Holding(s) in Company

Reed Elsevier PLC
18 March 2003


Letter to RNS

                         Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares

I am writing to inform you that we have received yesterday a notification dated 
17 March 2003, 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 41,760,103 shares, representing 3.29% of the Company's current issued 
share capital.  Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of Prudential
plc, no longer has a notifiable interest in the issued share capital of the 
Company. 


Letter from L Dixon -  Deputy Secretary
Reed Elsevier PLC


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