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NYSEDHR
Danaher Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Results
PRNewswire-FirstCall
WASHINGTON

Danaher Corporation announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. Net earnings for the fourth quarter were $305.7 million, or $0.92 per diluted share. Included in the fourth quarter results are 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 $5 million or $0.01 per diluted share, as well as after-tax charges of approximately $62 million or $0.18 per diluted share related to previously announced restructuring activities. Absent these two items, adjusted earnings per diluted share was $1.11, essentially flat versus last year's adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $1.12.

Sales from continuing operations for the 2008 fourth quarter were $3.18 billion, 1% higher than the $3.14 billion reported for the 2007 fourth quarter.

Net earnings for the full year 2008 were $1.3 billion, or $3.95 per diluted share. Included in the full year 2008 earnings per diluted share are the fourth quarter 2008 items noted above, as well as the non-cash charges recorded in the first three quarters of 2008 related to the acquisition of Tektronix for fair value adjustments to recorded inventory and deferred revenue which reduced net earnings by approximately $0.12 per diluted share and gains from the net reduction in income tax reserves and discrete tax benefits of approximately $0.03 per diluted share. Absent these items, adjusted earnings per diluted share were $4.23, an increase of 10.5% compared to the 2007 full year adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $3.83.

Sales from continuing operations for 2008 were $12.7 billion compared to $11 billion for 2007, an increase of 15%.

Attached is a reconciliation of adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations to diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations calculated according to GAAP, for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2008 and the comparable prior year periods.

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The dramatic downturn in the global economy in the latter part of 2008 negatively impacted a number of our businesses, our end markets and our customers. In spite of these unprecedented headwinds we were able to deliver a solid 2008 performance. Core revenues decreased 1% in the quarter and increased 2.5% for the full year. Operating cash flow from continuing operations in 2008 was a record $1.9 billion, representing a 9.5% increase over our record 2007 performance. While we expect 2009 to be a difficult year, we believe our solid portfolio of businesses, our strong balance sheet and the Danaher Business System will provide our experienced team the opportunity to outperform."

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

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical, including the statements regarding expectations for 2009 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, the current economic recession and the upheaval in the credit markets and financial services industry, 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 Third Quarter 2008 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not assume any obligation or intend to update any forward-looking statement.

                     DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

  ($ in thousands, except per share amounts)

                            Three Months Ended           Year Ended
                            12/31/08   12/31/07     12/31/08    12/31/07

  Sales                   $3,176,506 $3,141,177  $12,697,456 $11,025,917

  Operating costs and
   expenses:
      Cost of sales        1,724,897  1,690,647    6,757,262   5,985,022
      Selling, general
       and administrative
       expenses              860,491    769,178    3,345,274   2,713,097
      Research and
       development expenses  167,467    216,582      725,443     601,424
      Other (income) expense       -          -            -     (14,335)
          Total operating
           expenses        2,752,855  2,676,407   10,827,979   9,285,208

  Operating profit           423,651    464,770    1,869,477   1,740,709
       Interest expense      (25,433)   (32,793)    (130,174)   (109,702)
       Interest income         4,000      2,735       10,004       6,092

  Earnings from
   continuing
   operations before
   income taxes              402,218    434,712    1,749,307   1,637,099

  Income taxes               (96,532)  (114,487)    (431,676)   (423,101)

  Earnings from
   continuing operations     305,686    320,225    1,317,631   1,213,998

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

  Net earnings              $305,686   $320,225   $1,317,631  $1,369,904

  Earnings per share from
   continuing operations:
        Basic                  $0.96      $1.02        $4.13       $3.90
        Diluted                $0.92      $0.97        $3.95       $3.72

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

  Net earnings per share:
        Basic                  $0.96      $1.02        $4.13       $4.40
        Diluted                $0.92      $0.97        $3.95       $4.19

  Average common stock and
   common equivalent
   shares outstanding:
        Basic                319,523    315,437      319,361     311,225
        Diluted              333,593    334,013      335,863     329,459


  This information is presented for reference only.  Final audited financial
  statements will include footnotes, which should be referenced when
  available, to more fully understand the contents of this information.



