Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
07 May 2008


7 May 2008


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 7 May 2008, it purchased 300,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 658.9147 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 33,896,298 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,100,646,899 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).


Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 7 May 2008, it purchased 175,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of Euro12.5418 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 23,752,791 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 636,267,155 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).




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