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Danaher Announces Record Third Quarter Results
PRNewswire-FirstCall
WASHINGTON

Danaher Corporation announced today that net earnings from continuing operations for the quarter ended September 26, 2008 were $372 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, an 11% increase as compared to the Company's 2007 third quarter net earnings from continuing operations of $335 million, or $1.03 per diluted share. Included in the 2008 third quarter earnings results were certain non-cash charges related to the acquisition of Tektronix for fair value adjustments to recorded inventory and deferred revenue which reduced net earnings by approximately $10 million or $0.03 per diluted share in the period. Included in the third quarter 2007 net earnings per share is approximately $0.02 per share related to discrete tax items and other tax-related benefits. Absent the Tektronix related charges and the discrete tax benefits in the prior year period, adjusted net earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2008 were $382 million or $1.14 per diluted share, a 16.5% increase over last year's third quarter adjusted net earnings from continuing operations of $328 million, or $1.01 per diluted share. The Company's effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2008 was 24.5% as compared to 23.6% in the same prior year period.

Sales from continuing operations for the 2008 third quarter were $3.21 billion, 17.5% higher than the $2.73 billion reported for the 2007 third quarter.

Net earnings from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2008 were $1.01 billion, or $3.03 per diluted share, compared with net earnings from continuing operations of $894 million, or $2.75 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2007.

Sales from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2008 were $9.51 billion compared to $7.88 billion for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of 20.5%.

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We delivered a strong performance in the third quarter including 4% revenue growth from existing businesses, $400 million of free cash flow and 13% adjusted EPS growth despite the negative impact of a strengthening US dollar and, hopefully, a high water mark for commodity prices. Clearly, the events of the last several weeks have created a level of uncertainty with respect to the global economy. However, our portfolio of high quality businesses, our talented organization and our Danaher Business System give us confidence that we can outperform during these challenging times."

Danaher will discuss its results during its investor conference call today starting at 8:00 a.m. EST. The call and an accompanying slide presentation will be webcast on the "Investors" section of Danaher's website at http://www.danaher.com/. A replay of the webcast can be accessed on the "Investors" section of Danaher's website (under the subheading "Web Events") shortly after the conclusion of the presentation, and the webcast will remain available until the next quarterly earnings call. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 877-723-9511 or 719-325-4843 a few minutes before the 8:00 a.m. EDT start and telling the operator that you are dialing in for Danaher's investor conference call, access code 2942717. A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call until October 22, 2008 and you can access the replay by dialing 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820, access code 2942719. In addition, related presentation materials have been posted to the "Investors" section of Danaher's website under the subheading "Earnings."

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

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical, including the statements regarding expectations for the balance of 2008 and any other 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, competition, our ability to develop and successfully market new products and technologies, our ability to expand our business in new markets, our ability to identify, consummate and integrate appropriate acquisitions, litigation and other contingent liabilities including intellectual property and environmental matters, our compliance with applicable laws and regulations and changes in applicable laws and regulations, tax audits and changes in our tax rate, currency exchange rates, commodity costs and surcharges, our relationships with and the performance of our channel partners, our ability to achieve projected efficiencies, cost reductions, sales growth and earnings, economic and other conditions in the end-markets we sell into, and general domestic and international 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 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2008. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statement.

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

                           DANAHER CORPORATION
              CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
          ($ and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
                               (unaudited)

                          Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                     September 26, September 28, September 26, September 28,
                            2008         2007         2008         2007

  Sales                 $3,208,181   $2,731,151   $9,520,950   $7,884,740

  Operating costs and
   expenses:
    Cost of sales        1,697,611    1,481,940    5,032,365    4,294,375
    Selling, general
     and
     administrative
     expenses              806,424      655,116    2,484,783    1,943,919
    Research and
     development
     expenses              182,006      131,161      557,976      384,842
    Other (income)
     expense                    --           --           --      (14,335)
      Total operating
       expenses          2,686,041    2,268,217    8,075,124    6,608,801

  Operating profit         522,140      462,934    1,445,826    1,275,939
    Interest expense       (30,218)     (25,670)    (104,741)     (76,909)
    Interest income          1,070          817        6,004        3,357

  Earnings from
   continuing operations
   before income taxes     492,992      438,081    1,347,089    1,202,387

  Income taxes            (121,000)    (103,580)    (335,144)    (308,614)

  Earnings from
   continuing
   operations              371,992      334,501    1,011,945      893,773

  Earnings from
   discontinued
   operations, net of
   income taxes                 --      149,220           --      155,906

  Net earnings            $371,992     $483,721   $1,011,945   $1,049,679

  Earnings per share
   from continuing
   operations:
    Basic                    $1.16        $1.08        $3.17        $2.88
    Diluted                  $1.11        $1.03        $3.03        $2.75

  Earnings per share
   from discontinued
   operations:
    Basic                       --        $0.48           --        $0.50
    Diluted                     --        $0.45           --        $0.47

  Net earnings per share:
    Basic                    $1.16        $1.56        $3.17        $3.38
    Diluted                  $1.11        $1.48        $3.03        $3.22

  Average common stock
   and common equivalent
   shares outstanding:
    Basic                  319,887      310,324      319,307      309,821
    Diluted                337,334      328,136      336,619      327,941


See the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

A complete copy of Danaher's Form 10-Q financial statements is available on

             the company's website (http://www.danaher.com/).



