Holding in Company

Pearson PLC
21 May 2001


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 33,322,088, now represents 4.19% of
the issued ordinary share capital of Pearson plc.

The registered holders of the shares are listed on the below schedules.


SCHEDULE A

As of 16 May 2001

Pearson plc

                                                      Number of      Percent of
                                                         Shares     Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies, Inc. ('CG') holdings    33,322,088        4.19%

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:

-  Capital Guardian Trust Company                    18,766,048        2.36

-  Capital International Limited                      8,838,115        1.11%

-  Capital International S.A.                           787,069        0.10%

-  Capital International, Inc.                        1,666,311        0.21%

-  Capital Research and Management Company            3,264,545        0.41%

      

SCHEDULE B

                        Schedule of holdings in Pearson plc
                                 As of 16 May 2001

                          Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                             Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                2,594,771

Bank of New York Nominees                                      366,800

Chase Nominees Limited                                       7,444,365

BT Globenet Nominees Ltd.                                      102,500

Midland Bank plc                                             3,955,300

Cede & Co.                                                      13,495

Deutsche Bank Mannheim                                           1,200

Bankers Trust                                                  884,000

Barclays Bank                                                  302,000

Citibank London                                                632,286

Nortrust Nominees                                            2,331,631

Royal Bank of Scotland                                           8,400

MSS Nominees Limited                                            22,600

National Westminster Bank                                        2,900

Lloyds Bank                                                      3,200

RBSTB Nominees Ltd.                                              3,100

Citibank NA                                                     26,800

Deutsche Bank AG                                                 3,200

HSBC Bank plc                                                    1,100

ROY Nominees Limited                                            18,100

Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited                                    48,300

                                                 TOTAL      18,766,048

                                    

                          Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                             Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                  401,703

Bank of New York Nominees                                      716,961

Chase Nominees Limited                                       2,578,206

Midland Bank plc                                                17,000

Bankers Trust                                                3,456,598

Citibank London                                                 72,000

Morgan Guaranty                                                 10,359

Nortrust Nominees                                            1,181,827

Royal Bank of Scotland                                           7,100

MSS Nominees Limited                                            27,600

Lloyds Bank                                                     12,700

Vidacos Nominees Ltd                                             9,327

Citibank                                                        14,800

Deutsche Bank AG                                               296,909

HSBC Bank plc                                                   22,000

KAS UK                                                          13,025

                                                   TOTAL     8,838,115
 



                             Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                            Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                  36,736

Bank of New York Nominees                                      25,827

Chase Nominees Limited                                        297,053

Credit Suisse London Branch                                    12,100

Midland Bank plc                                               77,700

Barclays Bank                                                  63,818

Royal Bank of Scotland                                        168,218

National Westminster Bank                                      22,700

Lloyds Bank                                                    15,700

Vidacos Nominees Ltd.                                          19,090

RBSTB Nominees Ltd.                                            16,127

Deutsche Bank AG                                               32,000

                                                     TOTAL    787,069


                             Capital International, Inc.

Registered Name                                             Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                 481,500

Bank of New York Nominees                                      59,890

Chase Nominees Limited                                        911,521

Midland Bank plc                                               14,400

Deutsche Bank Mannheim                                         31,500

Bankers Trust                                                   5,800

Citibank London                                                 5,000

Nortrust Nominees                                             103,400

State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                  30,000

Citibank NA                                                    11,100

Deutsche Bank AG                                               12,200

                                                   TOTAL    1,666,311



                     Capital Research and Management Company

Registered Name                                           Local Shares

Chase Nominees Limited                                      3,264,545

                                                   TOTAL    3,264,545