There are reports that there may be a buyer for Bausch & Lomb. The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and The New York Times are among the media reporting that a Canadian company called Valeant Pharmaceuticals is getting close to finalizing a deal to buy the Rochester-based eye care company for about $9 billion.
B & L is now owned by the private-equity firm Warburg Pincus, which had entertained offers for the company earlier this year.
When those potential offers fell short of a price that Warburg was looking for, the firm then reportedly was looking at the possibility of launching an IPO.
Reports are that a deal to sell the company to Valeant could be announced next week, but the stories also say the deal could still fall apart.
A B & L spokesperson says the company won’t comment other than to say their focus remains on building the best global eye health company.