UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): March 16, 2022

COHERENT, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-33962		94-1622541
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File No.)		(IRS Employer Identification Number)

5100 Patrick Henry Drive

Santa Clara, CA 95054

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(408) 764-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

COHR

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On March 16, 2022, the Compensation and HR Committee of the Board of Directors of Coherent, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the making of retention payments to Kevin Palatnik, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, in the amount of $200,000 per month for each month from March, 2022 through the month of the closing of the transaction contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, II-VI Incorporated and Watson Merger Sub Inc. dated as of March 25, 2021.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	COHERENT, INC.
Date: March 18, 2022
	By:	/s/ Bret DiMarco
	Bret DiMarco
	Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and
	Corporate Secretary