Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.8

                              DANAHER CORPORATION
                              1250 24TH STREET NW
                                   SUITE 800
                          WASHINGTON, DC, USA 20037

   GEORGE M. SHERMAN                                    TELEPHONE (202) 828-0850
        PRESIDENT                                       FACSIMILE (202) 828-0860
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                        -STRICTLY PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL-

                                   May 4, 2000

Mr. Philip W. Knisely
8305 River Road
Richmond, VA 25229

Dear Phil:

Thank you very much for the time spent during our recent series of discussions.
Along with the Danaher Business System, our culture is the key to Danaher's
recent and future success. We share the enthusiasm you have expressed for our
organization, and look forward to you becoming a part of the Danaher team. Your
initial responsibilities will include approximately $1 billion in revenue,
including full P&L and operating responsibility for our Motion Control, Power
Quality & Reliability and Industrial Control companies. As discussed, Danaher's
growth orientation is supported by our focus on both organic growth and growth
through acquisition. It is our intention that you will be integral in driving
this growth activity and, as a result, you will take on significantly greater
revenue and operating responsibility during your Danaher career.

I'd like to document the offer of employment extended to you, and your
acceptance.

     Title:                Executive Vice President, Danaher Corporation
                           (Corporate Officer)
     Start Date:           6/19/00
     Annual Compensation:  Base Salary:                $ 360,000.00
                           Target Bonus $ (%):         $ 252,000.00 (70%)
                                                       ------------
                           Target Total Compensation:  $ 612,000.00

You will participate in the Danaher Employee Stock Option Program. The Danaher
Corporation Board of Directors has approved an initial stock option grant of
500,000 shares. Two hundred and fifty thousand shares of this option grant will
vest 100% on the 4/th/ year anniversary of the effective date of this grant, and
two hundred and fifty thousand shares will vest 100% on the 5/th/ year
anniversary of the effective date of this grant. The price of these share
options will be established by the NYSE closing price on the effective date of
this grant. You will receive further details and confirmation of this stock
option grant shortly hereafter. You will be eligible for additional option
grants, beginning in 2005.

You will participate, in our "Executive Deferred Incentive Program" (EDIP); an
exclusive executive benefit designed to provide you with long term earnings
based on the continued appreciation of Danaher Corporation stock. Based on your
target total cash compensation of $612,000.00, this program will initially
provide you with approximately $40,000.00 worth of "phantom" stock annually.
Your EDIP participation will begin on May 1, 2000. You will receive further
information on EDIP from Dennis Longo. You will also be provided with a Country
Club Membership and a Level I Company Car. Once you begin the car lease program,
you will expense gas, oil, and maintenance, and the company will provide
insurance for this vehicle. This program is considered taxable income and will
be treated as such.

<PAGE>

                                                                          Page 2
                                                               Philip W. Knisely
                                                                Employment Offer

You will be provided with personalized estate, tax and retirement income
planning services as well as reimbursement of estate execution and tax
preparation expenses. You will have a personal advisor through Danaher's
established provider, Asset Management Group, for your retirement income and
estate planning. Arthur Andersen is our recommended tax preparation provider.
The detail of this benefit will be provided by Dennis Longo.

It is agreed that you will initially be based out of a Virginia location.
Complete relocation benefits will be provided at some point in the future if
required, based on mutual understanding and sound business needs.

You will be eligible for all regular exempt associate benefits and will be
eligible for comprehensive medical, dental and life insurance benefits
immediately upon your first day of employment. Brochures on our various benefit
programs including the Danaher Retirement and Savings Plan are enclosed. If you
would like to review them, or have any questions on benefits, please feel free
to call Dennis Longo at your convenience.

Phil, this offer of employment is contingent upon:

     .    Completion of the company's Employment Agreement, which outlines
          specifics pertaining to non-competition, non-solicitation of
          customers, non-piracy of company employees and confidentiality.

     .    Completion prior to employment, and as requested thereafter, of our
          Inventions, Trademarks and Copyrights Agreement, Code of Business
          Conduct Certification, and Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (copies
          enclosed) and,

     .    Successfully passing our pre-employment physical.

In order to confirm your understanding and acceptance of these terms and
conditions please sign the original copy of this letter as well as the
enclosures listed above in the spaces indicated and return it to me. Additional
copies are enclosed for your personal records.

