Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
14 June 2006


14 June 2006


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


                           Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 14 June 2006 it purchased 600,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 514.2006 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares. Reed Elsevier PLC currently
holds 20,493,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury, and has
1,260,973,491 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 14 June 2006, it purchased 300,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.2703 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Reed Elsevier NV currently holds
13,131,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and has 731,899,643
Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).


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