Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
12 June 2006

12 June 2006


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


                           Transactions in own shares

Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 12 June 2006 it purchased 400,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 528.353 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares. Reed Elsevier PLC currently
holds 19,293,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury, and has
1,262,173,197 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 12 June, it purchased 200,000 Reed Elsevier
NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.5739 per share.  The purchased shares will
be held as treasury shares.  Reed Elsevier NV currently holds 12,531,500 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and has 732,496,064 Reed Elsevier NV
ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).



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