Acquisition

Anglo American PLC
27 July 2000


ANGLO AMERICAN ASSUMES OWNERSHIP OF COAL ASSETS IN AUSTRALIA

Spokespersons in the Royal Dutch Shell Group and Anglo American plc today
confirmed the completion of the sale of the Shell Coal Holdings Limited to
Anglo American.   This follows approval by the European Commission last week.

The decision to sell its coal business following an extensive review of group
strategy was announced by Shell at the end of August last year. At the end of
May this year it was announced that agreement had been reached to sell the
coal assets to Anglo American for a headline price of US$850 plus balance
sheet adjustments at completion.  The figures are subject to final audit and
review over the next 75 days.

The company in Australia will now be known as Anglo Coal Australia Pty Limited
and will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglo American plc.  It will form
part of the Anglo Coal division, of which James Campbell is Chairman and Tony
Redman, Chief Executive Officer.  Bob Scharp, former CEO of Shell Coal, will
be the new CEO of Anglo Coal Australia Pty Ltd. He will be responsible for the
Australian coal operations of Anglo Coal and will report to Tony Redman.

Anglo Coal Australia employs approximately 1600 people, at mine sites in
Australia and in Brisbane, Sydney and London.   The operations will continue
to be managed from the Brisbane office.

James Campbell, chairman of Anglo Coal, emphasised  'The acquisition of these
Australian coal assets is a major strategic step in expanding our existing
position (as a major coal supplier to the Mediterranean/Atlantic basin from
South Africa and Colombia) to supply the growing Indo-Pacific coal market from
South Africa and Australia.  We have acquired some very long life mines
together with extensive unexploited resources and have expanded into the
coking coal business.'

Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining and natural resources
groups.  With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is one of
the world's largest producers of gold, platinum group metals, diamonds, and
has significant interests in coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial
minerals and forest products.  Through its wholly owned Anglo Coal division,
it is one of the largest private sector coal producers in the world.  The
group has also indicated its intention to expand into iron ore following the
recent announcement of its recommended bid for North Limited.

Enquiries

London
Edward Bickham
Tel: [phone]

Johannesburg
Anne Dunn
Tel: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]