Directors' Notification of Dealing in Shares

Reed International PLC
14 August 2000


Letter to Company Announcements dated 11 August 2000

We are writing to advise you that we received notification today of the
following transactions in Reed International P.L.C. and Elsevier NV ordinary
shares, in respect of Andrew Prozes, a director of Reed International P.L.C.

(a) Grant of executive share options

The following grants have been made under the Reed Elsevier plc Executive Share
Option Scheme:

Date of     No. of Reed         No. of Elsevier shares          Exercisable
Grant       International       over which an option has     
            shares over which   been granted at EURO13.60
            an option has been  per share
            granted at 566p
            per share

9.08.2000     188,281               131,062                    2003-2010

Exercise of the above options is subject to the earnings per share performance
conditions, as described in the company's Annual Financial Statements.

(b) Grant of Long-Term Incentive options

The following grants have been made under the Reed Elsevier plc Senior Executive
Long-Term Incentive Scheme:

Date of     No. of Reed          No. of Elsevier shares          Exercisable
Grant       International        over which an option has
            shares over which    been granted at EURO13.60
            an option has been   per share
            granted at 566p 
            per share

9.08.2000     941,406               655,310                         2005

Exercise of the above options is subject to the Total Shareholder Return
performance conditions, as described in a circular to shareholders dated 21
March 2000.

(c) Grant of options over restricted shares

The following grants have been made:

Date of     No. of Reed          No. of Elsevier shares          Exercisable
            International        over which a nil cost           on or after
            shares over          option has been granted
            which a nil cost                   
            option has been
            granted

9.08.2000      20,169               14,040                       9 August 2001 
9.08.2000      20,169               14,040                       9 August 2002
9.08.2000      20,169               14,040                       9 August 2003

Letter from Reed International P.L.C.