Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
30 August 2007

30 August 2007


           ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV

                           Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 30 August 2007, it purchased 600,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 592.8692 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 31,713,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,272,291,173 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 30 August 2007, it purchased 400,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of Euro13.0733 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 23,591,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 735,913,994 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).

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