Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
09 May 2006

9 May 2006

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV

                           Transactions in own shares

Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 9 May 2006 it purchased 288,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 542.2865 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 14,961,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,266,242,236 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 9 May 2006, it purchased 180,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.7527 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 9,741,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 735,110,584 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).


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