SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) today reported revenue for the fourth quarter of 2011 of $80.1 million. Net loss was $1.6 million, or $(0.03) per share, which compares to revenue of $58.7 million and net income of $1.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2010. As anticipated, the fourth quarter net loss reflected a one-time, non-cash charge to cost of sales of $5.4 million, or $0.08 per share, associated with the termination of a patent license.

Excluding stock compensation expenses, the non-cash charge of $5.4 million associated with the termination of a patent license, and amortization of acquired intangibles, non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $9.4 million, or $0.14 per share. This compares to a non-GAAP net income of $6.1 million, or $0.09 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Fiscal 2011 Overview

For the year ended December 31, 2011, Cepheid reported revenue of $277.6 million which compares to revenue of $212.5 million in 2010. Net income for the year was $2.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, which compares to a net loss of $5.9 million, or $(0.10) per share, in 2010. Excluding stock compensation expenses, the non-cash charge of $5.4 million associated with the termination of a patent license, and amortization of acquired intangibles, non-GAAP net income for the year was $29.6 million, or $0.44 per share. This compares to a non-GAAP net income of $12.5 million, or $0.20 per share, for the full year 2010.

"GeneXpert system placements continued at a very strong pace in the fourth quarter contributing to a record number of placements during 2011, in both our commercial and High Burden Developing Country programs," said John Bishop, Cepheid's Chief Executive Officer. "The demand for our GeneXpert systems has continued to grow in spite of continuing tight capital availability in the US and Europe. In 2012, we will continue to invest aggressively in Xpert® test menu expansion to enable the benefits of our system to be realized in broader segments of the market. We expect to further extend our technology leadership and strong growth momentum in the quarters and years ahead."

Operational Overview

    --  Fourth quarter of 2011 Clinical sales of $68.9 million grew 39% from
        $49.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, and total fourth quarter of
        2011 product sales of $76.9 million grew 37% from the same quarter a
        year ago.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, total Clinical sales of
        $236.0 million grew 36% from $173.8 million reported for the same period
        a year ago.
    --  By industry, product sales were, in millions:





                       Three Months Ended December 31,        Full Year Ended December 31,
                         2011           2010     Change     2011            2010     Change
                         ----           ----     ------     ----            ----     ------

    Clinical
     Systems            $19.9          $12.7          58%  $58.6           $42.5          38%
    Clinical
     Reagents            49.0           36.8          33%  177.4           131.3          35%
                         ----           ----               -----           -----
        Total Clinical   68.9           49.5          39%  236.0           173.8          36%
    Non-Clinical          8.0            6.7          19%   29.5            33.1         -11%
                          ---            ---                ----            ----
    Total Product
     Sales              $76.9          $56.2          37% $265.5          $206.9          28%
                        -----          -----              ------          ------


    --  By geography, product sales were, in millions:







                   Three Months Ended December 31,        Full Year Ended December 31,
                     2011           2010     Change     2011            2010     Change
                     ----           ----     ------     ----            ----     ------
    North America
         Clinical   $46.4          $38.5          21% $167.9          $137.3          22%
         Other        7.2            5.4          33%   25.0            27.3          -8%
                      ---            ---                ----            ----
    Total North
     America         53.6           43.9          22%  192.9           164.6          17%

    International
         Clinical    22.5           11.0         105%   68.1            36.5          87%
         Other        0.8            1.3         -38%    4.5             5.8         -22%
                      ---            ---                 ---             ---
    Total
     International   23.3           12.3          89%   72.6            42.3          72%


    Total Product
     Sales          $76.9          $56.2          37% $265.5          $206.9          28%
                    =====          =====              ======          ======

    --  During the fourth quarter of 2011, Cepheid placed a total of 175
        GeneXpert systems in its commercial Clinical business.  Additionally,
        the Company placed a total of 181 GeneXpert systems as part of its High
        Burden Developing Country (HBDC) program.  For the year ended December
        31, 2011, Cepheid placed a total of 565 GeneXpert systems in its
        commercial Clinical business and an additional 418 GeneXpert systems as
        part of its HBDC program.  As of December 31, 2011, a cumulative total
        of 2,843 GeneXpert systems have been placed worldwide.
    --  Cash and cash equivalents were $115.0 million as of December 31, 2011.
    --  DSO was 40 days.

