<PAGE>
PURSUANT TO RULE NO. 424(b)(4)
REGISTRATION NO. 333-63591
PROSPECTUS
$250,000,000
DANAHER CORPORATION
6% NOTES DUE 2008
-----------
The 6% Notes due 2008 (the "Offered Securities") will mature on October 15,
2008. Interest on the Offered Securities will be payable semi-annually in
arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing April 15, 1999.
See "Description of the Offered Securities." The Offered Securities are being
offered by Danaher Corporation (the "Company").
The Offered Securities will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company
and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all other senior unsecured
obligations of the Company and will be senior in right of payment to all
existing and future subordinated indebtedness of the Company.
The Offered Securities will be redeemable prior to maturity, as a whole or
in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal
to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed and (b) the
sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as hereinafter
defined) thereon discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at
the Treasury Rate (as hereinafter defined) plus 20 basis points, together with
accrued interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the redemption
date.
The Offered Securities will be represented by one or more global securities
("Global Securities") registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC"). Beneficial interests in such certificates will be shown
on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by
DTC and its participants. Owners of beneficial interests in the certificates
representing the Offered Securities will be entitled to physical delivery of
Offered Securities in certificated form in the amount of their respective
beneficial interests only under the limited circumstances described herein.
See "Description of the Offered Securities."
-----------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
-----------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
PUBLIC(1) DISCOUNT(2) COMPANY(1)(3)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Offered Security 99.463% 0.650% 98.813%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Total(3) $248,657,500 $1,625,000 $247,032,500
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from October 28, 1998 to date of
delivery.
(2) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. See "Underwriting."
(3) Before deducting expenses estimated at $420,000 payable by the Company.
-----------
The Offered Securities are being offered by Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Chase
Securities Inc., First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.
(collectively, the "Underwriters"), subject to prior sale, when, as and if
delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters, subject to approval of certain
legal matters by counsel for the Underwriters and certain other conditions.
The Underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify such offer
and reject orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of Global
Securities representing the Offered Securities will be made at the offices of
Salomon Smith Barney Inc. at Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York, or
through the facilities of DTC on or about October 28, 1998 against payment
therefor in immediately available funds.
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
Ocotber 23, 1998
<PAGE>
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER, DEALER OR AGENT. THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY
SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN SUCH JURISDICTION. NEITHER THE
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THEREOF.
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT
STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES,
INCLUDING BY ENTERING STABILIZING BIDS, PURCHASING OFFERED SECURITIES TO COVER
SYNDICATE SHORT POSITIONS AND IMPOSING PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF
THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Such reports, proxy statements and
other information filed by the Company may be inspected and copied at the
Public Reference Section of the SEC located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room
1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at regional public reference facilities
maintained by the SEC located at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661, and at Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New
York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference
Section of the SEC by mail at prescribed rates. Requests should be directed to
the SEC's Public Reference Section, Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The SEC also maintains a World Wide Web
site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants, such as the Company, subsequent to the date
when such registrants began filing documents electronically with the SEC. The
address of the SEC's site is http://www.sec.gov. The Company's common stock is
listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and the Pacific
Exchange ("PCX"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information may
also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York 10005 and the PCX, 115 Sansone Street, Suite 1104, San Francisco,
California 94104.
This Prospectus forms a part of the Company's Registration Statement
("Registration Statement") filed with the SEC on Form S-3 (Registration
Statement No. 333-63591) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), covering the securities offered hereby. This Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration
Statement, certain portions of which have been omitted from this Prospectus in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Registration
Statement may be inspected and copied at the SEC's offices listed above.
2
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company with the SEC (File No. 1-8089)
are hereby incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:
(i) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997;
(ii)The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 27, 1998, June 26, 1998 and September 25, 1998; and
(iii) The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated March 9, 1998 and July
9, 1998 (as amended by Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on October 16, 1998).
All reports and other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13,
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering of the Offered Securities shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from
the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a
document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained
herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.
Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
The Company will furnish without charge to each person to whom a copy of
this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a
copy of any or all of the documents specifically incorporated herein by
reference, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference therein). Requests should be addressed
to: Danaher Corporation, 1250 24th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C.
20037, Attention: Controller, telephone number (202) 828-0850.
THE COMPANY
OVERVIEW
Danaher Corporation (the "Company" or "Danaher") designs, manufacturers and
markets industrial and consumer products with strong brand names, proprietary
technology and major market positions in two principal businesses:
Process/Environmental Controls and Tools and Components. The
Process/Environmental Controls segment is a leading producer of leak detection
systems for underground fuel storage tanks, compact professional electronic
test tools and motion, position, speed, temperature, pressure, level, flow,
particulate and power reliability and quality control and safety devices. In
its Tools and Components segment, Danaher is a leading producer and
distributor of general purpose mechanics' hand tools and automotive specialty
tools, as well as tool boxes and storage devices, diesel engine retarders,
wheel service equipment, drill chucks, custom designed headed tools and
components, hardware and components for the power generation and transmission
industries, precision socket screws, fasteners and miniature precision parts.
