SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 03, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fluidigm Corporation (NASDAQ:FLDM) today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.  

Total revenue for the third quarter of 2016 was $22.2 million, a decrease of 23% from $28.6 million in the third quarter of 2015. GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $19.8 million, compared with a GAAP net loss of $9.3 million for the third quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $10.9 million, compared with a $4.4 million non-GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2015 (see accompanying table for reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures).

Total revenue for the first nine months of 2016 was $79.4 million, a decrease of 6% from $84.0 million in the first nine months of 2015. GAAP net loss for the first nine months of 2016 was $58.3 million, compared with a GAAP net loss of $40.4 million in the first nine months of 2015. Non-GAAP net loss for the first nine months of 2016 was $32.3 million, compared with a $17.5 million non-GAAP net loss for the first nine months of 2015 (see accompanying table for reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures).

“We are very disappointed with our performance in the third quarter. We had expected the decline in genomics instruments on a year-over-year basis to be offset by strong Helios™ sales. However, both Helios sales as well as genomics analytical consumables were lower than we expected,” said Chris Linthwaite, president and chief executive officer.   

“I joined Fluidigm because I believed that with a refined strategy and increased discipline, the pieces were in place to reignite growth. Despite our third quarter performance, I remain confident that we can re-establish growth, but it is clear we have real work ahead. Our immediate action plan includes a strategic redefinition of how to leverage Fluidigm’s strengths as well as a disciplined focus on taking cost out of the business. Entering this new chapter is humbling, but it is also an exciting opportunity to reimagine and recommit to how we will deliver on our promises to our customers, employees and stockholders,” continued Linthwaite, who was appointed as chief executive officer in October 2016, succeeding founder Gajus Worthington, who had served as chief executive officer since 1999. 

“On behalf of the board, management and everyone at Fluidigm, we thank Gajus for his 17 years of service. Under his leadership, Fluidigm became a market leader in single cell biology through strong customer engagement and new product innovation, particularly the Biomark™, C1™, and Helios franchises. We believe these platforms, supplemented by new product developments, will be the foundation for our return to growth,” added Linthwaite.

Financial Highlights
Total revenue of $22.2 million by category for Q3 2016:

• Instrument revenue decreased approximately 39% or $5.9 million year-over-year in the third quarter, due to softness in sales across most platforms, driven primarily by lower revenue from genomics instruments.
• Consumables revenue decreased approximately 12% or $1.2 million year-over-year in the third quarter, driven by lower revenue from genomics integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs).
  • IFC pull-through for the third quarter was moderately below its historical range of $25,000 – $35,000 per instrument/year for genomics analytical systems and substantially below its historical range of $15,000 – $25,000 per instrument/year for genomics preparatory systems. 
  • Consumables pull-through for proteomics analytical systems in the third quarter was slightly below its historical range of $50,000 – $70,000 per instrument/year.
• Service revenue increased approximately 19% or $0.7 million year-over-year in the third quarter.

Total product revenue of $18.0 million by customer for Q3 2016:

• Total product revenue from Research customers was $11.9 million, down approximately 23% or $3.6 million year-over-year, due to broad weakness in instrument sales, particularly C1 systems.
• Total product revenue from Applied customers was $6.1 million, down approximately 36% or $3.5 million year-over-year, driven primarily by lower sales of Helios and Biomark systems as well as lower sales of IFCs.

Total installed base of approximately 1,813 units at the end of Q3 2016:

• Approximately 930 units of the installed base were analytical systems, with the balance comprising preparatory systems.
• Total single-cell biology systems (includes C1, Polaris™, Helios, CyTOF^®, CyTOF 2, Callisto™, Biomark, and Biomark HD systems motivated by single-cell research) represented approximately 920 units. Approximately 40% of the Biomark HD system sales during the third quarter were motivated by single-cell biology research.
  • Approximately 20% of C1 system sales were combined with a Biomark HD system in the third quarter.

