Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
20 March 2006

20 March 2006



ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV





                           Transactions in own shares



Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 20 March 2006 it purchased 900,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 545.2594 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 5,845,000 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury,
and has 1,272,084,016 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding
treasury shares).



Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 20 March 2006, it purchased 600,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.7742 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 3,786,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 738,839,793 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).






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