Holding(s) in Company

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR HOLDINGS (to be sent to the relevant issuer and to the FCA in Microsoft Word format if possible)i

1a. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attachedii:

Pearson PLC

1b. Please indicate if the issuer is a non-UK issuer (please mark with an "X" if appropriate)

Non-UK issuer

2. Reason for the notification (please mark the appropriate box or boxes with an "X")

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments

X

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights

Other (please specify)iii

3. Details of person subject to the notification obligationiv

Name

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

City and country of registered office (if applicable)

Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street,

Wilmington DE 19801, USA

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.)v

Name

Goldman Sachs International

City and country of registered office (if applicable)

Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London

EC4A 2BB, UK

5. Date on which the threshold was crossed or reachedvi:

20/12/2018

6. Date on which issuer notified (DD/MM/YYYY):

24/12/2018

7. Total positions of person(s) subject to the notification obligation

% of voting rights attached to shares (total of 8. A)

% of voting rights through financial instruments(total of 8.B 1 + 8.B 2)

Total of both in % (8.A + 8.B)

Total number of voting rights of issuervii

Resulting situation on the date on which threshold was crossed or reached

0.53%

5.92%

6.44%

781,072,200

Position of previous notification (if

applicable)

0.92%

5.81%

6.74%

8. Notified details of the resulting situation on the date on which the threshold was crossed or reachedviii

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type ofshares

ISIN code (if possible)

Number of voting rightsix

% of voting rights

Direct

(Art 9 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.1)

Indirect

(Art 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.2.1)

Direct

(Art 9 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.1)

Indirect

(Art 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.2.1)

GB0006776081

3,706,478

0.47%

US7050151056

408,838

0.05%

SUBTOTAL 8. A

4,115,316

0.53

B 1: Financial Instruments according to Art. 13(1)(a) of Directive 2004/109/EC (DTR5.3.1.1 (a))

Type of financial instrument

Expirationdatex

Exercise/Conversion Periodxi

Number of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is

exercised/converted.

% of voting rights

Securities Lending

Open

20,796,740

2.66%

Put option

15-Mar-2019

1,000,000

0.13%

Put option

15-Mar-2019

1,000,000

0.13%

Put option

15-Feb-2019

1,000,000

0.13%

Put option

15-Mar-2019

1,000,000

0.13%

Call Option

21-Dec-2018

400,000

0.05%

SUBTOTAL 8. B 1

25,196,740

3.23%

B 2: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to Art. 13(1)(b) of Directive 2004/109/EC (DTR5.3.1.1 (b))

Type of financial instrument

Expirationdatex

Exercise/Conversion Period xi

Physical or cash

settlementxii

Number of voting rights

% of voting rights

Refer to Annexure

SUBTOTAL 8.B.2

25,405,695

3.25%

9. Information in relation to the person subject to the notification obligation (please mark the

applicable box with an "X")

Person subject to the notification obligation is not controlled by any natural person or legal entity and does not control any other undertaking(s) holding directly or indirectly an interest in the (underlying) issuerxiii

Full chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or thefinancial instruments are effectively held starting with the ultimate controlling natural person or legal entityxiv (please add additional rows as necessary)

X

Namexv

% of voting rights if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold

% of voting rights through financial instruments if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold

Total of both if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Goldman Sachs (UK) L.L.C.

Goldman Sachs Group UK Limited

Goldman Sachs

International

4.12%

4.12%

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

GSAM Holdings LLC

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management International Holdings L.L.C.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management Co., Ltd.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

GSAM Holdings LLC

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.

10. In case of proxy voting, please identify:

Name of the proxy holder

N/A

The number and % of voting rights held

N/A

The date until which the voting rights will be held

N/A

11. Additional informationxvi

Please note, total amount of voting rights have been rounded to 2 decimal places therefore there is a possibility of a rounding error.

General email contact:

[email protected]

Place of completion

London

Date of completion

24/12/2018

Annexure

B 2: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to Art. 13(1)(b) of Directive 2004/109/EC (DTR5.3.1.1 (b))

