(Repeats Dec. 3 story, no change to text or headline)
By Ron Bousso
LONDON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell isseeking to secure a $7 billion credit facility in north Americaas back-up for its $70 billion acquisition of BG Group,sources said on Thursday.
U.S. bank JP Morgan Chase is arranging the facility, which will involve up to 20 banks and institutional investors,according to sources close to the matter.
The facility will be used as a "back-up" for funds alreadyraised to finance the deal, according to one source.
A Shell spokesman declined to comment. JP Morgan declined tocomment.
At the end of the third quarter Shell held $31 billion incash on its balance sheet, enough to cover the cash componentfor the BG acquisition which was set at 383 pence per BG sharewhen the proposed merger was announced on April 8.
The Anglo-Dutch company oil and gas company hopes tocomplete the acquisition by early 2016 which will transform itinto the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) trader and aleading offshore oil producer.
The proposed merger has already received mandatory approvalsfrom regulators in Brazil, the European Union and Australia andstill awaits a green light from China, which is expected todecide by Jan. 5.
Shell plans to sell $30 billion worth of assets between 2016and 2018 to help finance the deal, buybacks shares and maintainthe company's dividends through an extended period of low oilprices.
In May, Shell agreed on a 10.07 billion pound ($15.28billion) bridge loan from a group of banks, also to back thedeal. (Reporting by Ron Bousso; editing by Susan Thomas)
