Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
15 June 2006

15 June 2006

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV

                           Transactions in own shares

Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 15 June 2006 it purchased 100,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 514.8 pence per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares. Reed Elsevier PLC currently holds
20,593,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury, and has 1,260,873,491
Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 15 June 2006, it purchased 250,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.2765 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Reed Elsevier NV currently holds
13,381,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and has 731,649,643
Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).

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