Type of financial instrument

Expiration datex

Exercise/Conversion periodxi

Physical or cash settlementxii

Number of voting rights

% of voting rights

CFD

10-Dec-2025

Cash

3,100,153

0.40%

CFD

23-Sep-2020

Cash

2,464,000

0.32%

CFD

4-Dec-2023

Cash

1,651,890

0.21%

CFD

20-Oct-2027

Cash

1,207,888

0.15%

Swap

28-Jul-2021

Cash

1,096,212

0.14%

Swap

28-Jul-2021

Cash

757,148

0.10%

CFD

15-Sep-2028

Cash

743,664

0.10%

CFD

9-Sep-2021

Cash

711,542

0.09%

CFD

17-Nov-2028

Cash

509,700

0.07%

Call Option

9-Jan-2019

Cash

478,278

0.06%

Swap

12-Oct-2023

Cash

397,330

0.05%

CFD

15-Nov-2028

Cash

368,890

0.05%

Call Option

15-Jan-2019

Cash

334,655

0.04%

CFD

16-Jun-2028

Cash

328,703

0.04%

CFD

15-Jul-2021

Cash

328,703

0.04%

CFD

20-Oct-2027

Cash

308,401

0.04%

CFD

20-Oct-2027

Cash

308,140

0.04%

Swap

30-Nov-2023

Cash

300,000

0.04%

CFD

4-Dec-2023

Cash

284,110

0.04%

Call Option

11-Jan-2019

Cash

261,788

0.03%

CFD

24-Mar-2028

Cash

259,000

0.03%

CFD

19-May-2027

Cash

256,115

0.03%

CFD

4-Dec-2023

Cash

254,475

0.03%

Swap

3-Feb-2023

Cash

250,801

0.03%

Swap

29-Nov-2023

Cash

250,000

0.03%

CFD

21-Jun-2028

Cash

229,624

0.03%

Swap

29-Nov-2023

Cash

225,000

0.03%

CFD

27-Sep-2028

Cash

217,594

0.03%

CFD

9-Sep-2021

Cash

208,879

0.03%

CFD

23-Aug-2028

Cash

204,000

0.03%

Swap

28-Jul-2021

Cash

203,317

0.03%

Swap

2-Feb-2023

Cash

198,606

0.03%

CFD

25-Apr-2019

Cash

177,353

0.02%

CFD

6-Dec-2028

Cash

176,900

0.02%

Swap

28-Jul-2021

Cash

170,231

0.02%

Swap

21-May-2019

Cash

164,211

0.02%

CFD

12-Jul-2023

Cash

158,153

0.02%

CFD

12-Jun-2028

Cash

156,757

0.02%

CFD

10-Mar-2028

Cash

147,722

0.02%

CFD

22-Nov-2028

Cash

134,667

0.02%

Swap

28-Jul-2021

Cash

131,070

0.02%

Swap

17-Sep-2020

Cash

128,491

0.02%

CFD

17-Nov-2028

Cash

125,499

0.02%

CFD

17-Nov-2028

Cash

121,696

0.02%

CFD

25-Feb-2027

Cash

120,007

0.02%

Swap

3-Feb-2023

Cash

117,797

0.02%

CFD

15-Nov-2028

Cash

116,110

0.01%

CFD

4-Dec-2023

Cash

114,713

0.01%

Call Option

8-Feb-2019

Cash

114,470

0.01%

Call Option

12-Mar-2019

Cash

113,701

0.01%

Swap

13-Oct-2023

Cash

113,548

0.01%

Swap

22-Mar-2019

Cash

113,300

0.01%

CFD

20-Oct-2021

Cash

109,250

0.01%

CFD

24-Nov-2028

Cash

106,470

0.01%

Call Option

19-Feb-2019

Cash

101,290

0.01%

Swap

2-Feb-2023

Cash

93,281

0.01%

CFD

17-Jul-2028

Cash

92,500

0.01%

Swap

29-Nov-2023

Cash

91,988

0.01%

Swap

8-Dec-2023

Cash

91,426

0.01%

Swap

14-Jun-2023

Cash

86,565

0.01%

Call Option

5-Mar-2019

Cash

86,170

0.01%

Swap

12-Jul-2023

Cash

84,590

0.01%

CFD

26-Nov-2021

Cash

80,948

0.01%

CFD

11-Aug-2023

Cash

77,077

0.01%

CFD

1-Mar-2028

Cash

76,610

0.01%

Call Option

8-Mar-2019

Cash

74,072

0.01%

Swap

7-Jul-2023

Cash

73,094

0.01%

Call Option

6-Mar-2019

Cash

69,746

0.01%

Swap

3-Feb-2023

Cash

68,758

0.01%

CFD

4-Dec-2023

Cash

68,531

0.01%

CFD

20-Nov-2028

Cash

68,454

0.01%

Swap

29-Nov-2023

Cash

65,026

0.01%

CFD

5-Nov-2027

Cash

64,825

0.01%

CFD

17-Nov-2028

