Holding(s) in Company

Reed Elsevier PLC
24 May 2002

Letter to RNS

               Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares

I am writing to inform you that we have received today a notification dated 21
May 2002, in accordance with Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended),
that the interest of Barclays PLC, and its subsidiary companies, in the ordinary
shares of Reed Elsevier PLC is 38,376,123 shares, representing 3.03% of the
Company's current issued share capital. 



Letter from L. Dixon
            Deputy Secretary
            Reed Elsevier Plc


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