Holding(s) in Company

Pearson PLC 12 April 2005 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 on 11 April 2005 we received information that, pursuant to section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, the shareholding of The Capital Group Companies, Inc., which equals to 120,195,010 shares, now represents 14.96% of the issued ordinary share capital of Pearson plc. The registered holders of the shares are listed on the schedule below. From: Pearson plc Letter to Pearson PLC Dated 7 April 2005 Amended - Section 198 Notification Notification of Decrease This Notice is given by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. on behalf of its affiliates, including Capital Research and Management Company, Capital International S.A., Capital International, Inc., Capital International Limited, and Capital Guardian Trust Company, pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985. The interest in the relevant share capital indicated below arises by virtue of holdings attributed to the Companies (see Schedule A). These holdings form part of funds managed on behalf of investment clients by the Companies. Share capital to which this relates: Ordinary Shares (803,524,574 shares outstanding) Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest: 120,195,010 Name(s) of registered holder(s): See Schedule B As of 7 April 2005 Number of Percent of Pearson plc Shares Outstanding The Capital Group Companies Inc. ("CG") holdings 120,195,010 14.959% Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds: * Capital Guardian Trust Company 57,817,021 7.195% * Capital International Limited 16,887,074 2.102% * Capital International S.A. 5,455,149 0.679% * Capital International Inc. 12,968,494 1.614% * Capital Research and Management Company 27,067,272 3.369% Schedule A Schedule of holdings in Pearson plc As of 7 April, 2005 Capital Guardian Trust Company Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 7,668,053 Bank of New York Nominees 1,851,958 Northern Trust 286,709 Chase Manhattan Bank Australia Limited 1,500 Chase Nominees Limited 25,182,007 BT Globenet Nominees Ltd. 761,835 Midland Bank plc 6,544,075 Cede & Co. 135,163 Deutsche Bank Mannheim 2,200 Bankers Trust 2,263,700 Barclays Bank 427,800 Citibank London 11,100 Royal Trust 14,500 Brown Bros. 32,900 Nortrust Nominees 8,558,582 Royal Bank of Scotland 113,300 MSS Nominees Limited 51,200 State Street Bank & Trust Co. 67,000 Citibank 13,600 RBSTB Nominees Ltd 2,200 Citibank NA 45,500 Deutsche Bank AG 2,100 HSBC Bank PLC 13,600 Mellon Bank N.A. 187,900 ROY Nominees Limited 45,800 Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited 1,903,904 HSBC 43,900 JP Morgan Chase Bank 1,584,935 TOTAL 57,817,021 Schedule B Capital International Limited Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 577,962 Bank of New York Nominees 4,024,619 Northern Trust 1,212,588 Chase Nominees Limited 2,842,315 Midland Bank Plc 78,200 Bankers Trust 283,071 Barclays Bank 67,200 Citibank London 136,166 Morgan Guaranty 284,300 Nortrust Nominees 3,068,146 Royal Bank of Scotland 850,600 MSS Nominees Limited 91,200 State Street Bank & Trust Co 411,100 National Westminster Bank 81,700 Lloyds Bank 53,600 Citibank NA 23,500 Deutsche Bank AG 1,319,836 HSBC Bank plc 1,051,630 Mellon Bank NA 43,316 KAS UK 61,425 Bank One London 199,600 Clydesdale Bank plc 99,500 JP Morgan Chase Bank 25,500 TOTAL 16,887,074 Schedule B Capital International S.A. Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 16,036 Bank of New York Nominees 27,700 Chase Nominees Limited 2,725,942 Credit Suisse London Branch 20,000 Midland Bank plc 744,500 Barclays Bank 329,718 Pictet & Cie, Geneva 10,900 Citibank London 21,200 Brown Bros. 117,000 Nortrust Nominees 11,300 Morgan Stanley 12,900 Royal Bank of Scotland 130,018 J.P. Morgan 577,883 State Street Bank & Trust Co. 45,600 National Westminster Bank 35,200 Lloyds Bank 44,300 RBSTB Nominees Ltd 60,100 Deutsche Bank AG 89,752 HSBC Bank plc 410,900 HSBC 24,200 TOTAL 5,455,149 Schedule B Capital International Inc. Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 4,302,457 Bank of New York Nominees 1,258,836 Northern Trust 52,600 Chase Nominees Limited 2,991,850 Midland Bank plc 334,600 Bankers Trust 51,500 Citibank London 109,000 Brown Bros. 307,000 Nortrust Nominees 902,998 Royal Bank of Scotland 237,500 State Street Bank & Trust Co. 991,696 Sumitomo Trust & Banking 89,500 Citibank 28,800 RBSTB Nominees Ltd 52,000 Citibank NA 471,957 State Street Australia Limited 68,000 HSBC Bank PLC 196,600 JP Morgan Chase Bank 521,600 TOTAL 12,968,494 Schedule B Capital Research & Management Company Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 750,000 Chase Nominees Limited 26,317,272 TOTAL 27,067,272 Schedule B This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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