With the recent acquisitions of Pacific Scientific Company ("Pacific
Scientific") and Fluke Corporation ("Fluke"), on a pro forma basis for the
year ended 1997, the Process/Environmental Controls segment comprises
approximately 57.4% of 1997 net sales. See "Recent Developments." Danaher's
objective is to maintain its market leadership positions, while continuing to
improve financial performance through organic growth, international expansion
and selective acquisitions. The Company's principal executive offices are
located at 1240 24th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20037. Its
telephone number is (202) 828-0850.
3
<PAGE>
PROCESS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS
The Process/Environmental Controls segment includes the Veeder-Root Company,
Danaher Controls, Partlow, Anderson Instruments, West Instruments, QualiTROL
Corporation, A.L. Hyde Company, Hengstler, American Sigma, the controls
product line business units of Joslyn Corporation, Namco Controls, Dolan-
Jenner, M&M Precision Systems, TxPort, Inc., Communications Technology
Corporation, Current Technology, Inc., Dr. Bruno Lange GmbH and Gems Sensors,
Inc. In addition, on March 9, 1998, Pacific Scientific's, and on July 9, 1998,
Fluke's businesses were added to this segment. See "Recent Developments." The
companies in this segment produce and sell underground storage tank leak
detection systems, compact professional electronic test tools, temperature,
level, speed, motion and position sensing devices, power switches and
controls, communication line products, power protection products, liquid flow
measuring and particulate measuring devices, telecommunication products,
aviation safety products, quality assurance products and systems and
electronic and mechanical counting and controlling devices. These products are
distributed by the Company's sales personnel and independent representatives
to original equipment manufacturers, distributors and other end users.
Danaher's strategy in the Process/Environmental Controls segment is to
concentrate on the rapid expansion of its environmental controls product line,
including the Veeder-Root storage leak detection systems business. The Company
believes that Veeder-Root is the premier manufacturer of state-of-the-art tank
measuring and leak detection systems for underground fuel storage tanks, and,
accordingly, is uniquely positioned to respond to the demand for these
products fueled by environmental regulations.
The Company is also expanding its other offerings in the environmental
controls product line to encompass applications related to markets other than
petroleum storage and to address nonregulatory business requirements. This
expansion program includes both internally developed new product offerings as
well as selective product line acquisitions.
In its instruments and controls product line, Danaher's strategy is to
continue enhancing its global controls and instrument position by both new
product development and complimentary acquisitions. The companies within the
instrument group have significant synergies in both product offerings and
channels of distribution. Danaher's plan is to leverage these synergies in
product design, engineering and manufacturing and product marketing.
TOOLS AND COMPONENTS
The Tools and Components segment is comprised of the Danaher Hand Tool Group
(including Special Markets, Professional Tools and Asian Tools divisions),
Matco Tools, Jacobs Chuck Manufacturing Company, Delta Consolidated
Industries, Jacobs Vehicle System, Hennessy Industries and the hardware and
electrical apparatus lines of Joslyn Manufacturing Company. This segment is
one of the largest domestic producers and distributors of general purpose and
specialty mechanics' hand tools. Other products manufactured by these
companies include tool boxes and storage devices, diesel engine retarders,
wheel service equipment, drill chucks, custom designed headed tools and
components, hardware and components for the power generation and transmission
industries, high quality precision socket screws, fasteners and high quality
miniature precision parts.
In Tools and Components, the Company is the principal manufacturer of Sears,
Roebuck and Co.'s Craftsman(R) line, National Automotive Parts Association
(NAPA(R)) line, K-D(R) Automotive line and the Matco(R), Armstrong(R) and
Allen(TM) lines of mechanics' hand tools. The Company also manufactures
Allen(TM) wrenches, Jacobs(R) drill chucks and diesel engine retarders,
Delta(R) storage containers and Coats(R) and Ammco(R) wheel service equipment.
The Company's business strategy in the Tools and Components segment is
focused on increasing sales to existing customers, broadening channels of
distribution, development of new products, geographic expansion and achieving
production efficiencies and enhanced quality and customer service through
"Just-In-Time" and related manufacturing techniques.
4
<PAGE>
DANAHER BUSINESS SYSTEM
The Company manages its two principal business segments with a management
philosophy which it calls "Danaher Business System." The Danaher Business
System is based on the following principles: (1) continuous improvement (a
concept known by the Japanese word "Kaizen"), (2) management process based on
Policy Deployment, (3) total associate involvement, (4) performance measured
by customer satisfaction and (5) enhanced profitability. The Danaher Business
System approach looks to the customer's satisfaction as a guideline for
continuous improvements in quality, delivery, cost and growth within its
businesses. The management process of Policy Deployment entails developing a
one year operating plan that reflects the long-term strategic objectives of
the Company. The purpose of this process is to link major objectives with
specific support plans throughout the Company's organization. Danaher Business
System's focus on associate involvement includes the concepts of creating a
team working environment and encouraging personnel development and creativity.
The Company's performance is measured in terms of customer satisfaction by its
improvement of quality, on-time delivery, cost position and service. Finally,
the Danaher Business System focuses on enhancing the profitability of the
Company to allow for long term growth. The Company began employing the Danaher
Business Systems in its core businesses in 1988 and created an executive level
function to train associates of existing and acquired businesses in 1992.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
ACQUISITION OF PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC
On March 9, 1998, the Company acquired Pacific Scientific, an international
business that designs, manufacturers and markets motion control, process
control and safety equipment. The purchase price of this acquisition was
approximately $420 million in cash and approximately $60 million in assumed
debt. The Company has included Pacific Scientific's businesses in its
Process/Environmental Controls segment.
