HOME-GROWN Vertex Material Holdings Inc, an advanced-materials company developing copper-composite materials for industrial applications, has firmly secured its unicorn status after achieving a valuation of approximately US$7 bil.
Following the valuation determined in a report prepared by a Malaysian accounting firm, Vertex Material has unveiled its target to execute a listing on the world’s second-largest stock exchange Nasdaq come 2027.
This capital market objective runs in parallel with the group’s strategic plan to establish manufacturing operations in the US.
Its proposed US facility is designed to support commercial scale-up, facilitate direct copper sourcing and streamline manufacturing logistics for its target customer base.
The foundation of Vertex Material’s business is a proprietary copper-composite formulation and manufacturing process.
The technology is engineered to help manufacturers make more efficient use of copper by reducing the volume of pure metal required while strictly maintaining the electrical, thermal and mechanical characteristics dictated by customer specifications.
The materials are developed specifically for applications where 100% pure copper is not technically mandated, thus allowing manufacturers to utilise a composite alternative that meets required engineering tolerances.
Capitalising on structural deficit
Copper remains a highly sought-after critical material globally, driven by the exponential growth of modern infrastructure. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, data centre construction and military defence systems require copper as a core functional material.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global copper market size was valued at US$248.2 bil in 2025. However, based on current project pipelines and recycling efforts, the IEA anticipates that global copper production will face a 30% deficit by 2035.
Vertex Material aims to capitalise on this structural deficit. By combining copper with other composite materials, the company’s technology increases the total quantity of usable material produced from a given baseline of raw copper.
Commercially, Vertex Material has already secured a significant offtake arrangement for 160,000 metric tonnes (MT) of product annually.
Having successfully established a pilot plant in Malaysia, the company is now preparing to expand its operations into the US to cater to the ever-increasing demand.
A US production facility will allow Vertex Material to access a vast customer base reliant on copper.
Moreover, with the Americas housing some of the world’s largest copper producers – including the US, Canada, Peru and Chile – the expansion strategically places the company near vital raw material sources to fuel its production.
In fact, Vertex Material’s founder and technical director Datuk Tan Chin Tong who brings over 30 years of experience in the copper industry has been instrumental in developing the company’s proprietary technology.
“The offtake provides us with an important demand base while the proposed US operation is intended to bring production closer to our suppliers and customers,” he enthused.
The next phase is about execution. We need to demonstrate consistent product performance, expand manufacturing capacity and build a reliable supply chain around the customer demand we have secured.
The proposed Nasdaq listing forms part of our longer-term internationalisation strategy but our immediate priority remains the business itself.
The planned listing on Nasdaq is expected to strengthen the global brand recognition of Vertex Material and provide critical access to capital, thus enabling the company to rapidly expand its production footprint domestically in the US.
Vertex Material noted that further details regarding its proposed US manufacturing development and 2027 capital-markets plans will be communicated as the respective frameworks become sufficiently defined. – Sept 17, 2026
