Dec 12 (Reuters) - Bausch + Lomb ( BLCO ) is exploring

a potential sale among other options, it said on Thursday, in a

move that would help Canadian parent Bausch Health ( BHC ) exit

the eye-care company.

Bausch + Lomb ( BLCO ) also said its statement was in response to

a request from the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization

(CIRO) after a series of media reports on its likely sale

triggered volatility in its shares.

The Financial Times reported on Oct. 14 that private

equity firms TPG and Blackstone were working on a joint bid to

take the company private for up to $11.5 billion, including

debt.

A month prior, the FT had reported that the company had

hired an investment bank to explore a sale, sending its shares

surging more than 37% until the newspaper's report on

Blackstone's cooling interest earlier this week led to a sharp

fall in its stock price.

A sale could end a long process by parent Bausch Health ( BHC )

to offload its stake in the eyecare company.

In 2022, Bausch Health ( BHC ) separated the business into

another publicly listed company but retained a majority stake.

Bausch + Lomb ( BLCO ), which is one of the world's largest

contact lens suppliers, is helmed by noted dealmaker Brent

Saunders.

He was previously the CEO of Allergan before it was sold

to AbbVie ( ABBV ) for $63 billion.

The company also makes surgical devices, prescription

drugs and generic eye products.