Billionaire Latimore prepares to hit the Nasdaq with new minerals play

Billionaire businessman Matt Latimore will take part of his commodities empire public with a listing of a new vehicle in New York next week as the mining magnate taps into growing demand for critical mineral supply.

The Brisbane-based businessman, who debuted on the Financial Review Rich List last year with a fortune of $748 million, has raised $US270 million ($386 million) through a special purpose acquisition vehicle at a time when securing supply of minerals outside the control of Chinese authorities is at the top of the agenda of governments in Washington and Canberra.