Reed Elsevier to Divest Springhouse

Reed International PLC
Elsevier NV
22 May 2000


        Issued on behalf of Reed International P.L.C. and Elsevier NV
      
                     Reed Elsevier to divest Springhouse 

Reed Elsevier plc today announced that it has entered into an agreement to
sell its US subsidiary, Springhouse Corporation, to Wolters Kluwer NV. 
Springhouse, based in Philadelphia, USA, is a leading provider of information
products and services to the US nursing market and reported revenues in 1999
of $59 million.  The transaction is subject to the normal regulatory processes
and is expected to complete next month.

In February this year, chief executive Crispin Davis announced that Reed
Elsevier plc planned to exit businesses, including Springhouse, that did not
fit directly with the company's strategy. 

Contact:
Susanna Smart
Tel: [phone]