Nearly half of Pacific Scientific's sales consists of electric motors,
drives and controls. These electric motors and controls are sold primarily to
original equipment manufacturers who incorporate them into a wide variety of
products. Pacific Scientific motors are used in factory automation, medical,
printing, plastic extrusion and molding, paper converting, vending, textile,
aerospace, fitness and many other types of equipment. Pacific Scientific's
process control products include devices to measure particles in liquids,
vacuums and gases; and power quality devices used by electric utility
companies. Safety equipment includes mainly fire detection and suppression
equipment, crew restraints, flight control and pyrotechnic devices used in the
aviation and aerospace industry.
For further information about the Pacific Scientific acquisition, including
historical and pro forma financial statements, see Danaher's Current Report on
Form 8-K dated March 9, 1998, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
ACQUISITION OF FLUKE CORPORATION
Effective as of July 9, 1998, the Company acquired Fluke in a merger
transaction in which Fluke became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
The Company issued an aggregate of 17,785,122 shares of its common stock to
acquire Fluke (including cancellation of Fluke stock options). The Company has
included Fluke's business in its Process/Environmental Controls segment. The
Fluke merger was accounted for under the pooling-of-interest method of
accounting.
Fluke is engaged in the design, manufacture and marketing of compact
professional electronic test tools. Fluke's principal products are portable
instruments that measure voltage, current, power quality, frequency,
temperature, pressure and other key functional parameters of electronic
equipment. Fluke, a company with a net income for the year ended April 24,
1998 of $27,738,000, has approximately 2,500 employees worldwide and
distributes its products in over 100 countries.
5
<PAGE>
For additional information regarding the Fluke acquisition, including
historical and pro forma financial statements, see Danaher's Current Report on
Form 8-K dated July 9, 1998 (as amended by Form 8-K/A, filed with the SEC on
October 16, 1998), incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds of this offering will be used to repay a substantial portion of
the borrowings incurred to fund the Pacific Scientific acquisition. These
borrowings were incurred under the Company's uncommitted lines of credit. That
financing bears interest at variable margins above the opening Federal Funds
Rate and is due upon the demand of the lender. The rate for these borrowings
at October 1, 1998 was 5.375%.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the Company's consolidated capitalization
(including short-term debt) at September 25, 1998 and as adjusted to give
effect to the issuance by the Company of the Offered Securities offered hereby
and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under "Use of
Proceeds."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AT SEPTEMBER 25, 1998
----------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
AS ADJUSTED
HISTORICAL FOR THE OFFERING
---------- ----------------
(Dollars in Millions)
Short-term debt............................. $ 215.8 $ 32.7
---------- ----------------
Long-term debt
Offered Securities offered hereby.......... -- 250.0
Other long-term debt....................... 330.3 263.4
---------- ----------------
Total long-term debt...................... 330.3 513.4
Shareholders' equity........................ 1,286.9 1,286.9
---------- ----------------
Total capitalization (including short-term
debt).................................... $ 1,833.0 $ 1,833.0
========== ================
Total debt to total capitalization (includ-
ing short-term debt)....................... 29.79% 29.79%
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following financial information should be read in conjunction with the
Company's historical financial statements, which have been restated to include
Fluke under the pooling-of-interests method, and notes thereto for each of the
five years for the period ended December 31, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
--------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
(Dollars in Millions)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Net sales:
Tools and Components.... $ 1,192.8 $1,103.4 $1,005.0 $ 810.0 $ 693.2
Process/Environmental
Controls............... 1,299.2 1,129.8 894.5 676.7 564.4
--------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Total net sales....... 2,492.0 2,233.2 1,899.5 1,486.7 1,257.6
Operating income:
Tools and Components.... 144.4 128.1 113.0 81.5 56.4
Process/Environmental
Controls............... 171.1 153.5 116.5 80.0 56.9
Other................... (14.5) (14.2) (13.5) (13.7) (12.1)
--------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Total operating
income............... 301.1 267.4 216.0 147.8 101.2
Income from continuing
operations before
discontinued operations
and cumulative effect of
accounting changes....... 176.6 154.4 128.3 86.4 56.4
Net income................ 176.6 234.2 130.8 95.7 62.2
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT END
OF PERIOD):
Working capital
(deficit)................ $ 251.8 $ 221.6 $ 195.0 $ 78.8 $ 139.2
Total assets.............. 2,183.9 2,046.7 1,756.0 1,343.9 1,110.7
Total debt................ 199.0 239.9 294.5 204.4 152.7
Shareholders' equity...... 1,139.2 1,005.7 772.4 629.8 517.3
OTHER DATA:
Capital expenditures...... $ 86.9 $ 64.0 $ 72.1 $ 50.9 $ 49.4
Depreciation.............. 67.9 62.0 61.4 48.8 45.0
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges.................. 14.25 11.18 13.50 15.01 8.72
Total debt to total
capitalization........... 14.87% 19.26% 27.61% 24.51% 22.79%
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth unaudited summary historical financial
information for Danaher (which has been restated to include Fluke under the
pooling-of-interests method) for the nine-month periods ended September 25,
1998 and September 26, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
------------------------------
1998 1997
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
(Dollars in Millions)
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Net sales....................................... $ 2,107.5 $ 1,816.7
Operating income................................ 265.0 215.3
Net income...................................... 124.9(1) 125.9
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT END OF PERIOD):
Working capital................................. $ 73.7 $ 202.8
Total assets.................................... 2,771.2 2,220.8
Total debt...................................... 546.1 220.4
Shareholders' equity............................ 1,286.9 1,087.3
OTHER DATA:
Capital expenditures............................ $ 66.5 $ 53.8
Depreciation and amortization................... 79.3 67.8
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.............. 10.11 13.47
Total debt to total capitalization.............. 29.79% 16.85%
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Includes $28.6 million after-tax expenses associated with the Fluke
transaction.
8
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES
GENERAL
The Offered Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of
October 28, 1998 (the "Indenture") between the Company and The First National
Bank of Chicago, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The terms of the Offered
Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"Trust Indenture Act"). The Offered Securities are subject to all such terms,
and holders of such Offered Securities ("Holders") are referred to the
Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement thereof. The following
summary of the material provisions of the Indenture does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture,
including the definitions therein of certain terms used below. Wherever
particular Sections, Articles or defined terms of the Indenture are referred
to, it is intended that such Sections, Articles or defined terms shall be
incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meaning given in the Indenture. Copies of the proposed
form of Indenture have been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus is a part and are available as set forth above under
"Available Information."
RANKING
The Offered Securities will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company
and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all other senior unsecured
obligations of the Company, including the Company's obligations under the
Credit Agreement and certain note agreements governing an aggregate of
approximately $130 million of senior notes due in 1999 and 2003, and will be
senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated
indebtedness of the Company.
Since the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company, and hence
the rights of creditors and shareholders of the Company, to participate in any
distribution of assets of any Subsidiary upon its liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise is accordingly subject to prior claims of
creditors of the Subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of the Company
as a creditor of the Subsidiary may be recognized.
PRINCIPAL, MATURITY AND INTEREST
The Offered Securities will be limited in aggregate principal amount to $250
million, which will mature on October 15, 2008. Interest on the Offered
Securities will accrue at the rate of 6% per annum and will be payable semi-
annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15, commencing on April 15, 1999,
to Holders of record on the immediately preceding April 1 and October 1.
Interest on the Offered Securities will accrue from the most recent date to
which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date
of original issuance. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
comprised of twelve 30-day months. Principal, premium, if any, and interest on
the Offered Securities will be payable at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose within the City and the State of New York or, at
the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to
the Holders of the Offered Securities at their respective addresses set forth
in the register of Holders of Offered Securities; provided that all payments
of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to Offered
Securities, the Holders of which have given wire transfer instructions to the
Company, will be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof. Until otherwise
designated by the Company, the Company's office or agency in New York will be
the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose. The Offered Securities
will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
The Offered Securities will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the
option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater
of (a) 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed and (b) the sum of the
present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as hereinafter defined)
thereon discounted
9
<PAGE>
to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as hereinafter
defined) plus 20 basis points, together in all cases with accrued interest on
the principal amount being redeemed to the redemption date.
The term "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker that would be utilized,
at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice,
in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to
the remaining term of such Offered Securities. "Independent Investment Banker"
means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after
consultation with the Company.
The term "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption
date, (a) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury
Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the
third business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily
statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for
U.S. Government Securities" or (b) if such release (or any successor release)
is not published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (i) the
average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date,
after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, or (ii) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations. "Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury
Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of
the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each
case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee
by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third
business day preceding such redemption date.
The term "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Salomon Smith Barney
Inc., Chase Securities Inc., First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. and Lehman
Brothers Inc., and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any
of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer
in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute
therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
The term "Remaining Scheduled Payments" means the remaining scheduled
payments of the principal of the Offered Securities to be redeemed and
interest thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for
such redemption; provided, however, that if such redemption date is not an
interest payment date with respect to such Offered Securities, the amount of
the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the
amount of interest accrued thereon to such redemption date.
The term "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the
rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed
as of the second business day immediately preceding such redemption date) of
the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury
Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but no more than 60
days before the redemption date to each Holder of the Offered Securities to be
redeemed.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after
the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Offered Securities
or portions thereof called for redemption.
