Coherent Corporation - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Coherent Corporation is Medium Risk.

Coherent Corporation is Medium Risk. The company often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. The company implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. The company occasionally embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues at times. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Medium Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Lower Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	Lower Risk
Political Actions	Lower Risk

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

Coherent integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2025 Sustainability Report: “the company “integrat[es] ethical, environmental,
social, and governance principles
into our decisions and actions” (1). The company promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Supplier Code of Conduct requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (2)(3). Otherwise, Coherent has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (4).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Coherent does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Coherent offers DEI, inclusive leadership, and inclusive recruiting training to its employees (1). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its supply chain. From its Supplier Diversity Policy: “We are committed to developing mutually beneficial relationships with small,
minority-owned, women-owned, disadvantaged/disabled, veteran-owned, and LGBTQ+
business enterprises that enable Coherent to achieve our business objectives and
environmental, sustainability, and governance (ESG) objectives” (2). Coherent appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment. From its 2024 ESG Report: “As part of our global DEI strategy… we are committed to ensuring that the diversity of the communities in which we live and operate is reflected in our workforce” (3). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its leadership composition. From its 2025 Proxy Statement: “candidates nominated
for election to the Board should possess the following qualifications… diversity of background (including differences in viewpoint, race, ethnicity, origin, age, gender, sexual orientation,
professional experience, education and skill sets)” (4). The company protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination (5).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Coherent’s CEO Jim Anderson is a member of the Business Roundtable, which supports stakeholder capitalism over traditional shareholder obligations (1)(2). The company’s former CEO Chuck Mattera signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (2)(3). Coherent is committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2040 (4). The company supports DEI within its business practices, employing a Global DEI Advisory Council (5). Coherent supports DEI within its business practices. From its Culture webpage: “We are focused on increasing representation across all levels, expanding equitable access to development and advancement opportunities, and strengthening accountability for inclusive leadership” (6). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2024 ESG Report: “Guided by enterprise-wide ESG Policy, ESG is a
cornerstone of our culture and is one way we bring to life our I CARE values” (7).