Danaher Corporation commented today on the performance outlook for the company for the balance of 2005 and 2006. President and Chief Executive Officer H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. stated, "We are raising the lower end of our earnings per share guidance for 2005 from the previous range of $2.74 to $2.79 per share to a new range of $2.76 to $2.79 per share. We are again pleased to be delivering another year of record earnings and cash flows." Mr. Culp also updated attendees that the Company has repurchased approximately 3.1 million shares of Danaher common stock in the fourth quarter under the Company's stock repurchase program at an average price of $51.23 per share.

Mr. Culp concluded, "For 2006, we anticipate earnings per share to be in the range of $3.13 to $3.23 before the impact of expensing stock options (which is expected to result in a charge of $0.11 per share for 2006). First quarter earnings per share is expected to be in the range of $0.61 to $0.66 before the impact of expensing stock options (which is expected to result in a charge of $0.02 per share for the first quarter of 2006). Given a stable economic outlook and the strength of Danaher's business portfolio supported by the Danaher Business System, we are confident in our ability to deliver a solid organic revenue growth performance in 2006. We also remain committed to deploying our strong cash flows towards new opportunities complementing our existing portfolio of companies."

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

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical, including statements regarding events or developments that we believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, 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, cost reductions, sales growth and earnings, 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, regulatory approvals and the Company's ability to consummate announced acquisitions, 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 Third Quarter 2005 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

SOURCE: Danaher Corporation