Disposal Update

Reed Elsevier PLC
28 November 2007


                                    News Release

           Issued on behalf of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV

                                                           For immediate release
                                                                28 November 2007


CLEARANCE BY US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OF SALE OF HARCOURT US SCHOOLS EDUCATION
BUSINESS TO HOUGHTON MIFFLIN RIVERDEEP GROUP

Reed Elsevier is pleased to announce today that the $4.0 billion sale of its
Harcourt US Schools Education Business to Houghton Mifflin Riverdeep Group,
announced on 16 July 2007, has received clearance from the US Department of
Justice.  Completion of this transaction is expected to take place in
mid-December.

The US regulatory review of the sale of the Harcourt Assessment business to
Pearson is continuing and this transaction is expected to complete by late 2007/
early 2008.  The sale of the Harcourt Education International businesses to
Pearson completed earlier in 2007.  The sale of the Harcourt Assessment and
International businesses to Pearson was announced on 4 May 2007.

The aggregate net proceeds of the sale of the entire Harcourt Education division
of approximately $4.0 billion will be returned to shareholders by way of special
dividend in the equalisation ratio followed by a corresponding consolidation of
the share capitals of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV.

Further details of the special dividend and the share consolidation will be
announced on completion of the sale to Houghton Mifflin Riverdeep Group and
these transactions will be implemented shortly thereafter, expected to be in
January 2008.  The aggregate net proceeds will be distributed irrespective of
whether or not the sale of Harcourt Assessment to Pearson has closed.

                                    - ends -

For further information please contact:

Sybella Stanley             Tel: [phone]
(Investors)

Tim Haigh                   Tel: [phone]
(Media)



Notes to editors

Reed Elsevier Group plc

Reed Elsevier Group plc is a world leading publisher and information provider.
It is owned equally by its two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed
Elsevier NV.  The parent companies are listed on the London, Amsterdam and New
York Stock Exchanges, under the following ticker symbols: London: REL;
Amsterdam: REN; New York: RUK and ENL.  In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted
profit before taxation of £1,052 million on turnover of £5,398 million.  The
group employs 36,000 people, including approximately 20,000 in North America.
Operating in the scientific, legal, educational and business-to-business
sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high value and flexible information solutions to
professional end users, with increasing emphasis on internet delivery.




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