UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of March 2021
PEARSON plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
80 Strand
London, England WC2R 0RL
44-20-7010-2000
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes No X
TR-1: Standard form for notification of major holdings
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 | X | |||||
An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments | ||||||
An event changing the breakdown of voting rights | ||||||
Other (please specify)iii: | ||||||
3. Details of person subject to the notification obligationiv | ||||||
Name | BlackRock, Inc. | |||||
City and country of registered office (if applicable) | Wilmington, DE, USA | |||||
4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.)v | ||||||
Name | ||||||
City and country of registered office (if applicable) | ||||||
5. Date on which the threshold was crossed or reachedvi: | 11/03/2021 | |||||
6. Date on which issuer notified (DD/MM/YYYY): | 12/03/2021 | |||||
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 | 5.04% | 1.96% | 7.00% | 52,806,616 | ||
Position of previous notification (if applicable) | 4.99% | 2.01% | 7.01% |
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 ((DTR5.1) | Indirect (DTR5.2.1) | Direct (DTR5.1) | Indirect (DTR5.2.1) | ||||||
GB0006776081 | 38,013,407 | 5.04% | |||||||
SUBTOTAL 8. A | 38,013,407 | 5.04% | |||||||
B 1: Financial Instruments according to DTR5.3.1R (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 | 14,264,669 | 1.89% | |||||||
American Depository Receipt | 34,856 | 0.00% | |||||||
SUBTOTAL 8. B 1 | 14,299,525 | 1.89% | |||||||
B 2: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to DTR5.3.1R (1) (b) | |||||||||
Type of financial instrument | Expirationdatex | Exercise/Conversion Period xi | Physical or cash settlementxii | Number of voting rights | % of voting rights | ||||
CFD | Cash | 493,684 | 0.06% | ||||||
SUBTOTAL 8.B.2 | 493,684 | 0.06% |
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 | |
See Attachment | ||||
10. In case of proxy voting, please identify: | ||||
Name of the proxy holder | ||||
The number and % of voting rights held | ||||
The date until which the voting rights will be held | ||||
11. Additional informationxvi | ||||
BlackRock Regulatory Threshold Reporting Team Jana Blumenstein 020 7743 3650 |
Place of completion | 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London, EC2N 2DL, U.K. |
Date of completion | 12 March, 2021 |
Natalie White
Deputy Company Secretary
Pearson plc
15th March 2021
Section 9 Attachment
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 |
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 3, LLC | |||
BlackRock Cayman 1 LP | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited | |||
BlackRock Group Limited | |||
BlackRock Finance Europe Limited | |||
BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock Australia Holdco Pty. Ltd. | |||
BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 4, LLC | |||
BlackRock Holdco 6, LLC | |||
BlackRock Delaware Holdings Inc. | |||
BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, National Association | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco Pte. Ltd. | |||
BlackRock HK Holdco Limited | |||
BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Capital Holdings, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Advisors LLC | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
Trident Merger, LLC | |||
BlackRock Investment Management, LLC | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 3, LLC | |||
BlackRock Cayman 1 LP | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited | |||
BlackRock Group Limited | |||
BlackRock Finance Europe Limited | |||
BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 3, LLC | |||
BlackRock Canada Holdings LP | |||
BlackRock Canada Holdings ULC | |||
BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 4, LLC | |||
BlackRock Holdco 6, LLC | |||
BlackRock Delaware Holdings Inc. | |||
BlackRock Fund Advisors | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco Pte. Ltd. | |||
BlackRock HK Holdco Limited | |||
BlackRock Lux Finco S.a.r.l. | |||
BlackRock Japan Holdings GK | |||
BlackRock Japan Co., Ltd. | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 3, LLC | |||
BlackRock Cayman 1 LP | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited | |||
BlackRock Group Limited | |||
BlackRock Finance Europe Limited | |||
BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V. | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 3, LLC | |||
BlackRock Cayman 1 LP | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited | |||
BlackRock Group Limited | |||
BlackRock International Limited | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco Pte. Ltd. | |||
BlackRock (Singapore) Limited | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. | |||
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | |||
BlackRock International Holdings, Inc. | |||
BR Jersey International Holdings L.P. | |||
BlackRock Holdco 3, LLC | |||
BlackRock Cayman 1 LP | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited | |||
BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited | |||
BlackRock Group Limited | |||
BlackRock Finance Europe Limited | |||
BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V. | |||
BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG | |||
BlackRock, Inc. | |||
Trident Merger, LLC | |||
BlackRock Investment Management, LLC | |||
Amethyst Intermediate, LLC | |||
Aperio Holdings, LLC | |||
Aperio Group, LLC | |||
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
PEARSON plc | |
Date: 15 March 2021 | |
By: /s/ NATALIE WHITE | |
------------------------------------ | |
Natalie White | |
Deputy Company Secretary |