Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS, OTC:LRSRF) expects to benefit from increased exposure to key investors as it advances its critical minerals strategy after being added to the Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Capital International (MSCI) Global Small-Cap Index.
As part of a semi-annual rebalance, MSCI added the company to the global index effective from August 31, 2023, with Latin also set to be included in the MSCI Australia Small Cap Index.
Broader exposure
Among the advantages for the company of being admitted to the MSCI Index are increased exposure to larger global institutions and broader exposure to the international investment market.
This is also expected to provide increased trading liquidity, institutional research coverage and broader access to capital sources.
Latin is one of just four Australian-based companies to be added to the MSCI Global Small-Cap Index after the most recent rebalance.
About the MSCI index
A global market index provider, MSCI designed this index to measure and represent the performance of the small-cap segment of companies across 23 developed markets countries.
The Global Small-Cap Index comprises 4,324 constituents covering around 14% of the free float-adjusted market capitalisation in each country.
Critical minerals projects
Latin, which has exploration properties in South America and Australia, is developing mineral projects in commodities that progress global efforts towards net-zero emissions.
The company is focused on its flagship Salinas Lithium Project in the pro-mining district of Minas Gerais Brazil, where it has defined a total mineral resource estimate (MRE) at its Colina Lithium Deposit of 45.2 million tonnes at 1.32% Li2O, reported above a cut-off of 0.5% Li2O.
This JORC-compliant resource includes 430,000 tonnes at 1.34% Li2O in the measured category, 29.7 million tonnes at 1.37% Li2O in the indicated category and 15 million tonnes at 1.22% Li2O in the inferred category.
This MRE is subject to a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) that is underway and scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2023 by leading mining consultant SGS Geological Services.
Latin also holds the Catamarca Lithium Project in Argentina and through developing these assets, aims to become one of the key lithium players to feed the world’s insatiable appetite for battery metals.