                       DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

  As of December 31 ($and shares in thousands)

  ASSETS                                              2008         2007

  Current Assets:
       Cash and equivalents                         $392,854     $239,108
       Trade accounts receivable, less allowance
        for doubtful accounts of $120,730 and
        $108,781, respectively
                                                   1,894,585    1,984,384
       Inventories                                 1,142,309    1,193,615
       Prepaid expenses and other current assets     757,371      632,660
           Total current assets                    4,187,119    4,049,767

      Property, plant and equipment, net           1,108,653    1,108,634
  Other assets                                       432,257      507,550
  Goodwill                                         9,210,581    9,241,011
  Other intangible assets, net                     2,519,422    2,564,973

       Total assets                              $17,458,032  $17,471,935

  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Current Liabilities:
         Notes payable and current portion of
          long-term debt                             $66,159     $330,480
      Trade accounts payable                       1,108,961    1,125,600
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities       1,534,575    1,443,773
         Total current liabilities                 2,709,695    2,899,853

  Other long-term liabilities                      2,386,605    2,090,630
  Long-term debt                                   2,553,170    3,395,764
  Stockholders' equity:
      Common stock - $0.01 par value, 1 billion
       shares authorized; 354,487 and 352,608
       issued; 318,380 and 317,984 outstanding,
       respectively                                    3,544        3,526
      Additional paid-in capital                   1,812,963    1,718,716
      Retained earnings                            8,095,155    6,820,756
      Accumulated other comprehensive income        (103,100)     542,690
         Total stockholders' equity                9,808,562    9,085,688

      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $17,458,032  $17,471,935


  This information is presented for reference only.  Final audited financial
  statements will include footnotes, which should be referenced when
  available, to more fully understand the contents of this information.



                     DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

  Year Ended December 31 ($ in thousands)

                                                       2008        2007
   Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net earnings                                 $1,317,631  $1,369,904
      Less: earnings from discontinued
       operations, net of tax                               -     155,906
      Net earnings from continuing operations       1,317,631   1,213,998
      Non-cash items, net of the effect of
       discontinued operations:
      Depreciation                                    193,997     173,942
      Amortization                                    145,290      94,550
      Stock compensation expense                       86,000      73,347
      Change in deferred income taxes                  27,691      29,870
      Change in trade accounts receivable, net         71,403     (72,555)
      Change in inventories                            33,119      38,094
      Change in accounts payable                        3,713     103,800
      Change in prepaid expenses and other
       assets                                          (4,773)     38,601
      Change in accrued expenses and other
       liabilities                                    (15,042)      5,661
       Total operating cash flows from continuing
        operations                                  1,859,029   1,699,308
       Total operating cash flows from
        discontinued operations                             -     (53,533)
     Net cash flows from operating activities       1,859,029   1,645,775

   Cash flows from investing activities:
     Payments for additions to property, plant
      and equipment                                  (193,783)   (162,071)
     Proceeds from disposals of property, plant
      and equipment                                     1,088      15,537
     Cash paid for acquisitions                      (423,208) (3,576,562)
     Cash paid for investment in acquisition
      target and other marketable securities                -     (23,219)
     Proceeds from sale of investment and
      divestitures                                          -     301,278
     Proceeds from refundable escrowed purchase
      price                                            48,504           -
       Total investing cash flows from continuing
        operations                                   (567,399) (3,445,037)
       Total investing cash flows from
        discontinued operations                             -        (722)
         Net cash used in investing activities       (567,399) (3,445,759)

   Cash flows from financing activities:
      Proceeds from issuance of common stock           82,430     733,028
      Payment of dividends                            (38,259)    (34,275)
      Purchase of treasury stock                      (74,165)   (117,486)
      Net (repayments) proceeds of borrowings
       (maturities of 90 days or less)               (905,567)    647,761
      Proceeds of borrowings (maturities longer
       than 90 days)                                   72,652     493,705
      Repayments of borrowings (maturities
       longer than 90 days)                          (259,344)    (10,563)
         Net cash (used in) generated by financing
          activities                               (1,122,253)  1,712,170

   Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    and equivalents                                   (15,631)      9,112
            Net change in cash and equivalents        153,746     (78,702)

   Beginning balance of cash and equivalents          239,108     317,810
   Ending balance of cash and equivalents            $392,854    $239,108



  This information is presented for reference only.  Final audited financial
  statements will include footnotes, which should be referenced when
  available, to more fully understand the contents of this information.



