Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
28 April 2006

28 April 2006

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


                           Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 28 April 2006 it purchased 660,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 545.5909 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 12,299,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,268,693,655 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 28 April, it purchased 330,000 Reed Elsevier
NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.732 per share.  The purchased shares will
be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed Elsevier NV
holds 8,181,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and has
736,623,139 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).



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