News Release

CISCO SYSTEMS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS

SAN JOSE, Calif., - May 9, 2000 - Cisco Systems, Inc., the
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SAN JOSE, Calif., - May 9, 2000 - Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today reported its third quarter results for the period ending April 29, 2000.

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2000 were $4.92 billion, compared with $3.17 billion for the same period last year, an increase of 55%. Pro forma net income, which excludes the effects of acquisition charges, payroll tax on stock option exercises, and gains realized on certain minority investments, was $1.03 billion or $0.14 per share, compared with pro forma net income of $649 million or $0.09 per share for the third quarter of fiscal 1999, increases of 58% and 56%, respectively.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2000, Cisco completed the acquisitions of Aironet Wireless Communications and Pirelli Optical Systems for a combined purchase price, including assumed liabilities, of approximately $2.85 billion and took one-time charges of $488 million, or approximately $0.06 per share on an after-tax basis, as write-offs of purchased in-process R&D. Additionally, Cisco completed the acquisitions of Altiga Networks, Compatible Systems, and Growth Networks Inc., which were accounted for as poolings of interests.

Actual net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2000 was $662 million or $0.09 per share, compared with $636 million or $0.09 per share for the same period last year.

Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2000 were $13.18 billion, compared with $8.61 billion for the same period last year, an increase of 53%. Pro forma net income was $2.75 billion or $0.37 per share, compared with pro forma net income of $1.82 billion or $0.26 per share for the first nine months of fiscal 1999, increases of 51% and 42%, respectively.

Actual net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2000 was $1.91 billion or $0.26 per share, compared with $1.43 billion or $0.21 per share for the first nine months of fiscal 1999.

The net income per share and number of shares used in the per-share calculation for all periods presented reflect the two-for-one stock split that was effective March 22, 2000.

"Globally, business and government leaders are beginning to dramatically transform their traditional business models into Internet Economy business models," said John Chambers, president and CEO of Cisco Systems. "These new Internet-based models reduce costs, generate revenue in new ways, empower employees and citizens, and provide the agility needed for the Internet Economy's rapid pace. Customers are increasingly seeking Cisco's expertise to help them through this transformation."

Cisco continues to advance its end-to-end Internet solutions for each of its key markets.

In the service provider marketplace, Cisco continued to advance its strategy for New World integrated data, voice, and video networks and made progress in all key areas. Cisco's New World solutions continued to gain acceptance from incumbent carriers worldwide, underscoring the trend toward the Internet as the platform for all future telecommunications. This trend began with Internet service providers, then moved to global interexchange carriers, and today local interexchange carriers are rapidly adopting Cisco's Internet solutions for all data, voice, and video communications. SBC, one of the nation's premier providers of data communications and network integration, announced an alliance with Cisco to accelerate the delivery of open, standards-based New World broadband services to customers. Through this alliance, Cisco and SBC will go to market with a complete portfolio of products and network services to deliver New World solutions.

Cisco also continues to gain momentum in the IP + optical market furthering its commitment to build Internet-scale, carrier-class, optical networks. Strengthening its product portfolio, Cisco introduced the Cisco 10000 Edge Services Router (ESR), a carrier-class product for Internet service providers (ISPs) deploying high-density dedicated-access IP services. The Cisco 10000 ESR is based on a groundbreaking technology, Parallel eXpress Forwarding architecture, developed internally to enable networks to maintain consistent high performance while adding advanced New World services. Cisco also continued its investment in Internet infrastructure by announcing its intent to acquire Pentacom, LTD., Growth Networks (closed this quarter), Atlantech Technologies, and a subsidiary of Seagull Semiconductor, LTD. Broadening its portfolio in the content networking space, Cisco announced its intent to acquire ArrowPoint Communications, Inc. on May 5, 2000 to address application service providers (ASPs) and large-scale enterprise Web-hosting centers to create a faster, more reliable Web experience.

In the small and medium-sized business market, Cisco reinforced its New World strategy to deliver open, standards-based wireless solutions to mobile business environments by introducing a family of wireless local area networking (WLAN) products based on technology acquired from Aironet Wireless Communications. Cisco announced its intent to acquire InfoGear Technology Corporation to offer a comprehensive software solution to deliver and manage data, voice, and video services to multiple types of information appliances. The Company also extended its Cisco AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data) solutions to enterprise branch offices and mid-sized companies by launching its Cisco Integrated Communications System (ICS) 7750, an IP telephony system that allows businesses to deploy integrated e-business applications.

In the enterprise market, Cisco furthered its New World vision by introducing 10 new products based on its Cisco AVVID solution. These new products enhance Cisco's family of IP phones and Catalyst. 6000 and 6500 product series of layer 3 switches and gigabit technology. Extending its Cisco AVVID solution to the wireless domain, Cisco announced the acquisition of JetCell, Inc. to integrate New World IP telephony solutions with traditional Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems. Complementing Cisco's acquisition of ArrowPoint in the content delivery space, Cisco announced the acquisition of SightPath, Inc. to enable customers to deliver content and services such as e-learning and live streaming media.

"Companies that lead in this decade will not only have the ability to develop products internally and acquire effectively, but they'll also have the ability to form an ecosystem of partners across a horizontal business model. For this reason, Cisco is better positioned than ever to lead the Internet Revolution through a combination of internal development, acquisitions, and partnerships," concluded Chambers.

PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Excluding IPR&D, Payroll Tax on Stock Option Exercises, Acquisition-Related Costs, Amortization of Goodwill and Intangible Assets, and Gains Realized on Minority Investments
(In millions, except per-share amounts)



Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended

April 29, 2000
(Unaudited)

May 1, 1999
(Unaudited)

April 29, 2000
(Unaudited)

May 1, 1999
(Unaudited)
Net sales $ 4,919 $ 3,171 $13,183 $ 8,614
Cost of sales 1,748 1,112 4,671 2,997
Gross margin 3,171 2,059 8,512 5,617
Operating expenses:
Research and development 709 433 1,844 1,144
Sales and marketing 1,010 656 2,747 1,752
General and administrative 144 94 372 253
Total operating expenses 1,863 1,183 4,963 3,149
Operating income 1,308 876 3,549 2,468
Interest and other income, net 157 91 379 237
Income before provision for income taxes 1,465 967 3,928 2,705
Provision for income taxes 439 318 1,177 889
Net income $ 1,026 $ 649 $ 2,751 $ 1,816
Net income per share--basic $ .15 $ .10 $ .40 $ .28
Net income per share--diluted $ .14 $ .09 $ .37 $ .26
Shares used in per-share calculation--basic 6,944 6,624 6,892 6,543
Shares used in per-share calculation--diluted 7,450 7,054 7,366 6,955
PRO FORMA ONLY

The above pro forma amounts for the quarter ended April 29, 2000 have been adjusted to eliminate the $488 million write-off of purchased in-process R&D, $25 million of payroll tax on stock option exercises, $51 million of amortization of goodwill and purchased intangible assets, and $156 million of gains realized on certain minority investments, net of related tax benefits of $44 million.

The above pro forma amounts for the nine months ended April 29, 2000 have been adjusted to eliminate the $912 million write-off of purchased in-process R&D, $25 million of payroll tax on stock option exercises, $25 million of acquisition-related costs, $122 million of amortization of goodwill and purchased intangible assets, and $187 million of gains realized on certain minority investments, net of related tax benefits of $53 million.

The above pro forma amounts for the quarter and nine months ended May 1, 1999 have been adjusted to eliminate the $0 and $390 million write-off of purchased in-process R&D, $19 and $42 million of amortization of goodwill and purchased intangible assets, net of related tax benefits of $6 and $43 million, respectively.

All historical financial information has been restated to reflect the acquisitions of StratumOne Communications, Inc. and TransMedia Communications, Inc. in the first quarter of fiscal 2000 and Cerent Corporation and WebLine Communications Corporation in the second quarter of fiscal 2000, which were accounted for as poolings of interests. In addition, the historical financial information has been restated to reflect the acquisition of Fibex Systems, which was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999 and accounted for as a pooling of interests.

The net income per share and number of shares used in the per-share calculation for all periods presented reflect the two-for-one stock split effective March 22, 2000.



Cisco Systems, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except per-share amounts)




Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended

April 29, 2000 (Unaudited)

May 1, 1999
(Unaudited)

April 29, 2000 (Unaudited)

May 1, 1999
(Unaudited)
Net sales $ 4,919 $ 3,171 $ 13,183 $ 8,614
Cost of sales 1,748 1,112 4,671 2,997
Gross margin 3,171 2,059 8,512 5,617
Operating expenses:
Research and development 709 433 1,844 1,144
Sales and marketing 1,010 656 2,747 1,752
General and administrative 144 94 397 253
Payroll tax on stock option exercises 25 -- 25 --
Amortization of goodwill and purchased intangible assets 51 19 122 42
Purchased in-process R&D 488 -- 912 390
Total operating expenses 2,427 1,202 6,047 3,581
Operating income 744 857 2,465 2,036
Interest and other income, net 313 91 566 237
Income before provision for income taxes 1,057 948 3,031 2,273
Provision for income taxes 395 312 1,124 846
Net income $ 662 $ 636 $ 1,907 $ 1,427
Net income per share--basic $ .10 $ .10 $ .28 $ .22
Net income per share--diluted $ .09 $ .09 $ .26 $ .21
Shares used in per-share calculation--basic 6,944 6,624 6,892 6,543
Shares used in per-share calculation--diluted 7,450 7,054 7,366 6,955

All historical financial information has been restated to reflect the acquisitions of StratumOne Communications, Inc. and TransMedia Communications, Inc. in the first quarter of fiscal 2000 and Cerent Corporation and WebLine Communications Corporation in the second quarter of fiscal 2000, which were accounted for as poolings of interests. In addition, the historical financial information has been restated to reflect the acquisition of Fibex Systems, which was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999 and accounted for as a pooling of interests.

The net income per share and number of shares used in the per-share calculation for all periods presented reflect the two-for-one stock split effective March 22, 2000.

Cisco Systems, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions)



$ 14,846

April 29, 2000
(Unaudited)
July 31, 1999
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and short-term investments $ 4,653 $ 2,075
Accounts receivable, net 1,922 1,249
Inventories, net 878 656
Deferred tax assets 905 571
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 722 170
Total current assets 9,080 4,721
Investments 10,419 7,032
Restricted investments 1,170 1,080
Property and equipment, net 1,153 822
Other assets 4,263 1,191
Total assets $ 26,085
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses $ 4,158 $ 2,404
Income taxes payable 941 630
Total current liabilities 5,099 3,034
Deferred tax liabilities 915 --
Minority interest 45 44
Shareholders' equity 20,026 11,768
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 26,085 $ 14,846

All historical financial information has been restated to reflect the acquisitions of StratumOne Communications, Inc. and TransMedia Communications, Inc. in the first quarter of fiscal 2000 and Cerent Corporation and WebLine Communications Corporation in the second quarter of fiscal 2000, which were accounted for as poolings of interests.