The two had signed a strategic agreement last month to jointly pursue transformational business opportunities in Vietnam and to synergise existing business units.

Masan has said it plans to utilise the money to fund future growth initiatives and strengthen its balance sheet.

Masan will add up to US$50 million in net earnings per annum from next year while gross debt to EBITDA is expected to decrease to 2.5 times this year.

Its management expects core net profit after tax to jump by at least 50% in 2018 and forecasts similar earnings growth momentum in fiscal year 2019 as all its core businesses continue to achieve growth plans.

The company does not intend to issue additional shares in the next three years. 

Masan Group’s member companies and associates are industry leaders in branded food and beverages, consumer agriculture (meat), value-added chemical processing, and financial services, representing segments of the economy that are experiencing the most transformational growth.

SK Group is one of the largest conglomerates in the Republic of Korea, with businesses across energy, chemicals, telecommunications, semiconductors, logistics, and services.

It operates in over 40 countries and had revenues of US$141 billion last year.