Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
22 August 2007

22 August 2007



           ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV



                           Transactions in own shares





Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 22 August 2007, it purchased 950,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 582.7488 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 29,263,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,274,728,277 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).



Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 22 August 2007, it purchased 950,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of Euro12.8148 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 21,591,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 737,913,244 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).




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