Coherent (company)
 |
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| Public | |
| Traded as |
NASDAQ: COHR S&P 400 Component |
| Industry | Photonics |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, California, United States |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
|
Key people
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John R. Ambroseo, PhD (CEO) |
| Products | Lasers |
| Revenue | US$ 802 M (2011) |
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Number of employees
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2,309 (2011) |
| Website | www |
Coherent, Inc is a company with headquarters located in Santa Clara, California, United States, with other sites located in the US, Europe, and Asia. It was founded in 1966 by Eugene Watson as a spin-off from laser company Spectra-Physics and converted to public ownership in 1970.
The company designs, manufactures and markets laser systems and components, laser measurement and control products, optics, and laser accessories, which are used both in industry and scientific research. According to the company's 2011 SEC filing, their markets are the microelectronics industry (e.g., flat panel display manufacturing, integrated circuit packaging, and integrated circuit inspection), scientific research, OEM components, and materials processing (e.g., CO2 lasers for cutting metals).
Over the years, Coherent was involved in a number of mergers and acquisitions. Some of these were reported the mainstream media, such as the sale of a business unit to ESC Medical Systems for US$ 203 million in 2001 and the purchase of a unit from Palomar Medical Technologies for US$ 65 million in 1998. In 2008, Coherent shut down an optics manufacturing site in Auburn, California, after selling some of the activities to Research Electro-Optics Inc.
According to the US Patent Office, 388 patents are registered to Coherent, Inc as of 2012. Coherent has been involved in various lawsuits on patents. In 1998, Coherent made a cross-licensing deal with Spectra Physics. Also in 1988, Coherent agreed to pay royalties for use of patents owned by Patlex Corporation.
On April 26, 2005, Coherent, Inc.announced to restate its financial statements for fiscal years 2000 through 2004 and the first quarter of fiscal 2005 to correct its accounting for its deferred compensation plans.
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