Director Shareholding

Reed International PLC
Elsevier NV
16 August 2001


LETTER TO COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OFFICE

Issued on behalf of Reed International P.L.C. and Elsevier NV 

We are writing to advise you that we have today received notification from Hill
Samuel Offshore Trust Company Limited, the Trustees of the Reed Elsevier
Employee Benefit Trust ('the Trust'), that they purchased on 15 August 2001
750,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 635.7904p per share and 550,000
ordinary shares at an average price of 639.8983p per share in Reed International
P.L.C. On the same date they purchased 538,000 ordinary shares at an average
price of EUR14.345 per share and 312,000 ordinary shares at an average price of
EUR14.3421 per share in Elsevier NV.

Following these purchases, the Trust now holds 1,837,924 ordinary shares in Reed
International P.L.C. and 1,133,442 ordinary shares in Elsevier NV.

The Trust is a discretionary employee benefit trust which is operated in
conjunction with Reed Elsevier's share option schemes, and which provides for
the transfer of shares to employees on the exercise of options granted under the
said schemes. Executive directors of Reed International P.L.C. and Elsevier NV
are, for technical disclosure purposes, deemed to be interested in the shares
held by the Trust, by virtue of being potential beneficiaries under the Trust.

FROM REED ELSEVIER PLC