Coherent, Inc. Announces Retirement of Robert Gelber.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--April 1, 1999--Coherent, Inc. (Nasdaq:COHR), announced today that Robert M. Gelber has chosen to step down as President of Coherent Auburn Group ("CAG") and Executive Vice President of Coherent, Inc., in order to spend more time on personal activities.

Bernard Couillaud, Coherent's President and CEO stated, "I'd like to acknowledge Bob's contribution to Coherent during his 13 years as president of the Coherent Auburn Group. During that time CAG has grown from an internal supplier of components to an independent profit-center with manufacturing operations in California and Europe. The recent addition of the Coherent Catalog in printed and web versions, and the recently launched e-commerce site, provides a significant new sales channel for the entire Company."

Starting May 1st, John Ambroseo, President of the Coherent Laser Group ("CLG") and Executive Vice President of Coherent, Inc., will assume the added responsibility of President of CAG.

Mr. Ambroseo noted, "The synergy between CLG and CAG has been more and more apparent in the last years as a result of strong internal dependence, similar markets, and overlapping customer base. The powerful distribution network established by CLG can and should be better leveraged to enhance the penetration of our photonics and optics business. Likewise, the e-commerce model developed at CAG can be expanded throughout our organization."

CAG is headquartered in Auburn, California, near Sacramento, and manufactures optics, thin films coating for high-performance laser optics, laser accessories and electro-optical components for the Company as well as other manufacturers. CAG also designs and manufactures laser measurement instruments and accessories that are used to measure and maximize the performance of laser systems.

CLG is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and is a leading developer and manufacturer of a wide variety of laser systems for the scientific, OEM and micromachining markets. The lasers sold by CLG are used in basic and applied research, and in a variety of commercial applications including materials processing, semiconductor microlithography, stereolithography, interferometric wafer inspection, reprographics, optical disk manufacturing, analytical instrumentation, laser light shows, telecommunications and manufacturing process control.

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, manufacturing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company's products and services and other risks identified in the Company's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Readers are encouraged to refer to the risk disclosures described in the Company's reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, as applicable.

Coherent is recognized as a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of lasers and systems for medical, scientific, OEM and micromachining applications. Please direct any questions to Robert J. Quillinan, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at 408/764-4168. For more information about Coherent, visit our Web site at http://www.cohr.com.