INSIDE STORY:
Vytra Still Mum On Merger Plans

Newsday By: Christian Murray and Jamie Herzlich
April 2, 2001

REPORTS HAVE BEEN SWIRLING THAT Vytra Health Plans is in talks to merge or enter into a strategic partnership with Group Health Inc. or HIP Health Plan of New York.

Vytra senior vice president of marketing John Kaegi would not say whether the reports were true. But in a carefully prepared statement, CEO Tom McAteer Jr. said: "We continually explore new options that could potentially play a role in Vytra's future strategic growth opportunities."

Vytra, which insures more than 200,000 people in Queens and on the Island, would gain greater access to the New York City market should such a deal be negotiated.

A Group Health spokeswoman would not comment on the reports and HIP officials could not be reached.

WHILE MANY BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE watched their companies' stocks implode, Henry Schein chief executive Stanley Bergman has seen his stock do very well-and is cashing in some of it.

The stock of Henry Schein, the Melville-based distributor of dental and medical products, has more than doubled in the past year, from $15 a share to more than $35.

Bergman, who owns 3.55 million shares, or 8.4 percent of the stock, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that he is selling 100,000 shares,the first time he has done so in years.

Other Schein executives are selling, too. Marvin Schein, a director who owns 3 million shares, plans to sell 100,000 shares. Gerald Benjamin, a vice president, and James Breslawski, executive vice president, both filed to sell 15,000 shares.

Schein spokeswoman Susan Vassallo said Bergman has much of his wealth tied up in the company, so he was selling to diversify his assets.

A LOT OF FOLKS TALK ABOUT THE CRITICAL NEED for affordable rental housing on Long Island, but now a group of movers and shakers is working on an action plan to address the problem.

Last week, about 70 leaders from business, banking, housing development, government, advocacy groups, unions and civic organizations attended a daylong housing summit, closed to the press, that focused on affordable rental housing.

Some of the attendees were Pearl Kamer, the Long Island Association's chief economist, Matthew Crosson, president of the LIA, George Gatta, deputy Suffolk County executive, Willie Edlow, president of the United Way, Richard Lippe, partner with Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Schlissel, Jim Morgo, president of the Long Island Housing Partnership, and John Kennedy, president of the Nassau-Suffolk Building Trades Council. Among attendees were also representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"It's a problem we have to address," said Edward Hernandez, chairman of the board of directors of the Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless, which convened the summit. He said a news conference should be held in about two weeks that will outline an action plan to address the region's logjam on affordable rental housing.

To commemorate the launching of its Rainbow Media Holdings unit tracking stock, Cablevision Systems was invited Friday to ring the venerable opening bell on Wall Street.

But Charles and James Dolan, Cablevision's top brass, weren't there.

Instead, Willie Mays was at the exchange representing Rainbow's regional sports channel; Shirley Jones for American Movie Classics; Rachel Hunter for WE:Women's Entertainment; and Jim Lipton representing Bravo Inside the Actors Studio.

Joshua Sapan, chief executive of Rainbow Media Holdings, also was on hand. So, too, was Robert Lemle, vice chairman of Cablevision, and Hank Ratner, chief operating officer of Rainbow.

As for the Dolans, perhaps they are letting Rainbow enjoy its day in the sun. Cablevision officials declined to comment.