Company: STAA
Filing Date: 2025-09-16
Form Type: DEFM14A
Source: 0001193125-25-204396
Chunk: 57

Company: STAAR SURGICAL CO
Filing Date: 2025-09-16
Form: DEFM14A
Chunk 57
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 the trading price of STAAR common stock declined from its June 2024 levels. During this period, Mr. Frinzi and Mr. Endicott periodically engaged in discussions regarding general industry conditions and
dynamics.

On July 10, 2024, several news outlets published articles indicating that STAAR was attracting takeover interest from
Alcon and had hired an investment bank to review a potential sale of STAAR. On July 11, 2024, an industry analyst also issued a report on the potential interest from Alcon. Neither STAAR nor Alcon confirmed such takeover interest. On
July 10, 2024, the trading price of STAAR common stock closed at $46.00, up approximately 11.1% from the prior day’s closing price. Following the reports, STAAR did not receive any indications of interest from third parties regarding a
potential acquisition of STAAR.

At its October 3, 2024 meeting, the Board continued its discussions regarding the standalone
business plan of STAAR, including the opportunities and risks associated therewith. Among other things, the Board engaged in

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a discussion with STAAR’s management regarding STAAR’s financial and operating performance and long-term strategy, the economic slowdown in China, STAAR’s research and
development pipeline, its go-to-market strategy and challenges in realizing sales growth in other geographies. The Board also considered the standalone value creation
opportunity and strategic alternatives that could be available to STAAR. The Board discussed the merits of further evaluating potential merger and acquisition transactions, including a potential acquisition of STAAR by Alcon and potential risks and
benefits of exploring such a transaction. Mr. Frinzi indicated that Alcon remained interested in acquiring STAAR, and the Board directed STAAR’s management to engage in further discussions with Alcon and to enter into a confidentiality
agreement with Alcon.

On October 4, 2024, Mr. Frinzi and Mr. Endicott discussed STAAR’s willingness to explore a
potential acquisition of STAAR by Alcon. Alcon provided a draft mutual confidentiality agreement to facilitate discussions and the disclosure of information and, on October 7, 2024, Alcon and STAAR executed a mutual confidentiality agreement to
facilitate the due diligence process. The confidentiality agreement did not contain a standstill restriction on either party. At that time, and thereafter during the course of discussions between STAAR and Alcon until they entered into the Merger