UPDATE 1-Optimum Coal sees FY headline EPS at 40-50 cts

* Headline earnings hit by weaker export prices, strong rand

* Bought another 4 pct stake in Koornfontein for 24 mln rand

(Adds details)

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 27 (Reuters) - South Africa's Optimum Coal Holdings Ltd (OPTJ.J), which listed in March this year, said on Friday it expects to report headline earnings per share for the year of between 40-50 cents and higher output of saleable coal.

"(Headline earnings per share) have been adversely affected by weakened export coal price experienced during the year and a stronger rand/dollar exchange rate compared to financial year 2009," the company said in a statement.

Optimum said it produced 10.8 million attributable tonnes of saleable coal during the financial year, compared with 9.2 million tonnes in the previous year. Some 5.5 million tonnes of that coal went to state-owned power utility Eskom [ESCJ.UL].

The output figures include tonnages from the Koornfontein Mine, in which the company acquired a majority stake earlier this year.

The company, the country's sixth-largest producer of thermal coal, said it has bought the outstanding 4 percent minority stake in Koornfontein Mines from the Koornfontein Employee Trust for an 24 million rand ($3.26 million) net of tax.

The company will report its annual results on Sept. 15. (Reporting by Agnieszka Flak)