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Leading Independent Proxy Advisory Firm ISS Recommends STAAR Stockholders Vote “FOR” Alcon Merger
STAAR Urges Stockholders to Vote “FOR” Alcon Merger on the WHITE Proxy Card TODAY LAKE FOREST, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ:
About this update from Staar Surgical Company
[{"type":"text","content":"\nSTAAR Urges Stockholders to Vote “FOR” Alcon Merger on the WHITE Proxy Card TODAY\n\n LAKE FOREST, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nSTAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA) (“STAAR”), the global leader in phakic IOLs with the EVO family of Implantable Collamer® Lenses (EVO ICL™) for vision correction, today announced that leading independent proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) has issued a new report and revised its recommendation with respect to STAAR’s merger with Alcon. ISS is now recommending that all STAAR stockholders vote “FOR” STAAR’s amended merger agreement with Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC) at STAAR’s Special Meeting of Stockholders on December 19, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. (Pacific Time).\n\nSTAAR issued the following statement:\n\nThe STAAR Board is committed to maximizing stockholder value and serving the best interests of all STAAR stockholders. In the ISS report issued today, ISS recommended a vote “FOR” the Alcon merger and noted that “uncertainties about valuation are now outweighed by the combination of more acute downside risks and improved terms”1 with respect to the Alcon agreement.\n\nSTAAR clearly faces challenges as a standalone company. It is not hard to see from STAAR’s financial results that the Company is facing headwinds. STAAR’s net sales have been on a downward trajectory since 2023 as a result of the overweight exposure to China, increasing competition, a limited product offering and a historical inability to penetrate markets beyond high myopia patients.\n\nSTAAR previously indicated that it believed China procedure volumes were positive year over year in 1Q25, softened during 2Q25, and did not improve in 3Q25. Like others in the industry, STAAR has not seen a rebound in 4Q25.\n\nThese trends reinforce the significant, sustained challenges STAAR faces as a standalone company and the benefit to stockholders provided by the certain, premium value that would be realized in the Alcon merger.\n\nAfter having completed a robust go-shop process, it is clear that there is not any buyer for STAAR who is willing to present a bid with a price at or above Alcon’s offered $30.75 per share.\n\nSTAAR urges stockholders to follow the ISS recommendation and vote “FOR” the Alcon transaction.\n\nTime is short. STAAR will hold a virtual Special Meeting of Stockholders on December 19, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. (Pacific...