Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
30 March 2006

30 March 2006



ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV





                           Transactions in own shares



Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 30 March 2006 it purchased 382,500 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 559.2074 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 9,471,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury,
and has 1,269,430,483 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding
treasury shares).



Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 30 March 2006, it purchased 250,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.9991 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 6,171,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 738,022,526 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).






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