8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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 4, 2021

Ciena Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File Number: 001-36250

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

7035 Ridge Road, Hanover, MD

(Address of principal executive offices)

23-2725311

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

21076

(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (410) 694-5700

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐	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	CIEN	New York Stock Exchange

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

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 2.02 – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

On March 4, 2021, Ciena Corporation ("Ciena") issued a press release announcing its financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended January 30, 2021. The text of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report. As discussed in this press release, Ciena will be hosting an investor call to discuss its results of operations for its first fiscal quarter ended January 30, 2021.

In conjunction with the issuance of this press release, Ciena posted to the quarterly results page of the Investors section of www.ciena.com an accompanying investor presentation. The investor presentation is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this Report.

The information in Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, as well as Item 2.02 of this Report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Investors are encouraged to review the “Investors” page of our website at www.ciena.com because, as with the other disclosure channels that we use, from time to time we may post material information exclusively on that site.

ITEM 9.01 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)	The following exhibits are being filed herewith:
	Exhibit Number	Description of Document
	Exhibit 99.1	Text of Press Release dated March 4, 2021, issued by Ciena Corporation, reporting its results of operations for its first fiscal quarter ended January 30, 2021.
	Exhibit 99.2	Investor Presentation for Ciena Corporation's first fiscal quarter ended January 30, 2021.
	Exhibit 104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

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 thereunto duly authorized.

	Ciena Corporation
Date: March 4, 2021	By:	/S/ David M. Rothenstein
		David M. Rothenstein
		Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

EX-99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ciena Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

HANOVER, Md. - March 4, 2021 - Ciena® Corporation (NYSE: CIEN), a networking systems, services and software company, today announced unaudited financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended January 30, 2021.

•Q1 Revenue: $757.1 million

•Q1 Net Income per Share: $0.35 GAAP; $0.52 adjusted (non-GAAP)

•Share Repurchases: Repurchased approximately 0.3 million shares of common stock for an aggregate price of $13.2 million during the quarter

"We delivered solid revenue and profitability in the first fiscal quarter in the face of continued challenging market conditions and a dynamic industry environment," said Gary Smith, president and CEO of Ciena. "Our strong market position has enabled us to start the year largely as expected, and we are leveraging our innovation leadership and competitive advantage to deliver on our long-term growth opportunities."

For the fiscal first quarter 2021, Ciena reported revenue of $757.1 million as compared to $832.9 million for the fiscal first quarter 2020.

Ciena's GAAP net income for the fiscal first quarter 2021 was $55.3 million, or $0.35 per diluted common share, which compares to a GAAP net income of $62.3 million, or $0.40 per diluted common share, for the fiscal first quarter 2020.

Ciena's adjusted (non-GAAP) net income for the fiscal first quarter 2021 was $81.3 million, or $0.52 per diluted common share, which compares to an adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $81.7 million, or $0.52 per diluted common share, for the fiscal first quarter 2020.

Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Performance Summary

The tables below (in millions, except percentage data) provide comparisons of certain quarterly results to the prior year. Appendices A and B set forth reconciliations between the GAAP and adjusted (non-GAAP) measures contained in this release.

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	GAAP Results
	Q1			Q1
	FY 2021			FY 2020			Y-T-Y*
Revenue	$	757.1		$	832.9		(9.1)	%
Gross margin	47.3		%	44.5		%	2.8	%
Operating expense	$	282.1		$	292.6		(3.6)	%
Operating margin	10.0		%	9.4		%	0.6	%

	Non-GAAP Results
	Q1			Q1
	FY 2021			FY 2020			Y-T-Y*
Revenue	$	757.1		$	832.9		(9.1)	%
Adj. gross margin	48.0		%	45.1		%	2.9	%
Adj. operating expense	$	253.0		$	266.4		(5.0)	%
Adj. operating margin	14.6		%	13.1		%	1.5	%
Adj. EBITDA	$	133.8		$	135.3		(1.1)	%

* Denotes % change, or in the case of margin, absolute change

	Revenue by Segment
	Q1 FY 2021			Q1 FY 2020
	Revenue		%**	Revenue		%**
Networking Platforms
Converged Packet Optical	$	512.3	67.7	$	591.5	71.0
Routing and Switching (1)	64.3		8.5	67.5		8.1
Total Networking Platforms	576.6		76.2	659.0		79.1
Platform Software and Services	49.9		6.6	51.9		6.2
Blue Planet Automation Software and Services	16.9		2.2	15.5		1.9
Global Services
Maintenance Support and Training	67.6		8.9	61.8		7.4
Installation and Deployment	39.6		5.2	34.9		4.2
Consulting and Network Design	6.5		0.9	9.8		1.2
Total Global Services	113.7		15.0	106.5		12.8
Total	$	757.1	100.0	$	832.9	100.0

** Denotes % of total revenue

(1) Ciena renamed its former “Packet Networking” product line as “Routing and Switching” effective as of the beginning of fiscal 2021. This change, affecting only the presentation of such information, was made on a prospective basis and does not impact comparability of previous financial results or the composition of this product category.

Additional Performance Metrics for Fiscal First Quarter 2021

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	Revenue by Geographic Region
	Q1 FY 2021			Q1 FY 2020
	Revenue		% **	Revenue		% **
Americas	$	496.6	65.6	$	574.0	68.9
Europe, Middle East and Africa	155.4		20.5	130.0		15.6
Asia Pacific	105.1		13.9	128.9		15.5
Total	$	757.1	100.0	$	832.9	100.0

** Denotes % of total revenue

•No customer represented more than 10% of revenue for the fiscal quarter

•Cash and investments totaled $1.3 billion

•Cash flow used in operations totaled $7.3 million

•Average days' sales outstanding (DSOs) were 93

•Accounts receivable, net balance was $700.0 million

•Unbilled contract asset, net balance was $85.5 million

•Inventories totaled $389.7 million, including:

◦Raw materials: $123.4 million

◦Work in process: $11.4 million

◦Finished goods: $257.0 million

◦Deferred cost of sales: $38.9 million

◦Reserve for excess and obsolescence: $(41.0) million

•Product inventory turns were 3.2

•Headcount totaled 7,042

Supplemental Materials and Live Web Broadcast of Unaudited Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Results

Today, Thursday, March 4, 2021, in conjunction with this announcement, Ciena has posted to the Quarterly Results page of the Investor Relations section of its website an accompanying investor presentation for its unaudited fiscal first quarter 2021 results.

Ciena's management will also host a discussion today with investors and financial analysts that will include the Company's outlook. The live audio web broadcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern will be accessible via www.ciena.com. An archived replay of the live broadcast will be available shortly following its conclusion on the Investor Relations page of Ciena's website.

Notes to Investors

Forward-Looking Statements.You are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website, where we routinely post press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, recent news, financial results, supplemental financial information, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, assumptions and other information available to the Company as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ciena's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. Forward-looking statements in this release include: "We delivered solid revenue and profitability in the first fiscal quarter in the face of continued challenging market conditions and a dynamic industry environment," and "Our strong market position has enabled us to start the year

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largely as expected, and we are leveraging our innovation leadership and competitive advantage to deliver on our long-term growth opportunities."

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; our ability to execute successfully our business and growth strategies; the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on macroeconomic conditions, economic activity, demand for our technology solutions, short- and long-term changes in customer or end user needs, continuity of supply chain, our business operations, liquidity, and financial results; changes in network spending or network strategy by customers; 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; factors beyond our control such as natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, and public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; changes in tax or trade regulations, including the imposition of tariffs, duties or efforts to withdraw from or materially modify international trade agreements; changes in estimates of prospective income tax rates and any adjustments to Ciena's provisional estimates whether related to further guidance, analysis or otherwise; and the other risk factors disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 18, 2020 and included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 to be filed with the SEC. Ciena assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information included in this press release.

Non-GAAP Presentation of Quarterly and Annual Results. This release includes non-GAAP measures of Ciena's gross profit, operating expense, income from operations, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), Adjusted EBITDA, and measures of net income and net income 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, Appendices A and B to this press release set forth a complete GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures contained in this release.

About Ciena. Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is a networking systems, services and software company. We provide solutions that help our customers create the Adaptive Network™ in response to the constantly changing demands of their users. By delivering best-in-class networking technology through high-touch consultative relationships, we build the world’s most agile networks with automation, openness and scale. For updates on Ciena, follow us on Twitter @Ciena, LinkedIn, the Ciena Insights blog, or visit www.ciena.com.

