Alcon Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA) has published a presentation defending its pending merger with Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC) at $28.00 per share in cash. The deal represents a 59% premium to STAAR's 90-day volume weighted average price before announcement. The company's second-largest stockholder, Soleus Capital (6% ownership), has expressed support for the merger.

STAAR faces significant challenges, including declining China sales (approximately 50% of consolidated net sales), intensifying competition, and limited product offerings. The Board conducted extensive strategic reviews, meeting over 20 times in the first eight months of 2025. Despite a 45-day "window shop" period, no competing acquisition proposals emerged.

The company strongly refutes claims by Broadwood Partners against the merger, emphasizing that STAAR's stock traded at $18.49 per share before the announcement and warning of potential downward pressure if the merger fails.

Broadwood Partners, holding approximately 27.5% of STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA) shares, has filed a definitive proxy statement urging stockholders to vote AGAINST the proposed $28 per share acquisition by Alcon (NYSE: ALC).

Broadwood criticizes the deal citing three main issues: poor timing during STAAR's temporary market challenges and imminent turnaround, a flawed process that excluded other potential buyers, and significant conflicts of interest involving board members and management. The firm highlights that Alcon previously proposed $62 per share less than a year ago, representing a 55% decrease in the current offer.

The investment firm emphasizes STAAR's strong fundamentals, including $200 million in cash, no debt, leading technology, and promising growth prospects. Another major stockholder, Yunqi Capital Ltd. (5.1% ownership), also opposes the transaction.

STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA) announced the expiration of its 45-day "window shop" period related to its pending merger with Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC), with no competing acquisition proposals received. The merger agreement offers $28.00 per share in all-cash consideration, representing a 51% premium to STAAR's closing price on August 4, 2025.

Despite claims from Broadwood Partners about potential alternative buyers, no competing proposals emerged since July 2024. The deal includes a 1% termination fee during the window shop period, increasing to 3% for superior proposals after September 19, 2025. The Board unanimously supports the Alcon merger, citing it as the best path forward for stockholders amid continuing business challenges.

Yunqi Capital, a 5.1% stakeholder in STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ:STAA), has announced its opposition to STAAR's proposed sale to Alcon (SIX/NYSE:ALC) at $28 per share. As STAAR's sixth-largest shareholder with 2,500,061 shares, Yunqi Capital argues that the deal significantly undervalues the company.

The Hong Kong-based investment firm criticizes the Board's decision on three main grounds: (1) failure to conduct a thorough sales process by engaging only with Alcon, (2) an overly pessimistic view of China's market prospects, and (3) inadequate deal valuation, noting the $28 offer represents a 49% discount from Alcon's original October 2024 offer of $55 per share.

Yunqi Capital intends to vote against the merger and urges other shareholders to do the same, aligning with Broadwood Partners (27.4% stockholder) in opposing the transaction.

STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA), a leader in phakic IOLs, has announced its Board's unanimous support for the proposed merger with Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC) at $28.00 per share in cash. The merger represents significant premiums: 51% to the pre-announcement closing price and 59% to the 90-day VWAP.

The company will hold a Special Meeting of Stockholders on October 23, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. PT for shareholders to vote on the merger agreement. The Board strongly recommends voting "FOR" the merger, citing STAAR's lower growth rate, competitive challenges, and declining sales trends in China as key factors making the Alcon deal the best path forward for stockholders.

Alcon (NYSE:ALC) announced significant efficiency improvements with their UNITY Vitreoretinal Cataract System (VCS) compared to existing systems. Two key studies demonstrated superior performance: The first study (n=179) showed 16% overall workflow efficiency gains in vitreoretinal surgery, with 33% faster console set-up and 38% quicker tear-down times versus CONSTELLATION Vision System.

The second study (n=303) revealed that UNITY VCS reduces cataract surgery turnover time by 6% and delivers 35% less total energy into the eye compared to CENTURION Vision System. These improvements are particularly significant given the projected 46.9% increase in AMD patients by 2040 and the global 12% decline in ophthalmologists.

Alcon (NYSE:ALC), the global eye care leader, showcased significant innovations at the 43rd ESCRS Congress in Copenhagen. The company introduced three major technologies now available in Europe: the UNITY Vitreoretinal Cataract System (VCS), Clareon Vivity intraocular lens (IOL), and Voyager DSLT for glaucoma treatment.

The company will present over 40 studies demonstrating the benefits of their technologies, including new data on Vivity IOLs showing positive outcomes in patients with special considerations. Key findings include reduced breakthrough pain medication use and less patient discomfort when performing cataract surgery at more physiologic IOP with CENTURION. Additionally, Alcon launched Intelligent Service Solutions (ISS) globally to maximize customer productivity through remote diagnostics and software updates.

Alcon (NYSE:ALC), the global leader in eye care, announced that CEO David Endicott will present at the 2025 Baird Global Healthcare Conference on September 9, 2025, at 9:05 a.m. ET. The presentation will be accessible via live webcast on the company's investor relations website.

Alcon serves over 260 million people in more than 140 countries annually through its Surgical and Vision Care products, focusing on conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases, and refractive errors. The company employs over 25,000 associates and maintains a 75-year heritage in eye care innovation.

Alcon (NYSE:ALC) reported Q2 2025 results with sales of $2.6 billion, up 4% on a reported basis and 3% in constant currency. The company posted diluted EPS of $0.35 and core diluted EPS of $0.76.

Key highlights include the successful US launch of Tryptyr, a first-in-class dry eye treatment, and the announced acquisition of STAAR Surgical to expand Alcon's myopia correction portfolio. The company generated $889 million in operating cash flow and returned $287 million to shareholders.

For 2025, Alcon updated its outlook, reducing net sales guidance to $10.3-10.4 billion (4-5% growth) and core operating margin to 19.5-20.5%, while maintaining core diluted EPS guidance of $3.05-3.15.