Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
17 August 2007


17 August 2007


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 17 August 2007, it purchased 825,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 570.7801 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 27,713,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,276,260,062 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).


Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 17 August 2007, it purchased 825,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of Euro12.4012 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 20,041,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 739,449,453 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).




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