Exxaro buys Total’s coal assets for $472m

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Mining group Exxaro said on Monday it had acquired South African coal assets of French oil company Total for $472 million.

Exxaro, South Africa's second-largest coal producer which also has interests in iron ore and base metals, signalled earlier this year that it was looking at buying Total Coal South Africa (TCSA) to grow its business.

TCSA is the fifth-largest coal producer in South Africa and the majority of its output is exported to Asian markets such asIndia and China.

Total said in a statement that the sale was part of the group's 2012-14 asset sale programme as it focuses on its core activities.

Exxaro shares were up 1.37 percent at 143.19 rand as of 1200 GMT.