Business Outlook

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, the Company expects:

    --  Total revenue to be in the range of $333 to $347 million;
    --  Net income in the range of $0.17 to $0.24 per share;
    --  Non-GAAP net income in the range of $0.55 to $0.60 per share.

Expected non-GAAP net income excludes approximately $26 million related to stock compensation expense, approximately $2 million related to the amortization of acquired intangibles, and up to a $1.9 million non-cash tax benefit relating to a potential change to our international tax and legal entity structure. The fully diluted share count for the year is expected to be between 70 and 71 million.

Accessing Cepheid's Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Results Conference Call

The Company will host a management presentation at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, January 26, 2012, to discuss the results. To access the live webcast, please visit Cepheid's website at www.cepheid.com/investors at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to download any necessary audio or plug-in software. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly following the call and will remain available for at least 90 days.

Interested participants and investors may also listen to the live teleconference call by dialing (866) 713-8395 or (617) 597-5309, and entering participant code 42214013. A replay will be available for seven days beginning at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Access numbers for this replay are (888) 286-8010 or (617) 801-6888, with passcode 57636855.

About Cepheid

Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) is a leading molecular diagnostics company that is dedicated to improving healthcare by developing, manufacturing, and marketing accurate yet easy-to-use molecular systems and tests. By automating highly complex and time-consuming manual procedures, the Company's solutions deliver a better way for institutions of any size to perform sophisticated genetic testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases. Through its strong molecular biology capabilities, the Company is focusing on those applications where accurate, rapid, and actionable test results are needed most, such as managing infectious diseases and cancer. For more information, visit http://www.cepheid.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

The Company has supplemented its reported GAAP financial information with non-GAAP measures that do not include employee share-based compensation expense, a non-cash charge associated with the termination of a patent license and amortization of purchased intangible assets. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company's management uses the non-GAAP information internally to evaluate its ongoing business, continuing operational performance and cash requirements, and believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors as they provide a basis for evaluating the Company's cash requirements and additional insight into the underlying operating results and the Company's ongoing performance in the ordinary course of its operations.

These non-GAAP measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. The Company believes that non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with its results of operations as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and that these measures should only be used to evaluate the Company's results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures.

As described above, the Company excludes the following items from one or more of its non-GAAP measures when applicable:

Employee stock-based compensation expense. These expenses consist primarily of expenses for employee stock options and employee restricted stock under ASC 718 (formerly SFAS 123(R)). The Company excludes employee stock-based compensation expenses from its non-GAAP measures primarily because they are non-cash expenses that the Company does not believe are reflective of ongoing operating results in the period incurred. Further, as the Company applies ASC 718, it believes that it is useful to investors to understand the impact of the application of ASC 718 on its results of operations.

Termination of License. The Company incurred a one-time expense of $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 related to the acceleration of the remaining amortization of the original up-front license fee related to the Roche license. The Company excludes this item because it is one-time and non-cash in nature and not reflective of ongoing operating results in the period incurred.

