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SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Coherent, Inc. (Nasdaq: COHR) today announced that L. William Krause has been appointed to Coherent's Board of Directors.

Mr. Krause has had a distinguished career in the technology industry, including serving as president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of 3Com Corporation, where he retired after having guided the company from start-up through its growth as a public company. Additionally, Mr. Krause was employed at Hewlett-Packard Company for 14 years in various marketing and general management assignments, including the general manager of the General Systems Division with worldwide responsibility for the company's personal computer business. Mr. Krause also serves on the board of directors of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., Core-Mark Holdings, Inc. and Sybase, Inc.

Mr. Krause stated, "As a member of Coherent's Board, I'll be joining one of the long time icons in Silicon Valley. The company has a rich history of market and technology leadership. I look forward to working with the Board and management to extend these positions while continuing to drive shareholder value."

"As a successful and respected Silicon Valley veteran, Bill brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our Board. I expect him to add a clear and strong voice to our Board as Coherent navigates through the current economy while positioning itself for customer and shareholder leadership," said John Ambroseo, Coherent's President and Chief Executive Officer.

The company also announced that John Hart will retire from the Board of Directors following 9 years of service after completing his current term and will not stand for reelection at the next annual meeting of stockholders.

"John has been a dedicated Board member for Coherent. His level of commitment for almost a decade speaks volumes about his character and integrity. All of us here at Coherent express our thanks for John's hard work and look forward to working with him as he begins to transition," said Garry Rogerson, Coherent's Chairman of the Board.

For further information regarding Mr. Krause, 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 and part of the Russell 2000. Please direct any questions to Leen Simonet, Chief Financial Officer at 408-764-4161. For more information about Coherent, visit the Company's Web site at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.