Director/PDMR Shareholding

Reed Elsevier PLC
03 August 2006

           ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV

3 August 2006

                           Director/PDMR Shareholding

Reed Elsevier received notification today from Hill Samuel Offshore Trust
Company Limited, the Trustees of the Reed Elsevier Employee Benefit Trust ('the
Trust') that as at 31 July 2006 the Trust held an interest in 17,450,325 shares
in Reed Elsevier PLC and 9,448,787 shares in Reed Elsevier NV.

The Trust is a discretionary employee benefit trust which is operated in
conjunction with Reed Elsevier's share incentive schemes, and which provides for
the transfer of shares to employees on the exercise of awards granted under the
said schemes. Executive directors of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV are,
for technical disclosure purposes, deemed to be interested in the shares held by
the Trust, by virtue of being potential beneficiaries under the Trust.


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