Holding(s) in Company

Pearson PLC
10 July 2002


Letter to RNS

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 70,835,269 shares, now represents
8.85% 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


                                                    Number of        Percent of
                                                       Shares       Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies, Inc. ("CG")holdings   70,835,269           8.85%

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:

• Capital Guardian Trust Company                   39,974,326.00        4.99%

• Capital International Limited                    13,758,091.00        1.72%

• Capital International S.A.                        3,382,915.00        0.42%

• Capital International, Inc.                       6,102,665.00        0.76%

• Capital Research and Management Company           7,617,272.00        0.95%


                                    Schedule A



                       Schedule of holdings in Pearson plc
                                    As of 8 July 2002

                           Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                                 Local Shares

*New Account*                                                     16,000
Nortrust Nominees                                              4,691,892
State Street Nominees Limited                                  5,755,971
Bank of New York Nominees                                        913,300
Chase Nominees Limited                                        15,710,296
BT Globenet Nominees Ltd                                         351,500
Midland Bank plc                                               8,455,500
Cede & Co                                                        175,420
Deutsche Bank Mannheim                                             2,300
Bankers Trust                                                  1,710,400
Deutsche Bank AG                                                   5,100
Citibank London                                                  632,986
Clydesdale Bank plc                                                2,300
Royal Bank of Scotland                                            16,600
MSS Nominees Limited                                              77,200
State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                     47,000
RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                                 3,100
Citibank NA                                                       28,400
HSBC Bank plc                                                     15,700
ROY Nominees Limited                                              64,400
Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited                                     465,361
Barclays Bank                                                    833,600

                                                 TOTAL        39,974,326

                                  Schedule B                               


                         Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                                 Local Shares

MSS Nominees Limited                                              45,600
State Street Bank & Trust Co                                     265,000
Lloyds Bank                                                       31,500
HSBC Bank plc                                                    926,700
Royal Bank of Scotland                                             8,100
Clydesdale Bank plc                                               58,700
Deutsche Bank AG                                                 880,936
Bank One London                                                  195,000
Morgan Guaranty                                                  349,559
Citibank London                                                   96,127
Bankers Trust                                                  2,537,071
Midland Bank plc                                                  44,400
Chase Nominees Limited                                         3,582,126
Bank of New York Nominees                                      2,046,365
State Street Nominees Limited                                    340,762
KAS UK                                                            25,425
Nortrust Nominees                                              2,324,720

                                                 TOTAL        13,758,091

                                  Schedule B                               




                         Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                                 Local Shares

National Westminster Bank                                         76,600
HSBC Bank plc                                                     93,600
Deutsche Bank AG                                                 119,300
Citibank NA                                                       12,000
RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                                 9,427
Credit Suisse London Branch                                       20,000
Vidacos Nominees Ltd                                              44,090
Lloyds Bank                                                       50,200
Royal Bank of Scotland                                           871,418
Brown Bros.                                                       50,400
Citibank London                                                   27,000
Midland Bank plc                                                 432,300
Chase Nominees Limited                                         1,126,599
Bank of New York Nominees                                         91,727
State Street Nominees Limited                                     10,636
State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                     27,000
Barclays Bank                                                    320,618

                                                 TOTAL         3,382,915 

                                  Schedule B                               





                         Capital International, Inc.

Registered Name                                                 Local Shares

RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                                23,900
Deutsche Bank Mannheim                                            25,000
State Street Nominees Limited                                  1,732,315
Bank of New York Nominees                                        582,726
Bankers Trust                                                      8,800
Citibank London                                                   26,400
Nortrust Nominees                                                524,800
Royal Bank of Scotland                                            58,100
Chase Nominees Limited                                         2,035,640
Citibank                                                          14,800
*New Account*                                                     14,100
Citibank NA                                                       58,957
Deutsche Bank AG                                                  62,700
Chase Manhattan Nominee Ltd.                                      11,427
State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                    762,500
Midland Bank plc                                                 141,500
HSBC Bank plc                                                     19,000

                                                  TOTAL        6,102,665 

                                  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                               



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