Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
27 March 2006


27 March 2006

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV



                           Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 27 March 2006 it purchased 459,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 563.781 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 8,324,000 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury,
and has 1,270,103,644 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding
treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 27 March 2006, it purchased 300,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €12.1356 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 5,421,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 737,417,620 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).



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