There will be no mandatory sinking fund payments for the Offered Securities.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
LIMITATION ON SECURED DEBT
The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume,
or guarantee any Secured Debt without making effective provision for securing
the Offered Securities equally and ratably with such
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Secured Debt. This covenant does not apply to debt secured by (i) purchase
money mortgages created to secure payment for the acquisition or construction
of any property including, but not limited to, any indebtedness incurred by
the Company or a Subsidiary prior to, at the time of, or within 180 days after
the later of the acquisition, the completion of construction (including any
improvements on an existing property) or the commencement of commercial
operation of such property, which indebtedness is incurred for the purpose of
financing all or any part of the purchase price of such property or
construction or improvements on such property, (ii) mortgages, pledges, liens,
security interest or encumbrances (collectively referred to herein as
"security interests") on property, or any conditional sales agreement or any
title retention with respect to property, existing at the time of acquisition
thereof, whether or not assumed by the Company or a Subsidiary, (iii) security
interests on property or shares of capital stock or indebtedness of any
corporation or firm existing at the time such corporation or firm becomes a
Subsidiary, (iv) security interests in property or shares of capital stock or
indebtedness of a corporation existing at the time such corporation is merged
into or consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary or at the time of a
sale, lease, or other disposition of the properties of a corporation or firm
as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or a Subsidiary,
provided that no such security interests shall extend to any other Principal
Property of the Company or such Subsidiary prior to such acquisition or to
other Principal Property thereafter acquired other than additions or
improvements to the acquired property, (v) security interests on property of
the Company or a Subsidiary in favor of the United States of America or any
state thereof, or in favor of any other country, or any department, agency,
instrumentality or political subdivision thereof (including, without
limitation, security interests to secure indebtedness of the pollution control
or industrial revenue type) in order to permit the Company or any Subsidiary
to perform a contract or to secure indebtedness incurred for the purpose of
financing all or any part of the purchase price for the cost of constructing
or improving the property subject to such security interests or which is
required by law or regulation as a condition to the transaction of any
business or the exercise of any privilege, franchise or license, (vi) security
interests on any property or assets of any Subsidiary to secure indebtedness
owing by it to the Company or to another Subsidiary, (vii) any mechanics',
materialmen's, carriers' or other similar lien arising in the ordinary course
of business (including construction of facilities) in respect of obligations
which are not yet due or which are being contested in good faith, (viii) any
security interest for taxes, assessments or government charges or levies not
yet delinquent, or already delinquent, but the validity of which is being
contested in good faith, (ix) any security interest arising in connection with
legal proceedings being contested in good faith, including any judgment lien
so long as execution thereof is being stayed, (x) landlords' liens on fixtures
located on premises leased by the Company or a Subsidiary in the ordinary
course of business, or (xi) any extension, renewal or replacement (or
successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any
security interest referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) to (x) inclusive.
LIMITATION ON SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS
The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to, enter any lease longer than three years (excluding leases of
newly acquired, improved or constructed property) covering any Principal
Property of the Company or any Subsidiary that is sold to any other person in
connection with such lease (a "Sale and Leaseback Transaction"), unless either
(a) the Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled, without equally and
ratably securing the Offered Securities, to incur indebtedness secured by a
mortgage on the Principal Property leased pursuant to clauses (i) through (xi)
under "Limitation on Secured Debt" or (b) an amount equal to the value of the
Principal Property so leased is applied to the retirement, within 120 days of
the effective date of such arrangement, of indebtedness for borrowed money
incurred or assumed by the Company or a Subsidiary which is recorded as Funded
Debt (defined to include the Offered Securities and other long-term
indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary) as shown on the most recent
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and which in the case of such
indebtedness of the Company, is not subordinate and junior in right of payment
to the prior payment of the Offered Securities.
EXEMPTED INDEBTEDNESS
Notwithstanding the limitations on Secured Debt and Sale and Leaseback
Transactions described above, the Company and any one or more Subsidiaries
may, without securing the Offered Securities, issue, assume, or
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<PAGE>
guarantee Secured Debt or enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction which
would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions, provided that, after
giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of such Secured Debt then
outstanding (not including Secured Debt permitted under the foregoing
exceptions) and the Attributable Debt of Sale and Leaseback Transactions
(other than Sale and Leaseback Transactions in connection with clauses (a) or
(b) of the preceding paragraph) at such time does not exceed 15% of
Consolidated Net Assets.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference
is made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as
any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
The term "Attributable Debt", in respect of a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction, means, as of any particular time, the present value (discounted
at the rate of interest implicit in the lease involved in such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction, as determined in good faith by the Company) of the
obligation of the lessee thereunder for rental payments (excluding, however,
any amounts required to be paid by such lessee, whether or not designated as
rent or additional rent, on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance,
taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges or any amounts required to
be paid by such lessee thereunder contingent upon the amount of sales,
maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar
charges) during the remaining term of such lease (including any period for
which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be
extended).
The term "Consolidated Assets" means the aggregate of all assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (including the value of all existing Sale and
Leaseback Transactions and any assets resulting from the capitalization of
other long-term lease obligations in accordance with GAAP), appearing on the
most recent available consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries at their net book values, after deducting related depreciation,
amortization and other valuation reserves, all prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
The term "Consolidated Current Liabilities" means the aggregate of the
current liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries appearing on the most
recent available consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, all in accordance with GAAP. In no event shall Consolidated
Current Liabilities include any obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries
issued under a revolving credit or similar agreement if the obligation issued
under such agreement matures by its terms within 12 months from the date
thereof but by the terms of such agreement such obligation may be renewed or
extended or the amount thereof reborrowed or refunded at the option of the
Company or any Subsidiary for a term in excess of 12 months from the date of
determination.
The term "Consolidated Net Assets" means Consolidated Assets after deduction
of Consolidated Current Liabilities.
The term "Credit Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of
September 7, 1990 by and among Danaher Corporation, the Financial Institutions
listed on the signature pages thereof and Bankers Trust Company as Agent,
providing for up to $250,000,000 of revolving credit borrowings, including any
related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements
executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, modified,
renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.
