Director/PDMR Shareholding

Reed Elsevier PLC
06 April 2006





           ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


6 April 2006



    Notification of Transactions by Directors/Persons Discharging Managerial
                                Responsibilities




Reed Elsevier received notifications today from the Trustees of the Reed
Elsevier Employee Benefit Trust of the following transactions in the ordinary
shares of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV involving the directors noted
below, which took place on 4 April and 5 April 2006.


(a)       Sir Crispin Davis purchased 24,661 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares
and 16,375 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares under the Reed Elsevier Group plc
Bonus Investment Plan (the 'Plan'). As a result of these purchases, the interest
of Sir Crispin Davis has increased to 567,174 Reed Elsevier PLC and 324,344 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares.


Following the above purchase, Sir Crispin Davis was granted a matching award of
nil cost restricted shares under the terms of the Plan over 42,092 Reed Elsevier
PLC ordinary shares and 27,810 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares.


(b)       Mr M H Armour purchased 12,686 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares and
8,423 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares under the Plan.


Following the above purchase, Mr Armour was granted a matching award of nil cost
restricted shares under the terms of the Plan over 21,653 Reed Elsevier PLC and
14,306 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares.


Separately, Mr Armour sold 11,327 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares and 8,030
Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares at prices of 548p and €11.74 share.


Following the above transactions, the interests of Mr Armour has increased to
112,007 Reed Elsevier PLC and 47,150 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares.


(c)        Mr G J A van de Aast purchased 10,917 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary
shares and 7,248 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares under the Plan.  As a result
of these purchases, the interest of Mr van de Aast has increased to 36,169 Reed
Elsevier PLC and 57,940 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares.


Following the above purchase, Mr van de Aast was granted a matching award of nil
cost restricted shares under the terms of the Plan over 18,633 Reed Elsevier PLC
ordinary shares and 12,311 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares.


(d)       Mr E Engstrom purchased 7,509 Reed Elsevier PLC American Depositary
Shares ('ADRs') (representing 30,036 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares) under
the Plan. As a result of this purchase, the interest of Mr Engstrom has
increased to 49,289 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares and 26,678 Reed Elsevier
NV ordinary shares.


Following the above purchase, Mr Engstrom was granted a matching award of nil
cost restricted shares under the terms of the Plan over 11,020 Reed Elsevier PLC
ADRs (representing 44,080 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares).


(e)       Mr A Prozes purchased 4,763 Reed Elsevier PLC ADRs (representing
19,052 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares) and 6,362 Reed Elsevier NV ADRs
(representing 12,724 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares) under the Plan. As a
result of these purchases, the interests of Mr Prozes has increased to 123,740
Reed Elsevier PLC and 95,954 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares.


Following the above purchase, Mr Prozes was granted a matching award of nil cost
restricted shares under the terms of the Plan over 6,600 Reed Elsevier PLC ADRs
(representing 26,400 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares) and 8,818 Reed Elsevier
NV ADRs (representing 17,636 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares).


(f)         Mr P Tierney purchased 1,193 Reed Elsevier PLC ADRs (representing
4,772 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares) and 1,594 Reed Elsevier NV ADRs
(representing 3,188 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares) under the Plan.  As a
result of these purchases, the interest of Mr Tierney has increased to 47,212
Reed Elsevier PLC and 32,090 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares.


Following the above purchase, Mr Tierney was granted a matching award of nil
cost restricted shares under the terms of the Plan over 2,031 Reed Elsevier PLC
ADRs (representing 8,124 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares) and 2,713 Reed
Elsevier NV ADRs (representing 5,426 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares).


The ordinary shares and ADRs purchased by the directors were at the following
prices:


Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares           548.4037p per share
Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares            €11.7412 per share
Reed Elsevier PLC ADRs                      $38.40279 per ADR
Reed Elsevier NV ADRs                       $28.7463 per ADR




The Reed Elsevier Group plc Bonus Investment Plan permits directors and other
senior executives to invest up to one half of their annual bonus in shares in
the company, and receive an equivalent award of nil cost restricted shares from
Reed Elsevier Group plc. The matching awards under the Plan vest after three
years, subject to the participant retaining the shares which they have purchased
under the Plan for a period of three years, and also subject to remaining in
Reed Elsevier's employment during this period.  In addition, in order for the
matching award to vest, growth in the average of the Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed
Elsevier NV adjusted EPS at constant currencies must exceed 6% per annum
compound during the three years 2006-2008.






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