12:07 PM EDT, 10/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- STAAR Surgical ( STAA ) is facing opposition from shareholder Defender Capital over its proposed $28 per share acquisition by Alcon ( ALC ) , which the investor says undervalues the ophthalmic device maker.

Defender said Tuesday that STAAR's board had rejected a $58 per share cash offer from Alcon ( ALC ) about 16 months earlier and sees no reason to proceed with the deal at the current valuation, citing the company's growth outlook.

The firm said it was disappointed that STAAR's board pursued the transaction, calling it a deal that does not reflect the company's standalone prospects.

STAAR Surgical ( STAA ) shares fell 2.2%, while Alcon ( ALC ) slipped 0.8% in recent trading.

Price: 26.21, Change: -0.63, Percent Change: -2.33