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 October, 2004 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 - This Report includes the following documents: 1. A press release from Pearson plc announcing Holding(s) in Company Notification of change in interest in shares We write in accordance with rule 9.12. under the Continuing Obligations section of the List Rules, to notify you that on 12 October 2004 we received notification that pursuant to section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, the shareholding of The Capital Group Companies, Inc., which equates to 120,639,432 shares, now represents 15.019% 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 October 2004 Section 198 Notification Notification of Increase 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 (803,236,721 shares outstanding) Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest: 120,639,432 Name(s) of registered holder(s): See Schedule B As of 7 October 2004 Number of Percent of Pearson plc Shares Outstanding The Capital Group Companies Inc. ("CG") holdings 120,639,432 15.019%% Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds: * Capital Guardian Trust Company 62,279,240 7.822% * Capital International Limited 13,798,877 1.718% * Capital International S.A. 5,705,086 0.710% * Capital International Inc. 12,240,757 1.524% * Capital Research and Management Company 26,067,272 3.245% Schedule A Schedule of holdings in Pearson plc As of 7 October 2004 Capital Guardian Trust Company Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 8,912,953 Bank of New York Nominees 1,865,158 Northern Trust 134,709 Chase Nominees Limited 27,825,161 BT Globenet Nominees Ltd. 739,635 Midland Bank plc 8,230,375 Cede & Co. 127,663 Deutsche Bank Mannheim 2,200 Schedule B Bankers Trust 2,548,400 Barclays Bank 427,800 Citibank London 12,500 Nortrust Nominees 9,486,782 Royal Bank of Scotland 113,300 MSS Nominees Limited 54,200 State Street Bank & Trust Co. 84,000 RBSTB Nominees Ltd 2,200 Citibank NA 45,500 Schedule B Deutsche Bank AG 2,100 HSBC Bank PLC 13,600 Mellon Bank N.A. 187,900 ROY Nominees Limited 52,900 Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited 1,909,904 HSBC 43,900 JP Morgan Chase Bank 4,600 TOTAL 62,827,440 Schedule B Capital International Limited Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 516,962 Bank of New York Nominees 3,647,212 Northern Trust 700,244 Chase Nominees Limited 2,204,935 Midland Bank Plc 78,200 Bankers Trust 237,771 Barclays Bank 67,200 Citibank London 52,300 Schedule B Morgan Guaranty 202,200 Nortrust Nominees 2,426,246 Royal Bank of Scotland 850,600 MSS Nominees Limited 109,000 State Street Bank & Trust Co 384,700 National Westminster Bank 63,900 Lloyds Bank 53,600 Citibank NA 23,500 Deutsche Bank AG 1,078,036 Schedule B HSBC Bank plc 789,530 Mellon Bank NA 11,016 KAS UK 37,125 Bank One London 167,300 Clydesdale Bank plc 82,500 JP Morgan Chase Bank 14,800 TOTAL 13,798,877 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 2,815,442 Credit Suisse London Branch 20,000 Midland Bank plc 652,000 Barclays Bank 758,518 Pictet & Cie, Geneva 10,900 Citibank London 21,200 Schedule B Brown Bros. 73,900 Nortrust Nominees 11,300 Morgan Stanley 12,900 Royal Bank of Scotland 130,018 J.P. Morgan 577,883 State Street Bank & Trust Co. 65,600 National Westminster Bank 35,200 Lloyds Bank 44,300 RBSTB Nominees Ltd 60,100 Schedule B Deutsche Bank AG 72,352 HSBC Bank plc 275,537 HSBC 24,200 TOTAL 5,705,086 Schedule B Capital International Inc. Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 4,229,257 Bank of New York Nominees 1,190,399 Northern Trust 52,600 Chase Nominees Limited 2,861,350 Midland Bank plc 275,400 Bankers Trust 51,500 Citibank London 138,000 Brown Bros. 257,600 Schedule B Nortrust Nominees 905,398 Royal Bank of Scotland 193,700 State Street Bank & Trust Co. 945,496 Citibank 36,100 RBSTB Nominees Ltd 38,500 Citibank NA 358,657 HSBC Bank PLC 185,200 JP Morgan Chase Bank 521,600 TOTAL 12,240,757 Schedule B Capital Research & Management Company Registered Name Local Shares State Street Nominees Limited 750,000 Chase Nominees Limited 25,317,272 TOTAL 26,067,272 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: 12 October, 2004 By: /s/ STEPHEN JONES ----------------------- Stephen Jones Deputy Secretary