APPLERA CORP
THIRD AMENDMENT TO EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.25
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>b313829_ex10-25.txt
<DESCRIPTION>THIRD AMENDMENT TO EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.25

                                 THIRD AMENDMENT
                             THE EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN
                                       OF
                          THE PERKIN-ELMER CORPORATION


WHEREAS, the Applera Corporation ("Company") last restated The Excess Benefit
Plan of The Perkin-Elmer Corporation ("Plan") effective October 1, 1995; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 of the
Plan reserves the right to amend the Plan from time to time; and

WHEREAS, it has been determined that an amendment is required at this time.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan be amended with the effective date as stipulated below:


1.       Effective January 1, 2001, Section 4.2 of the Plan is amended in its
         entirety and shall now reads as follows:

         "Section 4.2 - Form of Benefit Payment. Benefits payable to or on
         behalf of an Employee or his Beneficiary resulting from the provisions
         of Section 4.1 shall be payable as follows:

         a)       A benefit payable under Section 4.1(a) shall be paid in
                  monthly installments after adjustment in accordance with the
                  optional form of benefits elected under the Pension Plan.
                  Notwithstanding, if the lump sum present value of an
                  Employee's benefit at time of payment is equal to or less than
                  $5,000, such benefit shall be paid in a lump sum.

         b)       The form of a benefit payable under Section 4.1(b) shall be
                  subject to the discretion of the Committee. It may be paid in
                  the form of a lump sum, a term certain annuity, single life
                  annuity, joint and survivor annuity or by a combination of
                  such methods. Notwithstanding, if the Employee's Account at
                  time of payment is equal to or less than $5,000, such Account
                  shall be paid in a lump sum."


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