(Mark one)

For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2018

OR

For the transition period from to

Commission file number: 001-36250

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(410) 694-5700

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES ☑ NO o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES ☑ NO o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definition of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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 o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as determined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO ☑

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

CIENA CORPORATION

INDEX

FORM 10-Q

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CIENA CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

The interim financial statements included herein for Ciena Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries ("Ciena") have been prepared by Ciena, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). In the opinion of management, the financial statements included in this report reflect all normal recurring adjustments that Ciena considers necessary for the fair statement of the results of operations for the interim periods covered and of the financial position of Ciena at the date of the interim balance sheets. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2017 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. However, Ciena believes that the disclosures are adequate to understand the information presented herein. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with Ciena's audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Ciena's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 .

Ciena has a 52 or 53-week fiscal year, with quarters ending on the Saturday nearest to the last day of January, April, July and October, respectively, of each year. Fiscal 2018 is a 53-week fiscal year with the additional week occurring in the fourth quarter. Fiscal 2017 was a 52-week fiscal year. For purposes of financial statement presentation, each fiscal year is described as having ended on October 31, and the fiscal quarters are described as having ended on January 31, April 30 and July 31 of each fiscal year.

Except for the changes in certain policies described below, there have been no material changes to Ciena's significant accounting policies, compared to the accounting policies described in Note 1, Ciena Corporation and Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates, in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II of Ciena's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

Government Grants

Ciena accounts for proceeds from government grants as a reduction of expense when there is reasonable assurance that Ciena has complied with the conditions attached to the grant and that grant proceeds will be received. Grant benefits are recorded to the line item in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations to which the grant activity relates. See Note 17 below.

Newly Issued Accounting Standards - Effective

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2017-01 ("ASU 2017-01") , Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business , which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisition or disposal of assets or businesses. The amendments in this update provide a screen to determine when a set of assets is not a business. The screen requires that when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, the set of assets is not a business. Ciena will evaluate the effect of the update at the time of any future acquisition or disposal. Ciena adopted ASU 2017-01 during the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12 ("ASU 2017-12") , Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities , which improves the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities in its financial statements and make certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP. The amendments in this update better align an entity's risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships, through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and presentation of hedge results. Ciena adopted ASU 2017-12 during the first quarter of fiscal 2018. For hedges for which Ciena has elected to exclude the spot-forward difference from assessment of effectiveness, Ciena has elected to amortize the difference on a straight-line basis. Ciena will record amortization in earnings each period with an offsetting entry to other comprehensive income, and all changes in fair value over the term of

the derivative in other comprehensive income. The application of this accounting standard did not have a material impact on Ciena's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09 ("ASU 2016-09") ,  Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting , which provides guidance on several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification on the statement of cash flows. Ciena adopted ASU 2016-09 during the first quarter of fiscal 2018. In connection with the adoption of this guidance, Ciena recognized approximately $62.1 million of deferred tax assets related to previously unrecognized tax benefits. This was recorded as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Additionally, the consolidated statements of cash flows will include excess tax benefits as an operating activity, on a prospective basis as a result of the adoption. Finally, Ciena has elected to recognize forfeitures when they occur, rather than to estimate the impact of forfeitures when the award is granted. Accordingly, Ciena recognized approximately $0.8 million for this change through a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to opening retained earnings in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

Newly Issued Accounting Standards - Not Yet Effective

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 ("ASU 2014-09") ,  Revenue from Contracts with Customers  (Topic 606), which provides guidance for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets. ASU 2014-09 will supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605,  Revenue Recognition , and most industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 also supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35,  Revenue Recognition-Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts . 

For multiple element software arrangements where vendor-specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of undelivered maintenance does not exist, Ciena currently recognizes revenue for the entire arrangement over the maintenance term. Ciena expects that the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will require that it determine the stand alone selling price for each of the software and software-related deliverables at contract inception, and Ciena consequently expects certain software deliverables will be recognized at a point in time rather than over a period of time.