Total revenue of $22.2 million by geographic region for Q3 2016:

• Total revenue by geographic region was as follows: U.S. – $12.5 million; Europe – $5.2 million; APAC – $3.6 million; and Other – $0.9 million. 
• Geographic region as a percent of total revenue was as follows: U.S. – 56%; Europe – 24%; APAC – 16%; and Other – 4%.
• Total revenue year-over-year growth rates by region were as follows: U.S. – decreased by 8%; Europe – decreased by 48%; APAC – increased by 3%; and Other – decreased by 40%.

Product margin and cash, cash equivalents, and investments:

• GAAP product margin was 49.6% in the third quarter of 2016, versus 58.3% in the year ago period. Non-GAAP product margin was 70.2% in the third quarter of 2016, compared with 72.1% in the year ago period. Non-GAAP product margin excludes the effects of amortization of developed technology, depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation expense (see accompanying table for reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP product margins).
• As of September 30, 2016, Fluidigm had approximately $71.2 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments, compared with $86.4 million as of June 30, 2016.

Financial Outlook for Full Year 2016
Given the recent volatility in our business, we are not reinstating guidance pending completion of a business review and implementation of the associated action plan. 

Conference Call Information
Fluidigm will host a conference call today, November 3, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET). Individuals interested in listening to the conference call may do so by dialing (877) 556-5248 for domestic callers, or (720) 545-0029 for international callers. Please reference Conference ID 93535469. Interested parties may access the live teleconference in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at: http://investors.fluidigm.com/events.cfm. The link will not be active until 1:45 p.m. PT (4:45 p.m. ET) on November 3, 2016.  

A telephone replay of the teleconference will be available 90 minutes after the end of the call at (855) 859-2056 (domestic toll-free), or (404) 537-3406 (international toll), Conference ID 93535469. The conference call will also be archived on the Fluidigm investor’s page at: http://investors.fluidigm.com/.

Statement Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
Fluidigm has presented certain financial information in accordance with GAAP and also on a non-GAAP basis for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 and 2015. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures, taken in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, provide useful information for both management and investors by excluding certain non-cash and other expenses that are not indicative of the company’s core operating results. Management uses non-GAAP measures to compare the company’s performance relative to forecasts and strategic plans and to benchmark the company’s performance externally against competitors. Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used to supplement an understanding of the company’s operating results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Fluidigm encourages investors to carefully consider its results under GAAP, as well as its supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliation between these presentations, to more fully understand its business. Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP operating results are presented in the accompanying tables of this release.

Use of Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding Fluidigm’s ability to re-establish growth;  Fluidigm’s ability to reduce costs associated with its business and deliver on promises to customers, employees and stockholders; and Fluidigm’s ability to implement its action plan. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from currently anticipated results, including but not limited to, risks relating to the future financial performance of Fluidigm product lines; challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing, launching, marketing, and selling new products; potential product performance and quality issues; the possible loss of key employees, customers, or suppliers; intellectual property risks; competition; Fluidigm research and development, sales, marketing, and distribution plans and capabilities; reduction in research and development spending or changes in budget priorities by customers; interruptions or delays in the supply of components or materials for, or manufacturing of, its products; seasonal variations in customer operations; unanticipated increases in costs or expenses; and risks associated with international operations. Information on these and additional risks, uncertainties, and other information affecting Fluidigm business and operating results are contained in Fluidigm’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional information will also be set forth in Fluidigm’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Fluidigm disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

About Fluidigm
Fluidigm (NASDAQ:FLDM) develops, manufactures, and markets life science analytical and preparatory systems for growth markets such as single-cell biology and production genomics. We sell to leading academic institutions, clinical laboratories, and pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural biotechnology companies worldwide. Our systems are based on proprietary microfluidics and multiparameter mass cytometry technology and are designed to significantly simplify experimental workflow, increase throughput, and reduce costs while providing excellent data quality. Fluidigm products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

We use our website (www.fluidigm.com), corporate Twitter account (@fluidigm), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Fluidigm), and LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fluidigm-corporation) as channels of distribution of information about our products, our planned financial and other announcements, our attendance at upcoming investor and industry conferences, and other matters. Such information may be deemed material information, and we may use these channels to comply with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Therefore, investors should monitor our website and our social media accounts in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, and webcasts.

Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, Biomark, C1, Callisto, CyTOF, Helios, and Polaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation.