According to the Apparel Industry Magazine and Capital Cities Media Inc., Bestform Foundations Inc. is based in Long Island, New York (Feb. 1997; 26 Nov. 1997). Capital Cities Media Inc. states that Bestform was founded by Morris Bienenfeld in 1924 and that his son, Marvin Bienenfeld, is current president and chairman. The same source states that 70 per cent of Bestform is owned by Merrill Lynch and Butler Capital and the rest by the Bienenfeld family. However, another apparel company, VF Corp., was planning to acquire Bestform and the deal is expected to be settled by the end of 1998 (ibid.). According to the report, Bestform will remain an independent marketing unit of VF Corp.

In a 3 December 1998 telephone interview, the president of Bestform stated that Harold Da Silva has been the plant manager of the Bestform Choloma plant for about the last two years. He could not remember who the previous plant manager was before Mr. Da Silva.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Apparel Industry Magazine. February 1997. Faye Musselman, Staci Bonner and Nancy Czabala. "21 Young Lions for the 21st Century; Apparel Industry Executives."

Bestform, Long Island, New York. 3 December 1998. Telephone interview with the president.

Capital Cities Media Inc. 26 November 1997. Karyn Monget. "VF Set to Buy Bestform." (NEXIS)

Central America NewsPak [Austin]. 1993-1998.

La Prensa de Honduras [Tegucigalpa]. 1996-1998.

Three sources consulted did not provide information on the requested subject.

Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, REFWORLD, Internet and WNC.