DHR Reports First Quarter 2009 Results

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We continue to experience significant headwinds across our businesses and end markets as a result of a weak global economy. Few of our businesses have been immune to this unprecedented downturn and as a result we continue to deploy cost reduction actions across the company. Core revenues declined 10% in the quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2008. Our operating cash flow performance, despite softer revenues was over $310 million, declining only 5% as compared to the same period last year. While we expect economic conditions in 2009 to remain difficult, we believe our solid portfolio of businesses, our strong balance sheet and robust operating model rooted in the Danaher Business System will provide us 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 global 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, the growth rates and cyclicality of markets we serve, our ability to expand our business in new markets, our ability to successfully identify, consummate and integrate appropriate acquisitions, the impact of our debt obligations on our operations, 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, risks relating to potential impairment of long-lived assets, currency exchange rates, pension plan costs, commodity costs and surcharges, labor matters, our relationships with and the performance of our channel partners, our ability to achieve projected efficiencies, cost reductions, sales growth and earnings, and international economic, political, legal and business factors. 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 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.