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CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

	Quarter Ended
	January 30,		February 1,
	2021		2020
Revenue:
Products	$	597,220	$	687,215
Services	159,910		145,697
Total revenue	757,130		832,912
Cost of goods sold:
Products	315,098		389,013
Services	84,141		73,364
Total cost of goods sold	399,239		462,377
Gross profit	357,891		370,535
Operating expenses:
Research and development	132,741		130,900
Selling and marketing	97,278		107,066
General and administrative	39,993		42,468
Amortization of intangible assets	5,910		5,853
Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs	5,867		4,472
Acquisition and integration costs	307		1,819
Total operating expenses	282,096		292,578
Income from operations	75,795		77,957
Interest and other income (loss), net	(1,121)		3,646
Interest expense	(7,360)		(8,815)
Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt	—		(646)
Income before income taxes	67,314		72,142
Provision for income taxes	11,966		9,814
Net income	$	55,348	$	62,328
Net Income per Common Share
Basic net income per common share	$	0.36	$	0.40
Diluted net income per potential common share	$	0.35	$	0.40
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	155,174		154,334
Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding 1	156,583		155,738

1 Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating GAAP diluted net income per common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 includes 1.4 million shares underlying certain stock option and stock unit awards.

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating GAAP diluted net income per common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 includes 1.4 million shares underlying certain stock option and stock unit awards.

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CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

	January 30, 2021		October 31, 2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,029,237	$	1,088,624
Short-term investments	151,434		150,667
Accounts receivable, net	700,025		719,405
Inventories	389,733		344,379
Prepaid expenses and other	326,110		308,084
Total current assets	2,596,539		2,611,159
Long-term investments	102,364		82,226
Equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, net	281,228		272,377
Operating lease right-of-use assets	54,244		57,026
Goodwill	311,294		310,847
Other intangible assets, net	91,516		96,647
Deferred tax asset, net	647,232		647,805
Other long-term assets	102,480		102,830
Total assets	$	4,186,897	$	4,180,917
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	247,241	$	291,904
Accrued liabilities and other short-term obligations	275,003		334,132
Deferred revenue	136,229		108,700
Operating lease liabilities	19,364		19,035
Current portion of long-term debt	6,930		6,930
Total current liabilities	684,767		760,701
Long-term deferred revenue	54,371		49,663
Other long-term obligations	128,764		123,185
Long-term operating lease liabilities	57,626		61,415
Long-term debt, net	674,856		676,356
Total liabilities	$	1,600,384	$	1,671,320
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock – par value $0.01; 20,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding	—		—
Common stock – par value $0.01; 290,000,000 shares authorized; 155,187,945 and 154,563,005 shares issued and outstanding	1,552		1,546
Additional paid-in capital	6,826,488		6,826,531
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(11,547)		(35,358)
Accumulated deficit	(4,229,980)		(4,283,122)
Total stockholders’ equity	2,586,513		2,509,597
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	4,186,897	$	4,180,917

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CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	January 30,		February 1,
	2021		2020
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income	$	55,348	$	62,328
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation of equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements	23,188		25,782
Share-based compensation costs	18,964		15,602
Amortization of intangible assets	9,642		9,687
Deferred taxes	(905)		10,788
Provision for inventory excess and obsolescence	5,905		6,699
Provision for warranty	3,239		7,898
Other	4,277		4,540
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	18,862		64,938
Inventories	(51,020)		(4,481)
Prepaid expenses and other	(13,835)		(29,792)
Operating lease right-of-use assets	4,103		4,176
Accounts payable, accruals and other obligations	(112,170)		(142,229)
Deferred revenue	31,917		8,926
Short and long-term operating lease liabilities	(4,834)		(5,098)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(7,319)		39,764
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Payments for equipment, furniture, fixtures and intellectual property	(20,868)		(26,820)
Purchase of available for sale securities	(71,756)		(29,733)
Proceeds from maturities of available for sale securities	51,266		30,000
Settlement of foreign currency forward contracts, net	2,357		(73)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	—		(28,300)
Proceeds from sale of equity investment	4,678		—
Net cash used in investing activities	(34,323)		(54,926)
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Payment of long term debt	(1,732)		—
Payment of debt issuance costs	—		(382)
Payment of finance lease obligations	(702)		(722)
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock units	(19,242)		(12,572)
Repurchases of common stock - repurchase program	(12,406)		(49,203)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	13,447		11,862
Net cash used in financing activities	(20,635)		(51,017)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	2,879		(643)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(59,398)		(66,822)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,088,708		904,161
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	1,029,310	$	837,339
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for interest	$	7,566	$	9,325
Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net	$	8,798	$	8,325
Operating lease payments	$	5,387	$	5,642
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Purchase of equipment in accounts payable	$	5,935	$	5,905
Repurchase of common stock in accrued liabilities from repurchase program	$	800	$	1,501
Operating lease right-of-use assets subject to lease liability	$	555	$	1,157

