Danaher Corporation announced today that net earnings for its second quarter ended July 1, 2005 including the effect of certain gains of $0.03 per share were $229 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, 25.5% higher than its 2004 second quarter net earnings of $182 million, or $0.56 per diluted share. Excluding the effect of these gains, net earnings per diluted share would have been $0.67, a 19.5% increase over the comparable earnings per share for 2004. Sales for the 2005 second quarter were $1,929 million, 19% higher than the $1,621 million reported for the 2004 second quarter. The $0.03 per share gains referred to above relate to the sale of a business and a minority interest.

Net earnings for the first six months of 2005 including the effect of the gains were $417 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, compared with $327 million, or $1.01 per diluted share for 2004, an increase of 27.5%. Excluding the effect of the above described gains, net earnings per diluted share for the first six months of 2005 would have been $1.24, a 23% increase over the comparable earnings per share for 2004. Sales for the first six months of 2005 were $3,755 million compared to $3,164 million for the first six months of 2004, an increase of 19%.

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased to again report record quarterly earnings. We are particularly pleased to report that growth from existing businesses, also known as core revenues, accounted for 5.5% growth, with all three of our reporting segments delivering higher core revenue growth as compared to the first quarter. Total sales growth for the quarter also includes acquisition growth of 12% and currency gains of 1.5%. Our operating cash flow for the first half of 2005 of $595 million was another record and a 19% increase over the first half of 2004. The broad-based strength we continue to see across our businesses reinforces our confidence in our ability to deliver positive results for the second half of 2005."

Danaher Corporation is a leading manufacturer of Professional Instrumentation, Industrial Technologies, and Tools and Components. (http://www.danaher.com/)

Statements in this release and the attachments to this release that are not strictly historical may be "forward-looking" statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things, litigation and other contingent liabilities, the Company's ability to achieve projected efficiencies and cost reductions, economic conditions in the end-markets the Company sells into, the Company's ability to expand its business in new geographic markets, commodity costs and surcharges, competition, market demand for new products, currency exchange rates, the integration of acquired businesses, changes in the market for acquisitions and divestitures and general economic conditions. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in our SEC filings, including our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Second Quarter 2005 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

To download a copy of the full earnings report, please go to http://www.danaher.com/.

                           DANAHER CORPORATION
              CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                (000's omitted, except per share amounts)
                               (unaudited)


                              Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended
                              July 1,      July 2,    July 1,     July 2,
                               2005         2004       2005        2004

  Sales                      $1,928,627  $1,621,245  $3,754,575  $3,164,436
  Operating costs and
   expenses:
     Cost of sales            1,079,024     935,536   2,129,788   1,847,466
     Selling, general and
      administrative
      expenses                  537,158     414,827   1,045,840     821,808
     Gain on sales of
      real estate and other
      assets                    (8,576)     (1,360)    (13,911)     (2,046)

  Total operating expenses    1,607,606   1,349,003   3,161,717   2,667,228

  Operating profit              321,021     272,242     592,858     497,208
     Interest expense          (12,815)    (12,716)    (26,303)    (27,166)
     Interest income              7,684         808       8,999       2,327
  Earnings before income
   taxes                        315,890     260,334     575,554     472,369
    Income taxes                 86,870      78,101     158,278     144,892
  Net earnings                 $229,020    $182,233    $417,276    $327,477

  Basic earnings per share        $0.74       $0.59       $1.35       $1.06

  Diluted earnings per
   share                          $0.70       $0.56       $1.28       $1.01

  Average common stock
   and common equivalent
   shares outstanding

            Basic               309,639     308,832     309,759     308,618
            Diluted             328,724     327,272     329,057     326,878

  See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

A complete copy of Danaher's Form 10-Q financial statements is available on the Company's web site (http://www.danaher.com/).

                           DANAHER CORPORATION
                    SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION


                            Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                         July 1,   July 2,   %      July 1,   July 2,   %
                          2005      2004   Change    2005      2004   Change

  Net earnings before
   unusual items        $219,468  $181,281  21.0%  $403,856  $326,059  24.0%

    After-tax gain on
     retained debt and
     equity interest on
     previously sold
     business ($5.3
     million pre-tax)      3,821         -            3,821         -

    After-tax interest
     benefit on
     interest collected
     related to
     retained debt
     interest ($4.6
     million pre-tax)      3,334         -            3,334         -

    After-tax gain on
     sale of business
     ($4.6 million pre-
     tax)                  3,314         -            3,314         -

   Other after-tax
    gains (loss) on
    sale of real
    estate & other
    non-operational
    assets                 (917)       952            2,951     1,418

  Net earnings per
   GAAP                 $229,020  $182,233  25.5%  $417,276  $327,477  27.5%


  Diluted net earnings
   per share before
   unusual items           $0.67     $0.56  19.5%     $1.24     $1.01  23.0%

    After-tax gain on
     retained debt and
     equity interest on
     previously sold
     business ($5.3
     million pre-tax)       0.01         -             0.01         -

    After-tax interest
     benefit on
     interest collected
     related to
     retained debt
     interest ($4.6
     million pre-tax)       0.01         -             0.01         -

    After-tax gain on
     sale of business
     ($4.6 million pre-
     tax)                   0.01         -             0.01         -

    Other after-tax
     gains (loss) on
     sale of real
     estate & other
     non-operational
     assets                    -         -             0.01         -

  Diluted net earnings
   per share per GAAP      $0.70     $0.56    25.0%   $1.28     $1.01  27.0%

NOTE: The Company recorded gains and losses on unusual matters and real estate sales in the first two quarters of 2005 and 2004. The Company has presented its earnings per share growth excluding the unusual matters and real estate sale gains (losses). Management believes that presenting certain financial information without these unique items is more representative of the Company's operational performance and provides additional insight into, and clarifies the basis for, historical and/or future performance, which may be more useful for investors. This information should not be used as a substitute for net earnings or earnings per share in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

SOURCE: Danaher Corporation