Macquarie Korea Infrastructure Fund, which is listed on the Korea Exchange, has agreed to acquire the full 100 percent stake of two gas utilities for a combined 798 billion won ($714 million), a disclosure showed Wednesday.

The gas utilities, Haeyang Energy and Seorabeol City Gas, distribute natural gas to ratepayers in South Jeolla Province and North Gyeongsang Province, respectively.

MKIF said it pinned hopes on an upshot in industrial usage of natural gas in line with the carbon neutrality initiatives of South Korea. MKIF expects the acquisition to be complete by July.

The proposed deal comes 2 1/2 years after seller Glenwood Private Equity bought the two companies from GS Energy in December 2018 for 616 billion won.

Following the acquisition, MKIF will own 16 portfolio companies associated with Korea’s infrastructure assets such as toll roads, a harbor and a subway line.

MKIF was established in 2002 and started trading on the Korea Exchange in 2006. The fund, with a market cap of 4.7 trillion won, is meant to offer dividends to investors as it generates income from infrastructure assets.

By Son Ji-hyoung (consnow@heraldcorp.com)