CIENA JOINS THE S&P 500 INDEX
Linthicum, MD — 08/29/2001Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), a global leader in intelligent optical networking systems and software, today announced that it will be included in the S&P 500 Index after the close of trading on Wednesday, August 29, 2001.
Ciena will be added to the S&P 500 GICS Telecommunications Equipment sub-industry group and the Communications Equipment industry group. Ciena replaces American General in the index following American General's acquisition by American Int'l Group.
"We are pleased to be recognized for inclusion in the S&P 500 Index," said Gary Smith, Ciena's president and CEO. "Our addition to this respected collection of acknowledged industry leaders represents a significant milestone for our company."
The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index (stock price times number of shares outstanding), with each stock's weight in the Index proportionate to its market value. The "500" is one of the most widely used benchmarks of U.S. equity performance.
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Ciena Corporation's market-leading intelligent optical networking systems form the core for the new era of networks and services worldwide. Ciena's LightWorks™ architecture enables next-generation optical services and changes the fundamental economics of service-provider networks by simplifying the network and reducing the cost to operate it. Additional information about Ciena can be found at www.Ciena.com.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, which include the risk factors disclosed in the Company's Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 2001. Forward looking statements include statements regarding the Company'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. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Nicole Anderson
Ciena Corporation
(877) 857 -7377
pr@ciena.com
Marie Downing
Ciena Corporation
(888) 243-6223
ir@ciena.com
