Ciena Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2014 and Year-End Financial Results

December 11, 2014

Delivers 10% annual revenue growth and 6.5% adjusted operating margin for the year

HANOVER, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2014-- Ciena^® Corporation (NYSE: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced unaudited financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended October 31, 2014.

For the fiscal fourth quarter 2014, Ciena reported revenue of $591.0 million as compared to $583.4 million for the fiscal fourth quarter 2013. For fiscal year 2014, Ciena reported revenue of $2.3 billion, as compared to $2.1 billion for fiscal year 2013.

On the basis of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Ciena's net loss for the fiscal fourth quarter 2014 was $(30.7) million, or $(0.29) per diluted common share, which compares to a GAAP net loss of $(9.8) million, or $(0.09) per diluted common share, for the fiscal fourth quarter 2013. For fiscal year 2014, Ciena had a GAAP net loss of $(40.6) million, or $(0.38) per diluted common share, which compares to a GAAP net loss of $(85.4) million or $(0.83) per diluted common share for fiscal year 2013.

Ciena's adjusted (non-GAAP) net loss for the fiscal fourth quarter 2014 was $(8.2) million, or $(0.08) per diluted common share, which compares to an adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $18.3 million, or $0.16 per diluted common share, for the fiscal fourth quarter 2013. For fiscal year 2014, Ciena's adjusted (non-GAAP) net income was $65.8 million, or $0.59 per diluted common share, as compared to an adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $59.0 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share for fiscal year 2013.

“We delivered strong revenue growth and improved profitability in fiscal 2014 as we benefited from a more diversified customer base and the strong alignment of our solutions with the increasing on-demand needs of our customers,” said Gary B. Smith, president and CEO of Ciena. “As we continue to expand Ciena’s role and reach, we are well positioned to drive continued growth and increased profitability in 2015.”

Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2014 Performance Summary

The tables below (in millions, except percentage data) provide comparisons of certain quarterly results to prior periods, including sequential quarterly and year over year changes. A reconciliation between the GAAP and adjusted (non-GAAP) measures contained in this release is included in Appendices A and B.


	GAAP Results (unaudited)
	Q4			Q3			Q4			Period Change
	FY 2014			FY 2014			FY 2013			Q-T-Q*		Y-T-Y*
Revenue	$	591.0		$	603.6		$	583.4		(2.1	)%	1.3	%
Gross margin		37.4	%		43.7	%		39.7	%	(6.3	)%	(2.3	)%
Operating expense	$	222.7		$	227.0		$	232.1		(1.9	)%	(4.1	)%
Operating margin		(0.3	)%		6.1	%		(0.1	)%	(6.4	)%	(0.2	)%


	Non-GAAP Results (unaudited)
	Q4			Q3			Q4			Period Change
	FY 2014			FY 2014			FY 2013			Q-T-Q*		Y-T-Y*
Revenue	$	591.0		$	603.6		$	583.4		(2.1	)%	1.3	%
Adj. gross margin		37.9	%		44.3	%		40.8	%	(6.4	)%	(2.9	)%
Adj. operating expense	$	203.7		$	206.3		$	210.5		(1.3	)%	(3.2	)%
Adj. operating margin		3.4	%		10.1	%		4.7	%	(6.7	)%	(1.3	)%


	Revenue by Segment (unaudited)
	Q4 FY 2014			Q3 FY 2014			Q4 FY 2013
	Revenue		%	Revenue		%	Revenue		%
Converged Packet Optical	$	383.3	64.9	$	382.0	63.3	$	350.9	60.2
Packet Networking		56.4	9.5		69.5	11.5		61.2	10.5
Optical Transport		26.5	4.5		31.0	5.1		52.6	9.0
Software and Services		124.8	21.1		121.1	20.1		118.7	20.3
Total	$	591.0	100.0	$	603.6	100.0	$	583.4	100.0

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

Additional Performance Metrics for Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2014

Non-U.S. customers contributed 47.8% of total revenue
One 10%-plus customer represented a total of 12.2% of revenue
Cash and investments totaled $777.0 million
Cash flow from operations totaled $73.8 million
Average days' sales outstanding (DSOs) were 79
Accounts receivable balance was $519.0 million
Inventories totaled $254.7 million, including:
- Raw materials: $64.8 million
- Work in process: $8.4 million
- Finished goods: $165.8 million
- Deferred cost of sales: $75.8 million
- Reserve for excess and obsolescence: $(60.1) million
Product inventory turns were 4.8
Headcount totaled 5,161

Business Outlook for Fiscal First Quarter 2015

Statements relating to business outlook are forward-looking in nature and actual results may differ materially. These statements should be read in the context of the Notes to Investors below.

