SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in United States dollars and in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial reporting, which do not conform in all respects to the requirements of U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. Accordingly, these notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP that are contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared using accounting policies that are consistent with the policies used in preparing the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the interim periods. The operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

In preparing the unaudited consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates to ensure that these estimates appropriately reflect changes in the Company’s business and new information as it becomes available. If historical experience and other factors used by management to make these estimates do not reasonably reflect future activity, the Company’s results of operations and financial position could be materially impacted.

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

To enhance the comparability of its asset impairments, the Company has made reclassifications to the consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 to include all asset impairments in the single line Asset impairments. Charges for asset impairments were originally reported in multiple lines within the consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016; Amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets and Acquired in-process research and development impairments and other charges. The effects of the reclassifications on the statements of operations for the periods presented are as follows:



	Three Months Ended June 30, 2016							Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
(in millions)	As Initially Reported		Reclassification			As Reclassified		As Initially Reported		Reclassification			As Reclassified
Amortization of intangible assets	$	888	$	(215	)	$	673	$	1,582	$	(231	)	$	1,351
Asset impairments	—		230			230		—		246			246
Acquired in-process research and development costs	17		(15		)	2		18		(15		)	3
	$	905	$	—		$	905	$	1,600	$	—		$	1,600

During the third quarter of 2016, the Company changed its reportable segments to: (i) Bausch + Lomb/International, (ii) Branded Rx and (iii) U.S. Diversified Products. Effective for the first quarter of 2017, revenues and profits from the Company's operations in Canada, previously included in the Branded Rx segment in prior periods, are now included in the Bausch + Lomb/International segment. Prior period presentations of segment revenues, segment profits and segment assets have been recast to conform to the current segment reporting structure. See Note 19, "SEGMENT INFORMATION" for additional information.

Adoption of New Accounting Guidance

In October 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") amended the guidance as to how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a variable interest entity ("VIE") should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The amended guidance was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted this amended guidance as of January 1, 2017 which did not have a material impact on the presentation of the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance which requires entities to include restricted cash in cash and cash equivalent balances on the statement of cash flows and disclose a reconciliation between the balances on the statement of cash flows and the balance sheet. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted this guidance during the interim period ended June 30, 2017 on a retrospective basis. The impact of the change was not material to the Company’s cash flows for the prior period presented.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards, Not Adopted as of June 30, 2017

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance on recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of the revenue model is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In applying the revenue model to contracts within its scope, an entity will: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. In addition to these provisions, the new standard provides implementation guidance on several other topics, including the accounting for certain revenue-related costs, as well as enhanced disclosure requirements. The new guidance requires entities to disclose both quantitative and qualitative information that enables users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In March 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to clarify the implementation guidance around considerations whether an entity is a principal or an agent, impacting whether an entity reports revenue on a gross or net basis. In April 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to clarify guidance on identifying performance obligations and the implementation guidance on licensing. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early application is permitted but not before the annual reporting period, including adoption in an interim period, beginning January 1, 2017. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified approach to adopt the guidance. The Company continues to make progress on its project plan for adopting this guidance, which includes a detailed assessment program and a training program for its personnel. Pursuant to the project plan, the Company conducted a high level impact assessment and is in the process of completing an in-depth evaluation of the adoption impact, which involves review of selected revenue arrangements. Based on this evaluation, the Company has also commenced taking actions in identifying appropriate changes to its business processes, systems and controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new guidance. Implementation of such changes is scheduled to commence in the latter part of the third quarter of 2017. Based on the assessment completed to date, the Company did not identify any area that may result in a significant adoption impact; however, the Company is still finalizing the assessment, including evaluating the additional disclosure requirements. The Company preliminarily concluded that it will adopt the new guidance using the modified approach, under which the new guidance will be adopted retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initial application of the guidance recognized on the date of initial application (which is January 1, 2018).

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance on leases. This guidance will increase transparency and comparability among organizations that lease buildings, equipment, and other assets by recognizing the assets and liabilities that arise from lease transactions. Current off-balance sheet leasing activities will be required to be reflected on balance sheets so that investors and other users of financial statements can more readily and accurately understand the rights and obligations associated with these transactions. Consistent with the current lease standard, the new guidance addresses two types of leases: finance leases and operating leases. Finance leases will be accounted for in substantially the same manner as capital leases are accounted for under current U.S. GAAP. Operating leases will be accounted for (both in the income statement and statement of cash flows) in a manner consistent with operating leases under existing U.S. GAAP. However, as it relates to the balance sheet, lessees will recognize lease liabilities based upon the present value of remaining lease payments and corresponding lease assets for operating leases with limited exception. The new guidance will also require lessees and lessors to provide additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures to help financial statement users assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures are intended to supplement the amounts recorded in the financial statements so that users can understand more about the nature of an organization’s leasing activities. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on its financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance on the impairment of financial instruments requiring an impairment model based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under this guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance which adds or clarifies the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows (including debt repayment or debt extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payment after a business combination, and distributions received from equity method investees). The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued guidance which removes the prohibition against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company believes the impact of adoption will result in a material increase in deferred tax assets and equity. The Company is evaluating the impact of this increase upon adoption of this guidance on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of assisting with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company will apply the new definition to future transactions when adopted.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating the "Step 2" from the goodwill impairment test. The FASB also eliminated the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company will continue to evaluate the potential impact of this guidance when adopted, which could have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operations, and disclosures, particularly in respect of the Salix reporting unit in which its carrying value exceeded its fair value as of the date of the annual goodwill impairment test in 2016. See Note 8, "INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL".

In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance identifying the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has not modified any outstanding awards, and therefore, does not have modification accounting. The adoption of this guidance will not impact its financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures.