EU Merger Clearance

RECKITT & COLMAN PLC
3 September 1999


                             EU MERGER CLEARANCE                              

The Boards of Reckitt & Colman plc and Benckiser N.V. are pleased to announce
that the European Commission has given clearance under E.U. Merger Regulations
for the proposed merger of the two companies to form Reckitt Benckiser plc.



Enquiries:

David Saltmarsh                     01753 746676 
Company Secretary

Bobby Leach                         0171 329 0096 
Shandwick