Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
26 April 2006


26 April 2006

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


                           Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 26 April 2006 it purchased 368,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 552.3071 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 10,889,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,270,035,718 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 26 April 2006, it purchased 230,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.8577 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 7,476,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 737,266,060 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).






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