Bausch & Lomb sold in €3.3bn deal

ONE of the largest multinational companies in Ireland is being sold to a private equity firm in a deal valued at $4.5 billion (€3.3bn).

Eye-care company Bausch & Lomb has agreed to be acquired by affiliates of Warburg Pincus, in a deal that includes the assumption of $830m (€614m) in debt.

Under the terms of the agreement, Warburg Pincus will pay $65 (€48) a share in cash for Rochester-based Bausch & Lomb, who employ about 1,500 people in Ireland. It is not yet known what impact this will have on the Irish market.