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APPENDIX A - Reconciliation of Adjusted (Non- GAAP) Quarterly Measures
(in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)
	Quarter Ended
	January 30,			February 1,
	2021			2020
Gross Profit Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP gross profit	$	357,891		$	370,535
Share-based compensation-products	953			671
Share-based compensation-services	1,205			842
Amortization of intangible assets	3,732			3,834
Total adjustments related to gross profit	5,890			5,347
Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit	$	363,781		$	375,882
Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit percentage	48.0		%	45.1		%
Operating Expense Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP operating expense	$	282,096		$	292,578
Share-based compensation-research and development	4,794			3,849
Share-based compensation-sales and marketing	5,816			4,613
Share-based compensation-general and administrative	6,358			5,527
Amortization of intangible assets	5,910			5,853
Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs	5,867			4,472
Acquisition and integration costs	307			1,819
Total adjustments related to operating expense	29,052			26,133
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense	$	253,044		$	266,445
Income from Operations Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP income from operations	$	75,795		$	77,957
Total adjustments related to gross profit	5,890			5,347
Total adjustments related to operating expense	29,052			26,133
Total adjustments related to income from operations	34,942			31,480
Adjusted (non-GAAP) income from operations	$	110,737		$	109,437
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin percentage	14.6		%	13.1		%
Net Income Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP net income	$	55,348		$	62,328
Exclude GAAP provision for income taxes	11,966			9,814
Income before income taxes	67,314			72,142
Total adjustments related to income from operations	34,942			31,480
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—			646
Adjusted income before income taxes	102,256			104,268
Non-GAAP tax provision on adjusted income before income taxes	20,962			22,522
Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income	$	81,294		$	81,746
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	155,174			154,334
Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding 1	156,583			155,738
Net Income per Common Share
GAAP diluted net income per common share	$	0.35		$	0.40
Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share	$	0.52		$	0.52

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1 Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 includes 1.4 million shares underlying certain stock option and stock unit awards.

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 includes 1.4 million shares underlying certain stock option and restricted stock unit awards.

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APPENDIX B - Calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited)
(in thousands) (unaudited)
	Quarter Ended
	January 30,		February 1,
	2021		2020
Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA)
Net income (GAAP)	$	55,348	$	62,328
Add: Interest expense	7,360		8,815
Less: Interest and other income (loss), net	(1,121)		3,646
Add: Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt	—		646
Add: Provision for income taxes	11,966		9,814
Add: Depreciation of equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements	23,188		25,782
Add: Amortization of intangible assets	9,642		9,687
EBITDA	$	108,625	$	113,426
Add: Share-based compensation cost	18,964		15,602
Add: Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs	5,867		4,472
Add: Acquisition and integration costs	307		1,819
Adjusted EBITDA	$	133,763	$	135,319

* * *

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.

•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.

•Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs - costs incurred as a result of restructuring activities taken to align resources with perceived market opportunities and the redesign of business processes.

•Acquisition and integration costs -consist of expenses for financial, legal and accounting advisors, severance and other employee-related costs associated with our acquisitions of DonRiver and Centina, including costs of acquisition compensation associated with a three-year earn-out arrangement related to the DonRiver acquisition in fiscal 2018. Ciena does not believe that these costs are reflective of its ongoing operating expense following its completion of these integration activities.

•Non-GAAP tax provision - consists of current and deferred income tax expense commensurate with the level of adjusted income before income taxes and utilizes a current, blended U.S. and foreign statutory annual tax rate of 20.5% for the first fiscal quarter of 2021 and 21.6%for the first fiscal quarter of2020. This rate may be subject to change in the future, including as a result of changes in tax policy or tax strategy.

