Further Extension of Offer

RECKITT & COLMAN PLC
29 September 1999


Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or
in part, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia
                        or Japan.
                            
    Proposed merger of Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser
                Extension of Offer Period
        

The  Boards  of  Reckitt & Colman plc  and  Benckiser  NV
announce  that the closing date of the Offer  by  Reckitt
Benckiser  Holdings  B.V.,  a  subsidiary  of  Reckitt  &
Colman,  for Benckiser B shares has been further extended
from  30th  September, 1999 until 17 November 1999.   The
extension   is   necessary  because  the  Federal   Trade
Commission  (FTC)  in  the  United  States  has  not  yet
concluded its review of the merger.

Reckitt  &  Colman  and  Benckiser  made  their  original
submission  to  the  FTC on 30 July,  shortly  after  the
announcement of the merger.  In the course of  September,
the  FTC  indicated  concern about the  overlap  (between
Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser) involving two non-core brands
in  two  categories in the US, representing approximately
one half of one per cent. of the combined revenues of the
enlarged group.

A  formal sale process is well under way with a  view  to
concluding a disposal of the brands. However, it  is  not
yet  possible  to say when the terms of a consent  decree
can be agreed with the FTC.

A  further  announcement will be made as soon  as  it  is
clear  when  completion  of the merger  can  take  place.
Although  the Offer has been extended until  17  November
1999,  the  Offer  Period may be closed  on  three  days'
notice   by  Reckitt  Benckiser  Holdings  B.V.   by   an
announcement to that effect.

These  materials  relate to the  Offer  and  are  not  an
extension  of a tender offer in the United States  or  to
any  US  person  for  any class of equity  securities  in
Benckiser.   The  Offer  will not be  made,  directly  or
indirectly,  in, or by use of any means of instrumentally
of  interstate  commerce  or of  the  mails,  or  of  any
facility  of  any  national securities exchange  of,  the
United  States (including its possessions or territories,
any  area  subject to its jurisdiction and any  political
subdivision  thereof) or to any US person and  cannot  be
accepted  by  any such use or otherwise from  within  the
United  States  or  by  any  US  person.   Any  purported
acceptance   of   the   Offer  involving,   directly   or
indirectly,  any  such means, instrumentality,  mails  or
facility or otherwise from within the United States or by
any US person will be deemed invalid.

None  of the securities offered as consideration will  be
registered  under  the United States  Securities  Act  of
1933,   as   amended  (the  'Act').   Accordingly,   such
securities may not be offered, sold or delivered  in  the
United States or to US persons, unless an exemption  from
the registration requirements of the Act is available.

This announcement and related materials do not constitute
an offer of Reckitt & Colman Shares.

For further information

David Saltmarsh               44 1753 746676
Company Secretary
Reckitt & Colman plc

Tom Corran
SVP Corporate Communications  31 20 405 7534
Benckiser N.V.

Bobby Leach                   44 171 905 2537
Shandwick