Thank you very much Phil for accepting our offer. I look forward to working with
you on Danaher's "Journey to Excellence" as we strive to achieve our vision and
long term objectives. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do
not hesitate to call me or Dennis.

Best Regards,

                                        Sincerely yours,

                                        /s/ George M. Sherman

                                        George M. Sherman

cc D. Longo
Enclosures

 I understand and accept the terms and conditions of this offer of employment.

                        /s/ Philip W. Knisely / 4/14/00
                        -------------------------------
                            Philip W. Knisely / Date<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                              DANAHER CORPORATION
                             1250 24TH STREET, N.W.
                                   SUITE 800
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20037
                                 (202) 828-0850

   GEORGE M. SHERMAN
     PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                                  March 8, 1996

         Mr. Steven Simms
         207 Lambeth Road
         Baltimore, MD 21218

         Dear Steve:

                Thank you very much for the time spent during our recent series
         of discussions. I hope the opportunity to meet with some of our key
         executives, review some of our strategies and tour a few factories
         helped you see first-hand the positive and highly effective culture we
         enjoy at Danaher. We share your enthusiasm and look forward to your
         becoming a part of the Danaher team.

                I am pleased to present you with the following offer of
         employment.

                Title:                  Group Executive & Corporate Vice
                                        President
                Start Date:             March 18, 1996
                Annual Compensation:    Base Salary:           $265,000.00
                                        Target Bonus $ (%)     $140,450.00 (53%)
                                                               -----------
                                        Target Total:          $405,450.00

                Your initial Group Executive assignment will include more than
         $400 million in revenue, including full P&L and operational
         responsibility for the Professional Tool Division, Matco Tools and
         Hennessy Industries. You will take direct management control of the
         Professional Tool Division in the capacity of President, with
         Matco/Hennessy reporting to you through a President.

                You will participate in the 1996 Executive Incentive
         Compensation Plan (ICP) on a full year basis. Normally, ICP payments
         are made during the first quarter of the following year. In addition,
         you will participate, in our "Executive Deferred Incentive Program"
         (EDIP), an exclusive executive benefit designed to

<PAGE>

Mr. Steven Simms
March 8, 1996
Page 2

provide you with long term earnings based on the continued appreciation of
Danaher Corporation stock. You will also be provided with a company car as well
as a country club membership.

        You will participate in the Danaher Associate Stock Option Program. This
offer includes an initial grant of 100,000 shares. The option price of these
shares will be established by the NYSE closing price on your first day of
employment. You will receive further details shortly thereafter from Pat
Allender's office.

        You will also receive an outright grant of 15,000 shares of Danaher
Corporation stock based on a three year vesting schedule. While the vesting
schedule will provide you with ownership rights equal to 5,000 shares per year
on each of your first three anniversary dates, the actual transfer of ownership
will occur following your third anniversary.

        You will be eligible for all regular exempt associate benefits (with the
exception of severance benefits as noted below), and you will be eligible for
comprehensive medical, dental and life insurance benefits immediately upon your
first day of employment. With respect to severance benefits, should your
employment be involuntarily terminated for other than malfeasance, you will be
entitled to one year continuation of your base salary, medical benefits and
company car benefits. Brochures on our various benefit programs, including the
Danaher Retirement and Savings Plan, are enclosed. If you would like to review
them or have any questions on benefits, please feel free to call Dennis Longo at
your convenience.

        Steve, this offer of employment is contingent upon:

        **   your completing and signing, prior to employment and yearly
             thereafter, our Inventions, Trademarks and Copyrights Agreement,
             Code of Business Conduct Certification, and Conflict of Interest
             Questionnaire (copies enclosed) and,

        **   successfully passing our pre-employment physical.

<PAGE>

Mr. Steven Simms
March 8, 1996
Page 3

     In order to confirm your understanding and acceptance of these terms and
conditions, please sign the original copy of this letter in the space indicated
below and return it to me. An additional copy is enclosed for your personal
records.

     I look forward to working with you on our "journey to excellence" as we
strive to achieve our vision and long-term objectives. Should you have any
questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to call.

                                                Best Regards,

                                                /s/ George M. Sherman
                                                    George M. Sherman

GMS/ljg

cc: Dennis Longo

I understand and accept the terms and conditions of this offer of employment.

                                        /s/ Steven Simms
                                        -------------------
                                        Steven Simms

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00049-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00049-of-00352.parquet"}]]