Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
16 March 2006

16 March 2006



ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


                          Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 16 March 2006 it purchased 765,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 538.8531 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 4,525,000 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury,
and has 1,273,333,512 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding
treasury shares).


Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 16 March 2006, it purchased 500,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.6535 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 2,836,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 739,666,629 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).




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