Swiss eyecare giant Alcon lifts bid for rival Staar

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By Maria Rugamer

Dec 9 (Reuters) – Swiss eyecare giant Alcon has made a new offer for Staar Surgical worth $1.6 billion, it said on Tuesday, as it seeks to clinch a deal despite opposition from Staar’s biggest shareholder.

The latest offer is worth $30.75 per share in cash. Alcon has also reduced the level of related payments to Staar executives should the deal go through. Those payments had aso been criticised by Staar’s top shareholder, Broadwood Partners.

Alcon’s original offer, agreed in early August, was worth $28 per share and valued the company at $1.5 billion.

Staar recommended its shareholders vote in favour of the latest deal in a meeting on December 19. The transaction is expected to close in early 2026, Alcon said.

The vote had previously been postponed three times.

Broadwood declined to comment on Tuesday. It had opposed the initial offer, saying it undervalued the business and had criticised Staar’s board for choosing to sell the company “without pursuing an adequate sale process”.

In November, the Staar board began a “go-shop” process, during which Alcon waived its rights to match any competing offer and to receive a break-up fee if a superior offer materialised.

Staar engaged with 21 parties during that period but did not receive a proposal, said one source familiar with the process speaking on condition of anonymity.

Alcon said: “This best and final offer to the Staar stockholders offers a clear choice: a substantial and certain premium versus an uncertain future.”

Analysts at BTIG recommended Staar shareholders accept the offer.

“Staar shares are likely to meaningfully suffer if the deal is not consummated,” they said in a note.

Shares of Staar Surgical opened up 13.7% after the new bid was announced.

(Reporting by Maria Rugamer; Editing by Matt Scuffham)