The term "Funded Debt" means all indebtedness for money borrowed having a
maturity of more than twelve months from the date of the most recent
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries or renewable
and extendable beyond twelve months at the option of the borrower and all
obligations in respect of lease rentals which under GAAP would be shown on the
consolidated balance sheet of the Company as a liability item other than a
current liability; provided, however, that Funded Debt shall not include any
of the foregoing to the extent that such indebtedness or obligations are not
required by GAAP to be shown on the balance sheet of the Company.
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<PAGE>
The term "Principal Property" means any manufacturing plant, warehouse,
office building or parcel of real property (including fixtures but excluding
leases and other contract rights which might otherwise be deemed real
property) owned by the Company or any Subsidiary, whether owned on the date of
the Indenture or thereafter, provided each such plant, warehouse, office
building or parcel of real property has a gross book value (without deduction
for any depreciation reserves) at the date as of which the determination is
being made of in excess of two percent of the Consolidated Net Assets of the
Company and the Subsidiaries, other than any such plant, warehouse, office
building or parcel of real property or portion thereof which, in the opinion
of the Board of Directors of the Company (evidenced by a certified Board
Resolution delivered to the Trustee), is not of material importance to the
business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
The term "Secured Debt" means Indebtedness for borrowed money and any Funded
Debt which is secured by a security interest in (a) any Principal Property or
(b) any shares of capital stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary.
The term "Subsidiary" means any corporation with more than 50% of the
outstanding voting stock of which is at the time owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company and/or one or more of its other Subsidiaries.
MERGER
The Indenture provides that the Company may, without the consent of the
Holders, consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all
of its assets to, or merge into any other corporation, provided that, among
other things, in any such case, (i) the successor entity shall be a
corporation, partnership or trust organized and existing under the laws of the
United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and such entity
shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest on all the Offered Securities, according to
their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the
covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Company by
supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to
the Trustee by such entity; and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such
transaction, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Other than the covenants described above, the Indenture does not contain any
covenants or other provisions designed to afford Holders of the Offered
Securities protection in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or a highly
leveraged transaction involving the Company.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its
obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding Offered Securities
("Legal Defeasance") except for (i) the rights of Holders of outstanding
Offered Securities to receive payments in respect of the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on such Offered Securities when such payments
are due from the trust referred to below, (ii) the Company's obligations with
respect to the Offered Securities concerning issuing temporary Offered
Securities, registration of Offered Securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Offered Securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for
payment and money for security payments held in trust, (iii) the rights,
powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company's
obligations in connection therewith and (iv) the Legal Defeasance provisions
of the Indenture. In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time,
elect to have the obligations of the Company released with respect to certain
covenants that are described in the Indenture ("Covenant Defeasance") and
thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a
Default or Event of Default with respect to the Offered Securities. In the
event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment,
bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events) described
under "Events of Default" will no longer constitute an Event of Default with
respect to the Offered Securities.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, (i) the
Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit
of the Holders of the Offered Securities, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable
U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will
be
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<PAGE>
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
the outstanding Offered Securities on the stated maturity or on the redemption
date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Offered
Securities are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(ii) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to
the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has
been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date
of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax
law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of
counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Offered Securities
will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a
result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on
the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred; (iii) in the case of
Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee
confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Offered Securities will not
recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of
such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case
if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; (iv) no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit
(other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of
funds to be applied to such deposit) or insofar as Events of Default from
bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period
ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit; (v) such Legal Defeasance or
Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute
a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than the
Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound; (vi) the Company must
have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that after
the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the
effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally; (vii) the Company must deliver to
the Trustee an Officer's Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by
the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Offered Securities
over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating,
hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and
(viii) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an
opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for
relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied
with.
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
A Holder may transfer or exchange Offered Securities in accordance with the
Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other
things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the
Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or
permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or
exchange any Offered Security selected for redemption. Also, the Company is
not required to transfer or exchange any Offered Security for a period of 15
days before a selection of Offered Securities to be redeemed.
The registered Holder of Offered Securities will be treated as the owner of
it for all purposes.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the Indenture or
the Offered Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Offered Securities
then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in
connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Offered
Securities), and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture or the Offered Securities may be waived with the consent of the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Offered
Securities (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection
with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Offered
Securities).
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<PAGE>
Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not
(with respect to any Offered Securities held by a non-consenting Holder): (i)
reduce the principal amount of Offered Securities whose Holders must consent
to an amendment, supplement or waiver, (ii) reduce the principal of or change
the fixed maturity of any Offered Security or alter the provisions with
respect to the redemption of the Offered Securities, (iii) reduce the rate of
or extend the time for payment of interest on any Offered Security, (iv) waive
a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if
any, or interest on the Offered Securities (except a rescission of
acceleration of the Offered Securities by the Holders of at least a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities and a waiver of the
payment default that resulted from such acceleration), (v) make any Offered
Security payable in money other than that stated in the Offered Securities,
(vi) make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of
past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Offered Securities to receive
payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Offered
Securities, (vii) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Offered
Security or (viii) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver
provisions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Holder of Offered
Securities, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture
or the Offered Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect
or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Offered Securities in addition
to or in place of certificated Offered Securities, to provide for the
assumption of the Company's obligations to Holders of Offered Securities in
the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of
the Company's assets, to make any change that would provide any additional
rights or benefits to the Holders of Offered Securities or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, or
to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
The Indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee,
should it be a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in certain
cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim
as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other
transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in
the Trust Indenture Act) it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or
apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
As to the Offered Securities, an Event of Default is defined in the
Indenture as being: (a) default for 30 days in payment of any interest on the
Offered Securities; (b) failure to pay principal or premium with respect to
the Offered Securities, if any, when due; (c) failure to observe or perform
any other covenant in the Indenture or the Offered Securities (other than a
covenant or warranty, a default in whose performance or whose breach is
specifically dealt with in the section of the Indenture governing Events of
Default), if such failure continues for 90 days after written notice by the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Offered Securities then outstanding; (d) certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or reorganization; or (e) any other Event of Default
provided with respect to the Offered Securities. The Trustee or the Holders of
25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Offered Securities may
declare the Offered Securities immediately due and payable upon the occurrence
of any Event of Default (after expiration of any applicable grace period); in
certain cases, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Offered
Securities then outstanding may waive any past default and its consequences,
except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest.
