Director Shareholding

Reed International PLC
Elsevier NV
18 October 2001


Letter to Company Announcements Office

We are writing to advise you that we have today received notification of the 
following transaction in the Ordinary shares of Elsevier NV:

D J Haank, a director of Reed International P.L.C. and Elsevier NV, purchased 
10,000 Elsevier NV ordinary shares at Euro 13.38 per share on 17 October, 2001.

As a consequence of the above transaction, Mr Haank now holds an interest in 
28,880 Elsevier ordinary shares.
 
Letter from Reed Elsevier Plc