Wesley Jessen Seeks Sweetened Acquisition Offer From Bausch & Lomb

Bausch & Lomb can afford to increase its offer to buy tinted contact lens manufacturer Wesley Jessen by up to $8 a share without diluting earnings per share for 2001 and 2002, Wesley Jessen told shareholders in an April 10 letter advising them to reject Bausch & Lomb's unsolicited $34 bid. Bausch & Lomb's hostile tender offer commenced April 3.