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  <TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>UNITED STATES </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR
  SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or
  15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):&nbsp;&nbsp;November
  20, 2002 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>AVANEX
  CORPORATION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Delaware</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>000-29175</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>94-3285348</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>of
  incorporation)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Commission File Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(IRS Employer</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Identification
  Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>40919 Encyclopedia Circle </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Fremont, California 94538 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Address and zip code of principal executive offices) </B></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>(510) 897-4188 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Registrant&#146;s
  telephone number, including area code) </B></FONT></DIV>
  
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  <HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
  
   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Events </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Avanex Corporation (&#147;Avanex&#148;) issued a press release on November 20, 2002 regarding the resignation of Paul Engle as Avanex&#146;s President, Chief Executive
  Officer and director, and the appointment of Walter Alessandrini as Avanex&#146;s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Alessandrini is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Avanex. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">A copy of this press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements and Exhibits </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="5%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="87%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press release of Avanex Corporation dated November 20, 2002.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV>
   <P></P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">-2- </FONT></DIV>
  
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Signatures </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">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 hereunto duly
  authorized. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="right">
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  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="37%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">AVANEX CORPORATION</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="32"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="2%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="37%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Walter Alessandrini</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE ALIGN="left" COLOR="#000000"></TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="37%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Walter Alessandrini,</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">President and Chief Executive Officer</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;November 20, 2002 </FONT></DIV>
   <P></P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">-3- </FONT></DIV>
  
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Exhibit Number</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="48" COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="7%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press release of Avanex Corporation issued on November 20, 2002.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV>
   <P></P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">-4- </FONT></DIV>
  
   </BODY></HTML>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9479}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AVANEX CORP", "cik": "0001056794", "assigned-sic": "3674", "irs-number": "943285348", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-29175", "film-number": "02834849"}, "business-address": {"street1": "40919 ENCYCLOPEDIA CIRCLE", "city": "FREMONT", "state": "CA", "zip": "94538", "phone": "5108974172"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "40919 ENCYCLOPEDIA CIRCLE", "city": "FREMONT", "state": "CA", "zip": "94538"}}
text: Form 8-K
  UNITED STATES
  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
  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  November
  20, 2002
  AVANEX
  CORPORATION
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  000-29175
  94-3285348
  (State or other jurisdiction
  of
  incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)
  (IRS Employer
  Identification
  Number)
  40919 Encyclopedia Circle
  Fremont, California 94538
  (Address and zip code of principal executive offices)
  (510) 897-4188
  (Registrant's
  telephone number, including area code)
  Item 5.    Other Events
  Avanex Corporation ("Avanex") issued a press release on November 20, 2002 regarding the resignation of Paul Engle as Avanex's President, Chief Executive
  Officer and director, and the appointment of Walter Alessandrini as Avanex's President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Alessandrini is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Avanex.
  A copy of this press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1.
  Item 7.    Financial Statements and Exhibits
  (c)    Exhibits
  99.1
  Press release of Avanex Corporation dated November 20, 2002.
  -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 hereunto duly
  authorized.
  AVANEX CORPORATION
  By:
  /s/    Walter Alessandrini
  Walter Alessandrini,
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  Date:  November 20, 2002
  -3-
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit Number
  99.1
  Press release of Avanex Corporation issued on November 20, 2002.
  -4-