Cash

64,651

0.01%

Swap

15-Jun-2023

Cash

57,709

0.01%

CFD

24-Nov-2028

Cash

57,059

0.01%

CFD

20-Nov-2028

Cash

57,045

0.01%

Swap

5-Sep-2019

Cash

55,700

0.01%

CFD

4-Dec-2023

Cash

55,037

0.01%

CFD

17-Jul-2028

Cash

55,000

0.01%

Swap

2-Feb-2023

Cash

54,448

0.01%

Swap

5-Sep-2019

Cash

53,400

0.01%

CFD

10-Mar-2028

Cash

53,019

0.01%

CFD

1-Mar-2028

Cash

50,720

0.01%

Call Option

22-Feb-2019

Cash

47,819

0.01%

Call Option

15-Jan-2019

Cash

44,430

0.01%

Swap

1-Feb-2023

Cash

43,214

0.01%

CFD

25-Apr-2019

Cash

41,002

0.01%

Swap

14-Jun-2023

Cash

40,052

0.01%

CFD

17-Nov-2028

Cash

39,501

0.01%

CFD

17-Nov-2028

Cash

38,304

0.005%

CFD

22-Nov-2028

Cash

38,030

0.005%

Swap

12-Jul-2023

Cash

37,897

0.005%

CFD

17-Nov-2028

Cash

36,622

0.005%

CFD

17-Jul-2023

Cash

34,800

0.004%

CFD

21-Jul-2028

Cash

34,000

0.004%

CFD

24-Nov-2028

Cash

33,512

0.004%

CFD

25-Apr-2019

Cash

33,191

0.004%

Swap

7-Jul-2023

Cash

32,746

0.004%

CFD

14-Jul-2023

Cash

30,500

0.004%

Swap

12-Jun-2023

Cash

30,225

0.004%

CFD

25-Feb-2027

Cash

29,702

0.004%

CFD

25-Apr-2019

Cash

29,469

0.004%

Swap

15-Jun-2023

Cash

26,702

0.003%

CFD

1-Nov-2028

Cash

26,197

0.003%

CFD

13-Sep-2028

Cash

26,000

0.003%

CFD

6-Jul-2023

Cash

25,488

0.003%

CFD

1-Nov-2028

Cash

25,474

0.003%

CFD

25-Apr-2019

Cash

24,541

0.003%

CFD

26-Nov-2021

Cash

24,179

0.003%

Swap

14-Jun-2023

Cash

23,383

0.003%

Swap

12-Jul-2023

Cash

22,173

0.003%

CFD

20-Nov-2028

Cash

21,546

0.003%

CFD

13-Dec-2028

Cash

20,400

0.003%

CFD

17-Nov-2028

Cash

20,349

0.003%

Swap

1-Feb-2023

Cash

20,297

0.003%

CFD

25-Apr-2019

Cash

19,385

0.002%

Swap

7-Jul-2023

Cash

19,160

0.002%

CFD

17-Jul-2023

Cash

18,700

0.002%

CFD

24-Nov-2028

Cash

17,959

0.002%

CFD

20-Nov-2028

Cash

17,955

0.002%

CFD

23-Nov-2028

Cash

17,711

0.002%

CFD

27-Feb-2023

Cash

17,128

0.002%

CFD

4-Dec-2023

Cash

16,369

0.002%

Swap

28-Mar-2019

Cash

16,200

0.002%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

16,129

0.002%

Swap

17-Sep-2020

Cash

15,868

0.002%

Swap

30-Apr-2019

Cash

15,800

0.002%

Swap

15-Jun-2023

Cash

15,589

0.002%

CFD

11-Nov-2020

Cash

15,090

0.002%

CFD

18-Sep-2019

Cash

15,000

0.002%

CFD

21-Jul-2028

Cash

15,000

0.002%

CFD

22-Nov-2028

Cash

14,532

0.002%

Swap

31-Dec-2019

Cash

14,300

0.002%

Swap

12-Jun-2023

Cash

13,985

0.002%

Swap

3-Nov-2021

Cash

12,609

0.002%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

12,597

0.002%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

12,577

0.002%

CFD

20-Nov-2028

Cash

12,400

0.002%

CFD

22-Nov-2028

Cash

11,970

0.002%

Swap

1-Feb-2023

Cash

11,847

0.002%

CFD

26-Jun-2019

Cash

11,475

0.001%

Swap

31-Dec-2019

Cash

10,900

0.001%

CFD

28-Oct-2020

Cash

10,812

0.001%

Swap

6-Feb-2019

Cash

10,500

0.001%

CFD

27-Dec-2019

Cash

10,110

0.001%

CFD

27-Nov-2019

Cash

10,110

0.001%

CFD

14-Jan-2021

Cash

9,422

0.001%

CFD

30-Oct-2028

Cash

9,347

0.001%

CFD

14-Jan-2021

Cash

9,303

0.001%

Call Option