Ciena expects financial performance for fiscal first quarter 2015 to include:

Revenue in the range of $540 to $570 million
Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin percentage in the low 40s range
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense of approximately $210 million

Live Web Broadcast of Unaudited Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2014 Results

Ciena will host a discussion of its unaudited fiscal fourth quarter 2014 and year-end results with investors and financial analysts today, Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern). The live broadcast of the discussion will be available via Ciena's homepage at http://www.ciena.com/. An archived version of the discussion will be available shortly following the conclusion of the live broadcast on the Investor Relations page of Ciena's website at: www.ciena.com/investors.

About Ciena

Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is the network specialist. We collaborate with customers worldwide to unlock the strategic potential of their networks and fundamentally change the way they perform and compete. Ciena leverages its deep expertise in packet and optical networking and distributed software automation to deliver solutions in alignment with its OPⁿ architecture for next-generation networks. We enable a high-scale, programmable infrastructure that can be controlled and adapted by network-level applications, and provide open interfaces to coordinate computing, storage and network resources in a unified, virtualized environment. For updates on Ciena news, follow us on Twitter @Ciena or on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/ciena. Investors are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website at www.ciena.com/investors, where we routinely post press releases, SEC filings, recent news, financial results, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use.

Notes to Investors

Forward-looking statements. 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 strong revenue growth and improved profitability in fiscal 2014 as we benefited from a more diversified customer base and the strong alignment of our solutions with the increasing on-demand needs of our customers”; “As we continue to expand Ciena’s role and reach, we are well positioned to drive continued growth and increased profitability in 2015”; "Ciena expects financial performance for fiscal first quarter 2015 to include revenue in the range of $540 to $570 million, adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin percentage in the low 40s range, adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense of approximately $210 million."

Ciena's actual results, performance or events may differ materially from these forward-looking statements made or implied due 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 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; and the other risk factors disclosed in Ciena's Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 10, 2014. 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, Appendixes A and B to this press release sets forth a complete GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures contained in this release.


CIENA CORPORATION
CONDENSED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)

	Quarter Ended October 31,						Year Ended October 31,
	2013			2014			2013			2014
Revenue:
Products	$	476,409		$	476,175		$	1,680,125		$	1,865,826
Services		106,976			114,788			402,421			422,463
Total revenue		583,385			590,963			2,082,546			2,288,289
Cost of goods sold:
Products		283,780			305,171			967,510			1,083,022
Services		67,959			64,955			249,861			256,915
Total cost of goods sold		351,739			370,126			1,217,371			1,339,937
Gross profit		231,646			220,837			865,175			948,352
Operating expenses:
Research and development		100,427			98,506			383,408			401,180
Selling and marketing		87,494			84,396			304,170			328,325
General and administrative		31,275			28,560			122,432			126,824
Amortization of intangible assets		12,439			11,019			49,771			45,970
Restructuring costs		428			171			7,169			349
Total operating expenses		232,063			222,652			866,950			902,648
Income (loss) from operations		(417	)		(1,815	)		(1,775	)		45,704
Interest and other income (loss), net		276			(11,031	)		(5,744	)		(25,262	)
Interest expense		(10,946	)		(13,559	)		(44,042	)		(47,115	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		—			—			(28,630	)		—
Loss before income taxes		(11,087	)		(26,405	)		(80,191	)		(26,673	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(1,290	)		4,298			5,240			13,964
Net loss	$	(9,797	)	$	(30,703	)	$	(85,431	)	$	(40,637	)

Net Loss per Common Share
Basic net loss per common share	$	(0.09	)	$	(0.29	)	$	(0.83	)	$	(0.38	)
Diluted net loss per potential common share	$	(0.09	)	$	(0.29	)	$	(0.83	)	$	(0.38	)

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		103,523			106,931			102,350			105,783
Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding		103,523			106,931			102,350			105,783


CIENA CORPORATION
CONDENSED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)

