Further re Merger, etc

RECKITT & COLMAN PLC
9 September 1999
                                              
  Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in
 part, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
                                
    PUBLIC OFFER FOR ALL ORDINARY B SHARES OF BENCKISER N.V.
  ACCEPTANCES RECEIVED IN RESPECT OF 94.3% OF ORDINARY B SHARES
                    EXTENSION OF OFFER PERIOD

Acceptances
In connection with the merger between Reckitt & Colman plc and
Benckiser N.V. and with reference to the Offer Document, the
Listing Particulars and the advertisement of 11 August 1999,
Reckitt Benckiser Holdings B.V., a subsidiary of Reckitt &
Colman plc, announces that as at 15.00 hours, Amsterdam time on
8 September 1999, 40,430,882 Benckiser B Shares had been
submitted for exchange in accordance with the Offer,
representing 94.3% of the outstanding Benckiser B Shares.
Together with the Benckiser A Shares which have been committed,
this represents 97.5% of the aggregate nominal amount of the
outstanding Benckiser share capital. As a result, the acceptance
condition which, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, has
been reduced to 75% of the aggregate nominal amount of
outstanding Benckiser A Shares and Benckiser B Shares, has been
met.

Extension
The Offer Period during which Benckiser B Shares can be
submitted for exchange is extended until 30 September 1999,
15.00 hours, Amsterdam time, unless further extended, in order
to allow for the completion of the review of the merger by the
Federal Trade Commission in the United States. If the Federal
Trade Commission approves the merger prior to 30 September 1999,
the Offer Period may be closed on three days notice by Reckitt
Benckiser Holdings B.V. by an announcement to that effect.

As announced on 3 September 1999, the European Commission has
declared the merger between Reckitt & Colman plc and Benckiser
N.V. compatible with the European common market. All other
conditions of the Offer are so far complied with and/or are
expected to be met in due course.

Submission
Holders of Benckiser B Shares who have deposited their Benckiser
B Shares with their bank or  stockbroker and who have not yet
submitted their Benckiser B Shares for exchange are requested to
do so by instructing their bank or stockbroker to submit their
Benckiser B Shares at Warburg Dillon Read (Nederland) B.V.,
Herengracht 564, 1017 CH Amsterdam, no later than 15.00 hours,
Amsterdam time on 30 September 1999.

Restrictions
The distribution of the Offer and the Offer Document may, in
certain jurisdictions, be restricted by law. Persons obtaining
the Offer Document are required to inform themselves of and
observe all such restrictions. Neither Reckitt Benckiser
Holdings B.V., nor Benckiser N.V., nor Reckitt  & Colman plc,
nor Warburg Dillon Read (Nederland) B.V. accept any liability
for any violation by any person of any such restriction.

Amsterdam, 9 September 1999
Reckitt Benckiser Holdings B.V.


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