Tellabs Abandons Acquisition Bid for Ciena Amid Stagnating Stock Price

Tellabs Inc., a Lisle, Ill.-based telecommunications company, has officially pulled out of its acquisition bid for Ciena Corp., a Linthicum, Md.-based firm that has seen its stock price plummet from $88.63 in July to $13.19 due to a series of bad news announcements. The proposed acquisition, valued at $7.1 billion, was significantly lowered to $4.9 billion last month, but Tellabs ultimately decided to terminate the merger agreement due to Ciena's changing financial outlook and the unlikelihood of securing shareholder approval.

Key Takeaways:

• Tellabs Inc. has abandoned its acquisition bid for Ciena Corp. due to the Linthicum-based company's declining stock price and changing financial outlook.
• Ciena's stock price has dropped from $88.63 in July to $13.19, largely due to reduced earnings forecasts and lost sales to major telecommunications companies.
• The proposed acquisition's price was lowered from $7.1 billion to $4.9 billion last month, but the deal was ultimately terminated.
• Ciena's difficulties are attributed to increased competition from major telecommunications companies such as Lucent Technologies Inc. and Alcatel.
• The company's leader in optical multiplexers, a type of telecommunications equipment, remains a profitable and competitive entity.
• Cisco Systems Inc., the nation's largest networking-equipment company, could potentially be a buyer of Ciena due to their existing product development collaboration.
• Ciena plans to continue developing new products and increasing sales.

Statistics:

• Ciena's stock price has dropped from a high of $88.63 in July to $13.19.
• The proposed acquisition's price was lowered from $7.1 billion to $4.9 billion last month.
• Ciena's losses in sales include reduced business relationships with AT&T Corp. and other major telecommunications companies.
• Ciena's market value has dropped significantly, making it an attractive target for potential buyers.

Sources:

• "Tellabs Abandons $4.9 Billion Bid for Ciena, Cites Crumbling Stock Price" (The New York Times)