Alcon Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Yunqi Capital (NASDAQ:STAA), a 5.1% STAAR shareholder, urged the board to hold the special shareholder meeting on October 23, 2025 and reiterated its opposition to the proposed sale to Alcon. Yunqi criticized STAAR’s pre-merger process and called recent company disclosures “disingenuous.”

Yunqi highlighted preliminary Q3 results: China revenue YTD $142.6M, estimated Q3 China revenue ≈$54.4M, $25.6M consignment revenue, and said Q3 sales exceeded consensus by 2.8%. Yunqi projects China sales of $180–200M for 2026 versus STAAR’s $160M guide and flagged missing margin/profit detail before the vote.

Broadwood Partners (NASDAQ: STAA), which holds 27.5% of STAAR outstanding shares, sent a letter to STAAR Surgical’s board on October 17, 2025 urging directors to allow a timely shareholder vote on the proposed sale to Alcon (NYSE: ALC). Broadwood urges shareholders to vote AGAINST the acquisition announced August 5, 2025, arguing the board pursued a poorly designed process and an inadequate price.

Broadwood warns the board against delaying the October 23, 2025 vote or issuing misleading statements, and says shareholders and proxy advisors oppose the deal; it calls for the board to accept the vote result and work with shareholders if the transaction is rejected.

STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA) reiterated its board's unanimous recommendation that stockholders vote FOR the merger with Alcon on the white proxy card.

Key points: Alcon's offer is $28.00 per share in cash (a 59% premium to the 90-day VWAP). STAAR contrasts this with Broadwood's position and a prior price of $18.49 per share, warning a vote against could invite control shifts and valuation pressure. Stockholders are urged to contact STAAR's proxy solicitor for voting assistance.

Defender Capital, a long-term shareholder owning approximately 1.5% of STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA), announced on October 7, 2025 its opposition to the proposed sale of STAAR to Alcon (NYSE: ALC) for $28 per share. Defender said the $28 price significantly undervalues STAAR, noting the STAAR board rejected a prior $58 per share cash offer from Alcon sixteen months earlier. Defender cited recent positive projections and outlook from STAAR management and argued there is no compelling reason to sell at the proposed valuation. Defender described the transaction as ill-advised and said it does not reflect STAAR’s standalone prospects.

Yunqi Capital (NASDAQ:STAA), a 5.1% shareholder, reiterated opposition to STAAR Surgical’s proposed sale to Alcon announced Aug 5, 2025, arguing the deal undervalues STAAR and mischaracterizes its China outlook.

Yunqi says recent revenue weakness (~10% decline 2023–2025) was driven by temporary China distributor inventory corrections (quarterly China revenue drops of 82%, 99%, 92% in late 2024–mid 2025) and that inventory has returned to historical levels per STAAR’s 10-Q. Yunqi highlights rising operating expenses (annualized run-rate from ~$150M in 2022 to ~$250M in 2024), U.S. headcount growth (~+400), and CEO merger-related payouts (~$24M of ~$55M total) as concerns. Yunqi proposes cost cuts, channel fixes and buybacks to unlock value instead of the sale.