Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
File Number 333-56406
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 17
----------------------------
$829,823,000
DANAHER CORPORATION
LIQUID YIELD OPTION (TM) NOTES DUE 2021
(ZERO COUPON -- SENIOR)
AND
COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON
CONVERSION OF THE LYONS
This prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus dated March 16, 2001
of Danaher Corporation, as supplemented March 20, 2001, April 17, 2001, May 2,
2001, May 23, 2001, June 21, 2001, July 9, 2001, July 17, 2001, July 30, 2001,
August 14, 2001, August 27, 2001, August 28, 2001, October 10, 2001, October 23,
2001, November 6, 2001, November 27, 2001 and December 11, 2001 relating to the
sale by certain of our securityholders (including their pledgees, donees,
assignees, transferees, successors and others who later hold any of our
securityholders' interests) of up to $829,823,000 aggregate principal amount at
maturity of LYONs and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the LYONs.
You should read this prospectus supplement in conjunction with the prospectus,
and this prospectus supplement is qualified by reference to the prospectus,
except to the extent that the information in this prospectus supplement
supersedes the information contained in the prospectus. Capitalized terms used
in this prospectus supplement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
specified in the prospectus.
The table of Selling Securityholders contained in the prospectus is hereby
amended to add the entities who are named below as selling securityholders.
Aggregate
Principal Amount Number of Shares
at Maturity of Percentage of of Common Stock Percentage of
LYONs That May LYONs That May be Common Stock
Name be Sold Outstanding Sold(1) Outstanding(2)
---- ---------------- ------------- ---------------- --------------
Goldman Sachs and Company $110,000 * 799 *
Additionally, the following represents updated information regarding the selling
securityholders listed in the Selling Securityholder table in the prospectus:
Aggregate
Principal Amount Number of Shares
at Maturity of Percentage of of Common Stock Percentage of
LYONs That May LYONs That May be Common Stock
Name be Sold Outstanding Sold(1) Outstanding(2)
---- ---------------- ------------- ---------------- --------------
All other holders of LYONs or future
transferees, pledgees, donees, assignees
or successors of any such holders (3)(4)... $334,807,000 40.3% 2,433,243 1.7%
________________
* Less than one percent (1%).
(1) Assumes conversion of all of the holder's LYONs at a conversion rate of
7.2676 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount at maturity of
the LYONs. This conversion rate is subject to adjustment, however, as
described under "Description of the LYONs--Conversion Rights." As a
result, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of
the LYONs may increase or decrease in the future.
(2) Calculated based on Rule 13d-3(d)(i) of the Exchange Act, using 143,271,377
shares of common stock outstanding as of November 23, 2001. In calculating
this amount for each holder, we treated as outstanding the number of shares
of common stock issuable upon conversion of all of that holder's LYONs, but
we did not assume conversion of any other holder's LYONs.
(3) Information about other selling securityholders will be set forth in
prospectus supplements, if required.
(4) Assumes that any other holders of LYONs, or any future pledgees, donees,
assignees, transferees or successors of or from any such other holders of
LYONs, do not beneficially own any shares of common stock other than the
common stock issuable upon conversion of the LYONs at the initial
conversion rate.
Investing in the LYONs involves risks that are described in the "Risk
Factors Relating to the LYONs" section beginning on page 12 of the prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities
commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus supplement is January 2, 2002.
(TM)Trademark of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.