Amortization of purchased intangible assets. The Company incurs amortization of purchased intangible assets in connection with acquisitions. The Company excludes these items because these expenses are not reflective of ongoing operating results in the period incurred. These amounts arise from the Company's prior acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the operation of the Company's business.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not purely historical regarding Cepheid's or its management's intentions, beliefs, expectations and strategies for the future, including those relating to potential growth, future revenues and future net income/loss, including on a non-GAAP basis, and test menu expansion. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from the Company's current expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as those relating to: our success in increasing direct sales and the effectiveness of our sales personnel; the performance and market acceptance of new products; sufficient customer demand; our ability to develop new products and complete clinical trials successfully in a timely manner for new products; uncertainties related to the FDA regulatory and European regulatory processes; the level of testing at clinical customer sites, including for Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs); the Company's ability to successfully introduce and sell products in clinical markets other than HAIs; the rate of environmental biothreat testing conducted by the USPS, which will affect the amount of consumable products sold to the USPS; variability in systems placements and reagent pull-through in the Company's HBDC program; unforeseen supply, development and manufacturing problems; the potential need for additional intellectual property licenses for tests and other products and the terms of such licenses; lengthy sales cycles in certain markets; the Company's reliance on distributors in some regions to market, sell and support its products; the occurrence of unforeseen expenditures, acquisitions or other transactions; costs associated with litigation; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the Company's ability to manage geographically-dispersed operations; and underlying market conditions worldwide. Readers should also refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Cepheid's Annual Report on Form 10-K, its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and its other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements and reasons why results might differ included in this release are made as of the date of this press release, based on information currently available to Cepheid, and Cepheid assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement or reasons why results might differ.






                                    FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW


                                            CEPHEID
                        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED STATEMENTS OF
                                           OPERATIONS
                             (in thousands, except per share data)

                                            Three Months Ended             Years Ended December
                                             December 31,                      31,
                                        -------------------           ---------------------
                                            2011           2010           2011           2010
                                            ----           ----           ----           ----

    Revenues:
      System
       sales                             $20,371        $13,200        $61,948        $46,416
      Reagent and
       disposable
       sales                              56,576         42,969        203,576        160,460
                                          ------         ------        -------        -------
        Total
         product
         sales                            76,947         56,169        265,524        206,876
      Other
       revenues                            3,167          2,557         12,051          5,592
                                           -----          -----         ------          -----
    Total
     revenues                             80,114         58,726        277,575        212,468
                                          ------         ------        -------        -------
    Costs and operating
     expenses:
      Cost of
       product
       sales                              38,632         26,570        122,840        105,135
       Collaboration
       profit
       sharing                             1,582          1,093          4,863          6,806
      Research
       and
       development                        16,650         11,666         59,362         42,503
      Sales and
       marketing                          14,490         10,626         50,691         38,840
      General and
       administrative                     10,153          6,932         36,004         24,528
                                          ------          -----         ------         ------
        Total costs
         and
         operating
         expenses                         81,507         56,887        273,760        217,812
                                          ------         ------        -------        -------
    Income
     (loss)
     from
     operations                           (1,393)         1,839          3,815         (5,344)
    Other
     expense,
     net                                    (506)          (346)        (1,143)          (992)
                                            ----           ----         ------           ----
    Income
     (loss)
     before
     income
     taxes                                (1,899)      1,493       2,672      (6,336)
    Benefit
     from
     (provision
     for)
     income
     taxes                                   250        (148)        (45)        419
                                             ---           ----            ---            ---
    Net income
     (loss)                              $(1,649)        $1,345         $2,627        $(5,917)
                                         =======         ======         ======        =======

    Basic net
     income
     (loss) per
     share                                $(0.03)         $0.02          $0.04         $(0.10)
                                          ======          =====          =====         ======

    Diluted net
     income
     (loss) per
     share                                $(0.03)         $0.02          $0.04         $(0.10)
                                          ======          =====          =====         ======

    Shares used
     in
     computing
     basic net
     income
     (loss) per
     share                                64,113      60,413      62,735      59,712
                                          ======         ======         ======         ======

    Shares used
     in
     computing
     diluted
     net income
     (loss) per
     share                                64,113      63,372      66,750      59,712
                                          ======         ======         ======         ======






                                   CEPHEID

               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (in thousands)

                                             December        December 31,
                                             31, 2011             2010
                                            ---------        -------------

