Board Authorizes Share Repurchase up to $1.0 Billion

Ciena^® Corporation (NYSE: CIEN), a networking systems, services and software company, today announced unaudited financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended October 30, 2021.

• Q4 Revenue: $1.04 billion, increasing 25.7% year over year

• Q4 Net Income per Share: $0.66 GAAP; $0.85 adjusted (non-GAAP), increasing 41.7% year over year

• Share Repurchases: Repurchased approximately 0.5 million shares of common stock for an aggregate price of $26.7 million during the fourth quarter

“Our strong financial results exceeded our expectations in the fourth quarter and for the full fiscal year, driven by continued execution of our strategy and our demonstrated ability to manage supply chain challenges,” said Gary Smith, President and CEO, Ciena. “Looking ahead, we intend to continue driving growth in our business by leveraging our market leadership and investing to capitalize on robust demand dynamics. In addition, our strong balance sheet and cash generation expectations allow us to increase return of capital to our shareholders.”

For fiscal fourth quarter 2021, Ciena reported revenue of $1.04 billion, as compared to $828.5 million for fiscal fourth quarter 2020. For fiscal year 2021, Ciena reported revenue of $3.62 billion, as compared to $3.53 billion for fiscal year 2020.

Ciena's GAAP net income for fiscal fourth quarter 2021 was $103.5 million, or $0.66 per diluted common share, which compares to GAAP net income of $65.0 million, or $0.42 per diluted common share, for fiscal fourth quarter 2020. For fiscal year 2021, Ciena's GAAP net income was $500.2 million, or $3.19 per diluted common share, as compared to GAAP net income of $361.3 million, or $2.32 per diluted common share, for fiscal year 2020.

Ciena's adjusted (non-GAAP) net income for fiscal fourth quarter 2021 was $132.7 million, or $0.85 per diluted common share, which compares to adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $94.5 million, or $0.60 per diluted common share, for fiscal fourth quarter 2020. For fiscal year 2021, Ciena's adjusted (non-GAAP) net income was $456.5 million, or $2.91 per diluted common share, as compared to adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $460.1 million, or $2.95 per diluted common share, for fiscal year 2020.

Share Repurchase Program

On December 1, 2021, Ciena's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $1.0 billion of the Company's stock, replacing the previous share repurchase authorization. In connection with this new authorization, the company intends to enter into an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) arrangement under which it will repurchase $250 million of its common stock. The final settlement of the ASR is expected to be completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2022.

Performance Summary for the Fiscal Fourth Quarter and the Year Ended October 30, 2021

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

Additional Performance Metrics for Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Year Ended October 30, 2021

• One 10%-plus customer represented a total of 12.9% and 12.4% of revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2021, respectively
• Cash and investments totaled $1.7 billion
• Cash flow from operations totaled $254.9 million and $541.6 million for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2021, respectively
• Average days' sales outstanding (DSOs) were 85 and 98 for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2021, respectively
• Accounts receivable, net balance was $885.0 million
• Unbilled contract asset balance, net was $101.4 million
• Inventories totaled $374.3 million, including:
  • Raw materials: $175.4 million
  • Work in process: $10.3 million
  • Finished goods: $180.8 million
  • Deferred cost of sales: $44.7 million
  • Reserve for excess and obsolescence: $(36.9) million
• Product inventory turns were 5.0 and 4.1 for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2021, respectively
• Headcount totaled 7,241

Supplemental Materials and Live Web Broadcast of Unaudited Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2021 Results

Today, Thursday, December 9, 2021, in conjunction with this announcement, Ciena posted to the Quarterly Results page of the Investor Relations section of its website certain related supporting materials for its unaudited fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 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, 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: "Our strong financial results exceeded our expectations in the fourth quarter and for the full fiscal year, driven by continued execution of our strategy and our demonstrated ability to manage supply chain challenges"; "Looking ahead, we intend to continue driving growth in our business by leveraging our market leadership and investing to capitalize on robust demand dynamics"; In addition, our strong balance sheet and cash generation expectations allow us to increase return of capital to our shareholders."

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 our business and growth strategies; the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of countermeasures taken to mitigate its spread; the impact of COVID-19 on macroeconomic conditions, the level of economic activity, demand for our technology solutions, short- and long-term customer or end user needs and changes thereto, continuity of supply chain, logistics and 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 Ciena's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on September 8, 2021 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 for the relevant period, Appendix 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 clients 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.

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.
• Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy - a program introduced by the Government of Canada to offset a portion of employee wages for a limited period in response to COVID-19 outbreak.
• 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.
• 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.
• Acquisition and integration costs - includes expenses for financial, legal and accounting advisors, severance and other employee-related costs associated with our acquisition of Centina in fiscal 2020, and costs and recoveries of acquisition consideration and 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.
• Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt - reflects extinguishment and modification of debt expenses related to refinancing of our Term Loan due September 28, 2025.
• Unrealized (gain)loss on equity investment - reflects a change in the carrying value of certain cost method equity investments.
• 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 fiscal 2021 and 21.6% for fiscal 2020. This rate may be subject to change in the future, including as a result of changes in tax policy or tax strategy.

Ciena's GAAP tax provision for fiscal 2021 benefited from recording a $119.3 million tax benefit related to an internal transfer of non-U.S. intangible assets that was recognized as a result of the step-up in basis of such rights for tax purposes. The Non-GAAP tax provision for the periods presented do not include this tax benefit or the corresponding deferred tax asset.

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