CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE

Outstanding Convertible Notes Payable

Ciena has four issuances of convertible notes payable outstanding. The notes are senior unsecured obligations of Ciena and rank equally with all of Ciena’s other existing and future senior unsecured debt. The indentures governing Ciena’s notes provide for customary events of default which include (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), among others, the following: nonpayment of principal or interest; breach of covenants or other agreements in the indenture; defaults in or failure to pay certain other indebtedness; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. Generally, if an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes may declare the principal of, accrued interest on, and premium, if any, on all the notes immediately due and payable. Under the indentures, if Ciena undergoes a “fundamental change” (as that term is defined in the indenture governing the notes to include certain change in control transactions), holders of notes will have the right, subject to certain exemptions, to require Ciena to purchase for cash any or all of their notes at a price equal to the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the holder elects to convert his or her notes in connection with a specified fundamental change, in certain circumstances, Ciena will be required to increase the applicable conversion rate, depending on the price paid per share for Ciena common stock and the effective date of the fundamental change transaction.

0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due May 1, 2013

On April 10, 2006, Ciena completed a public offering of 0.25% convertible senior notes due May 1, 2013, in aggregate principal amount of $300.0 million. Interest is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, Ciena repurchased $81.8 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 0.25% convertible senior notes in privately negotiated transactions, which resulted in a gain of approximately $4.9 million. As of October 31, 2011, the outstanding principal on these notes was $216.2 million.

At the election of the holder, notes may be converted prior to maturity into shares of Ciena common stock at the initial conversion rate of 25.3001 shares per $1,000 in principal amount, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $39.5255 per share. The notes may be redeemed by Ciena if the closing sale price of Ciena’s common stock for at least 20 trading days in any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the date one day prior to the date of the notice of redemption exceeds 130% of the conversion price. Ciena may redeem the notes in whole or in part, at a redemption price in cash equal to the principal amount to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Ciena used approximately $28.5 million of the net proceeds of this offering to purchase a call spread option on its common stock that is intended to limit exposure to potential dilution from the conversion of the notes. See Note 16 below for a description of this call spread option.

4.0% Convertible Senior Notes, due March 15, 2015

On March 15, 2010, Ciena completed a private placement of 4.0% convertible senior notes due March 15, 2015, in aggregate principal amount of $375.0 million. Interest is payable on the notes on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2010.

At the election of the holder, the notes may be converted prior to maturity into shares of Ciena common stock at the initial conversion rate of 49.0557 shares per $1,000 in principal amount, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $20.38 per share. The notes may be redeemed by Ciena on or after March 15, 2013 if the closing sale price of Ciena’s common stock for at least 20 trading days in any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the date one day prior to the date of the notice of redemption exceeds 150% of the conversion price. Ciena may redeem the notes in whole or in part, at a redemption price in cash equal to the principal amount to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including any additional interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, plus a make-whole premium payment. The “make whole premium” payment will be made in cash and equal the present value of the remaining interest payments, to maturity, computed using a discount rate equal to 2.75%. The make-whole premium is paid to holders whether or not they convert the notes following Ciena’s issuance of a redemption notice. For accounting purposes, this redemption feature is an embedded derivative that is not clearly and closely related to the notes. Consequently, it was initially bifurcated from the indenture and separately recorded at its fair value as an asset with subsequent changes in fair value recorded through earnings. As of October 31, 2011, the fair value of the embedded redemption feature was $7.0 million and is included in other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Changes in fair value of the embedded redemption feature in the amount of $2.8 million are reflected as interest and other income (loss), net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations during fiscal 2011.

The net proceeds from the offering of the notes were $364.3 million after deducting the placement agents’ fees and other fees and expenses. Ciena used $243.8 million of this amount to fund its payment election to replace its contractual obligation to issue convertible notes to Nortel as part of the aggregate purchase price for the acquisition of the MEN Business. The remaining proceeds were used to reduce the cash on hand required to fund the aggregate purchase price of the MEN Business. See Note 2 above.

0.875% Convertible Senior Notes due June 15, 2017

On June 11, 2007, Ciena completed a public offering of 0.875% convertible senior notes due June 15, 2017, in aggregate principal amount of $500.0 million. Interest is payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2007.

At the election of the holder, notes may be converted prior to maturity into shares of Ciena common stock at the initial conversion rate of 26.2154 shares per $1,000 in principal amount, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $38.15 per share. The notes are not redeemable by Ciena prior to maturity.

Ciena used approximately $42.5 million of the net proceeds of this offering to purchase a call spread option on its common stock that is intended to limit exposure to potential dilution from conversion of the notes. See Note 16 below for a description of this call spread option.

3.75% Convertible Senior Notes, due October 15, 2018

On October 18, 2010, Ciena completed a private placement of 3.75% convertible senior notes due October 15, 2018, in aggregate principal amount of $350.0 million. Interest is payable on the notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2011.

At the election of the holder, the notes may be converted prior to maturity into shares of Ciena common stock at the initial conversion rate of 49.5872 shares per $1,000 in principal amount, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $20.17 per share.

The net proceeds from the offering were approximately $340.4 million after deducting the placement agents’ fees and other fees and expenses. Ciena used $76.1 million of the net proceeds to effect the repurchase of its 0.25% convertible senior notes due 2013 described above.

The following table sets forth, in thousands, the carrying value and the estimated current fair value of Ciena’s outstanding convertible notes:



	October 31, 2011
Description	Carrying Value		Fair Value
0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due May 1, 2013	$	216,210	$	215,399
4.0% Convertible Senior Notes, due March 15, 2015 ⁽¹⁾	376,154		388,125
0.875% Convertible Senior Notes due June 15, 2017	500,000		376,875
3.75% Convertible Senior Notes, due October 15, 2018	350,000		347,375
	$	1,442,364	$	1,327,774

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(1)	Includes unamortized bond premium related to embedded redemption feature

The fair value reported above is based on the quoted market price for the notes on the date above.