Holding in Company

Pearson PLC
7 January 2002

Letter to Company Announcements Office


Notification of change in interest in shares
 
We write in accordance with rule 9.12, under the continuing obligations
section of the Listing Rules, to notify you that we have today received
information that, pursuant to section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, the
shareholding of The Capital Group Companies, Inc., which equals 56,029,146
shares, now represents 7% of the issued ordinary share capital of Pearson
plc.
 
The registered holders of the shares are listed on the schedules below.

Letter from Pearson PLC 


As of 3 January 2002 

Pearson plc

 
                                       Number of Shares   Percent of Outstanding
                                             
 
The Capital Group Companies. Inc.        56,029,146          7.01%
('CG') holdings
Holdings by CG Management Companies
and Funds: 
 
Capital Guardian Trust Company         31,641,471.00          3.96% 
Capital International Limited          11,333,008.00          1.42%
Capital International S.A.              2,031,669.00          0.25%
Capital International, Inc.             3,405,726.00          0.43% 
Capital Research and Management         7,617,272.00          0.95%
Company
      
                              Schedule A

 
 
               Schedule of holdings in Pearson plc 
                    As of 3 January 2002
 
               Capital Guardian Trust Company 


Registered Name                               Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                4,449,271 
Bank of New York Nominees                      718,300  
Chase Nominees Limited                      12,531,883    
BT Globenet Nominees Ltd.                      228,800
Midland Bank plc                             6,768,400  
Deutsche Bank Mannheim                           2,300  
Bankers Trust                                1,409,000    
Barclays Bank                                  526,500

                             Schedule B


Citibank London                                848,786 
Nortrust Nominees                            3,853,131
Royal Bank of Scotland                          13,000
MSS Nominees Limited                            33,500
State Street Bank & Trust Co.                   23,400
RBSTB Nominees Ltd.                              3,100
*New Account*                                   20,000
Nominee Information Not Available
Citibank NA Toronto                             39,200
HSBC Bank plc                                    8,100


                             Schedule B

ROY Nominees Limited                            47,700
Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited                   117,100

                                   TOTAL    31,641,471

                             Schedule B

 
                  Capital International Limited

 
Registered Name                              Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                376,198
Bank of New York Nominees                    890,646
Chase Nominees Limited                     2,773,426
Midland Bank plc                              22,900
Bankers Trust                              4,057,598
Citibank London                               81,237
Morgan Guaranty                              331,459
Nortrust Nominees                          1,784,220


                              Schedule B
                                            
Royal Bank of Scotland                         8,100
MSS Nominees Limited                          33,600
Lloyds Bank                                   18,000
Citibank                                      14,800
Deutsche Bank AG                             564,709
HSBC Bank plc                                157,900
KAS UK                                        13,025
Bank One London                              188,000
Clydesdale Bank plc                           17,100

                                    TOTAL 11,333,008
 

                              Schedule B
 

                    Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                              Local Shares
 
State Street Nominees Limited               107,536 
Bank of New York Nominees                    57,327
Chase Nominees Limited                      709,953
Credit Suisse London Branch                  20,000
Midland Bank plc                            183,400
Barclays Bank                               233,718
Royal Bank of Scotland                      476,118
National Westminster Bank                    53,300

                              Schedule B

Lloyds Bank                                  26,400
Vidacos Nominees Ltd.                        19,090
RBSTB Nominees Ltd.                          33,327
Citibank NA Toronto                          12,000
Deutsche Bank AG                             56,100
HSBC Bank plc                                43,400

                                   TOTAL  2,031,669

                              Schedule B


                   Capital International, Inc. 

Registered Name                         Local Shares
 
State Street Nominees Limited             1,148,279     
Bank of New York Nominees                   188,126
Chase Nominees Limited                    1,563,021
Midland Bank plc                             18,300
Deutsche Bank Mannheim                       17,300
Bankers Trust                                 8,800
Citibank London                               6,900
Nortrust Nominees                           262,700

  
                             Schedule B

State Street Bank & Trust Co.               162,000
Citibank NA Toronto                          14,800
Deutsche Bank AG                             15,500

 
                                 TOTAL    3,405,726

                             Schedule B


 
               Capital Research and Management Company

 
Registered Name                         Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited               500,000
Chase Nominees Limited                    7,117,272


                                    TOTAL 7,617,272 


                              Schedule B