Chairman's Statement, etc

Pearson PLC
12 May 2000


PEARSON MAKES STRONG START TO THE YEAR 

At today's annual general meeting, Lord Stevenson, chairman of Pearson plc,
reported that the company has made a strong start to the year and is
continuing to step up investment in developing its new internet enterprises.

Lord Stevenson said: ' We are very pleased with current trading across the
company. Although much of our profits are made in the second half of the year,
we can report that, at this stage, our business operations are in good shape
to deliver further growth in revenues and margins. We are also continuing to
invest in developing the internet enterprises that will secure the company's
longer term growth.'

In an update on business operations, Marjorie Scardino, Pearson's chief
executive, reported that:

* Pearson has now acquired Dorling Kindersley Holdings plc and is moving ahead
swiftly with its integration within The Penguin Group and the expansion of its
properties across Pearson's education and television businesses.

* The proposed merger of Pearson Television with CLT-UFA to create Europe's
largest television and radio broadcast and content company is on track for
completion later in the year.

* The Financial Times group's network of international business newspapers is
continuing to generate strong circulation and advertising growth.

* Pearson Education has made a good start to the year, with its US school
operations benefiting from the successful launch of a new elementary reading
programme and its US college and international operations also performing
strongly.

* Pearson is continuing to step up its investment in developing internet
enterprises, focusing on its network of international business, investor and
personal finance websites and its planned online consumer education network.
These internet enterprises are all making good progress:

The FT group's online business portals are continuing to generate strong
traffic growth and are on track to treble revenues this year from £7m in 1999.
FT.com services will be launched via mobile phone next month.

FT MarketWatch, the joint venture with MarketWatch.com, operator of America's
leading investor website, and mesfinances.fr, a new French language personal
finance site modelled on FTYourMoney.com, will both launch early next month.

The first channels within the planned online consumer education network are on
track to launch this autumn as Pearson continues to develop the education
alliance partnerships announced in March. 

For further information

John Fallon              Pearson plc                     + 44 (0) 20 7411 2310
Kate Inverarity                                          + 44 (0) 20 7404 5959