CoTec's OTCQX Upgrade Fuels U.S. Critical Mineral Independence

NEW YORK, NY – May 05, 2026 – CoTec Holdings Corp., a technology firm focused on creating sustainable critical minerals from waste, has officially commenced trading on the OTCQX Best Market, a move that signals both corporate maturity and a significant step forward in the drive for U.S. supply chain resilience.

The company, now trading under the symbol "CTHCF," upgraded from the OTCQB Venture Market. The transition to OTCQX places CoTec on a more visible platform designed for established, investor-focused companies that meet high financial and corporate governance standards. This increased exposure is critical as the company advances its mission to develop domestic sources of materials essential for everything from electric vehicles to defense systems.

“Graduating to the OTCQX Best Market is a meaningful milestone for CoTec and reflects the significant progress we have made as a company,” said Julian Treger, CoTec Holdings Corp. CEO. “As we advance HyProMag USA toward commercial production of recycled rare earth magnets and continue to build our broader portfolio of critical mineral technologies, OTCQX provides us with a platform to engage a wider community of U.S. investors who recognise the strategic importance of domestic supply chain resilience.”

Bolstering America's Strategic Mineral Supply

CoTec's elevation to a senior market tier arrives at a critical juncture for U.S. industrial and security policy. The United States currently faces a significant strategic vulnerability due to its heavy reliance on foreign nations, particularly China, for the processing of critical minerals. China dominates an estimated 90% of the rare earth element processing market, giving it immense leverage over the global supply of materials vital for high-tech manufacturing and green energy infrastructure.

This dependency has been flagged by government agencies as a major risk to both economic and national security. The U.S. Department of the Interior maintains a list of 60 minerals deemed critical, many of which are central to CoTec's focus. The company’s strategy directly confronts this challenge by investing in and deploying technologies that can create a secure, domestic supply chain from unconventional sources, including industrial waste streams and end-of-life products. By attracting a broader base of U.S. investors through the OTCQX platform, CoTec aims to secure the capital needed to scale its operations and help close the nation's critical mineral gap.

A Milestone in Market Validation and Growth

The move from the OTCQB Venture Market to the OTCQX Best Market is more than a symbolic change of address. It serves as a powerful market validation of CoTec's business model and operational progress. Qualification for OTCQX requires companies to meet stringent criteria for financial performance, corporate governance, and compliance with securities laws, offering investors a higher degree of transparency and confidence.

For CoTec, which reports a solid financial position with approximately $10 million in cash and no debt, the upgrade reflects its transition from a development-stage venture to a commercially-focused enterprise. The company's strategy of acquiring and transforming marginal or waste assets using proprietary technologies is gaining traction, and the OTCQX listing is poised to enhance its liquidity and attract institutional investor interest. With management and insiders holding a significant 74% stake in the company, the move underscores a shared confidence in its long-term trajectory.

The Technology of a Circular Economy

At the heart of CoTec's strategy is a portfolio of disruptive technologies designed to turn environmental liabilities into valuable assets. The company's flagship initiative is HyProMag USA, a joint venture poised to become a key player in the domestic production of recycled rare earth magnets. These magnets, typically made with neodymium and praseodymium (NdFeB), are essential components in EV motors, wind turbines, and advanced electronics.

HyProMag USA will deploy the patented Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) technology, a revolutionary process developed at the University of Birmingham. HPMS uses hydrogen to break down magnets from end-of-life products like computer hard drives and manufacturing scrap, allowing for the efficient extraction of the valuable magnetic alloy powder. The process uses 88% less energy than producing magnets from primary raw materials and offers a clean, low-cost alternative to traditional mining and processing.

The company is implementing a "hub-and-spoke" model to scale this technology across the U.S. A central manufacturing hub is planned for the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas, with a feasibility study projecting first revenue by the first quarter of 2027. This hub will be fed by pre-processing "spoke" facilities in South Carolina and Nevada, which are already being equipped to handle and dismantle magnet-bearing scrap. This diversified approach is not limited to magnets; CoTec is also advancing projects like the reprocessing of iron ore tailings at the Lac Jeannine site in Québec, further demonstrating its commitment to a circular economy for strategic materials.

Navigating a Competitive and Collaborative Landscape

CoTec is entering a dynamic and increasingly competitive field, as numerous startups and established firms race to solve the critical minerals challenge. However, the company's approach is distinguished by its focus on proven, capital-efficient technologies and strategic collaborations. Rather than competing directly with traditional mining, CoTec positions itself as a technology partner that unlocks value from overlooked resources.

The company's joint venture and partnership model is central to its execution strategy. The HyProMag USA project is a collaboration with Maginito Limited, leveraging technology with over a decade of development behind it. Further partnerships with firms like Intelligent Lifecycle Solutions (ILS) for feedstock supply and engineering firms like PegasusTSI and BBA Inc. for project execution demonstrate a pragmatic approach to building its ecosystem.

This collaborative strategy has earned significant recognition. The U.S. Department of State recently selected the HyProMag USA project as a Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) project, highlighting its alignment with national strategic objectives to secure and diversify critical mineral supply chains among allied nations. This endorsement, combined with its new status on the OTCQX Best Market, positions CoTec to play a pivotal role in turning the tide on mineral dependency and building a more sustainable and secure industrial future.