Ciena also expects certain installation and deployment, and consulting and network design services, will be recognized over a period of time rather than at a point in time.

Ciena has considered the impact of the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs; Contracts with Customers , and the interpretations of the FASB Transition Resource Group for Revenue Recognition (TRG) with respect to capitalization and amortization of incremental costs of obtaining a contract. In conjunction with this interpretation, Ciena has elected to implement the practical expedient clause allowing for incremental costs to be recognized as an expense when incurred if the period of the asset recognition is one year or less, and amortized over the period of performance, if the period of the asset recognition is greater than one year.   

Ciena expects to implement ASU 2014-09 using the modified retrospective approach whereby the cumulative effect at adoption will be presented as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information will not be restated and will continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for Ciena beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Ciena is continuing to evaluate other possible impacts of the adoption of this ASU on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 ("ASU 2016-02") , Leases , which requires an entity to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by leased assets and to provide additional disclosures. ASU 2016-02 is effective for Ciena beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Under current GAAP, the majority of Ciena's leases for its properties are considered operating leases, and Ciena expects that the adoption of this ASU will require these leases to be classified as financing leases and to be recognized as assets and liabilities on Ciena's balance sheet. Ciena is continuing to evaluate other possible impacts of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures.

Ciena has undertaken a number of restructuring activities intended to reduce expense and to better align its workforce and costs with market opportunities, product development and business strategies. The following table sets forth the restructuring activity and balance of the restructuring liability accounts for the six months ended April 30, 2018 (in thousands):

The following table sets forth the restructuring activity and balance of the restructuring liability accounts for the six months ended April 30, 2017 (in thousands):

(4) INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME (LOSS), NET

The components of interest and other income (loss), net, are as follows (in thousands):

Ciena Corporation, as the U.S. parent entity, uses the U.S. Dollar as its functional currency; however, some of its foreign branch offices and subsidiaries use local currencies as their functional currencies. Ciena recorded $4.8 million and $1.1 million in foreign currency exchange rate losses during the first six months of fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017 , respectively, as a result of monetary assets and liabilities that were transacted in a currency other than the entity's functional currency, and the remeasurement adjustments were recorded in interest and other income (loss), net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements

of Operations. From time to time, Ciena uses foreign currency forwards to hedge these balance sheet exposures. These forwards are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, and any net gain or loss associated with these derivatives is reported in interest and other income (loss), net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the first six months of fiscal 2018 , Ciena recorded gains of $2.2 million from non-hedge designated foreign currency forward contracts. During the first six months of fiscal 2017 , Ciena recorded losses of $1.7 million from non-hedge designated foreign currency forward contracts.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") was enacted. The Tax Act significantly revises the U.S. corporate income tax by, among other things, lowering the statutory corporate income tax rate ("federal tax rate") from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, implementing a modified territorial tax system, and imposing a mandatory one-time transition tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred. As a fiscal-year taxpayer, certain provisions of the Tax Act impact Ciena in fiscal 2018, including the change in the federal tax rate and the one-time transition tax, while other provisions will be effective at the beginning of fiscal 2019, including the implementation of a modified territorial tax system, other changes to how foreign earnings are subject to U.S. tax, and adoption of an alternative tax system.

As a result of the decrease in the federal tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, Ciena has computed its income tax expense for the October 31, 2018 fiscal year using a blended federal tax rate of  23.4% . The 21% federal tax rate is expected to apply to Ciena's fiscal year ending October 31, 2019 and each year thereafter. Ciena remeasured its deferred tax assets and liabilities ("DTA") using the federal tax rate that will apply when the related temporary differences are expected to reverse.

During the six months ended April 30, 2018 , Ciena recorded a provisional tax expense of  $484.4 million , primarily related to the Tax Act and consisted of the following: a  $431.3 million charge related to the remeasurement of U.S. net deferred tax assets at the lower statutory rate under the Tax Act and a $45.6 million charge related to a transition tax on accumulated historical foreign earnings and its deemed repatriation to the U.S.