                      DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                             SEGMENT INFORMATION

  ($ in thousands, unaudited)

  Sales                   Three Months Ended             Year Ended
                         12/31/08     12/31/07      12/31/08    12/31/07
  Professional
   Instrumentation     $1,243,949   $1,097,511    $4,860,764  $3,537,912
  Medical
   Technologies           843,820      866,311     3,277,026   2,997,986
  Industrial
   Technologies           777,932      812,435     3,265,451   3,153,377
  Tools & Components      310,805      364,920     1,294,215   1,336,642

                       $3,176,506   $3,141,177   $12,697,456 $11,025,917

  Operating Profit

  Professional
   Instrumentation       $221,960     $175,227      $907,254    $709,502
  Medical
   Technologies            90,134      132,863       370,473     393,230
  Industrial
   Technologies           106,569      132,046       522,112     532,477
  Tools & Components       30,343       43,211       157,673     175,634
  Other                   (25,355)     (18,577)      (88,035)    (70,134)

                         $423,651     $464,770    $1,869,477  $1,740,709

  Operating Margins

  Professional
   Instrumentation          17.8%        16.0%         18.7%       20.1%
  Medical
   Technologies             10.7%        15.3%         11.3%       13.1%
  Industrial
   Technologies             13.7%        16.3%         16.0%       16.9%
  Tools & Components         9.8%        11.8%         12.2%       13.1%

  Total                     13.3%        14.8%         14.7%       15.8%



  Restructuring & Other
   Related Charges

  Professional
   Instrumentation        $28,813            -       $28,813           -
  Medical
   Technologies            26,081            -        26,081           -
  Industrial
   Technologies            23,093            -        23,093           -
  Tools & Components        3,978            -         3,978           -

  Total                   $81,965            -       $81,965           -


  Restructuring Cost
   Classification
  Cost of sales           $33,130            -       $33,130           -
  Selling, general and
   administrative expenses 48,835            -        48,835           -

                          $81,965            -       $81,965           -


  This information is presented for reference only.  Final audited financial
  statements will include footnotes, which should be referenced when
  available, to more fully understand the contents of this information



  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 Years Ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
  ($in 000's except per share data)

                Three Months Ended               Years Ended
                December  December       %    December  December       %
                31, 2008  31, 2007    Change  31, 2008  31, 2007    Change

  Net Earnings
   from
   Continuing
   Operations
   per GAAP     $305,686  $320,225    -4.5% $1,317,631 $1,213,998     8.5%

  After-tax
   charges for
   purchased
   in-process
   research and
   development
   and fair value
   adjustments
   to recorded
   inventory
   and deferred
   revenue
   balances
   related to the
   acquisition
   of Tektronix
   ($6.9 million
   & $59.5 million
   pre-tax for
   the three months
   and year ended
   December 31,
   2007)           5,150    66,000              44,465     66,000

  After-tax
   charge
   related to
   fourth
   quarter 2008
   restructuring
   actions and
   related charges
   ($82.0 million
   pre-tax).      61,500         -              61,500          -

  Gains from net
   reduction in
   income tax
   reserves and
   discrete tax
   benefits       (1,160)  (14,562)             (9,524)   (21,084)

  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)   $371,176  $371,663    -0.1% $1,414,072 $1,250,804    13.1%


  Diluted Net
   Earnings
   Per Share
   from
   Continuing
   Operations
   per GAAP        $0.92     $0.97    -5.2%      $3.95      $3.72     6.2%

  After-tax
   charges for
   purchased
   in-process
   research and
   development
   and fair
   value
   adjustments
   to recorded
   inventory
   and deferred
   revenue
   balances
   related to the
   acquisition
   of Tektronix
   ($6.9 million
   & $59.5 million
   pre-tax for the
   three months
   and year ended
   December 31,
   2007)            0.01      0.20                0.13       0.20

  After-tax
   charge
   related to
   fourth
   quarter 2008
   restructuring
   actions and
   related
   charges
   ($82.0 million
   pre-tax).        0.18         -                0.18          -

  Gains from
   net reduction
   in income tax
   reserves and
   discrete
   tax benefits        -     (0.05)              (0.03)     (0.07)

  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)      $1.11     $1.12    -0.9%     $ 4.23      $3.83    10.4%



  Danaher Corporation
  Supplemental Reconciliation of Revenue Growth (GAAP) to Revenue Growth
  from Existing Businesses (Non-GAAP)
  Three Months Ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007

                                Three Months Ended         Year Ended
                               December 31, 2008 vs.   December 31, 2008 vs.
                                  Comparable 2007        Comparable 2007
                                      Period                 Period
  Components of Sales Growth

  Existing Businesses                  -1.0%                    2.5%
  Acquisitions                          6.0%                   10.5%
  Impact of currency translation       -4.0%                    2.0%
  Total                                 1.0%                   15.0%










  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 year ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 and adjusted net earnings from continuing operations per diluted share for the three months and year ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 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, (b) gains related to
      a reduction of income tax reserves and discrete tax benefits and (c)
      charges related to fourth quarter 2008 restructuring actions and
      related charges; 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 and (c)
      certain non-cash charges for purchased in-process research and
      development and fair value adjustments to recorded inventory and
      deferred revenue balances related to the acquisition of Tektronix.

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) Core 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.

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.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: Danaher Corporation

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