	October 31,
	2013			2014
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	346,487		$	586,720
Short-term investments		124,979			140,205
Accounts receivable, net		488,578			518,981
Inventories		249,103			254,660
Prepaid expenses and other		186,655			192,624
Total current assets		1,395,802			1,693,190
Long-term investments		15,031			50,057
Equipment, furniture and fixtures, net		119,729			126,632
Other intangible assets, net		185,828			128,677
Other long-term assets		86,380			74,076
Total assets	$	1,802,770		$	2,072,632
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	254,849		$	209,777
Accrued liabilities and other short-term obligations		271,656			276,608
Deferred revenue		88,550			104,688
Current portion of long-term debt		—			190,063
Total current liabilities		615,055			781,136
Long-term deferred revenue		23,620			40,930
Other long-term obligations		34,753			45,390
Long-term debt, net		1,212,019			1,274,791
Total liabilities		1,885,447			2,142,247

Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
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; 103,705,709 and 106,979,960 shares issued and outstanding		1,037			1,070
Additional paid-in capital		5,893,880			5,954,440
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(7,774	)		(14,668	)
Accumulated deficit		(5,969,820	)		(6,010,457	)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)		(82,677	)		(69,615	)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)	$	1,802,770		$	2,072,632


CIENA CORPORATION
CONDENSED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

	Year Ended October 31,
	2013			2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(85,431	)	$	(40,637	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on extinguishment of debt		28,630			—
Depreciation of equipment, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements		55,699			55,616
Share-based compensation costs		37,720			42,930
Amortization of intangible assets		71,308			57,151
Provision for inventory excess and obsolescence		19,938			32,332
Provision for warranty		24,558			22,129
Other		9,023			25,668
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(145,421	)		(33,164	)
Inventories		(8,943	)		(37,889	)
Prepaid expenses and other		(82,809	)		(7,931	)
Accounts payable, accruals and other obligations		115,312			(59,837	)
Deferred revenue		5,094			33,448
Net cash provided by operating activities		44,678			89,816
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Payments for equipment, furniture, fixtures and intellectual property		(43,814	)		(48,216	)
Restricted cash		2,338			2,060
Purchase of available for sale securities		(184,864	)		(245,196	)
Proceeds from maturities of available for sale securities		95,000			195,000
Settlement of foreign currency forward contracts, net		479			(10,041	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(130,861	)		(106,393	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net		—			248,750
Payment of long-term debt		(216,210	)		(625	)
Payment of debt and equity issuance costs		(3,692	)		(4,227	)
Payment of capital lease obligations		(3,335	)		(3,034	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		15,898			17,663
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(207,339	)		258,527
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(2,435	)		(1,717	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(295,957	)		240,233
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year		642,444			346,487
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	$	346,487		$	586,720
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the fiscal year for interest	$	32,397		$	36,276
Cash paid during the fiscal year for income taxes, net	$	10,679		$	11,396
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Purchase of equipment in accounts payable	$	6,191		$	4,961
Fixed assets purchased under capital leases	$	2,538		$	10,424


APPENDIX A - Reconciliation of Adjusted (Non- GAAP) Quarterly Measurements (unaudited)

	Quarter Ended
	October 31,
	2013			2014
Gross Profit Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP gross profit	$	231,646		$	220,837
Share-based compensation-products		617			547
Share-based compensation-services		448			496
Amortization of intangible assets		5,384			2,201
Total adjustments related to gross profit		6,449			3,244
Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit	$	238,095		$	224,081
Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit percentage		40.8	%		37.9	%

Operating Expense Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP operating expense	$	232,063		$	222,652
Share-based compensation-research and development		1,923			1,960
Share-based compensation-sales and marketing		3,603			2,759
Share-based compensation-general and administrative		3,157			3,025
Amortization of intangible assets		12,439			11,019
Restructuring costs		428			171
Total adjustments related to operating expense		21,550			18,934
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense	$	210,513		$	203,718

Income (Loss) from Operations Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP loss from operations	$	(417	)	$	(1,815	)
Total adjustments related to gross profit		6,449			3,244
Total adjustments related to operating expense		21,550			18,934
Adjusted (non-GAAP) income from operations	$	27,582			20,363
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin percentage		4.7	%		3.4	%

Net Income (Loss) Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP net loss	$	(9,797	)	$	(30,703	)
Total adjustments related to gross profit		6,449			3,244
Total adjustments related to operating expense		21,550			18,934
Non-cash interest expense		284			351
Change in fair value of embedded redemption feature		(230	)		—
Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income (loss)	$	18,256		$	(8,174	)

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		103,523			106,931
Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding¹		119,401			106,931

Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
GAAP diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.09	)	$	(0.29	)
Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income (loss) per common share²	$	0.16		$	(0.08	)


