Yunqi Capital Comments on STAAR Surgical’s Go-Shop Process and Alcon’s Revised Offer

Yunqi Capital Limited (together with its affiliates and the funds it advises, “Yunqi Capital”), an investment management firm and 5.1% shareholder of STAAR Surgical Company (“STAAR” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: STAA), today released the following letter to STAAR shareholders regarding the closing of STAAR’s go-shop period and the revised offer of Alcon Inc. (SIX/NYSE: ALC) to acquire STAAR for $30.75 per share.

The text of the letter is as follows:

December 10, 2025

Dear Fellow STAAR Shareholders:

We are writing to share with you our continued opposition to the proposed transaction. After reviewing the announcements by STAAR and Alcon regarding the course and closing of the 30-day go-shop period, and Alcon’s revised offer of $30.75 per share, we remain opposed to the merger even at the increased price and will continue to vote our shares AGAINST it.

We strongly believe that it is still not the right time to sell the Company – regardless of the outcome of the go-shop period. We held this view before the go-shop was initiated, as we communicated to shareholders and to the Board on several occasions. We held this view during the go-shop period, although we chose not to publicly express that view during the period so as not to prejudice the process. And we continue to hold this view now that the go-shop has concluded and predictably produced no additional proposal.

We also believe that STAAR has mismanaged its attempt to sell the Company from the start; that the go-shop process was structured and conducted to seal the Alcon deal rather than to genuinely seek additional offers; and that the Company has not been fully transparent with shareholders, including in its most recent press release. With these views in mind, we are even more resolved to vote against the proposed merger, even at the revised price.

There may come a time when a board of STAAR should sell the Company, but now is not the right time, and the current Board is not the right board for the job, having lost credibility with shareholders in our view.

We also reject the assertion by Alcon in its latest press release dated December 9 that we are “activist shareholders.” We are a long-term shareholder in STAAR, with a 5.1% stake and a wealth of insight on the Company’s business and long-term prospects, and we are speaking out against Alcon’s attempted takeover of the Company for less than fair value.