FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Lee-Ann Silver
203-353-5100
leeann.silver@kaobrands.com

THE ANDREW JERGENS COMPANY CHANGES COMPANY NAME TO KAO BRANDS COMPANY

September 7, 2004, Cincinnati, Ohio – The Andrew Jergens Company announced that effective today, it will change its name to Kao Brands Company. Additionally, effective today, its wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, Jergens Canada Inc. will become Kao Brands Canada Inc.

Also effective today, John Frieda Professional Hair Care, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kao Brands Company is being dissolved and its business and assets are being transferred to Kao Brands Company.

Earlier this year, the wholly-owned European subsidiaries of Kao Brands Company, John Frieda UK Limited and John Frieda SarL (France) became Kao Brands Europe Limited and Kao Brands Europe SarL respectively. The German-based Guhl Ikebana GmbH, a majority owned joint venture which became a subsidiary of Kao Brands Company in 2003, will not change its name but will be identified under the Kao Brands logo.

Since being acquired in 1988 by the Japan-based Kao Corporation, the new Kao Brands Company portfolio of mass market premium beauty care brands has expanded from Jergens^® lotion and cleansing products to now include Curél^® hand and body lotions; Bioré^® facial care products; Ban^® antiperspirants; John Frieda^® Frizz-Ease^®, Sheer Blonde^®, Brilliant Brunette™, and Beach Blonde^® professional hair care products; and Guhl^® hair care products.

“The decision to change the company name was driven by the need to reflect the significant expansion of the scope of our global business portfolio, and to leverage the reputation of our parent company, Kao Corporation, the leading consumer products company in Japan,” said Bill Gentner, President and CEO. “The new Kao Brands Company umbrella is an important step in unifying the company’s various operating units in our quest to build our global beauty business.”

In conjunction with the company name change, the company will launch www.kaobrands.com, a new website that will allow visitors to learn more about the new Kao Brands Company.