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Latin Resources secures major Argentinian investment company as new partner in “transformational” deal
Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) (FRA:XL5) has taken a key step on the path to becoming a major lithium industry player by signing a “transformational” joint venture agreement with leading Argentinian investment group Integra Capital SA. This agreement covers the company’s lithium pegmatite projects and will see Integra spend up to US$1 million (A$1.4 million) in a JV to explore, develop and earn 50% of the projects in Argentina’s Catamarca province. In addition, Integra also has an option to become Latin’s largest corporate shareholder through an equity investment to take a cornerstone 10% holding. LRS shares have surged 166% in early trade to 0.8 cents. Attracted by portfolio The new partner was attracted to Latin’s highly prospective and large-scale lithium tenement portfolio in Argentina, as well the company’s renowned 10-year operational experience in Latin America. Integra Capital founder and president Jose Luis Manzano said: “We are very happy in becoming partners with Latin Resources in Argentina to advance this promising lithium pegmatite project. “We expect to benefit from the knowledge of Latin Resources and contribute with our experience in Argentina and our highly qualified team to advance the project.” Founded in 1995, Integra has a diversified portfolio in more than 10 countries and has developed projects and ventures with private institutions and investors valued at more than $16.5 billion. As one of Argentina’s largest lithium explorers, Integra holds more than 400,000 hectares of lithium brines projects in Jujuy and Catamarca provinces. The firm has also developed a portfolio of assets in oil exploration and production, natural gas distribution, electricity generation and distribution, and also has investments in uranium and copper. Integra provides services such as mergers and acquisitions, financial structuring, IPOs, due diligence procedures, debt and company restructuring. “An excellent outcome” In describing the agreement as transformational and an excellent outcome for Latin, managing director Chris Gale said it placed the company in a position to become a significant lithium player to create strong shareholder value. “We welcome Integra as our partner at our highly-prospective Argentinian lithium pegmatite projects and look forward to delivering significant shareholder value with our new partner. “Integra’s financial capacity combined with our track record and experience in Latin America makes a formidable team with the ability to rapidly explore and develop a lithium project.” Underpins strategic approach This agreement underpins the strategic approach by Latin in identifying, acquiring and advancing large-scale land positions of highly prospective mineral projects to attract joint venture partners. Latin has now made progress in commercialising its large South American battery metals assets. The Peruvian copper projects are being funded by a $10 billion copper company First Quantum Minerals Limited (TSE:FM) (OTCMKTS:FQVLF) and its lithium projects by a billion-dollar company in Argentina. The signing of the binding JV agreement comes after an extensive and thorough negotiations on Latin’s concessions which encompasses over 70,000 hectares in the province of Catamarca in Argentina. Integra’s agreement with Latin signals the investment company’s move into the hard rock lithium sector to become a major player in the lithium sector. The Ancasti and Villisman concessions in the province of Catamarca. Aggressive exploration program The new partner will spend up to US$1 million under a JV which will underpin an aggressive exploration program on the Catamarca concessions, with the initial aim of delivering a maiden JORC resource. Following this resource, the JV’s focus will turn to project development, including feasibility, engineering and metallurgy studies to produce a lithium spodumene concentrate. Latin has already developed a high-level scoping study with consulting engineers Primero Group for the Argentinian lithium assets. Latin free-carried Under the JV, Latin will be free-carried through initial exploration with financing for the construction of the processing plant to be in line with percentage ownership between Integra and Latin of the project partnership at the time of a Final Investment Decision. Gale said: “Our projects have received widespread interest, but one major advantage Integra offers Latin is their proven in-country experience in Argentina with developing and operating on time and under budget. “This has given the board and management a high-level of confidence that Integra, as a local company in Argentina, is focused on making these highly prospective prospects that are situated across more than 70,000 hectares of hard-rock lithium pegmatites extremely successful. “This will be reinforced by Integra becoming a cornerstone investor in Latin which displays confidence in our board, management and our other projects in South America." Integra has an option on completion of its due diligence to take a 10% stake in Latin and become the company’s largest corporate shareholder.
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