APPENDIX B - Reconciliation of Adjusted (Non- GAAP) Annual Measurements (unaudited)

	Year Ended
	October 31,
	2013			2014
Gross Profit Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP gross profit	$	865,175		$	948,352
Share-based compensation-products		2,522			2,531
Share-based compensation-services		1,771			2,216
Amortization of intangible assets		21,537			11,181
Total adjustments related to gross profit		25,830			15,928
Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit	$	891,005		$	964,280
Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit percentage		42.8	%		42.1	%

Operating Expense Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP operating expense	$	866,950		$	902,648
Share-based compensation-research and development		8,214			9,682
Share-based compensation-sales and marketing		13,290			14,958
Share-based compensation-general and administrative		12,055			13,568
Amortization of intangible assets		49,771			45,970
Restructuring costs		7,169			349
Settlement of patent litigation		1,500			2,000
Total adjustments related to operating expense		91,999			86,527
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense	$	774,951		$	816,121

Loss from Operations Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP income (loss) from operations	$	(1,775	)	$	45,704
Total adjustments related to gross profit		25,830			15,928
Total adjustments related to operating expense		91,999			86,527
Adjusted (non-GAAP) income from operations	$	116,054			148,159
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin percentage		5.6	%		6.5	%

Loss Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)
GAAP net loss	$	(85,431	)	$	(40,637	)
Total adjustments related to gross profit		25,830			15,928
Total adjustments related to operating expense		91,999			86,527
Loss on extinguishment of debt		28,630			—
Non-cash interest expense		898			1,273
Change in fair value of embedded redemption feature		(2,950	)		2,740
Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income	$	58,976		$	65,831

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		102,350			105,783
Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding³		120,263			120,950

Net Loss per Common Share
GAAP diluted net loss per common share	$	(0.83	)	$	(0.38	)
Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share⁴	$	0.54		$	0.59

1. Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 includes 2.8 million shares underlying certain stock options and restricted stock units and 13.1 million shares underlying Ciena's 0.875% convertible senior notes, due June 15, 2017.

2. The calculation of Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 requires adding back interest expense of approximately $1.4 million associated with Ciena's 0.875% convertible senior notes, due June 15, 2017 to the Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income in order to derive the numerator for the Adjusted earnings per common share calculation.

3. Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share for fiscal 2013 includes 2.1 million shares underlying certain stock options and restricted stock units, 2.7 million shares underlying Ciena's 0.25% convertible senior notes due May 1, 2013 (which were paid at maturity during the second quarter of fiscal 2013) and 13.1 million shares underlying Ciena's 0.875% convertible senior notes, due June 15, 2017.

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share for fiscal 2014 includes 2.1 million shares underlying certain stock options and restricted stock units and 13.1 million shares underlying Ciena's 0.875% convertible senior notes, due June 15, 2017.

4. The calculation of Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share for fiscal 2013 requires adding back interest expense of approximately $0.7 million associated with Ciena's 0.25% convertible senior notes due May 1, 2013 (which were paid during the second quarter of fiscal 2013) and approximately $5.5 million associated with Ciena's 0.875% convertible senior notes, due June 15, 2017 to the Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income in order to derive the numerator for the Adjusted earnings per common share calculation.

The calculation of Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per common share for fiscal 2014 requires adding back interest expense of approximately $5.5 million associated with Ciena's 0.875% convertible senior notes, due June 15, 2017 to the Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income in order to derive the numerator for the Adjusted earnings per common share calculation.

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 expense - 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 the 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 $1.5 million patent litigation settlement during the third quarter of fiscal 2013 and a $2.0 million patent litigation settlement during the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
Loss on extinguishment of debt - a non-cash loss, recorded in connection with convertible note exchange transactions completed during the first quarter of fiscal 2013, reflecting the fair value of Ciena's 4.0% senior convertible notes due December 15, 2020, as compared to the retirement of a portion of Ciena's outstanding 4.0% senior convertible notes due March 15, 2015.
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.
Change in fair value of embedded redemption feature - a non-cash unrealized gain or loss reflective of a mark to market fair value adjustment of an embedded derivative related to the redemption feature of Ciena's outstanding 4.0% senior convertible notes due March 15, 2015.

Source: Ciena Corporation

Press:
Ciena Corporation
Nicole Anderson, 877-857-7377
pr@ciena.com
or
Investor:
Ciena Corporation
Gregg Lampf, 877-243-6273
ir@ciena.com

News Details

Ciena Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2014 and Year-End Financial Results