The company has no immediate plans to raise equity or issue, but expects the LSE listing to raise Resolute's profile in global investment markets as "the investor base of the LSE has demonstrated a strong appetite for mining stocks and a deep understanding of the African operating environment".

 

The strategy aims to increase its profile in international capital markets and provide access to a larger pool of active investors. 

 

Resolute's existing shares will trade on the LSE as depositary interests, and will be transferable between the Australian Securities Exchange and LSE as required. 

 

Managing director John Welborn declared himself "delighted" with the regulatory approval.

 

"Resolute presents a compelling investment opportunity for global investors who are seeking exposure to a dynamic, innovative, dividend paying and responsible gold miner that boasts a strong growth pipeline," he said. 

 

"London is the natural home for large mining companies with an African focus. We believe Resolute will strongly appeal to this international market."

 

RBC Capital Markets analyst Paul Hissey remains to be convinced about the benefits of the listing.

 

"We anticipate any gold specialists in the UK/European space would/could already own Resolute (through its Australian listing), and in our view, it remains to be seen what kind of generalist uptake this listing may facilitate although with the recent increase in enthusiasm for gold, we would expect most companies to react positively," he said.

 

Resolute owns the Syama mine in Mali, the Bibiani mine in Ghana and the Ravenswood mine in Queensland, and has plans to grow its production to 500,000 ounces per annum.

 

It expects to produce about 300,000oz at all-in sustaining costs of US$960/oz this year.

 

Syama is said to be the world's first purpose-built fully automated underground gold mine which has the potential to produce 300,000ozpa of gold annually over a long mine life.

 

Hissey is cautious about the completion/ramp-up at the underground mine, and its term ability/funding to deliver on growth plans.

 

"Beyond what we believe could be a near-term ‘pinch point' (and the primary driver for our caution), we could see a more positive outlook given the production growth and earnings potential at Syama once completed."

 

Resolute has a resource base of 16.8Moz.

 

Resolute shares were last traded up 1% at A$1.11, capitalising it at $841 million. It has traded between 91c and $1.44 over the past year.