VivoPower Announces $300 Million Joint Venture Agreement with Lean Ventures to Acquire Ripple Labs Shares
LONDON, Dec. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VivoPower International PLC (NASDAQ: VVPR) has unveiled a strategic collaboration aimed at acquiring shares of Ripple Labs through a dedicated investment vehicle in cooperation with Lean Ventures, a reputable South Korean asset manager.
Details of the Joint Venture Agreement
The joint venture, established between VivoPower’s digital asset unit, Vivo Federation, and Lean Ventures, will focus on the procurement of Ripple Labs shares, targeting an initial investment of $300 million. This venture is poised to generate management and performance fees of approximately $75 million for VivoPower over the next three years.
Lean Ventures, based in Seoul, has already expressed interest from institutional and retail investors in South Korea. Notably, K-Weather may also be involved, as it recently agreed to permit VivoPower to acquire a 20% stake in the company.
Vivo Federation's Role and Objectives
As part of the joint venture, Vivo Federation will originate and procure Ripple Labs shares on behalf of the investment vehicle. The company has received preliminary approval from Ripple to secure an initial tranche of preferred shares and is currently negotiating with institutional holders for additional shares, with an estimated total investment of $300 million.
This innovative structure allows VivoPower to gain economic exposure to the potential future value increases of Ripple Labs and its associated XRP holdings, all without requiring capital from its own balance sheet.
Expert Insights on the Partnership
Adam Traidman, Chairman of VivoPower’s Advisory Council, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are delighted to have entered into this partnership with Lean Ventures, given its established status and reputation in South Korea. South Korea is a strategic market for Vivo Federation, as it is the largest holder of XRP tokens globally. This dedicated investment vehicle will enable qualified South Korean investors to access Ripple Labs shares at a competitive discount.”
In complement, Chris Kim, Managing Partner of Lean Ventures, remarked, “There is significant appetite in South Korea amongst institutional and retail investors seeking exposure to Ripple Labs shares. We are honored to collaborate with VivoPower and anticipate a successful partnership.”
About VivoPower
Founded in 2014 and listed on Nasdaq since 2016, VivoPower operates globally across regions including the United Kingdom, Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The company is recognized as an award-winning sustainable energy solutions B Corporation, featuring three business units:
- Tembo: Focuses on electric solutions for customized fleet applications.
- Caret Digital: Aims at maximizing renewable power use cases, including digital asset mining.
- Vivo Federation: The digital asset division, concentrated on real-world blockchain applications and maintaining investments in Ripple Labs shares and XRP tokens.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains statements that may be considered "forward-looking," subject to various risks and uncertainties that could result in actual outcomes differing significantly from expectations. Such statements include predictions about projected performance, benefits from ongoing transactions, and potential returns.
Investors are encouraged to consider various risks as described in VivoPower’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, acknowledging that future results may vary due to changing market conditions and other external factors.