Cash Return to Shareholders

26th August 2003

                         CASH RETURN PROGRAM ANNOUNCED                         

                  Dividend Increase and Rolling Share Buyback                  

Reckitt Benckiser plc (RB.L) today announces a 10% higher dividend and a
rolling share buyback program, the latter financed by the free cash flow of the
business after dividends, which has averaged over £250m a year in the last 3
years.

Commenting on this announcement, Bart Becht, Chief Executive Officer of Reckitt
Benckiser plc said

'Today's announcement delivers on our commitment to return cash to our
shareholders if the Company reached a position of holding net funds. In
returning cash, shareholders have expressed a preference for both dividend
increases and rolling share buybacks. This program is further evidence of the
Company's commitment to delivering shareholder value.'

Surplus Cash-Flow Strategy

Reckitt Benckiser has consistently communicated its intention to use its strong
cash flow for the benefit of shareholders. Its first preference remains to
reinvest its financial resources back into the business through value-adding
acquisitions. The Company has also made clear its intention to distribute
surplus cash flow back to shareholders if the Company reached a position of
holding net funds. At the half year (30th June 2003) Reckitt Benckiser plc had
net funds of £95m.

Cash Return Program

The Company today sets out its proposed program for distributing its free cash
flow back to shareholders. This will be done through both increasing the
ordinary dividend and a rolling share buy back program, up to a maximum of the
Company's annual free cash flow. Over the three years 2000-2002, the Company
had average free cash flow per annum of £450m, of which £180m a year was paid
in dividends leaving average free cash flow after dividends of over £250m.

Dividend Income

The Directors have today announced an interim dividend of 14 pence a share, an
increase of 10% on last year. This is consistent with the Company's stated
policy at the time of its creation in 1999 of increasing the dividend once
coverage ratios reached the level of the industry peer group.

Rolling Share Buy Back

The Company also today announces a rolling share buy back program up to an
annual maximum of the Company's free cash flow after dividends. Shares will be
purchased through the open market and cancelled or used for the Company's
long-term incentive programs. It is the Company's intention to carry out this
program periodically across the year, taking account of the rules on share
repurchase, best practice in terms of execution and market conditions.

The Company already has permission from shareholders to repurchase up to 10% of
the Company's issued share capital. Based on the current market capitalisation
of Reckitt Benckiser of £8 billion, the proposed program will represent an
annual rolling program of around 3% of the issued share capital, comfortably
within this limit.

For Further Information

Tom Corran Reckitt Benckiser plc [phone]

SVP Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Mark Wilson Reckitt Benckiser plc [phone]

Investor Relations Manager

Tim Spratt Financial Dynamics [phone]