Report: Bausch & Lomb nears deal to sell itself to Valeant for $9B

ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 24 (UPI) —

Bausch & Lomb Inc. is nearing a deal to be sold to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. for about $9 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Citing people familiar with the situation, the newspaper said Bausch & Lomb — based in Rochester, N.Y., and owned by private-equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC — could reach a deal with generic drug maker Valeant by next week.

One source cautioned the deal hasn’t been finalized and could still collapse.

If the sale falls through, Warburg and Bausch & Lomb could go ahead with a planned initial public offering of stock in the eye-care company, the Journal said.