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EX-99.2

Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Ciena Corporation Period ended January 30, 2021 March 4, 2021 Earnings Presentation

2Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Forward-looking statements and non-GAAP measures Information in this presentation and related comments of presenters contain a number of forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, assumptions and other information available to the Company as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements include Ciena’s prospective financial results, return of capital plans, business strategies, expectations about its addressable markets and market share, and business outlook for future periods, as well as statements regarding Ciena’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Often, these can be identified by forward-looking words such as “target” “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “project, “continue,” and “would” or similar words. 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; our ability to execute successfully our business and growth strategies; the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on macroeconomic conditions, economic activity, demand for our technology solutions, short- and long-term changes in customer or end user needs, continuity of supply chain, our business operations, liquidity and financial results; changes in network spending or network strategy by our customers; 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; factors beyond our control such as natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, and public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; changes in tax or trade regulations, including the imposition of tariffs, duties or efforts to withdraw from or materially modify international trade agreements; changes in estimates of prospective income tax rates and any adjustments to Ciena's provisional estimates whether related to further guidance, analysis or otherwise; and the other risk factors disclosed in Ciena’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including Ciena’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 18, 2020 and Ciena’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 to be filed with the SEC. All information, statements, and projections in this presentation and the related earnings call speak only as of the date of this presentation and related earnings call. Ciena assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking or other information included in this presentation or related earnings calls, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition, this presentation includes historical, and may include prospective, non-GAAP measures of Ciena’s gross margin, operating expense, operating profit, EBITDA, net income, and net income per share. These measures are not intended to be a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of non- GAAP measures used in this presentation to Ciena’s GAAP results for the relevant period can be found in the Appendix to this presentation. Additional information can also be found in our press release filed this morning and in our reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

3Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. COVID-19 response • Prioritizing health of employees and following CDC guidance for employers • The vast majority of our employees working remotely • Instituted pandemic employee benefits • Enhanced our corporate charitable matching program for employee donations and volunteering Result: Our employees have excelled through their continued focus, strength and kindness Safety and community Financial strengthBusiness continuity • Supply chain design and business continuity planning has enabled us to continue to support customers and minimize disruption • Significant IT investment in digital platforms and virtual collaboration tools has enabled a seamless transition to remote working Result: We are well positioned to manage through the current set of challenges presented by COVID-19 • We have a strong balance sheet and have demonstrated solid cash flow generation over time • In light of our confidence around cash generation, we reinstated our share repurchase plan starting in the first quarter of 2021 Result: Our financial strength provides long-term resiliency and differentiated flexibility to support our business

4Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 key achievements ▪ WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e) added 14 customers bringing our total design wins to 79 ▪ Blue Planet surpassed 200 total customers for our automation software and services portfolio ▪ Secured the first Private 5G network win for our Routing and Switching portfolio We are forcing the pace of innovation We are committed to our people and communities We have a durable business and financial model ▪ Despite headwinds from COVID-19 our profitability has remained strong • Adj. operating margin* was 14.6% ▪ Our balance sheet represents a competitive advantage • Ended the quarter with over $1.3B in cash and investments • Leverage remains below our target level • Launched Digital Inclusion Commitment initiative with a goal to provide opportunities for 100,000 underserved students in our global communities • Announced innovative programs with customers to promote our digital inclusion mission • Supporting our employees through empowering programs, a focus on wellbeing and commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging * A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to our GAAP results is included in the appendix to this presentation. In this challenging period we continued to force the pace of innovation and demonstrate resilience while focusing on kindness to others

5Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Market context

6Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Several mega trends and the innovations that will enable them Fiber Deep (Cable/MSO) Cloud Data Center Mobility & 5G IoT & Connected Objects

7Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. #1 GLOBALLY ◦ DATA CENTER INTERCONNECT ◦ DATA CENTER INTERCONNECT FOR ICPs ◦ PURPOSE-BUILT/COMPACT MODULAR DCI #1 N. AMERICA ◦ TOTAL OPTICAL NETWORKING ◦ DATA CENTER INTERCONNECT ◦ PACKET OPTICAL ◦ TOTAL WDM ◦ LH WDM ◦ METRO WDM #2 GLOBALLY ◦ TOTAL OPTICAL NETWORKING ◦ TOTAL WDM ◦ LH WDM #1 GLOBALLY ◦ DATA CENTER INTERCONNECT ◦ DATA CENTER INTERCONNECT FOR ICP/CNPs ◦ PURPOSE-BUILT/COMPACT MODULAR DCI ◦ OPTICAL NETWORKING FOR ICP/CNPs ◦ OPTICAL NETWORK HARDWARE VENDOR SCORECARD ◦ OPTICAL EQUIPMENT VENDOR LEADERSHIP SP SURVEY ◦ SLTE WDM #1 N. AMERICA ◦ TOTAL OPTICAL NETWORKING ◦ DATA CENTER INTERCONNECT ◦ TOTAL WDM ◦ LH WDM ◦ METRO WDM ◦ SLTE WDM ◦ ACCESS SWITCHING #2 GLOBALLY ◦ TOTAL WDM ◦ ACCESS SWITCHING #1 GLOBALLY ◦ PURPOSE-BUILT/COMPACT MODULAR DCI ◦ CLOUD & COLO #1 N. AMERICA ◦ TOTAL OPTICAL NETWORKING ◦ PURPOSE-BUILT/COMPACT MODULAR DCI ◦ TOTAL WDM ◦ LH WDM ◦ METRO WDM ◦ SLTE WDM #2 GLOBALLY ◦ TOTAL OPTICAL NETWORKING ◦ SLTE WDM Market leadership Optical Transport Report, 4Q20Optical Networks Report, 4Q20Data Center Interconnect Market Share Report, 4Q20 Optical Network HW Vendor Scorecard, Jun 2020 Optical Equipment Vendor Leadership Global Service Provider Survey, Dec 2019 Service Provider Access Switching Report, 4Q20 Optical Transport Hardware Report, 4Q20 Transport Customer Markets Report, 3Q20 Transport Applications Report, 3Q20

8Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Ciena’s Adaptive Network vision and portfolio

9Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Technical and professional services that help customers build, operate, and optimize their networks Predictive analytics and machine learning based on both big data and small data Dynamic pool of virtual and physical network resources; instrumented, open, scalable, and secure Federated inventory, open domain control, and multi-layer orchestration Our vision for a new network end-state How it works

10Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Our portfolio Enabling the Adaptive Network™ CIENA SERVICES A consultative approach to build, operate, and continually improve customers’ networks to accelerate their unique journey to the Adaptive Network. We bring experienced technical personnel, best practices, and processes —along with the most effective tools for handling network complexities to work alongside customers every step of the way. ANALYTICS AND INTELLIGENCE Ciena and Blue Planet® Unified Assurance and Analytics: Open suite of software products that unifies multi-layer, multi- domain assurance, with AI-powered analytics to provide strategic insights to transform and simplify business, IT, and network operations. MCP Advanced Apps: Applications designed to enhance operations and simplify user experience for optimization of multi-layer network performance, featuring Liquid Spectrum™ for increased optical network capacity and service availability, and Adaptive IP™ Apps for advanced real-time visualization and analysis of IP networks. PROGRAMMABLE INFRASTRUCTURE Converged Packet-Optical Networking: Software-programmable platforms, featuring Ciena’s award-winning WaveLogic™ Photonics with optional agnostic packet/OTN switching, designed to maximize scale, flexibility, and open networking. Optimizes network performance across applications from metro to submarine, and is the dominant portfolio used globally for Data Center Interconnect. Routing and Switching: Purpose-built routing, switching, and x86 VNF hosting platforms—using a common Service-Aware Operating System (SAOS)—provide the building blocks for low-touch, high-velocity IP, Segment Routing, Ethernet, MPLS, and 10G PON in access to metro networks. SOFTWARE CONTROL AND AUTOMATION Blue Planet® multi-domain orchestration, federated inventory, and service order management solutions support the broadest range of closed-loop automation use cases across multi-layer, multi-vendor networks. Ciena’s Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) domain controller provides intelligent, data-driven software-defined programmability to lifecycle operations of Ciena networks.

11Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 results

12Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 key highlights ▪ Non-telco represented 39% of total revenue • Direct web-scale increased 25% YoY, representing over 20% of total revenue ▪ EMEA revenue increased 20% YoY, representing nearly 21% of total revenue ▪ Blue Planet revenue increased 10% YoY, reaching over $16M Achieving balanced growth Prioritizing long term shareholder valueDriving the pace of innovation ▪ GAAP R&D investment was over 17% of total revenue ▪ 627 100G+ total customers, which includes 39 new wins on WaveLogic Ai and 14 new wins on WaveLogic 5 Extreme ▪ WL5e has now shipped to over 75 customers, all of whom are actively deploying the technology in their networks ▪ One year total shareholder return of 29%* ▪ Adjusted operating margin improved by 150bps YoY ▪ Repurchased approximately 252,000 shares as part of our equity repurchase program * 3/3/2020 to 3/2/2021, S&P Capital IQ

13Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 comparisons (year-over-year) * A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to our GAAP results is included in the appendix to this presentation. $832.9 $757.1 Q1 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 Revenue (in millions) 45.1% 48.0% Q1 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 Adj. Gross Margin* 13.1% 14.6% Q1 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 Adj. Operating Margin* $266.4 $253.0 Q1 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 Adj. OpEx* (in millions) $135.3 $133.8 Q1 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 Adj. EBITDA* (in millions) $0.52 $0.52 Q1 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 Adj. EPS*

14Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 comparative operating metrics Cash and Investments Cash Flow from (used in) Operations DSO Q1 FY 2021 Inventory Turns Q1 FY 2020 $1.3B $(7)M 93 3.2 $1.0B $40M 80 4.5 Gross Leverage 1.1x 1.3x Net Cash (Debt) $531M $(198)M

15Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Revenue by segment (Amounts in millions) Q1 FY 2021 Q1 FY 2020 Revenue %** Revenue %** Networking Platforms Converged Packet Optical 512.3 67.7 591.5 71.0 Routing and Switching 64.3 8.5 67.5 8.1 Total Networking Platforms 576.6 76.2 659.0 79.1 Platform Software and Services 49.9 6.6 51.9 6.2 Blue Planet Automation Software and Services 16.9 2.2 15.5 1.9 Global Services Maintenance Support and Training 67.6 8.9 61.8 7.4 Installation and Deployment 39.6 5.2 34.9 4.2 Consulting and Network Design 6.5 0.9 9.8 1.2 Total Global Services 113.7 15.0 106.5 12.8 Total $757.1 100.0 % $832.9 100.0 % * A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to our GAAP results is included in the appendix to this presentation. ** Denotes % of total revenue 13.1% 17.9% 22.4% 15.8% 14.6% 45.1% 46.9% 48.2% 49.5% 48.0% Networking Platforms BP Automation Software and Services Platform Software and Services Global Services Adj. Operating Margin* Adj. Gross Margin* Q1 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q4 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 0.0 200.0 400.0 600.0 800.0 1,000.0 —% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0% 40.0% 45.0% 50.0% 55.0%

16Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Continued revenue strength derived from non-telco customers* *represents 39.0% of total revenue in Q1 FY 2021 Q1 FY 2021 20.4% 6.5% 12.1% Direct Webscale Cable Gov't, R&E, Enterprise 15% 24% 25% 22% 20% 9% 10% 9% 5% 7% 11% 9% 9% 12% 12% Direct Webscale Cable Gov't, R&E, & Enterprise Q1 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q4 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 —% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

17Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Revenue by geographic region Q1 FY 2021 65.6% 20.5% 13.9% Americas Europe, Middle East and Africa Asia Pacific (in m ill io ns ) Americas Europe, Middle East and Africa Asia Pacific Q1 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q4 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2021 $0.0 $100.0 $200.0 $300.0 $400.0 $500.0 $600.0 $700.0 $800.0 $900.0 $1,000.0 11% 10% 17% 14% 15% 16% 17% 19% 20% 69% 73% 73% 64% 66% 16%

18Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Source: Company filings Industry Average: ACIA, ADTN, ADVA, CSCO, INFN1, JNPR and NOKIA Networks segment Delivering consistent financial performance a. INFN represents INFN+Coriant from the time the acquisition closed

19Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 appendix

20Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 Q4 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2020 GAAP gross profit $357,891 $404,349 $464,681 $413,326 $370,535 Share-based compensation-products 953 724 960 827 671 Share-based compensation-services 1,205 968 1,007 1,036 842 Amortization of intangible assets 3,732 3,732 3,834 3,835 3,834 Total adjustments related to gross profit 5,890 5,424 5,801 5,698 5,347 Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit $363,781 $409,773 $470,482 $419,024 $375,882 Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit percentage 48.0 % 49.5 % 48.2 % 46.9 % 45.1 % Gross Profit Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands)

21Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 Q4 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2020 GAAP operating expense $282,096 $310,866 $276,645 $285,838 $292,578 Share-based compensation-research and development 4,794 4,030 4,286 4,822 3,849 Share-based compensation-sales and marketing 5,816 5,137 5,180 5,264 4,613 Share-based compensation-general and administrative 6,358 5,982 5,940 5,975 5,527 Amortization of intangible assets 5,910 5,851 5,840 5,839 5,853 Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs 5,867 7,854 6,515 3,811 4,472 Acquisition and integration costs (recoveries) 307 3,127 (2,329) 1,414 1,819 Total adjustments related to operating expense 29,052 31,981 25,432 27,125 26,133 Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense $253,044 $278,885 $251,213 $258,713 $266,445 Q1 FY 2021 Q4 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2020 GAAP income from operations $75,795 $93,483 $188,036 $127,488 $77,957 Total adjustments related to gross profit 5,890 5,424 5,801 5,698 5,347 Total adjustments related to operating expense 29,052 31,981 25,432 27,125 26,133 Total adjustments related to income from operations 34,942 37,405 31,233 32,823 31,480 Adjusted (non-GAAP) income from operations $110,737 $130,888 $219,269 $160,311 $109,437 Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin percentage 14.6 % 15.8 % 22.4 % 17.9 % 13.1 % Operating Expense Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands) Income from Operations Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands)

22Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Q1 FY 2021 Q4 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2020 GAAP net income $55,348 $65,041 $142,267 $91,655 $62,328 Exclude GAAP provision for income taxes 11,966 20,798 38,750 25,308 9,814 Income before income taxes 67,314 85,839 181,017 116,963 72,142 Total adjustments related to income from operations 34,942 37,405 31,233 32,823 31,480 Unrealized gain on equity investment — (2,681) — — — Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt — — — — 646 Adjusted income before income taxes 102,256 120,563 212,250 149,786 104,268 Non-GAAP tax provision on adjusted income before income taxes 20,962 26,042 45,846 32,354 22,522 Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income $81,294 $94,521 $166,404 $117,432 $81,746 Weighted average basic common shares outstanding 155,174 154,706 154,184 153,858 154,334 Weighted average diluted potential common shares outstanding(1) 156,583 156,563 156,318 155,141 155,738 Q1 FY 2021 Q4 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2020 GAAP diluted net income per potential common share $ 0.35 $ 0.42 $ 0.91 $ 0.59 $ 0.40 Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per potential common share $ 0.52 $ 0.60 $ 1.06 $ 0.76 $ 0.52 1. Weighted average diluted potential common shares outstanding used in calculating Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per potential common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 includes 1.4 million shares underlying certain stock option and stock unit awards. Net Income Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands) Net Income per Common Share

23Copyright © Ciena Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Confidential & Proprietary. Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) Q1 FY 2021 Q4 FY 2020 Q3 FY 2020 Q2 FY 2020 Q1 FY 2020 Net income (GAAP) $55,348 $65,041 $142,267 $91,655 $62,328 Add: Interest expense 7,360 7,395 7,251 7,860 8,815 Less: Interest and other income (loss), net (1,121) (249) 232 (2,665) 3,646 Add: Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt — — — — 646 Add: Provision for income taxes 11,966 20,798 38,750 25,308 9,814 Add: Depreciation of equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements 23,188 23,538 21,989 22,599 25,782 Add: Amortization of intangible assets 9,642 9,584 9,674 9,674 9,687 EBITDA $108,625 $126,605 $219,699 $159,761 $113,426 Add: Share-based compensation cost 18,964 16,920 17,259 17,977 15,602 Add: Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs 5,867 7,854 6,515 3,811 4,472 Add: Acquisition and integration costs (recoveries) 307 3,127 (2,329) 1,414 1,819 Adjusted EBITDA $133,763 $154,506 $241,144 $182,963 $135,319 Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) (Amounts in thousands)

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Cover Page	Mar. 04, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Mar. 04, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	Ciena Corp
Entity File Number	001-36250
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	23-2725311
Entity Address, Address Line One	7035 Ridge Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Hanover
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	21076
City Area Code	410
Local Phone Number	694-5700
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	CIEN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000936395
Amendment Flag	false