Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
18 May 2006


 18 May 2006


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


                           Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 18 May 2006 it purchased 720,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 516.0345 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Reed Elsevier PLC currently
holds 17,478,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury, and has
1,263,836,431 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 18 May 2006, it purchased 470,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.3021 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares. Reed Elsevier NV currently holds
11,361,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and has 733,587,978
Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).




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