Holding in Company

Pearson PLC
11 December 2000


NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

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 11 December
that, pursuant to section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, the shareholding of
CGNU plc: Asset Management Companies which equals 23,451,744 shares, now
represents 2.94% of the issued ordinary share capital of Pearson plc.


The registered holders of the shares are:

BNY (Nominees) Limited                      24,807
BNY Norwich Union Nominees Limited       9,827,170
BT Globenet Nominees Limited                 5,548
Chase GA Group Nominees Limited          8,595,886
Chase GA Pension Nominees Limited          394,052
Chase Nominees Limited                      49,512
CUIM Nominee Limited                     4,530,860
Hibernian Investment Managers Limited       19,088
State Street Bank Nominees Limited           4,821
                                        ----------
                                        23,451,744