The Indenture provides that the Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of a default which is continuing, give to the Holders of such
Offered Securities notice of all uncured defaults known to it (the term
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<PAGE>
default to include the events specified above without grace periods); provided
that, except in the case of default in the payment of principal (or premium,
if any) or interest on any of the Offered Securities, the Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the
withholding notice is in the interest of the Offered Security Holders.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the
Trustee in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the
Indenture provides that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise
any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Holders of the outstanding Offered Securities unless
such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. The right
of a Holder to institute a proceeding with respect to the Indenture is subject
to certain conditions precedent including notice and indemnity to the Trustee,
but the Holder has a right to receipt of principal, premium, if any, and
interest (subject to certain limitations with respect to defaulted interest)
on their due dates or to institute suit for the enforcement thereof.
So long as the Offered Securities remain outstanding the Company will be
required to furnish annually to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate stating
whether, to the best of the knowledge of the signers, the Company is in
default under any of the provisions of the Indenture, and specifying all such
defaults, and the nature thereof, of which they have knowledge. The Company
will also be required to furnish to the Trustee copies of certain reports
filed by the Company with the SEC.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Offered
Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place for
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any power or trust conferred on the Trustee, provided that such
direction shall be in accordance with law and the provisions of the Indenture,
and, provided, further, that the Trustee may decline to follow any such
direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a responsible officer of the
Trustee, determine that the proceeding would involve the Trustee in personal
liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to act in accordance with
such direction unless such Holders shall have offered the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities which may be
incurred thereby.
DEPOSITORY PROCEDURES
Except as set forth in the next paragraph, the Offered Securities will
initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (the "Global
Securities"). The Global Securities will be deposited on the date of the
closing of the sale of the Offered Securities offered hereby (the "Closing
Date") with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and
registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC (such nominee being
referred to herein as the "Global Securities Holder").
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold securities
for its participating organizations (collectively, the "Participants") and to
facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities
between Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its
Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers
(including the Underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations
and certain other organizations. Access to DTC's system is also available to
other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either
directly or indirectly (collectively, the "Indirect Participants"). Persons
who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf
of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The
ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security
held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants
and Indirect Participants.
The Company expects that pursuant to procedures established by DTC, (i) upon
deposit of the Global Securities, DTC will credit the accounts of Participants
designated by the Underwriters with portions of the principal amount of the
Global Securities and (ii) ownership of such interests in the Global
Securities will be
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<PAGE>
shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through,
records maintained by DTC (with respect to the interests of the Participants)
or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other
owners of beneficial interest in the Global Securities). Prospective
purchasers are advised that the laws of some states require that certain
persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own.
Consequently, the ability to transfer Offered Securities evidenced by the
Global Securities will be limited to such extent.
So long as the Global Securities Holder is the registered owner of any
Offered Securities, the Global Securities Holder will be considered the sole
Holder under the Indenture of any Offered Securities evidenced by the Global
Securities. Beneficial owners of Offered Securities evidenced by the Global
Securities will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof under the
Indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any
directions, instructions or approvals to the Trustee thereunder. Neither the
Company nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the records of DTC or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records of DTC relating to the Offered Securities.
Payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on any Offered Securities registered in the name of the Global Securities
Holder on the applicable record date will be payable by the Trustee to or at
the direction of the Global Securities Holder in its capacity as the
registered Holder under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, the
Company and the Trustee may treat the persons in whose names Offered
Securities, including Global Securities, are registered as the owners thereof
for the purpose of receiving such payments. Consequently, neither the Company
nor the Trustee has or will have any responsibility or liability for the
payment of such amounts to beneficial owners of Offered Securities. The
Company believes, however, that it is currently the policy of DTC to
immediately credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with such
payments, in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings of beneficial
interests in the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by
Participants and Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of Offered
Securities will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice
and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect
Participants.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES
Subject to certain conditions, any person having a beneficial interest in a
Global Security may, upon the request to the Trustee, exchange such beneficial
interest for Offered Securities in the form of certificated securities. Upon
any such issuance, the Trustee is required to register such certificated
securities in the name of, and cause the same to be delivered to, such person
or persons (or the nominee of any thereof). In addition, if (i) the Company
notifies the Trustee in writing that DTC is no longer willing or able to act
as a depository and the Company is unable to locate a qualified successor
within 90 days or (ii) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in
writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Offered Securities in the form
of certificated securities under the Indenture, then, upon surrender by the
Global Securities Holder of its Global Securities, Offered Securities in such
form will be issued to each person that the Global Securities Holder and DTC
identify as being the beneficial owner of the related Offered Securities.
