Transaction in Own Shares

Reed Elsevier PLC
21 March 2006

21 March 2006



ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REED ELSEVIER PLC AND REED ELSEVIER NV


                           Transactions in own shares


Reed Elsevier PLC announces that on 21 March 2006 it purchased 1,200,000 Reed
Elsevier PLC ordinary shares at a price of 544.5662 pence per share.  The
purchased shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase,
Reed Elsevier PLC holds 7,045,000 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in treasury,
and has 1,270,899,551 Reed Elsevier PLC ordinary shares in issue (excluding
treasury shares).


Reed Elsevier NV announces that on 21 March 2006, it purchased 800,000 Reed
Elsevier NV ordinary shares at a price of €11.7149 per share.  The purchased
shares will be held as treasury shares.  Following the above purchase, Reed
Elsevier NV holds 4,586,500 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in treasury, and
has 738,119,125 Reed Elsevier NV ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury
shares).






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