Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

May 01, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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 the 2020 Annual Report.

Newly Issued Accounting Standards - Effective

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (”FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 (“ASU 2016-13”), Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Ciena adopted ASU 2016-13 on a modified retrospective basis in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 through a cumulative-effect adjustment at the beginning of the period of adoption and did not restate prior periods. The standard primarily impacts the value of Ciena’s accounts receivable, net and contract assets, net. Adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material effect on Ciena’s financial position or results of operations.

Ciena’s significant accounting policies updated as a result of adopting this standard are as follows:

Allowance for Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets

Ciena estimates its allowances for credit losses using relevant available information from internal and external sources, related to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. When assessing for credit losses, Ciena determines collectability by pooling assets with similar characteristics. The allowances for credit losses are each measured on a collective basis when similar risk characteristics exist. The allowances for credit losses are each measured by multiplying the exposure probability of default, the

probability the asset will default within a given time frame, by the loss given default rate, the percentage of the asset not expected to be collected due to default, based on the pool of assets.

Probability of default rates are published by third-party credit rating agencies. Adjustments to Ciena’s exposure probability may take into account including, but not limited to, various customer-specific factors, the potential sovereign risk of the geographic locations in which the customer is operating and macroeconomic conditions. These factors are updated regularly or when facts and circumstances indicate that an update is deemed necessary.

Newly Issued Accounting Standards - Not Yet Effective

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04 (“ASU 2020-04”), Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. ASU 2020-04 provides temporary optional guidance on contract modifications and hedging accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens of the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to alternative reference rates. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, which refines the scope of Topic 848 and clarifies some of its guidance as part of the FASB’s monitoring of global reference rate activities. The new guidance was effective upon issuance, and Ciena is allowed to elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. Ciena is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12 (“ASU 2019-12”), Income Taxes (ASC 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify U.S. GAAP for other areas of ASC 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 is effective for Ciena beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, and early adoption is permitted. Most amendments within this standard are required to be applied on a prospective basis, while certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis. Ciena is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.