HEALTH

WellPoint Shareholders OK Blue Cross Merger: The health-care giant, which is WellPoint Health Networks Inc.’s largest shareholder with 80 million shares, plans to contribute $3 billion in assets to charitable foundations as it converts from nonprofit status to a for-profit company. WellPoint shareholders of record on May 15 will receive a $10-a-share cash dividend and 0.667 share of stock in the combined company for each WellPoint share. WellPoint will acquire the name and mark of Blue Cross of California and about 310,000 Blue Cross members to its health plans. WellPoint operates managed-care plans, including a health maintenance organization, a preferred provider organization and specialty care networks.