Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
31 May 2006


31 May 2006

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV



                           Transactions in own shares

Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 31 May 2006 it purchased 200,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 521.1875 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares. Reed Elsevier PLC currently
holds 18,503,500 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury, and has
1,262,870,464 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).

Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 31 May, it purchased 300,000 Reed Elsevier NV
ordinary shares at a price of €11.3617 per share.  The purchased shares will be
held as treasury shares.  Reed Elsevier NV currently holds 12,201,500 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and has 732,800,390 Reed Elsevier NV
ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).



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