In December 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which addresses how a company recognizes provisional amounts when it does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the effect of the changes due to the Tax Act. The measurement period ends when a company has obtained, prepared and analyzed the information necessary to finalize its accounting, but cannot extend beyond one year. The final impact of the Tax Act may differ from the above provisional amounts due to changes in interpretations of the Tax Act, legislative action to address questions that arise because of the Tax Act, changes in accounting standards for income taxes and related interpretations in response to the Tax Act, and any updates or changes to estimates used in the provisional amounts. Ciena has determined that the  $45.6 million  of tax expense for the U.S. transition tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries and the  $431.3 million of tax expense for DTA remeasurement were each provisional amounts and reasonable estimates as of  April 30, 2018 . Estimates used in the provisional amounts include the anticipated reversal pattern of the gross DTA plus the earnings and profits, cash position at the end of fiscal year 2018, foreign taxes and withholding taxes attributable to foreign subsidiaries.

Ciena currently intends to reinvest indefinitely its foreign earnings outside the U.S. However, Ciena intends to further study changes enacted by the Tax Act, costs of repatriation and the current and future cash needs of foreign operations to determine whether there is an opportunity to repatriate these earnings in the future on a tax-efficient basis. If Ciena determines to repatriate these earnings, the provisional amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liability related to these foreign withholding taxes would be approximately $24.0 million . There are no other significant temporary differences for which a deferred tax liability has not been recognized.

The significant components of DTA are as follows (in thousands):

In connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-09, Ciena recognized approximately $62.1 million of deferred tax assets related to previously unrecognized tax benefits. This was recorded as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2018. See Note  2 above and Note 14 below. As of April 30, 2018 , Ciena continues to maintain a valuation allowance of $147.0 million . This valuation allowance is primarily related to state and foreign net operating losses and credits that Ciena estimates it will not be able to use.

As of the dates indicated, investments are comprised of the following (in thousands):

The following table summarizes the final legal maturities of debt investments at April 30, 2018 (in thousands):

As of the date indicated, the following table summarizes the assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

As of the date indicated, the assets and liabilities above are presented on Ciena's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as follows (in thousands):

Ciena did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements during the periods presented.

As of the dates indicated, inventories are comprised of the following (in thousands):

Ciena writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory by an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated net realizable value based on assumptions about future demand and market conditions. During the first six months of fiscal 2018 , Ciena recorded a provision for excess and obsolescence of $15.0 million , primarily related to a decrease in the forecasted demand for certain Networking Platforms products. Deductions from the provision for excess and obsolete inventory relate primarily to disposal activities.

As of the dates indicated, accrued liabilities and other short-term obligations are comprised of the following (in thousands):

(1) Reduction is primarily due to the timing of bonus payments to employees under Ciena's annual cash incentive compensation plan.

The following table summarizes the activity in Ciena's accrued warranty for the fiscal periods indicated (in thousands):

(1) As a result of lower than expected actual failure rates, Ciena adjusted its fiscal 2017 provision for warranty. This adjustment had the effect of reducing warranty provision by $6.3 million for the six months ended April 30, 2017 .

Foreign Currency Derivatives   

As of  April 30, 2018  and October 31, 2017 , Ciena had forward contracts to hedge its foreign exchange exposure in order to reduce the variability in its Canadian Dollar and Indian Rupee denominated expense, which principally relates to research and development activities, and its Euro denominated revenue. The notional amount of these contracts was approximately $114.2 million and $86.1 million as of April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017 , respectively. These foreign exchange contracts have maturities of  12  months or less and have been designated as cash flow hedges.

During the first six months of  fiscal 2018  and fiscal 2017 , in order to hedge certain balance sheet exposures, Ciena entered into forward contracts to mitigate risk due to volatility in the Brazilian Real, Canadian Dollar and Mexican Peso. The notional amount of these contracts was approximately  $92.5 million  and  $83.4 million  as of April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017 , respectively. These foreign exchange contracts have maturities of  12  months or less and have not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes.

