Coherent Announces Director Slate for Upcoming Annual Meeting
06 February 2008 - 12:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Coherent,
Inc. (Pink Sheets: COHR), today announced its slate of seven
director nominees to be included in the company's proxy for the
annual meeting scheduled for March 19, 2008 at 5:30p.m. (PT), which
are subject to election by shareholders. The nominees include
current directors Garry Rogerson, John Ambroseo, John Hart, Larry
Tomlinson and Sandeep Vij as well as first-time nominees Susan
James and Clifford Press. Susan James is a former partner with
Ernst & Young and has served as the partner-in-charge for a
significant number of technology companies including Intel
Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Amazon.com, Autodesk and the
Hewlett-Packard Corporation. "I am enthusiastic about the
opportunity to be part of Coherent. The company shares some
important traits with other organizations that I have worked with
including market and technology leadership as well as emphasis on
growth and financial performance," Ms. James stated. Clifford Press
has been a managing member of Oliver Press Partners, LLC, an
investment advisory firm, since March 2005. Over the past several
months, Coherent and Oliver Press Partners have engaged in a
constructive and professional dialogue culminating in an agreement
that led to Mr. Press' nomination. Oliver Press Partners is
currently Coherent's largest shareholder. "I am looking forward to
the opportunity of working with my colleagues on the Coherent Board
to achieve the great potential that is inherent in this company,"
said Mr. Press. The company also announced that Charles Cantoni
will retire from the Board of Directors after 25 years of service,
effective at the annual meeting. Mr. Cantoni had extended his
tenure beyond the company's mandatory retirement age at the
company's request on multiple occasions. "Chuck has been a
remarkable steward for Coherent. His level of commitment for over
two decades speaks volumes about his character and integrity. On
behalf of Coherent and its shareholders, I want to express our
deepest thanks and best wishes to Chuck and his family," said Garry
Rogerson, Coherent's Chairman of the Board. For further information
regarding Ms. James and Mr. Press, as well as the settlement
agreement between Coherent and Oliver Press Partners and its
affiliated individuals and entities, please see the company's
current report on Form 8-K, which will be filed later today.
Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is a world leader in providing
photonics based solutions to the commercial and scientific research
markets. DATASOURCE: Coherent, Inc. CONTACT: Leen Simonet of
Coherent, Inc., +1-408-764-4161 Web site: http://www.coherent.com/
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