Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
13 August 2007




13 August 2007


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 13 August 2007, it purchased 900,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 598.9198 pence per share. The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares. Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 25,488,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,278,454,954 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 13 August 2007, it purchased 900,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of Euro12.9687per share. The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 17,816,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 741,673,180 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).



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