China's Yancoal acquires Australian coal assets of Rio Tinto

JINAN - China's Yancoal Australia will take over Rio Tinto's coal assets in Australia in a deal worth $2.35 billion.

Under the deal, Coal & Allied Industries Ltd, which operates two mines in Australia, will be sold to Yancoal Australia, which is majority controlled by Yanzhou Coal Mining, one of China's largest mining groups by market capitalization.

The deal is expected to be completed before October, according to Yanzhou Coal Chairman Li Xiyong.

After completion, Yancoal Australia will be Australia's largest pure-play coal producer.

The two coal mines have an annual output of 35 million metric tons, which is mainly exported to Japan and South Korea.