MKS Instruments - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

MKS Instruments is Lower Risk.

MKS Instruments is Lower Risk. The company does not yield to political activism in shaping corporate governance, preventing initiatives that potentially alienate consumers, divide employees, and harm shareholders. The company implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. Overall, the company does not embrace corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues. This approach protects free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Lower 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:

Lower

Rationale:

MKS Instruments has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (1).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MKS Instruments 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:

MKS Instruments offers DEI training to its employees (1). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its leadership composition. From its Corporate Governance Guidelines: “CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION AS A DIRECTOR… The Company shall actively seek diverse candidates for the pool from which nominees are chosen” (2).
MKS Instruments has a history of divisive corporate policies and practices. However, in 2023, the company removed DEI training policies from its 2023 ESG Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed this change, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (3). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (4).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

MKS Instruments supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2024 ESG Report: “Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are deeply ingrained in our cultural fabric” (1).
The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2025 ESG Report: “ESG is a key priority for MKS and our leadership. As such, our ESG Program is overseen by both the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors, and our President & CEO” (2).
MKS Instruments has a history of divisive corporate policies and practices. However, in [Month/Year], the company removed DEI language from its 2025 ESG Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed this change, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (3).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MKS Instruments has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MKS Instruments does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).