Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
25 April 2006

25 April 2006


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV

                           Transactions in own shares

Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 25 April 2006 it purchased 750,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 551.2402 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 10,521,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,270,388,151 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 25 April 2006, it purchased 750,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.8928 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 7,246,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 737,487,776 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).


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