Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
25 May 2006


25 May 2006

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV



                           Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 25 May 2006 it purchased 200,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 513.5471 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares. Reed Elsevier PLC currently
holds 18,303,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury, and has
1,263,069,136 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 25 May 2006, it purchased 130,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.2519 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Reed Elsevier NV currently holds
11,901,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and has 733,054,773
Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).



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