Company: BLCO
Filing Date: 2025-02-19
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001860742-25-000004
Chunk: 187

Company: Bausch & Lomb Corp
Filing Date: 2025-02-19
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 187
---
 the relationship thereafter between the companies. Potential conflicts of interest could also arise if we enter into commercial arrangements with BHC in the future. As a result of these actual or apparent conflicts, we may be precluded from pursuing certain growth initiatives.While the Board of Directors believes that, given its size and structure, such actual or potential conflicts of interest can be managed adequately, including that the independent members of our Board of Directors may meet in the absence of senior executive officers or non-independent directors in respect of the relevant matter, the actual or perceived conflicts of interest that may arise could cause reputational or other harm.To preserve the tax-free treatment of certain transactions related to the Distribution, we may not be able to engage in certain transactions. We could incur significant tax liabilities, or be liable to BHC, if certain transactions occur which result in these transactions or the Distribution being subject to tax.To preserve the tax-free treatment of certain transactions related to the Distribution, certain agreements we entered into with BHC in connection with the Separation (including the Distribution Arrangement Agreement) contain certain tax-related covenants. We previously expected that the Distribution would be effected pursuant to the public company “butterfly reorganization” rules in Section 55 of the Tax Act (although BHC has recently announced it is considering other alternative structures, including a tax-free reduction of capital) and so these covenants include agreements that, among other things and subject to certain limited exceptions: (a) we and BHC will: (i) not, on or before the effective date of the Distribution Arrangement, take or perform or fail to take or perform any act, including entering into any transaction or permitting any act or transaction within our respective control to be taken or performed or to occur, that, in each case, could reasonably be considered to interfere or be inconsistent with the Tax Ruling; (ii) not take or perform or fail to take or perform any act, including entering into any transaction or permitting any act or transaction within our respective control to be taken or performed or to occur, in each case, that would cause BHC to cease to be a “specified corporation” within the meaning of the Tax Act on or prior to the effective date of the Distribution Arrangement, except as specifically contemplated by the Distribution Arrangement Agreement and in the Tax Ruling; and (iii) fulfill all representations and undertakings provided by us (or by any of our subsidiaries), or on our behalf (or on behalf of any of our subsidiaries) with our knowledge and consent, in