Alcon to Acquire STAAR Surgical in $1.5 Billion Deal

Tuesday, August 12 2025 | 08 h 42 min | News

Alcon has announced plans to acquire STAAR Surgical Company in a transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion. STAAR is best known for its Implantable Collamer® Lens (ICL) portfolio, including the EVO ICL™ family, designed for vision correction in patients with moderate to high myopia, with or without astigmatism.

Under the definitive merger agreement, Alcon will purchase all outstanding shares of STAAR common stock for $28 per share in cash—a 59% premium over STAAR’s 90-day volume-weighted average price and a 51% premium over its August 4 closing price.

The EVO ICL products are implantable lenses placed between the iris and the natural crystalline lens, offering a reversible, minimally invasive alternative to corneal refractive procedures such as LASIK. Alcon says the acquisition will strengthen its surgical vision correction offerings for patients unsuitable for other refractive surgeries.

In announcing the deal, Alcon CEO David Endicott said that the transaction would expand the company’s ability to address myopia across a full range of treatment options, from contact lenses to surgical interventions. STAAR CEO Stephen Farrell noted that market fluctuations, particularly in China, have posed ongoing challenges for the company and that joining Alcon offers greater resources to accelerate adoption of EVO ICL technology.

The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close within six to 12 months, pending regulatory approvals and STAAR shareholder approval. The transaction is not subject to financing conditions and is expected to be accretive to Alcon’s earnings in its second year post-closing.

Source: Alcon

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