Holding(s) in Company

Reed Elsevier PLC
16 December 2003



Letter to RNS

                         Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares


I am writing to inform you that we received today a notification dated 15
December 2003, in accordance with Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as
amended), that the interest of Franklin Resources, Inc. and its affiliates, in
the ordinary shares of Reed Elsevier PLC is 41,259,790 shares, representing
3.25% of the Company's current issued share capital.


Letter from Reed Elsevier PLC




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange