Alcon Ups Takeover Bid for Staar Surgical Under Amended Merger Deal

09:58 AM EST, 12/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Alcon (ALC.SW) increased its offer to acquire Nasdaq-listed implantable lenses maker Staar Surgical under a newly amended merger deal, according to a Tuesday release. The Swiss eye care company is now offering a "best and final offer" of $30.75 per Staar share in cash, representing a total equity value of $1.6 billion, up from its August bid of $28 per share, totaling $1.5 billion. The target's board recommended that stockholders approve the deal. The amended deal was approved by the companies' boards and follows the expiry of Staar's unencumbered "go-shop" process, during which no alternative bids emerged. Deal closing is expected in early 2026, subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals.