CHINA National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina) is planning to sell US$10 billion in preferred shares of a unit to help fund its record US$43 billion acquisition of Syngenta AG, according to sources familiar with the matter.

    Under the proposal, half of the preferred shares on sale would be convertible, according to the sources.

    ChemChina plans to raise another US$15 billion in cash, bringing the total equity contribution to US$25 billion, and borrow the rest it needs via a loan package, according to the sources.

    The fundraising would put State-owned ChemChina a step closer to completing the country’s biggest-ever acquisition outside its borders and help the government secure technology that could help feed the world’s most populous nation.

    Still, hurdles remain as the deal is still subject to regulatory approvals in the United States during an election year.

    The preferred shares are poised to be sold to government-linked entities, according to two separate people familiar with the matter, who declined to name the buyers.

    On the debt portion of the fundraising, ChemChina’s lenders are preparing to line up a US$12.7 billion in bank financing in addition to a US$20 billion loan in March, according to the people.

    Syngenta has said it expects the deal, which is being reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, will be completed by the end of 2016. The CFIUS can recommend to the U.S. president that transactions be blocked if they are deemed to pose a risk to U.S. national security.

    (SD-Agencies)