Holding(s) in Company

Reed Elsevier PLC
16 October 2002

Letter to RNS

                     Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares

I am writing to inform you that we have received a notification dated 15 October
2002, in accordance with Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended) that the
interest of Prudential plc in the ordinary shares of Reed Elsevier PLC is now
43,270,634 shares, representing 3.37% of the Company's current issued share
capital, of which holding 42,502,898 shares (3.32%) are held by its subsidiary
company. The Prudential Assurance Company Limited.

From Reed Elsevier PLC


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