Holding(s) in Company

Reed Elsevier PLC
16 February 2004


Letter to RNS

         Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares of Reed Elsevier PLC

I am writing to inform you that we received today a notification dated 13 
February 2004, in accordance with Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as 
amended), that the interest of The Capital Group Companies, Inc and its 
affiliates, in the ordinary shares of Reed Elsevier PLC is 77,918,935 shares, 
representing 6.13% of the Company's current issued share capital.

Letter from L Dixon
            Reed Elsevier PLC


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