Holding in Company

Pearson PLC
3 August 2000


LETTER TO COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OFFICE

Notification of major interests in shares
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We write in accordance with rule 9.11 under the continuing obligations section
of the Listing Rules, to notify you that we received information on 3 August
that, pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, the shareholding of
CGNU plc: Asset Management Companies which equals 625,134,090 shares, now
represents 3.5% of the issued ordinary share capital of Pearson plc.

The registered holders of the shares are:

     Hibernian Investment Managers Limited               15,000
     Morley Fund Management Limited                  11,850,605
     Norwich Union Investment Management Limited      9,894,616
                                                     ----------
                                                     21,760,221

From:  J M Casson (Company Secretary)