                          ASSETS
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents               $115,008             $79,538
      Accounts receivable, net                  35,375              28,010
      Inventory                                 62,239              37,598
      Prepaid expenses and other current
       assets                                    5,245               4,138
                                                 -----               -----
    Total current assets                       217,867             149,284
    Property and equipment, net                 35,833              27,438
    Other non-current assets                       730                 607
    Intangible assets, net                      13,795              24,688
    Goodwill                                    18,445              18,594
                                                ------              ------
    Total assets                              $286,670            $220,611
                                              ========            ========

           LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                         $32,167             $21,957
      Accrued compensation                      17,928              12,594
      Accrued royalties                          8,357               7,994
      Accrued and other liabilities              3,086               1,288
      Current portion of deferred revenue        8,176               8,207
      Current portion of notes payable               -               1,679
                                                   ---               -----
    Total current liabilities                   69,714              53,719
    Long-term portion of deferred
     revenue                                     2,003               4,057
    Notes payable, less current portion              -               4,991
    Other liabilities                            3,120               4,182
                                                 -----               -----
    Total liabilities                           74,837              66,949
                                                ------              ------
    Shareholders' equity:
      Common stock                             324,211             288,387
      Additional paid-in capital                93,144              72,731
      Accumulated other comprehensive
       income                                       33                 726
      Accumulated deficit                     (205,555)           (208,182)
                                              --------            --------
    Total shareholders' equity                 211,833             153,662
                                               -------             -------
    Total liabilities and shareholders'
     equity                                   $286,670            $220,611
                                              ========            ========





                                         CEPHEID

                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                      (in thousands)
                                                               Years Ended December
                                                                       31,
                                                             ---------------------
                                                                2011           2010
                                                                ----           ----
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income (loss)                                       $2,627        $(5,917)
      Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to
       net cash used in operating activities:

      Depreciation and amortization of
       property and equipment                                 10,298          9,326
      Amortization of intangible assets                        6,523          6,966
      Amortization of terminated patent
       license                                                 5,372              -
      Stock-based compensation related to
       employees and consulting services
       rendered                                               19,768         16,615
      Write-offs of other intangible assets
       acquired in acquisitions                                    -            271
      Unrealized gain on auction rate
       securities                                                  -         (1,714)
      Unrealized loss on put option                                -          1,844
      Deferred rent                                               18             85
      Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
        Accounts receivable                                   (7,830)        (4,394)
        Inventory                                            (23,982)           124
        Prepaid expenses and other current
         assets                                                 (237)        (1,426)
        Other non-current assets                                (122)          (113)
        Accounts payable and other current
         liabilities                                          11,347         (5,112)
        Accrued compensation                                   5,334          3,726
        Deferred revenue                                      (2,084)         7,062
                                                              ------          -----
         Net cash provided by operating
          activities                                          27,032         27,343


    Cash flows from investing activities:

      Capital expenditures                                   (18,942)       (13,047)
      Acquisition of leasehold improvements                        -            125
      Payments for technology licenses                        (1,655)        (1,000)
      Cost of acquisitions, net                                 (296)        (1,300)
      Proceeds from the sales of short-term
       investments                                                 -         24,800
      Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets                      20            138
                                                                 ---            ---
         Net cash provided by (used in)
          investing activities                               (20,873)         9,716


    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Net proceeds from the issuance of
       common shares and exercise of stock
       options                                                35,857         15,334
      Proceeds from notes payable                                  -          6,448
      Principal payment of bank borrowing                          -        (14,618)
      Principal payment of notes payable                      (6,669)          (618)
                                                              ------           ----
         Net cash provided by financing
          activities                                          29,188          6,546


    Effect of exchange rate change on cash                       123            147
                                                                 ---            ---
    Net increase in cash and cash
     equivalents                                              35,470         43,752
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
     of period                                                79,538         35,786
                                                              ------         ------
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of
     period                                                 $115,008        $79,538
                                                            --------        -------





                                                                CEPHEID

                                        RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (UNAUDITED)
                                                 (in thousands, except per share data)
                                                                    Three Months Ended                  Years Ended
                                                                       December 31,                    December 31,
                                                                       ------------                    ------------



