Staar Surg 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.

STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA), a global leader in phakic IOLs, has reaffirmed the value of its merger agreement with Alcon. The deal offers shareholders $28 per share in cash, representing a 51% premium to STAAR's closing price on August 4, 2025, and a 59% premium to its 90-day VWAP.

The company emphasizes that this valuation exceeds potential standalone performance, particularly given STAAR's declining growth rate and challenges in key markets, especially China. The Board of Directors unanimously supports the merger, citing it as the best interest for all stockholders. STAAR has filed preliminary proxy materials with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction.

STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA) reported challenging Q2 2025 results, with net sales declining 55% year-over-year to $44.3 million, primarily due to planned inventory reduction in China. Excluding China, sales grew 10% to $39.0 million.

The company reported a net loss of $(16.8) million, or $(0.34) per share, compared to net income of $7.4 million year ago. Gross margin decreased to 74.0% from 79.2% last year but improved from 65.8% in Q1 2025. The company maintained a strong balance sheet with $189.9 million in cash and investments, with no debt.

During Q2, STAAR repurchased 261,000 shares for approximately $4.5 million under its $30 million share repurchase program. The company is currently pending acquisition by Alcon Inc.

Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC) has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA) for $28 per share in cash, representing a total equity value of approximately $1.5 billion. The deal offers a 59% premium to STAAR's 90-day VWAP.

The acquisition includes STAAR's EVO family of Implantable Collamer® Lenses (ICL), which provides vision correction for moderate to high myopia patients. This strategic move enhances Alcon's surgical vision correction portfolio, particularly targeting the growing myopia market, expected to affect 50% of the world's population by 2050.

The transaction is expected to close within 6-12 months, subject to regulatory and STAAR shareholder approval, and become earnings accretive in year two. Alcon plans to finance the acquisition through short- and long-term credit facilities.

STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA), the global leader in phakic IOLs, has scheduled its second quarter 2025 earnings conference call for August 6, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. ET. The company will release its financial results for the quarter ended June 27, 2025, after the market close on the same day.

STAAR Surgical specializes in Implantable Collamer® Lenses (EVO ICL™), having sold over 3 million ICLs across 75+ countries. The company's innovative EVO ICL™ product line offers vision correction through a minimally invasive procedure, eliminating or reducing dependency on glasses or contact lenses.