Investing.com -- In a recent interview, Investing.com spoke with Luciano Duque, the Chief Investment Officer of C3 Bullion, and Christopher Werner, the chairman and CEO of C3 Bullion, to understand how they are changing the perception of gold from a static asset into a revenue-generating investment.
Traditionally, gold has been regarded as a safe but passive asset. However, C3 Funds has developed a unique approach that allows investors to earn income from gold without relying on its price appreciation alone.
Luciano Duque, drawing on his wealth management background, explained that typical portfolios include a small allocation to gold, which usually sits idle with no income generation.
Unlike stocks or bonds, which can produce dividends or interest, gold simply exists, only yielding a return when its market price rises.
C3 Funds' strategy involves directly investing in gold mining operations. By providing capital to these mines, the company secures a unique position, allowing it to buy gold at a discount to the market price. This advantage translates into returns for investors.
Rather than owning shares of a mining company, which carries risks, or investing in traditional gold ETFs like GLD (NYSE:GLD) or Sprott, C3 Funds created a closed-end fund that invests in smaller to mid-sized gold mines.
The fund loans these mines capital, enabling them to increase production, and in return, the mines repay the loan in physical gold at a discounted price.
This structure not only supports the mines in ramping up operations but also allows investors to benefit from a predictable income flow.
Christopher Werner emphasized that this approach provides a “sweet spot” between high-risk, high-reward junior gold exploration companies and the low-risk but cost-heavy option of holding bullion.
C3 Funds’ strategy appeals to investors seeking stability with a modest return, backed by the tangible value of physical gold.
C3 Funds offers a unique opportunity for accredited investors to gain access to physical gold without needing a large capital investment.
“Our minimum investment size is $25,000,” Duque said. This model democratizes gold investing, allowing more investors to participate without requiring millions to invest directly in a mine.
Through C3 Funds, investors receive gold as their loan principal is repaid, a return in physical form that is uncommon in the market.
Risk management is key to C3 Funds’ approach. C3’s mining team, comprising highly experienced geologists and qualified professionals, conducts extensive reviews of each mine’s operations and finances before offering any loan.
Additionally, C3’s loans are backed by mine assets, further protecting investors. The fund mitigates risk by limiting exposure to only producing mines, with reserves documented through comprehensive National Instruments 43-101 reports, which are standard in the mining industry.
The company’s model also benefits from rising global gold trends. Werner and Duque said that factors like geopolitical instability, inflation, and central banks increasing their gold reserves have driven demand and prices higher.
The company is also tapping into new opportunities with artisanal mining in South America, where more mines are looking for a path toward compliance and profitability.
Each of C3 Funds’ portfolios, spanning five-year terms, offers distinct opportunities for mines and investors alike.
Once a loan is paid off, the mines are free to continue their operations without any lingering financial ties. However, many mines find value in forming long-term relationships with C3 Funds.
“So the whole concept is developing this long-term relationship with the mines. We help them increase the production. Now we have created a sort of a healthy relationship,” Duque said.
Each fund has its own portfolio of mines, creating a rotation of new investment opportunities.
Although C3 Funds is in the initial phase of marketing its fund to accredited investors and is set to launch as gold prices are rising, positioning itself as a potentially innovative and secure income-generating asset in the market.