Skadden Arps in $3.2 billion cellular deal

New York firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom is advising Chicago-based telecoms group Ameritech, on the disposal of its cellular business to GTE. The deal is worth $3.2 billion and is a direct result of Ameritech’s planned merger with SBC communications. The deal is contingent on that merger (worth $56 billion) being completed. The merger has yet to be approved by the Federal Communications Commission, but will not be affected by GTE’s merger with Bell Atlantic.