Holding(s) in Company

Reed Elsevier PLC
04 May 2004


4 May 2004

          Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares of Reed Elsevier PLC


I am writing to inform you that we received today a notification dated 30 April
2004, in accordance with Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended), that
the interest of The Capital Group Companies, Inc and its affiliates, in the
ordinary shares of Reed Elsevier PLC is 101,875,808 shares, representing 8.00%
of the Company's current issued share capital.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange