Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
18 March 2008


18 March 2008


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 18 March 2008, it purchased 500,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 631.1277 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 32,531,298 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in
treasury, and has 1,100,254,884 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).


Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 18 March 2008, it purchased 325,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of Euro12.0267 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 22,877,791 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 636,431,001 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).




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