STAAR Surgical Stock Soars 16% on Alcon's Sweetened $1.6B Offer
Alcon raises its all-cash bid to $30.75 per share, signaling a strong premium to secure STAAR's leading lens implant technology for myopia.
Shares of STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA) surged more than 16% on Tuesday after eye-care giant Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC) increased its all-cash offer to acquire the company to $30.75 per share, boosting the total transaction value to approximately $1.6 billion.
The stock jumped $3.80 to close at $27.34, reacting to the amended merger agreement that now represents a significant 74% premium to STAAR’s 90-day volume-weighted average price. The revised offer underscores Alcon's strategic determination to acquire STAAR's innovative lens technology and solidify its dominance in the global vision correction market.
The sweetened bid follows the expiration of a "go-shop" period on December 6, which concluded without any superior proposals for STAAR, a Lake Forest, California-based maker of implantable eye lenses. The new price is an increase from Alcon’s initial offer of $28 per share, first announced on August 5, 2025.
Strategic Push into Myopia Market
The acquisition is a key strategic move for Alcon to capture a larger share of the rapidly growing market for myopia (nearsightedness) treatments. STAAR is the developer of the EVO Implantable Collamer® Lens (ICL), a minimally invasive solution for patients who may not be ideal candidates for laser-based procedures like LASIK. This technology fills a critical gap in Alcon's extensive portfolio of eye care products.
In a statement, Alcon highlighted the immense market potential, citing projections that half of the world's population could be myopic by 2050. By integrating STAAR’s ICL technology, Alcon can offer a full spectrum of vision correction options, from contact lenses to advanced surgical interventions.
"With the number of high myopes rising globally, the acquisition of STAAR enhances our ability to offer a leading surgical vision correction solution," said David Endicott, CEO of Alcon, in a press release. He emphasized the deal's alignment with the company's commitment to addressing the most significant needs in eye care.
Market Reaction and Financial Outlook
The market's enthusiastic response sent STAAR's shares to levels not seen in months, approaching the stock's 52-week high of $30.81. The new offer price from Alcon now sits just below that peak, providing a compelling exit for shareholders of a company whose stock had a consensus analyst price target of $25.88 before the announcement.
Alcon intends to leverage its vast global commercial footprint across 140 countries to accelerate the adoption and distribution of STAAR's EVO lenses, particularly in high-growth regions like China where myopia rates are prevalent. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the revised merger agreement.
Alcon expects the transaction to be accretive to its core earnings per share in the second year following the deal's completion. According to regulatory filings, Alcon plans to finance the acquisition through a combination of short- and long-term credit facilities.
The deal is anticipated to close in early 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearance and the approval of STAAR's stockholders. A shareholder meeting to vote on the merger is scheduled for December 19, 2025.