Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
02 May 2006

2 May 2006



ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


                           Transactions in own shares

Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 2 May 2006 it purchased 600,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 541.7976 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 12,899,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,268,129,652 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 2 May 2006, it purchased 300,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.6936 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 8,481,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 736,350,184 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).





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