3 1 jul1201_form3.txt FORM 3 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES OMB APROVAL OMB NUMBER: 3235-0104 Expires: December 31, 2001 Estimated average burden hours per response........0.5 Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (Print or Type Responses) 1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* REH Mergersub Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Last) (First) (Middle) 275 Washington Street, c/o Reed Elsevier Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Street) Newton MA 02458 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (City) (State) (Zip) 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) July 11, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (voluntary) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Harcourt General, Inc. (NYSE:H) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Relationship of Reporting Person to Issuer (Check all applicable) Director X 10% Owner --- --- Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) --- --- --------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) Form filed by One Reporting Person ---- X Form filed by More than One Reporting Person ---- Table I Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

FORM 3 (continued) Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

Page 2 of 2 Date of Event Requiring Statement: Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol: Harcourt General, Inc. (NYSE: H) SIGNATURES Dated: July 12, 2001 REH Mergersub Inc. By: /s/ Henry Z. Horbaczewski --------------------------------- Name: Henry Z. Horbaczewski Title: Vice President Reed Elsevier Inc. By: /s/ Henry Z. Horbaczewski --------------------------------- Name: Henry Z. Horbaczewski Title: Senior Vice President Reed Elsevier U.S. Holdings Inc. By: /s/ Henry Z. Horbaczewski --------------------------------- Name: Henry Z. Horbaczewski Title: Vice President Reed Elsevier Overseas BV By: /s/ Henry Z. Horbaczewski --------------------------------- Name: Henry Z. Horbaczewski Title: Attorney-in-Fact Reed Elsevier Holdings BV By: /s/ Henry Z. Horbaczewski --------------------------------- Name: Henry Z. Horbaczewski Title: Attorney-in-Fact Reed Elsevier plc By: /s/ Henry Z. Horbaczewski --------------------------------- Name: Henry Z. Horbaczewski Title: Attorney-in-Fact Reed International P.L.C. By: /s/ Henry Z. Horbaczewski --------------------------------- Name: Henry Z. Horbaczewski Title: Attorney-in-Fact Elsevier NV By: /s/ Henry Z. Horbaczewski --------------------------------- Name: Henry Z. Horbaczewski Title: Attorney-in-Fact

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