Derivative Instruments

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

Foreign Currency Derivatives       

As of April 30, 2019 and October 31, 2018, 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. The notional amount of these contracts was approximately $146.1 million and $163.2 million as of April 30, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively. These foreign exchange contracts have maturities of 24 months or less and have been designated as cash flow hedges.

During the first six months of fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, in order to hedge foreign exchange exposures of certain balance sheet items, Ciena entered into forward contracts to mitigate risk due to variability in various currencies. The notional amount of these contracts was approximately $164.8 million and $162.6 million as of April 30, 2019 and October 31, 2018, 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 14 below) and has hedged such risk by entering into floating to fixed interest rate swap arrangements (“interest rate swaps”). The interest rate swaps fix the LIBOR rate for $350 million of the 2025 Term Loan at 2.957% through September 2023. The total notional amount of interest rate swaps in effect was $350.0 million as of April 30, 2019 and October 31, 2018.

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 5 and Note 8 above.