Alcon Terminates Merger Agreement with STAAR Surgical, Impacting $1.5 Billion Valuation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 07 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Merger Agreement Termination: Alcon announced the termination of its merger agreement with STAAR Surgical after STAAR failed to secure the necessary shareholder votes at a Special Meeting, resulting in STAAR continuing as a standalone publicly traded company, which impacts its future strategic direction.
- Shareholder Vote Outcome: The inability of STAAR Surgical to gain approval at the special meeting reflects shareholder concerns regarding the merger, potentially affecting its stock price and market confidence, thereby intensifying challenges in the competitive medical device market.
- Acquisition Price Changes: Initially, Alcon proposed to acquire STAAR at $28 per share, valuing the company at approximately $1.5 billion, later amending the offer to $30.75 per share, which represented an additional $150 million in equity value for shareholders, indicating Alcon's interest in STAAR, but ultimately failing to finalize the deal.
- Market Reaction Expectations: The failure of this merger may put short-term pressure on Alcon's stock price, while STAAR's future development direction and strategy as an independent entity will attract more scrutiny, necessitating investors to closely monitor subsequent developments.
Analyst Views on ALC
Wall Street analysts forecast ALC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ALC is 91.11 USD with a low forecast of 75.18 USD and a high forecast of 112.77 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
11 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 80.290
Low
75.18
Averages
91.11
High
112.77
Current: 80.290
Low
75.18
Averages
91.11
High
112.77
About ALC
Alcon AG is a Switzerland-based eye care company. The Company research, develop, manufacture, distribute and sell a full suite of eye care products within two key businesses: Surgical and Vision Care. The Company’s Surgical business is focused on ophthalmic products for cataract surgery, vitreoretinal surgery, refractive laser surgery and glaucoma surgery. The surgical portfolio includes implantables, consumables and surgical equipment required for these procedures and supports the end-to-end needs of the ophthalmic surgeon. The Company’s Vision Care business comprises of daily disposable, reusable and color-enhancing contact lenses and a portfolio of ocular health products, including products for dry eye, ocular allergies, glaucoma, and contact lens care, as well as ocular vitamins and redness relievers. The Company operates in 60 countries and serves consumers and patients in over 140 countries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
