STAAR SURGICAL CO 8-K

What Happened
STAAR Surgical Company (STAA) announced that on January 15, 2026 its Board elected Neal C. Bradsher as Board Chair and approved changes to the composition and leadership of its three standing committees. The Board also established two new committees (a Search Committee and an Insight and Engagement Committee) and determined that six directors meet NASDAQ independence standards for Audit Committee purposes.

Key Details

• Neal C. Bradsher elected Board Chair effective January 15, 2026; Bradsher is Founder and President of Broadwood Capital, Inc., the general partner of Broadwood Partners, L.P., the Company’s largest stockholder.
• Directors determined independent under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2): Neal C. Bradsher, Arthur C. Butcher, Richard T. LeBuhn, Louis E. Silverman, Christopher M. Wang and Lilian Y. Zhou.
• Standing committee leadership effective Jan 15, 2026: Audit Committee Chair Lilian Y. Zhou; Compensation Committee Chair Louis E. Silverman; Nominating & Governance Committee Chair Neal C. Bradsher.
• New committees and chairs: Search Committee (Chair Lilian Y. Zhou) to guide leadership decisions including CEO succession; Insight and Engagement Committee (Chair Christopher M. Wang) to gather external perspectives.
• The Company notified NASDAQ it has regained compliance with Audit Committee independence requirements and is no longer in the cure period under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(c)(4)(B).
• Board members (including the new Chair) are eligible for compensation for committee or chair roles under the existing non-employee director compensation program.

Why It Matters
Board leadership and committee composition affect governance and oversight—areas important to investors evaluating management accountability and strategic direction. Regaining Audit Committee independence restores compliance with NASDAQ rules, which removes regulatory uncertainty tied to the prior cure period. The creation of a Search Committee signals the Board is actively preparing for leadership decisions, including potential CEO succession, which could influence management continuity and company strategy.