Strong Start to 2004

19th April 2004

                             STRONG START TO 2004                              

The following is the text for the Reckitt Benckiser conference call to be given
today by Bart Becht, Chief Executive Officer, and Colin Day, Chief Financial
Officer, at 1400 hrs London time. The purpose of the call is to update the
market on the progress of the business in the first quarter of 2004.

Commenting on the position, Bart Becht said

'Reckitt Benckiser made a strong start to 2004. Net revenue growth was around
12% at constant exchange with profit growth substantially ahead of that rate.
Strong net revenue growth came behind the continued success of our product
innovations such as Vanish Oxi Action and Lysol Ready Brush, and was further
helped by favorable flu and pest season conditions in the first quarter. These
results position us well to reach our full year targets of net revenue growth
of 5% plus and net income growth of low double digits, both at constant
exchange.'

Update on Q1.

The first quarter saw strong underlying growth for the business, continuing
recent trends. Net revenue growth at constant exchange in the quarter was
around 12% (2003 base £848m).

Exchange had an adverse impact on net revenues in Q1 due to a weakening US
Dollar. This had an impact of around 4% points on net revenue growth.

Profitability benefited from improvement in gross margins partially offset by
an increase in media and marketing support behind new initiatives. Cash
generation continued to be strong, resulting in lower interest charges. The tax
rate was maintained at 26%. The Company looks for the Q1 net income growth rate
to be over 20%, well ahead of the full year target rate of low double digits
(2003 base £82m).

Full Year Targets

The full year targets announced in February are net revenue growth of 5% plus,
and net income growth of low double digits both at constant exchange. These
targets remain unchanged.

The full results for Q1 2004 will be released on 13th May 2004.

                     NEW PRESENTATION OF REGIONAL RESULTS                      

  * The Group announces that, following the internal management reorganization
    announced in 2003, it will publish 2004 results aligned with this new
    management structure, being Europe, North America & Australia and
    Developing Markets. The Group views these Areas as separate management
    entities, each with different risks and rewards, and therefore it is
    appropriate to use these Areas for external commentary on the Group's
    performance. The new presentation will also comply with International
    Accounting Standards, which the Group will adopt in 2005.
   
  * Europe now includes Eastern Europe, which was previously within Rest of
    World, in addition to Western Europe. This Area therefore better reflects
    the changing status of the wider Europe with enlargement of the EU. North
    America & Australia now includes Australia/New Zealand, previously within
    Asia Pacific. This Area shares common consumer and business
    characteristics. At the same time, the small but growing US Suboxone
    business has been reclassified from Europe to North America & Australia as
    it may become material in 2004/05. Developing Markets combines Latin
    America together with Asia and Africa/Middle East and therefore brings into
    a single Area all the Group's developing markets.
   
  * For information, the segmental results for 2003 by quarter are restated in
    the new Area format in the table below. These results will form the
    comparatives for the 2004 results.
   
                                        2003 Restated - new area basis        
                                                                              
                                       Q1       Q2       Q3       Q4 Full Year
                                                                              
Net revenues - by geographical         £m       £m       £m       £m        £m
area                                                                          
                                                                              
Europe                                444      498      494      473     1,909
                                                                              
North America & Australia             272      285      313      327     1,197
                                                                              
Developing Markets                    132      160      162      153       607
                                                                              
Total                                 848      943      969      953     3,713
                                                                              
Operating profit - by                                                         
geographical area                                                             
                                                                              
Europe                                 83      109      107      126       425
                                                                              
North America & Australia              37       40       64       88       229
                                                                              
Developing Markets                      0        8        8       11        27
                                                                              
Corporate                             (3)        6      (7)        2       (2)
                                                                              
Total                                 117      163      172      227       679
                                                                              
Operating margin - by                                                         
geographical area                                                             
                                                                              
Europe                              18.7%    21.9%    21.7%    26.6%     22.3%
                                                                              
North America & Australia           13.6%    14.0%    20.4%    26.9%     19.1%
                                                                              
Developing Markets                      -     5.0%     4.9%     7.2%      4.4%
                                                                              
Total                               13.8%    17.3%    17.8%    23.8%     18.3%

For further information                                                       
                                                                              
Reckitt Benckiser          Switchboard               [phone]      
                                                                              
Tom Corran       SVP Investor & Corporate Communications                      
                                                                              
Elvira Luykx     Corporate Communications Manager    Press Calls              
                                                                              
Mark Wilson      Investor Relations Manager          Analyst / Investors Calls
                                                                              
PR Agency                                                                     
                                                                              
Tim Spratt       Financial Dynamics                  [phone]