Ciena Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results

Ciena’s actual results, performance or events may differ materially from these forward-looking statements made or implied due to a number of risks and uncertainties relating to Ciena’s business, including: the effect of broader economic and market conditions on our customers and their business; changes in network spending or network strategy by large communication service providers; seasonality and the timing and size of customer orders, including our ability to recognize revenue relating to such sales; the level of competitive pressure we encounter; the product, customer and geographic mix of sales within the period; supply chain disruptions and the level of success relating to efforts to optimize Ciena’s operations; changes in foreign currency exchange rates affecting revenue and operating expense; and the other risk factors disclosed in Ciena’s Report on Form 10-Q, which Ciena filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2017. Ciena assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information included in this press release.

Non-GAAP Presentation of Quarterly Results. This release includes non-GAAP measures of Ciena’s gross profit, operating expense, income (loss) from operations, net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share. In evaluating the operating performance of Ciena’s business, management excludes certain charges and credits that are required by GAAP. These items share one or more of the following characteristics: they are unusual and Ciena does not expect them to recur in the ordinary course of its business; they do not involve the expenditure of cash; they are unrelated to the ongoing operation of the business in the ordinary course; or their magnitude and timing is largely outside of Ciena’s control. Management believes that the non-GAAP measures below provide management and investors useful information and meaningful insight to the operating performance of the business. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to Ciena’s GAAP results and these measures are not intended to be a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Ciena’s non-GAAP measures and the related adjustments may differ from non-GAAP measures used by other companies and should only be used to evaluate Ciena’s results of operations in conjunction with our corresponding GAAP results. To the extent not previously disclosed in a prior Ciena financial results press release, Appendix A to this press release sets forth a complete GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures contained in this release.

With respect to Ciena’s expectations under “Business Outlook for Fiscal Third Quarter 2017” above, Ciena is not able to provide a quantitative reconciliation of the adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin and adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense guidance measures to the corresponding gross profit and gross profit percentage, and operating expense GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. Ciena cannot provide meaningful estimates of the non-recurring charges and credits excluded from these non-GAAP measures due to the forward-looking nature of these estimates and their inherent variability and uncertainty. For the same reasons, Ciena is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.

About Ciena

Ciena (CIEN) is a network strategy and technology company. We translate best-in-class technology into value through a high-touch, consultative business model – with a relentless drive to create exceptional experiences measured by outcomes. For updates on Ciena, follow us on Twitter @Ciena, LinkedIn, the Ciena Insights blog, or visit www.ciena.com.

The adjusted (non-GAAP) measures above and their reconciliation to Ciena’s GAAP results for the periods presented reflect adjustments relating to the following items:

• Share-based compensation – a non-cash expense incurred in accordance with share-based compensation accounting guidance.
• Acquisition and integration costs – consist of expenses for financial, legal and accounting advisors and severance and other employee related costs, associated with our acquisition of Cyan, Inc. on August 3, 2015 and our acquisition of certain high-speed photonic component assets from TeraXion, Inc. on February 1, 2016. Ciena does not believe that these costs are reflective of its ongoing operating expense following its completion of these integration activities.
• Amortization of intangible assets – a non-cash expense arising from the acquisition of intangible assets, principally developed technologies and customer-related intangibles, that Ciena is required to amortize over its expected useful life.
• Restructuring costs – costs incurred as a result of restructuring activities taken to align resources with perceived market opportunities.
• Settlement of Patent Litigation – included in general and administrative expense is a $1.2 million patent litigation settlement during the second quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Non-cash interest expense – a non-cash debt discount expense amortized as interest expense during the term of Ciena’s 4.0% senior convertible notes due December 15, 2020 relating to the required separate accounting of the equity component of these convertible notes.
• Modification of debt – costs incurred as a result of modification of debt to refinance term loans.