Company: STAA
Filing Date: 2025-09-16
Form Type: DEFM14A
Source: 0001193125-25-204396
Chunk: 40

Company: STAAR SURGICAL CO
Filing Date: 2025-09-16
Form: DEFM14A
Chunk 40
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 and fees
for professional services and other transaction costs in connection with the Merger, for which STAAR will have received little or no benefit if the Merger is not completed. Some of these fees and costs are payable by STAAR even if the Merger is not
completed and may relate to activities that STAAR would not have undertaken other than to complete the Merger.

For additional information
related to the Merger Agreement, see “Proposal 1: Adoption of the Merger Agreement” and “The Merger Agreement.”

STAAR is subject to certain restrictions in the Merger Agreement that may hinder operations pending the consummation of the Merger.

The Merger Agreement generally requires STAAR to operate its business in the ordinary course pending consummation of the Merger and restricts
STAAR, without Alcon’s consent, from taking certain specified actions until the Merger is completed, subject to certain exceptions. These restrictions may affect STAAR’s ability to execute its business strategies and attain STAAR’s
financial and other goals and may impact its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

These restrictions could be in
place for an extended period of time if the consummation of the Merger is delayed, which may delay or prevent STAAR from undertaking business opportunities that, absent the Merger Agreement, STAAR might have pursued, or from effectively responding
to competitive pressures or industry developments.

Whether or not the Merger is completed, the pending Merger may disrupt STAAR’s
current plans and operations, which could have an adverse effect on STAAR’s business and financial results. For these and other reasons, the pendency of the Merger could adversely affect STAAR’s business and financial results. For more
information, see “The Merger Agreement—Conduct of Business Pending the Merger.”

The Merger Agreement contains provisions that could discourage a potential competing acquiror of STAAR.

The Merger Agreement contains
non-solicitation provisions that, subject to certain exceptions, restrict STAAR’s ability to solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or facilitate competing third-party proposals for the acquisition of
STAAR’s stock or assets. Under certain circumstances, the Board may (i) withdraw, qualify or modify its recommendation that STAAR’s stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement or (ii) terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into a
definitive agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal. However, before doing so, the Board must comply with certain procedures described in the Merger Agreement, including provisions