  Danaher Corporation

  Supplemental Reconciliation of Net Earnings from Continuing Operations and
  Diluted Net Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations (GAAP) to
  Adjusted Net Earnings from Continuing Operations and Adjusted Diluted Net
  Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations (Non-GAAP)
  Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 26, 2008 and September 28,
  2007
  ($ in 000's except per share data)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                   September 26, September 28,
                                          2008         2007    % Change

  Net Earnings from Continuing
   Operations per GAAP                 $371,992     $334,501     11.2%

    After-tax charges for fair
     value adjustments to recorded
     inventory and deferred revenue
     balances related to the
     acquisition of Tektronix
     ($13.0 million & $52.7 million
     pre-tax for the three and
     nine months ended September 26,
     2008, respectively)                  9,727           -
    Gains from net reduction in
     income tax reserves and
     discrete tax benefits                 (149)      (6,413)
    After-tax gain on indemnity
     proceeds related to litigation
     matter ($12.5 million pre-tax)          -            -

  Adjusted Net Earnings from
   Continuing Operations (Non-GAAP)    $381,570     $328,088     16.3%


  Diluted Net Earnings Per Share
   from Continuing Operations
   per GAAP                               $1.11        $1.03      7.8%

    After-tax charges for fair value
     adjustments to recorded inventory
     and deferred revenue balances
     related to the acquisition of
     Tektronix ($13.0 million &
     $52.7 million pre-tax for the
     three and nine months ended
     September 26, 2008, respectively)     0.03           -
    Gains from net reduction in
     income tax reserves and
     discrete tax benefits                   -         (0.02)
    After-tax gain on indemnity
     proceeds related to litigation
     matter ($12.5 million pre-tax)          -
  Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per
   Share from Continuing Operations
   (Non-GAAP)                             $1.14        $1.01     12.9%


                                               Nine Months Ended
                                   September 26, September 28,
                                         2008          2007    % Change

  Net Earnings from Continuing
   Operations per GAAP               $1,011,945     $893,773     13.2%

    After-tax charges for fair
     value adjustments to recorded
     inventory and deferred
     revenue balances related to
     the acquisition of Tektronix
     ($13.0 million & $52.7 million
     pre-tax for the three and nine
     months ended September 26,
     2008, respectively)
                                         39,315           -
    Gains from net reduction in
     income tax reserves and
     discrete tax benefits               (8,364)      (6,413)
    After-tax gain on indemnity
     proceeds related to litigation
     matter ($12.5 million pre-tax)          -        (8,110)

  Adjusted Net Earnings from
   Continuing Operations
   (Non-GAAP)                        $1,042,896     $879,250     18.6%


  Diluted Net Earnings Per Share
   from Continuing Operations
   per GAAP                               $3.03        $2.75     10.2%

    After-tax charges for fair
     value adjustments to recorded
     inventory and deferred revenue
     balances related to the
     acquisition of Tektronix
     ($13.0 million & $52.7 million
     pre-tax for the three and nine
     months ended September 26,
     2008, respectively)                   0.12           -
    Gains from net reduction in
     income tax reserves and
     discrete tax benefits                (0.03)       (0.02)
    After-tax gain on indemnity
     proceeds related to litigation
     matter ($12.5 million pre-tax)          -         (0.02)
  Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per
   Share from Continuing Operations
   (Non-GAAP)                             $3.12        $2.71     15.1%



  Danaher Corporation
  Supplemental Reconciliation of Revenue Growth (GAAP) to Revenue Growth
  from Existing Businesses (Non-GAAP)
  Three Months Ended September 26, 2008

                                     Three Months
                                   Ended September
                                     26, 2008 vs.
                                    Comparable 2007
  Components of Sales Growth           Period

  Existing Businesses                   4.0%
  Acquisitions                         11.0%
  Impact of currency translation        2.5%
  Total                                17.5%



  Danaher Corporation
  Supplemental Reconciliation of Operating Cash Flows from Continuing
  Operations (GAAP) to Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP)
  Three Months Ended September 26, 2008

  Free Cash Flows ($ in 000's):                    Three Months
                                                 Ended September
                                                     26, 2008

  Operating Cash Flows from Continuing Operations    $434,743
  Payments for Property, Plant & Equipment
   (Capital Expenditures)                            $(34,313)
  Free Cash Flow                                     $400,430



  Notes to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule

  General

In addition to the results provided in this release in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company has provided the following non-GAAP measures:

  (1) Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations for the three months
      and nine months ended September 26, 2008 and September 28, 2007 and
      adjusted net earnings from continuing operations per diluted share for
      the three months and nine months ended September 26, 2008 and
      September 28, 2007.  These measures are calculated on a basis which:
      -- in the 2008 period, exclude (a) certain non-cash charges related to
         the acquisition of Tektronix, Inc. for fair value adjustments to
         recorded inventory and deferred revenue balances, and (b) gains
         related to a reduction of income tax reserves and discrete tax
         benefits; and
      -- in the 2007 period, exclude (a) gains related to a reduction of
         income tax reserves and discrete tax benefits, and (b) the gain on
         indemnity proceeds received in connection with a litigation matter.

