VivoPower Appoints Rachel Pether, Sovereign Wealth Fund Expert, to Global Advisory Council
Rhea-AI Summary
VivoPower (NASDAQ: VVPR) appointed Rachel Pether to its Global Advisory Council, effective January 8, 2026. Based in the UAE for almost 18 years, Pether is Head of Middle East at 3iQ and a Senior Advisor to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute; she previously held a leadership role at Mubadala, which manages assets of $330 billion. The appointment is presented as a strategic step to strengthen VivoPower’s footprint and institutional access in the Middle East for its sovereign AI digital infrastructure and electric mobility platforms and to support capital formation efforts.
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News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, VVPR gained 1.99%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. This price movement added approximately $638K to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $33M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
VVPR fell 5.64% while solar peers were mixed: SMXT -13.57%, TYGO -2.5%, MAXN +0.65%, FTCI +1.26%, SOL 0%, indicating stock-specific dynamics rather than a unified sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30 | Data center acquisition | Positive | -11.3% | Heads of agreement to buy 40MW Norway data center for Sovereign AI pivot. |
| Dec 29 | Tembo F-4 filing | Positive | +9.0% | Tembo submits confidential Form F-4 for proposed Nasdaq business combination. |
| Dec 23 | Strategic AI refocus | Positive | -5.6% | Refocus on Sovereign AI compute and review of 682MW U.S. solar assets. |
| Dec 15 | XRP mandate | Positive | -9.0% | Digital asset unit engaged on 450M XRP-equivalent Ripple Labs share strategy. |
| Dec 15 | AGM adjournment plan | Neutral | -9.0% | AGM update and planned adjournment due to potential material transaction. |
Recent news often showed negative price reactions even to ostensibly positive strategic announcements, with only one clear positive alignment.
Over the last months, VivoPower reported several strategic milestones, including a proposed acquisition of a >40MW Norway data center with indicative $10 million proforma EBITDA, a strategic refocus toward Sovereign AI compute infrastructure, and a sizeable XRP-related digital asset mandate targeting $75 million net economic return. Tembo also advanced its Nasdaq listing path via confidential F-4 submission. Despite these developments, multiple announcements coincided with share price declines. Today’s Middle East–focused advisory appointment fits the ongoing pivot to Sovereign AI and institutional capital formation.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective Form F-3 shelf filed on Dec 23, 2025 allows VivoPower to issue up to $180,000,000 in ordinary shares, debt securities, warrants, rights and units over time for uses including EV operations expansion, working capital, Ripple Labs share purchases, crypto-mining rigs, other investments and acquisitions, and debt reduction. This provides capital-raising flexibility that could be tapped alongside the company’s strategic Sovereign AI and digital asset initiatives.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement adds a sovereign wealth fund specialist to VivoPower’s Global Advisory Council, reinforcing its focus on Sovereign AI and digital infrastructure growth in the Middle East. It complements earlier moves such as the Norway data center agreement and strategic AI refocus. Investors may track how this appointment translates into institutional engagement, capital formation, and concrete projects, while also considering the company’s broad $180,000,000 shelf capacity and ongoing transition away from legacy solar assets.
Key Terms
defi financial
tradfi financial
sovereign wealth fund financial
digital asset managers financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Appointment further strengthens VivoPower’s footprint across the Middle East, a priority growth region for the Company’s Sovereign AI digital infrastructure and electric mobility platforms
Based in the UAE for almost 18 years, Ms. Pether is highly reputed in both the DeFi and TradFi sectors
Ms. Pether is the Head of Middle East at 3iQ, one of the world’s largest digital asset managers, and a Senior Advisor to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI); she was previously in a leadership position at Mubadala, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds
LONDON, Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VivoPower International PLC (NASDAQ: VVPR) (“VivoPower” or the “Company”), a leading B Corp-certified global sustainable energy solutions group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Pether to its Global Advisory Council, effective immediately.
Ms. Pether is a pre-eminent leader in the global sovereign wealth fund community. In addition to her role as Head of Middle East for 3iQ, she is also a Senior Advisor to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI). Previously, she spent almost a decade with Mubadala, an Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund managing assets valued at
Her appointment represents a strategic step in further strengthening VivoPower’s footprint and access across the Middle East, a priority growth region for the Company’s Sovereign AI digital infrastructure and electric mobility platforms. Ms. Pether brings long-standing connectivity with sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and institutional investors, who will directly support VivoPower’s institutional engagement and capital formation strategies.
Kevin Chin, Executive Chairman and CEO of VivoPower, said: “We are honored to welcome Rachel to VivoPower’s Global Advisory Council. Her extensive and longstanding network within the sovereign wealth fund and institutional investment communities in the Middle East and beyond is unparalleled. Rachel’s appointment reinforces our commitment to expanding our sovereign AI digital infrastructure, electric mobility and digital asset technology business units.”
Rachel Pether, Global Advisory Council Member of VivoPower, said: “I am delighted to be joining VivoPower’s Global Advisory Council and look forward to contributing to the development of their sovereign AI digital infrastructure platforms in the Middle East. VivoPower’s integrated focus areas of power, mobility, compute, and digital infrastructure are key verticals for many Middle East nations. I am confident that there will be further growth ahead and look forward to being a part of it.”
About VivoPower
Originally founded in 2014 and listed on Nasdaq since 2016, VivoPower operates with a global footprint spanning the United Kingdom, Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. An award-winning global sustainable energy solutions B Corporation, VivoPower has three business units, Tembo, Caret Digital and Vivo Federation. Tembo is focused on electric solutions for off-road and on-road customized and ruggedized fleet applications, as well as ancillary financing, charging, battery, and microgrid solutions. Caret Digital is a power-to-x business focused on the highest and best use cases for renewable power, including digital asset mining. Vivo Federation is the digital asset arm of VivoPower focused on XRPL based real world blockchain applications and maintaining exposure to Ripple Labs shares and XRP tokens. Across Tembo, Caret Digital and Vivo Federation, VivoPower has assembled a differentiated platform spanning power, mobility, compute and digital infrastructure, which the Company is now aligning behind its highest-return Power-to-X opportunity: Sovereign AI computing.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes certain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about the achievement of performance hurdles, or the benefits of the events or transactions described in this communication and the expected returns therefrom. These statements are based on VivoPower's management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to risk, uncertainty, and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of VivoPower's business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include changes in business conditions, fluctuations in customer demand, changes in accounting interpretations, management of rapid growth, intensity of competition from other providers of products and services, changes in general economic conditions, geopolitical events and regulatory changes, and other factors set forth in VivoPower's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. VivoPower is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
Media Contacts
VivoPower: media@vivopower.com
FAQ
Who is Rachel Pether and what role did she accept at VivoPower (VVPR)?
How does Rachel Pether’s background support VivoPower’s Middle East strategy for VVPR?
What specific VivoPower business areas does the appointment target for growth (VVPR)?
What credibility does Rachel Pether bring that may benefit VVPR’s capital formation?
When did VivoPower announce the appointment of Rachel Pether (VVPR)?
Does the announcement state any new financial commitments or transactions tied to Rachel Pether’s appointment for VVPR?
