Investor Seminar 12th October

Reed Elsevier PLC
12 October 2004


12 October 2004


                                  News release


       Issued on behalf of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV


       Investor Seminar on Reed Elsevier's Legal and Education businesses


Reed Elsevier is holding an investor seminar on its legal and education
businesses for investors and analysts in London on the morning of 12 October and
again in New York on the morning of 13 October.


The investor seminar will comprise presentations on the two divisions led by
Andy Prozes, CEO LexisNexis Group, and Pat Tierney, CEO Harcourt Education, with
members of their respective senior management teams.  The presentations will
provide an overview of the individual businesses, their markets and current
growth initiatives.


The investor seminar will be introduced by Sir Crispin Davis, Chief Executive
Officer of Reed Elsevier, who will also host a question and answer session
following the presentations.


A live audio webcast of the event will be available from 8.30am on Tuesday 12
October at www.reedelsevier.com.  A full copy of the presentation material and
an archived version of the webcast will be available during the course of the
day.


In line with the statements made at the time of the interim results on 5 August
2004 Reed Elsevier continues to target above market revenue growth and mid to
high single digit growth in adjusted earnings per share at constant currencies
for 2004.


Reed Elsevier will provide an update on trading on 2 December 2004.


For further information please contact


Sybella Stanley, Reed Elsevier, tel [phone] (Investor Relations)


Catherine May, Reed Elsevier, tel [phone] (Media)


www.reedelsevier.com


About LexisNexis


LexisNexis is a leader in comprehensive and authoritative legal, news and
business information and tailored applications.  In addition to its flagship
web-based research service, LexisNexis, the company includes some of the world's
most respected legal publishers such as Martindale-Hubbell, Matthew Bender,
Butterworths, Les Editions du Juris-Classeur, Abeledo-Perrot and Orac.  For more
information, please visit www.lexisnexis.com.


About Harcourt Education


Harcourt Education is a global education provider serving students and teachers
in Pre-K through grade 12, adult learners and readers of all ages. The Harcourt
Education companies are Harcourt School Publishers; Holt, Rinehart and Winston;
Harcourt Achieve; Harcourt Assessment; Harcourt Canada; Harcourt Religion
Publishers; Harcourt Trade Publishers; Greenwood/Heinemann and Heinemann Global
Library. For more information, please visit www.harcourt.com.


                                    - ends -


Forward looking statements


This announcement contains forward looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act 1934, as amended.  These statements are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties and actual results and events could differ
materially from those currently being anticipated as reflected in such forward
looking statements.  The terms 'expect', 'should be', 'will be', and similar
expressions identify forward looking statements.  Factors which may cause future
outcomes to differ from those foreseen in forward looking statements include,
but are not limited to: general economic conditions and business conditions in
Reed Elsevier's markets; exchange rate fluctuations; customers' acceptance of
its products and services; the actions of competitors; legislative, fiscal and
regulatory developments; changes in law and legal interpretation affecting Reed
Elsevier's intellectual property rights and internet communications; and the
impact of technological change.






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