  The Company also discloses the year-over-year percentage change in these
  non-GAAP measures.  Collectively, these non-GAAP measures are referred to
  as the "non-GAAP earnings measures".

  (2) Revenue growth from existing businesses (presented on a stand-alone
      basis), which is defined as revenue growth from businesses that have
      been owned for one year or more, excluding the effects of foreign
      currency fluctuations.

  (3) Free cash flow, which is defined as operating cash flow from
      continuing operations less purchases of property, plant and equipment
      related to continuing operations.

  The non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a
  replacement for or superior to, the comparable GAAP measures.  Danaher's
  non-GAAP measures may be defined differently than similar non-GAAP
  measures that are used by other companies.

  Non-GAAP earnings measures and revenue growth from existing businesses

Danaher's management believes that the non-GAAP earnings measures and revenue growth from existing businesses reflect additional ways of viewing aspects of Danaher's operations that, when viewed with and reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measures, provide a more complete understanding of Danaher's results of operations and help identify underlying trends in Danaher's business. The items that have been excluded from the non-GAAP earnings measures have been excluded because items of this nature and size occur with inconsistent frequency and for reasons that may be unrelated to Danaher's commercial performance during the period, and we believe are not indicative of Danaher's ongoing operating costs or gains in a given period. Similarly, revenue growth from existing businesses excludes items that are not completely under management's control, such as the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and items that do not reflect the underlying growth of the company, such as acquisition and divestiture activity.

Danaher's management uses these non-GAAP measures in assessing current performance against prior period performance and against forecasted performance, in forecasting financial results for future periods, and in making decisions about internal budgets, resource allocation and financial goals for its business units. Danaher's management believes that these non- GAAP measures help investors and others, if they so choose, in understanding and evaluating Danaher's current operating performance and future prospects in the same manner as management does. In addition, Danaher believes that analysts and others in the investment community use these non-GAAP measures to assess Danaher's performance against prior period performance and against forecasted performance, compare Danaher's performance to the performance of our peer companies, identify trends in Danaher's performance and provide estimates of future performance.

A general limitation of these non-GAAP measures is that use of these measures (as compared to the related GAAP measures of net earnings from continuing operations, revenue and revenue growth) may reduce comparability with other companies who may calculate similar non-GAAP measures differently. A particular limitation of the non-GAAP earnings measures is that they exclude charges that can significantly affect Danaher's results of operations and that may recur in the course of Danaher's business (though at times and in amounts that may be difficult to predict). Similarly, a particular limitation of revenue growth from existing businesses is that it excludes items that can significantly impact our revenues. Danaher management compensates, and believes that investors should compensate, for these and other limitations of these non-GAAP measures by also considering Danaher's financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP, including the GAAP measures described above in this paragraph.

Free Cash Flow

Danaher's management believes that free cash flow reflects an additional way of viewing aspects of Danaher's operations that, when viewed with and reconciled to operating cash flow from continuing operations, provides useful information to investors regarding Danaher's ability to generate cash without external financings. Danaher's management uses free cash flow to help gauge the resources available for strategic opportunities such as making acquisitions, investing in the business and strengthening the balance sheet, and uses this measure in making operating decisions, allocating financial resources and for budget planning purposes. Danaher's management believes that the free cash flow measure helps investors and others, if they so choose, in understanding and evaluating Danaher's ability to generate cash without external financings in the same manner as management does. In addition, Danaher believes that analysts and others in the investment community use free cash flow to assess the strength of Danaher's earnings performance and gauge Danaher's ability to strengthen its balance sheet, invest in the business and grow the business through acquisitions and other strategic opportunities.

A general limitation of Danaher's free cash flow measure is that use of this measure (as compared to operating cash flow from continuing operations) may reduce comparability with others companies who may calculate free cash flow differently. Another limitation of Danaher's free cash flow measure is that it does not take into account the Company's debt service requirements and other non-discretionary expenditures and therefore is not necessarily indicative of amounts of cash that may be available for discretionary uses. Danaher's management compensates, and believes that investors should compensate, for these and other limitations of Danaher's free cash flow measure by also considering Danaher's operating cash flow from continuing operations.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: Danaher Corporation

CONTACT: Andy Wilson, Vice President, Investor Relations of Danaher
Corporation, +1-202-828-0850, Fax, +1-202-828-0860