7-Jan-2019

Cash

9,001

0.001%

Swap

12-Oct-2023

Cash

8,622

0.001%

Swap

12-Jun-2023

Cash

8,165

0.001%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

7,925

0.001%

CFD

25-Apr-2019

Cash

7,650

0.001%

CFD

27-Nov-2019

Cash

6,740

0.001%

Call Option

12-Mar-2019

Cash

6,688

0.001%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

6,153

0.001%

Swap

8-Dec-2023

Cash

6,074

0.001%

CFD

15-Dec-2028

Cash

5,986

0.001%

CFD

9-Dec-2020

Cash

5,970

0.001%

CFD

21-Oct-2021

Cash

5,098

0.001%

CFD

15-Dec-2027

Cash

5,000

0.001%

CFD

12-May-2028

Cash

5,000

0.001%

CFD

8-Mar-2028

Cash

5,000

0.001%

CFD

3-Nov-2028

Cash

4,984

0.001%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

4,774

0.001%

CFD

20-Dec-2028

Cash

4,700

0.001%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

3,941

0.001%

Swap

3-Nov-2021

Cash

3,634

0.0005%

CFD

25-Apr-2019

Cash

3,060

0.0004%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

3,050

0.0004%

CFD

2-Nov-2028

Cash

2,900

0.0004%

CFD

21-Dec-2028

Cash

2,880

0.0004%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

2,857

0.0004%

Swap

3-Nov-2021

Cash

2,556

0.0003%

CFD

28-Oct-2020

Cash

2,350

0.0003%

CFD

28-Oct-2020

Cash

2,350

0.0003%

Swap

3-Nov-2021

Cash

2,214

0.0003%

Call Option

22-Feb-2019

Cash

2,150

0.0003%

CFD

6-Dec-2023

Cash

2,080

0.0003%

CFD

29-Nov-2028

Cash

1,900

0.0002%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

1,768

0.0002%

CFD

27-Feb-2023

Cash

1,765

0.0002%

CFD

16-Nov-2028

Cash

1,259

0.0002%

CFD

22-Dec-2028

Cash

1,200

0.0002%

CFD

15-Nov-2028

Cash

1,100

0.0001%

CFD

16-Dec-2020

Cash

662

0.0001%

CFD

18-Sep-2028

Cash

602

0.0001%

Call Option

22-Feb-2019

Cash

580

0.0001%

CFD

20-Nov-2028

Cash

532

0.0001%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

461

0.0001%

CFD

6-Dec-2028

Cash

433

0.0001%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

419

0.0001%

CFD

29-Nov-2028

Cash

406

0.0001%

CFD

22-Nov-2028

Cash

400

0.0001%

CFD

8-Nov-2028

Cash

400

0.0001%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

329

0.00004%

Swap

22-May-2020

Cash

323

0.00004%

CFD

15-Nov-2028

Cash

300

0.00004%

CFD

10-Nov-2028

Cash

300

0.00004%

CFD

9-Nov-2028

Cash

300

0.00004%

CFD

20-Dec-2028

Cash

200

0.00003%

CFD

18-Dec-2028

Cash

200

0.00003%

CFD

6-Dec-2028

Cash

200

0.00003%

CFD

27-Sep-2028

Cash

123

0.00002%

CFD

5-Oct-2028

Cash

122

0.00002%

CFD

15-Dec-2028

Cash

100

0.00001%

CFD

13-Dec-2028

Cash

100

0.00001%

CFD

30-Nov-2028

Cash

100

0.00001%

CFD

29-Nov-2028

Cash

100

0.00001%

CFD

22-Nov-2028

Cash

100

0.00001%

CFD

27-Sep-2028

Cash

90

0.00001%

CFD

6-Oct-2028

Cash

82

0.00001%

CFD

23-Nov-2028

Cash

63

0.00001%

CFD

2-Oct-2028

Cash

61

0.00001%

CFD

23-Oct-2028

Cash

19

0.000002%

Total Number of voting rights and percentage of voting rights

25,405,695

3.25%

Additional information: Please note, total amount of voting rights have been rounded to 2 decimal places therefore there is a possibility of a rounding error.