Disposal

Pearson PLC
14 February 2008



14 February 2008



PEARSON SELLS DATA MANAGEMENT BUSINESS TO M&F WORLDWIDE FOR $225M


Pearson, the international media and education company, has agreed to sell its
Data Management business to M & F Worldwide Corp. for $225 million in cash. The
transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008, subject to
closing conditions.


The business manufactures scanners, prints forms and provides support services
for customers in education (for student testing, classroom attendance and grade
reporting) and in commercial and government organizations (for payroll, training
and customer satisfaction surveys). Headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, it became
part of Pearson through the acquisition of National Computer Systems in 2000. In
2007, it had external sales of $112 million and operating profit of $25 million.


M & F Worldwide is the indirect parent company of Scantron Corporation, which
provides assessment and survey solutions to education and commercial
organizations.


"This is a successful business that will benefit from being part of an
organization focused on scanning technologies across many industries," said
Marjorie Scardino, Pearson's chief executive. "For Pearson, this transaction
further sharpens our focus on our market-leading education and publishing
franchises."



ENDS



For more information:

Luke Swanson/ Simon Mays-Smith/ Charles Goldsmith        [phone]







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