Neither the Company nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by the
Global Securities Holder or DTC in identifying the beneficial owners of
Offered Securities and the Company and the Trustee may conclusively rely on,
and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Global Securities
Holder or DTC for all purposes.
SAME DAY SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT
The Indenture requires that payments in respect of the Offered Securities
represented by the Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and
interest) be made by wire transfer of immediately available next day funds to
the accounts specified by the Global Securities Holder. With respect to
certificated securities, the Company will make all payments of principal,
premium, if any, and interest, by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof or, if no such account is
specified, by mailing a check to each such Holder's registered address. The
Company expects that secondary trading in the certificated securities will
also be settled in immediately available funds.
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<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), the Company has agreed to sell to each of the
Underwriters named below, and each of the Underwriters has severally agreed to
purchase, the principal amount of Offered Securities set forth opposite its
name below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
UNDERWRITER OFFERED SECURITES
----------- -------------------
<S> <C>
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.................................... $115,000,000
Lehman Brothers Inc......................................... 50,000,000
Chase Securities Inc. ...................................... 42,500,000
First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. ........................ 42,500,000
------------
Total..................................................... $250,000,000
============
</TABLE>
The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they propose initially
to offer the Offered Securities to the public at the public offering price set
forth on the cover page of this Prospectus, and to certain dealers at such
price less a concession not in excess of 0.40% of the principal amount of the
Offered Securities. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow,
a concession not in excess of 0.25% of the principal amount of the Offered
Securities to certain other dealers.
In connection with this offering, certain Underwriters and their affiliates
may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the
market price of the Offered Securities. Such transactions may include
stabilization transactions effected in accordance with Rule 104 of Regulation
M, pursuant to which such persons may bid for or purchase the Offered
Securities for the purpose of stabilizing their market price. The Underwriters
may also create a short position for the account of the Underwriters by
selling more of the Offered Securities in connection with the offering than
they are committed to purchase from the Company, and in such case may purchase
the Offered Securities in the open market following completion of the offering
to cover such short position. Any of the transactions described in this
paragraph may result in the maintenance of the price of the Offered Securities
at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. None
of the transactions described in this paragraph is required, and, if they are
undertaken, they may be discontinued at any time.
The Company does not presently intend to list the Offered Securities on any
exchange. The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they intend to
make a market in the Offered Securities but that they are not obligated to do
so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance
can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the Offered
Securities.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Company will indemnify the
several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or contribute to payments the
Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
In the ordinary course of their respective business, the Underwriters and
their respective affiliates have engaged and may in the future engage in
commercial banking and investment banking transactions with the Company. In
addition, the Trustee under the Indenture is an affiliate of First Chicago
Capital Markets, Inc., one of the Underwriters.
18
<PAGE>
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements, including statements
concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of Danaher,
including without limitation, statements preceded by, followed by or that
include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates" or similar expressions.
For those statements, the Company claims the protection of the Safe Harbor for
Forward-Looking Statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Investors should understand that the following important
factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this document and in the
documents incorporated by reference, could affect the future results of
Danaher, and could cause those results to differ materially from those
expressed in such forward-looking statements: changes in Danaher's
longstanding relationship with major customers; the extent to which acquired
businesses are able to meet Danaher's expectations and operate profitably;
changes in regulations which could affect demand for products and
unanticipated developments that could occur with respect to contingencies such
as environmental matters and litigation; materially adverse changes in
economic conditions in the markets served by Danaher or in the economy in
general; greater than expected costs or difficulties related to the
integration of the businesses acquired by Danaher; and other risks and
uncertainties as may be detailed from time to time in Danaher's public
announcements and SEC filings.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Offered Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the
Company by Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, Washington, D.C. Certain legal matters
will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Latham & Watkins, Chicago,
Illinois.
EXPERTS
The audited financial statements and schedule incorporated in this
Prospectus by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 9, 1998
(filed September 14, 1998), as amended by Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on
October 16, 1998, to the extent and for the periods indicated in their reports
have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, and
have been incorporated in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting in giving said reports. The financial statements of
Pacific Scientific, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 9, 1998, have been so
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors as stated in their
report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The consolidated financial
statements of Fluke incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-
K of the Company dated July 9, 1998 (as amended by Form 8-K/A filed with the
SEC on October 16, 1998), have been audited by Ernst & Young, LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
19
<PAGE>
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NO DEALER, SALESPERSON, OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE
COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO
SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY
IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN
SUCH JURISDICTION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE
HEREOF OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE
SUCH DATE.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
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<S> <C>
Available Information...................................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference.................................................... 3
The Company................................................................ 3
Recent Developments........................................................ 5
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 6
Capitalization............................................................. 6
Selected Financial Data.................................................... 7
Description of the Offered
Securities................................................................ 9
Underwriting............................................................... 18
Forward-Looking Statements................................................. 19
Legal Matters.............................................................. 19
Experts.................................................................... 19
</TABLE>
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$250,000,000
DANAHER CORPORATION
6% NOTES DUE 2008
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P R O S P E C T U S
OCTOBER 23, 1998
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SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
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