Holding(s) in Company

Reed Elsevier PLC
07 January 2005



                     ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC


          Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares of Reed Elsevier PLC

Reed Elsevier PLC received a notification dated 5 January 2005, in accordance
with Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended), that the interest of Legal
& General Group plc and/or its subsidiaries in the ordinary shares of Reed
Elsevier PLC is 55,610,716 shares, representing 4.37% of the Company's current
issued share capital.



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