income stood at P15.54 billion in 2023. Its net income was at P1.899 billion. — AMCS

Net Foreign Direct Investments (May 2024)

NET INFLOWS of foreign direct investments (FDI) slipped to a 16-month low in May amid a decline in investments in equity capital, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported. Read the full story.

Net Foreign Direct Investment (May 2024)

With great (corporate) power comes great responsibility

ORIGINAL PHOTO: HUNTERS RACE-UNSPLASH

The adage “with great power comes great responsibility” was famously brought to prominence in Marvel’s Spider-Man. It captures the essence of the moral responsibility that comes with having power or influence. This theme resonates in many aspects of life — leadership, talent, or even personal decisions. Interestingly, this concept also applies to corporate officers and directors, who can be held accountable for the crimes committed by their respective organizations.

While a corporation’s personality is separate and distinct from its officers and directors, the Supreme Court, in Securities and Exchange Commission v. Price Richardson Corp. (G.R. No. 197032, July 26, 2017), has explained that they may still be held criminally liable for the acts of a corporation if there is a showing that they actively participated in or had the power to prevent the wrongful act. Since a corporation can only act through its officers and agents, its officers responsible would personally bear the criminal liability (Suarez v. People, G.R. No. 253429, Oct. 6, 2021). However, the Court also noted that there must be a specific provision of law that makes the officer or director liable, as being a corporate officer by itself is not sufficient to hold him or her liable (People v. Mabborang, G.R. No. 226140, Feb. 26, 2020).

In the recent case of Valenzona v. People (G.R. No. 248584, Aug. 30, 2023), the Supreme Court had the opportunity to further explain when corporate officers may be held liable for the crimes committed by a corporation. In the said case, Valenzona, the president of a real estate company, was criminally charged for his corporation’s failure to register certain contracts to sell with the Register of Deeds as required by law.

Section 17 of Presidential Decree No. 957, otherwise known as “The Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree,” requires the registration of all contracts relative to the sale or conveyance of subdivision lots and condominium units by the seller in the Register of Deeds. Relatedly, Section 39 of P.D. 957 holds the president, among other corporate officers, criminally responsible for any violation of the provisions of the said decree.

As a defense, Valenzona claimed that it was not his function, as president, to register the contracts of the corporation since there is a different department handling the same. Thus, he argued that he should not be held liable for the said violation. However, the lower courts ruled against him, stating that the mere commission of an act prohibited under P.D. 957, which is a special law, constitutes the offense. Hence, good faith and lack of criminal intent on the part of Valenzona cannot be considered. At this juncture, it is worth noting that generally, acts or omissions punished under special laws are considered mala prohibita, which means that good faith and lack of criminal intent are not valid defenses.

The Supreme Court, however, ruled in favor of the corporate officer. In acquitting Valenzona, the Court held that while the subject contracts were not registered by the company, the prosecution failed to establish the guilt of the corporate officer beyond reasonable doubt. Here, Valenzona was charged specifically and only because he was the president of the corporation. To hold him personally liable, however, it must also be established that he had the volition or intent to cause the non-registration of the subject contracts.

Therefore, the mere fact that the corporation’s president is made liable under P.D. 957 for violations of the provisions of the said decree does not excuse the prosecution from having to prove Valenzona’s active participation in the crime charged. As highlighted by the Court, dispensing with proof of criminal intent for crimes mala prohibita does not discharge the prosecution of its burden of proving, beyond reasonable doubt, that the prohibited act was done by the accused intentionally. Here, it was incumbent upon the prosecution to establish that Valenzona was, at the very least, aware of the non-registration of the subject contracts, in order to prove that the said corporate officer had the intent to perpetrate the prohibited act.

All told, with the great power which corporate officers wield in their respective organizations, comes the equally great responsibility of ensuring that they do not actively participate in or knowingly fail to prevent any of the corporation’s wrongful acts. Otherwise, they may be held criminally liable for the prohibited acts committed by the corporation. In the same vein, however, the case of Valenzona serves as a reminder for the State that its power to prosecute individuals, including corporate officers, must also be exercised with utmost responsibility —especially since the primary duty of the prosecution is not simply to convict but to see to it that justice is done. Indeed, in all aspects of life, great power comes with great responsibility.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and not offered as and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.

 

Louie Emmanuel G. Pagtakhan is an associate of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).

(632) 8830-8000

lgpagtakhan@accralaw.com

Sierra Space Corp. executives depart as it grapples with rocket plane delays

SIERRA SPACE CORP. is losing some key engineering and financial executives as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and defense contractor grapples with delays on its signature Dream Chaser vehicle.

Jen Splaingard, senior vice-president of engineering, and Ken Venner, its chief information officer and a former SpaceX executive, have left the company recently and been replaced with new appointments, the company confirmed. Naved Mohammad, a finance executive, and Sanjoy Kumar, a quality and mission assurance specialist, both left “some time ago” and have been replaced, the company said.

“We continue to recruit the best talent in the industry to fuel the ongoing growth of our young company,” Matthew Clarke, Sierra Space’s senior vice-president of marketing and communications, said by e-mail.

The fresh departures come as Sierra Space works toward a December launch, at the earliest, of its Dream Chaser miniaturized space shuttle. The craft is designed to ferry cargo to the International Space Station for NASA. In the latest setback, United Launch Alliance, which was initially slated to loft Dream Chaser in September, was forced to swap out the plane for a dummy payload.

The first plane, dubbed Tenacity, is undergoing final testing at the Kennedy Space Center and its successor is in production in Louisville, Colorado, the company said.

Colorado-based Sierra Space, spun out of defense contractor Sierra Nevada Corp., backed by billionaire Turkish couple Fatih and Eren Ozmen, is also working on inflatable space stations and rocket engines.

The company said its valuation climbed to more than $5 billion after a September 2023 private capital injection. Chief Executive Officer Tom Vice is laying the groundwork for a potential initial public offering but says a successful Dream Chaser flight is key to deciding whether to take that step.

“We want access to the public markets,” Mr. Vice told Bloomberg in February. “We’ve been working for a year and a half to make sure that we are public company ready.”

Mr. Vice and a leadership team and board built up of former Boeing Co. executives including Greg Smith, Tim Keating and Troy Lahr, have taken steps to control costs, including layoffs last year. Sierra Space’s president, Janet Kavandi, left the company in December.

“We remain in a healthy capital position with $4.4 billion in active, cash-delivering contracts and a hugely supportive group of long-term investors, including our company’s founders,” Mr. Clarke said.

Sierra Space has added $1.3 billion in national security contracts since 2023, he added. — Bloomberg News

How PSEi member stocks performed — August 13, 2024

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.