Finisar Sells Its Network Tools Business to JDSU

Finisar Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Network Tools business (excluding accounts receivable and payables related to the business) to JDSU (JDS Uniphase Corporation) for $40.6 million in cash. The sale is expected to be completed on or about July 15, 2009 after which Finisar will provide support services to JDSU during a transition period.

Finisar’s Network Tools Division has developed a leading position in the market for data protocol analysis equipment. These analyzers allow engineers, service technicians and network managers to generate and capture data at high speeds, filter the data, identify various types of intermittent errors and verify protocol compliance for SANs and LANs, including emerging technologies such as VOIP, 10GigE, iSCSI, SAS/SATA and FCoE. Because of the Company’s early work in developing the Fibre Channel standard for storage networks in 1994, it has cultivated a leading share of the test equipment market for SAN applications.

"The recent Optium merger helped underscore the fact that we are primarily an optics company and that, for the Network Tools business to continue to grow and be successful, it needs to have a larger presence and a broader product line," said Jerry Rawls, Finisar’s executive Chairman of the Board. "I confess I have mixed emotions about the sale as we started this business in the early ’90s and have had a long track record of successes. We have helped our SAN customers create more reliable storage networks with robust interoperability. But, the sale of this business will enable us to focus all of our attention and resources on what we do best: design next generation products for optical communications."

"I want to wish the employees of Network Tools much success in the future," added Rawls. "I appreciate all their hard work in creating exciting products, building a profitable business and delivering value and service to our customers."

The Network Tools business contributed revenues of approximately $44.2 million in Finisar’s fiscal year ended April 30, 2009 and contributed in excess of $7 million in EBITDA.

Finisar noted that its previous revenue guidance of $120 to $130 million for the first quarter ending August 2, 2009 remains unchanged despite the sale of the Network Tools business, but also noted that its gross margin guidance would likely decrease slightly due to a shift in product mix, with lower revenues (due to a prorated quarter) from higher-margin Network Tools products offsetting a similar increase in optics revenues. The Company also noted that it would record a one-time nonrecurring gain in the first quarter associated with the sale.

Read also the press release from JDSU:
JDSU Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Network Tools Business from Finisar