BlackRock eyes royalty deal with small miner

The world's biggest mining investor is continuing its search for innovative new ways to invest, and a small Australian listed company could be the next to benefit.

BlackRock World Mining Trust is negotiating a $12 million royalty deal with copper and gold aspirant Avanco Resources, in the latest example of BlackRock eyeing investments that have less risk than the traditional purchasing of shares.

The trend began about 14 months ago, when BlackRock invested $110 million in an African-focused company called London Mining. Rather than simply buy shares, BlackRock bought a royalty on all sales revenue, under a move designed to avoid the typical pitfalls of owning mining shares, such as rampant cost inflation and poor dividend flows.

BlackRock investment chief Evy Hambro has highlighted its ability to borrow money at much cheaper rates than junior miners, and he is increasingly keen for BlackRock to fill a niche around project financing.

"We are planning to do a whole series of transactions into instruments that deliver exposure to commodity prices, to production levels and to the fortunes of companies, but not necessarily at the equity level. We believe there is a massive opportunity out there in the market right now based on this huge divergence in the cost of capital for resource companies," he in an interview earlier this year.

Avanco, which is developing a mine in Brazil, looms as the next cab off the rank, with BlackRock to receive a percentage of revenues from sales of gold, copper and other metals if the deal is finalised.

Avanco will need to jump several hurdles around licences and geological standards before the deal can be activated.

News of the proposal on Tuesday prompted the heaviest day of trading in Avanco shares in a year, with volumes almost nine times higher than the daily average.

Aside from the prestige of dealing with an investor of BlackRock's standard, the deal allows Avanco to solve its project funding shortfall without diluting its shares.

BlackRock has long ranked as the biggest shareholder in BHP Billiton and numerous other big miners, and Mr Hambro ranks as one of the most influential people in the mining industry.

Avanco shares rose 0.7¢ higher to 9¢, well above the 5.6¢ the stock was fetching in late June.