Interest Rate Derivatives

Ciena is exposed to floating rates of LIBOR interest on its term loan borrowings (see Note 12 below) and has hedged such risk by entering into floating to fixed interest rate swap arrangements ("interest rate swaps"). The interest rate swaps fix 98% , 82% , and 77% of the principal value of the 2022 Term Loan from February 2017 through July 2018, July 2018 through June 2020, and June 2020 through January 2021, respectively. The fixed rate on the amounts hedged during these periods will be 4.25% , 4.25% and 4.75% , respectively. The total notional amount of these interest rate swaps in effect as of April 30, 2018 was $387.6 million . The total notional amount of these interest rate swaps in effect as of October 31, 2017 was $389.6 million .

Ciena expects the variable rate payments to be received under the terms of the interest rate swaps to offset exactly the forecasted variable rate payments on the equivalent notional amounts of the term loans. These derivative contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges.

Other information regarding Ciena's derivatives is immaterial for separate financial statement presentation. See Note  4  and Note  7  above.

(11) ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table summarizes the changes in accumulated balances of other comprehensive income ("AOCI") for the six months ended April 30, 2018 :

The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI for the six months ended April 30, 2017 :

All amounts reclassified from AOCI related to settlement (gains) losses on foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges impacted revenue or research and development expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. All amounts reclassified from AOCI related to settlement (gains) losses on forward starting interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges impacted interest and other income (loss), net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Outstanding Term Loan Payable

2022 Term Loan

The net carrying value of Ciena's Term Loan due January 30, 2022 (the "2022 Term Loan") was comprised of the following for the fiscal periods indicated (in thousands):

Deferred debt issuance costs that were deducted from the carrying amounts of the 2022 Term Loan totaled $2.7 million at April 30, 2018 and $3.1 million at October 31, 2017 . Deferred debt issuance costs are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effect of the effective interest rate method, through the maturity of the 2022 Term Loan. The amortization of deferred debt issuance costs for the 2022 Term Loan is included in interest expense, and was $0.4 million and $0.2 million during the first six months of fiscal 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The carrying values of the 2022 Term Loan listed above are also net of any unamortized debt discounts.    

The following table sets forth the carrying value and the estimated fair value of Ciena's 2022 Term Loan (in thousands):

Outstanding Convertible Notes Payable

The net carrying values of Ciena's outstanding convertible notes payable was comprised of the following for the fiscal periods indicated (in thousands):

Deferred debt issuance costs that were deducted from the carrying amounts of the convertible notes payable totaled $1.3 million at April 30, 2018 and $2.1 million at October 31, 2017 . Deferred debt issuance costs are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effect of the effective interest rate method, through the maturity of the convertible notes payable. The amortization of deferred debt issuance costs is included in interest expense, and was $0.8 million and $1.0 million during the first six months of fiscal 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The carrying values of the convertible notes payable listed above also include accretion of principal and are net of any unamortized debt discounts.

The following table sets forth, in thousands, the net carrying value and the estimated fair value of Ciena's outstanding issues of convertible notes as of April 30, 2018 :

The following table (in thousands except per share amounts) is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic net income (loss) per common share ("Basic EPS") and the diluted net income (loss) per potential common share ("Diluted EPS"). Basic EPS is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed using the weighted average number of the following, in each case, to the extent the effect is not anti-dilutive: (i) common shares outstanding; (ii) shares issuable upon vesting of restricted stock units; (iii) shares issuable under Ciena's employee stock purchase plan and upon exercise of outstanding stock options, using the treasury stock method; (iv) shares underlying Ciena's outstanding convertible notes for which Ciena uses the treasury stock method (the New Notes); and (v) shares underlying Ciena's outstanding convertible notes for which Ciena uses the if-converted method.