SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 May 20, 2004 ------------ Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) CIENA Corporation ----------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 0-21969 23-2725311 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer of incorporation) Identification No.) 1201 Winterson Road, Linthicum, Maryland 21090 ---------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (410) 865-8500 -------------- Not applicable -------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Exhibit Index on Page 2 The information in this Report, including the exhibit, is furnished under Item 12 of Form 8-K and, pursuant to General Instruction B.6. thereunder, is not "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Furthermore, the information in this Report, including the exhibit, is not incorporated by reference into the filings of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933. Item 12 -- Regulation FD Disclosure (Information Provided Under Item 12 Results of Operations and Financial Condition) On May 20, 2004, CIENA Corporation issued a press release announcing its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2004. The text of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report. -2- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. CIENA CORPORATION Dated: May 20, 2004 By: /s/ Russell B. Stevenson, Jr. --------------------------------- Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary -3-