                                                                     2011          2010            2011           2010
                                                                     ----          ----            ----           ----
    Cost of
     product
     sales                                                        $38,632       $26,570        $122,840       $105,135
      Stock
       compensation
       expense                                                       (443)         (687)         (1,684)        (2,522)
      Amortization of terminated patent
       license                                                     (5,372)            -          (5,372)             -
      Amortization of purchased
       intangible assets                                             (347)         (394)         (1,383)        (1,422)
                                                                     ----          ----          ------         ------
    Non-GAAP measure of cost of
     product sales                                                $32,470       $25,489        $114,401       $101,191

    Gross margin on product sales per
     GAAP                                                              50%           53%             54%            49%
    Gross margin on product sales per
     Non-GAAP                                                          58%           55%             57%            51%

    Operating
     expenses                                                     $41,293       $29,224        $146,057       $105,871
      Stock
       compensation
       expense                                                     (4,806)       (3,614)        (18,084)       (14,093)
      Amortization of purchased
       intangible assets                                             (107)          (78)           (429)          (409)
                                                                     ----           ---            ----           ----
    Non-GAAP measure of operating
     expenses                                                     $36,380       $25,532        $127,544        $91,369

    Income (loss)
     from
     operations                                                   $(1,393)       $1,839          $3,815        $(5,344)
      Stock
       compensation
       expense                                                      5,249         4,301          19,768         16,615
      Amortization of terminated patent
       license                                                      5,372             -           5,372              -
      Amortization of purchased
       intangible assets                                              454           472           1,812          1,831
                                                                      ---           ---           -----          -----
    Non-GAAP measure of income from
     operations                                                    $9,682        $6,612         $30,767        $13,102

    Net
     income
     (loss)                                                       $(1,649)       $1,345          $2,627        $(5,917)
      Stock
       compensation
       expense                                                      5,249         4,301          19,768         16,615
      Amortization of terminated patent
       license                                                      5,372             -           5,372              -
      Amortization of purchased
       intangible assets                                              454           472           1,812          1,831
                                                                      ---           ---           -----          -----
    Non-GAAP
     measure of net
     income                                                        $9,426        $6,118         $29,579        $12,529

    Basic net
     income (loss)
     per share                                                     $(0.03)        $0.02           $0.04         $(0.10)
      Stock
       compensation
       expense                                                       0.08          0.07            0.32           0.28
      Amortization of terminated patent
       license                                                       0.09             -            0.08              -
      Amortization of purchased
       intangible assets                                             0.01          0.01            0.03           0.03
                                                                     ----          ----            ----           ----
    Non-GAAP measure of net income
     per share                                                      $0.15         $0.10           $0.47          $0.21

    Diluted net
     income (loss)
     per share                                                     $(0.03)        $0.02           $0.04         $(0.10)
      Stock
       compensation
       expense                                                       0.08          0.06            0.29           0.27
      Amortization of terminated patent
       license                                                       0.08             -            0.08              -
      Amortization of purchased
       intangible assets                                             0.01          0.01            0.03           0.03
                                                                     ----          ----            ----           ----
    Non-GAAP measure of net income
     per share                                                      $0.14         $0.09           $0.44          $0.20

    Shares used in computing Non-GAAP
     basic net income (loss) per share                             64,113        60,413          62,735         59,712

    Shares used in computing diluted net
     income per share                                              64,113        63,372          66,750         59,712
      Incremental shares from the assumed
       conversion of dilutive stock
       options                                                      4,480         1,367             878          3,875
                                                                    -----         -----             ---          -----
    Shares used in computing Non-GAAP
     diluted net income per share                                  68,593        64,739          67,628         63,587






                CONTACTS:
                For Media Inquiries:        For Investor Inquiries:
                --------------------        -----------------------
                Jared Tipton                Jacquie Ross
                 Cepheid Corporate           Cepheid Investor
                 Communications              Relations
                Tel: (408) 400 8377         Tel: (408) 400 8329
                communications@cepheid.com   investor.relations@cepheid.com

SOURCE Cepheid