Stardust Power (SDST) appoints Ray Rivers to board and key committees
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Stardust Power Inc. reported the appointment of V. Ray Rivers to its Board of Directors, effective August 10, 2026, to serve until the 2027 annual meeting, also placing him on the Audit and Compensation Committees. The Board determined he qualifies as an independent director under Nasdaq standards. Rivers brings over three decades of capital markets and institutional investment experience from senior roles at several Wall Street firms and as Co-Chair of the Greenwich Economic Forum.
His compensation includes an annual cash retainer of $25,000, an Audit Committee retainer of $7,500, and a Compensation Committee retainer of $5,000, all pro-rated for 2026, plus an expected future stock grant of approximately $100,000 under the company’s 2024 equity plan. Stardust Power describes itself as building a major battery-grade lithium carbonate refinery in Oklahoma with planned capacity of up to 50,000 metric tons per annum.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 5.02, 9.01
2 items
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Director annual cash retainer: $25,000
Audit Committee annual retainer: $7,500
Compensation Committee annual retainer: $5,000
+3 more
6 metrics
Director annual cash retainer
$25,000
Standard non-employee director cash retainer for V. Ray Rivers, pro-rated for partial year
Audit Committee annual retainer
$7,500
Annual retainer for Rivers’ service on the Audit Committee, pro-rated for 2026
Compensation Committee annual retainer
$5,000
Annual retainer for Rivers’ service on the Compensation Committee, pro-rated for 2026
Expected stock grant value
$100,000
Approximate value of stock grant expected to be awarded to Rivers under 2024 Equity Incentives Plan
Refinery production capacity
50,000 metric tons per annum
Planned annual capacity of Stardust Power’s battery-grade lithium carbonate refinery in Muskogee, Oklahoma
Warrant exercise ratio and price
10 warrants for 1 share at $115.00
Redeemable warrants listed as SDSTW, 10 exercisable for one share of common stock at $115.00
Key Terms
Emerging growth company, Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, battery-grade lithium carbonate, +1 more
5 terms
Emerging growth company regulatory
"405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934... Emerging growth company"
An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.
Audit Committee financial
"The Board also appointed Mr. Rivers to serve as a member of the Audit Committee"
A company's audit committee is a small group of board members who act like independent inspectors for the firm's finances, overseeing how financial reports are prepared, monitoring internal controls, and managing the relationship with external auditors. Investors care because a strong audit committee reduces the risk of accounting errors, fraud, or misleading statements, making financial statements more trustworthy and helping protect shareholder value.
Compensation Committee financial
"appointed Mr. Rivers to serve as a member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee of the Board"
A compensation committee is a group within a company's leadership responsible for setting and reviewing how much top executives and employees are paid, including salaries, bonuses, and benefits. It matters to investors because fair and effective pay decisions can influence a company's performance, leadership motivation, and overall governance, helping ensure that the company’s management is aligned with shareholders’ interests.
battery-grade lithium carbonate technical
"an American developer of battery-grade lithium carbonate, today announced the appointment"
Battery-grade lithium carbonate is a highly pure chemical compound used as a key ingredient in the manufacture of lithium-ion battery cathodes and electrolytes. Think of it as the flour in a baking recipe: its quality affects the final product’s performance and safety. Investors care because its availability, purity and price influence battery makers’ costs, electric vehicle and storage supply chains, and therefore the revenue and margins of companies across the clean-energy ecosystem.
forward-looking statements regulatory
"The foregoing material may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What did Stardust Power Inc. (SDST) announce in this 8-K filing?
Stardust Power Inc. announced the appointment of V. Ray Rivers to its Board of Directors, effective August 10, 2026. He will also serve on the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, bringing extensive capital markets and institutional investment experience.
Who is V. Ray Rivers, newly appointed director at SDST?
V. Ray Rivers is a finance executive with over three decades of experience in capital markets and institutional investments. He has held senior roles at firms including Bear Stearns, Cantor Fitzgerald, and others, and serves as Co-Chair of the Greenwich Economic Forum.
What compensation will V. Ray Rivers receive as a director of SDST?
Rivers will receive an annual cash retainer of $25,000, an Audit Committee retainer of $7,500, and a Compensation Committee retainer of $5,000, all pro-rated for 2026. He is also expected to receive a future stock grant of about $100,000.
Is V. Ray Rivers considered independent under Nasdaq rules at SDST?
The Board determined that V. Ray Rivers qualifies as an independent director under Nasdaq listing standards. This status is important for his roles on the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, which typically require director independence.
What project is Stardust Power Inc. (SDST) developing?
Stardust Power is building a battery-grade lithium carbonate refinery in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The facility is expected to have production capacity of up to 50,000 metric tons per annum, supporting a more resilient U.S. battery supply chain.