In Brief: B of A Leads $2B Loan For Cellular Company

SAN FRANCISCO - BankAmerica Corp. is leading a $2 billion financing for expansion by Air Touch Inc., a wireless communications company with operations in the United States and 11 other countries.

BA Securities Inc., the securities subsidiary of BankAmerica, arranged the credit facility. BA Securities, Bank of Nova Scotia, and the securities units of Chemical Banking Corp. and Citicorp served as syndication agents. A total of 47 lenders participated.

Chris Christensen, chief financial officer at Air Touch Communications said the transaction would provide funds for continued growth. "We're in the process of building new cellular systems in Italy, South Korea, and Spain, as well as a ... network in the U.S."

He said the company has a contract to buy up to $720 million of shares in Cellular Communications Inc., Air Touch's partner in cellular operations in Michigan and Ohio.

Mr. Christensen said that Air Touch is in a good position to assume the credit facility because it has virtually no debt.

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