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 November 2018
 
 
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
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:
20/11/2018
6. Date on which issuer notified (DD/MM/YYYY):
22/11/2018
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
0.57%
5.93%
6.50%
                       781,067,196
 
Position of previous notification (if applicable)
0.53%
2.20%
2.73%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
4,117,791
 
0.53%
US7050151056
 
360,826
 
0.05%
 
 
 
 
 
SUBTOTAL 8. A
4,478,617
0.57%
 
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
 
16,459,727
2.11%
Put Option
15-Mar-2019
 
1,000,000
0.13%
Put Option
15-Feb-2019
 
1,000,000
0.13%
Call Option
21-Dec-2018
 
400,000
0.05%
 
 
SUBTOTAL 8. B 1
18,859,727
2.41%
 
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
27,467,462
3.52%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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) LLC
 
 
 
Goldman Sachs Group UK Limited
 
 
 
Goldman Sachs International
 
               3.76%
3.78%
 
 
 
 
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:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Place of completion
London, UK
Date of completion
22/11/2018
 
Natalie White
Deputy Company Secretary
23 November 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
                              3,850,190
0.49%
 
CFD
23-Sep-2020
 
Cash
                              2,464,000
0.32%
 
Swap
7-May-2019
 
Cash
                              1,876,758
0.24%
 
CFD
13-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                              1,771,353
0.23%
 
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%
 
Swap
21-May-2019
 
Cash
                                  601,165
0.08%
 
Call Option
9-Jan-2019
 
Cash
                                  475,416
0.06%
 
Swap
12-Oct-2023
 
Cash
                                  397,330
0.05%
 
CFD
15-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                  368,890
0.05%
 
Swap
7-May-2019
 
Cash
                                  360,243
0.05%
 
Call Option
15-Jan-2019
 
Cash
                                  337,081
0.04%
 
CFD
15-Jul-2021
 
Cash
                                  328,703
0.04%
 
CFD
16-Jun-2028
 
Cash
                                  328,703
0.04%
 
CFD
21-Jun-2028
 
Cash
                                  323,174
0.04%
 
CFD
20-Oct-2027
 
Cash
                                  308,401
0.04%
 
CFD
20-Oct-2027
 
Cash
                                  308,140
0.04%
 
CFD
17-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                  277,000
0.04%
 
Swap
7-May-2019
 
Cash
                                  274,507
0.04%
 
Call Option
11-Jan-2019
 
Cash
                                  267,053
0.03%
 
CFD
24-Mar-2028
 
Cash
                                  259,000
0.03%
 
CFD
19-May-2027
 
Cash
                                  253,415
0.03%
 
Swap
3-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                  250,801
0.03%
 
CFD
27-Sep-2028
 
Cash
                                  217,594
0.03%
 
CFD
13-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                  209,365
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
20-Oct-2021
 
Cash
                                  182,500
0.02%
 
Swap
28-Jul-2021
 
Cash
                                  170,231
0.02%
 
CFD
12-Jul-2023
 
Cash
                                  158,153
0.02%
 
CFD
25-Apr-2019
 
Cash
                                  157,463
0.02%
 
CFD
12-Jun-2028
 
Cash
                                  156,757
0.02%
 
CFD
22-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                  134,667
0.02%
 
Swap
28-Jul-2021
 
Cash
                                  131,070
0.02%
 
Swap
7-May-2019
 
Cash
                                  128,958
0.02%
 
Call Option
8-Feb-2019
 
Cash
                                  128,167
0.02%
 
CFD
17-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                  125,499
0.02%
 
CFD
25-Feb-2027
 
Cash
                                  122,707
0.02%
 
CFD
17-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                  121,696
0.02%
 
Swap
17-Sep-2020
 
Cash
                                  120,551
0.02%
 
Swap
5-Sep-2019
 
Cash
                                  120,300
0.02%
 
Swap
3-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                  117,797
0.02%
 
CFD
15-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                  116,110
0.01%
 
CFD
10-Mar-2028
 
Cash
                                  113,835
0.01%
 
Swap
13-Oct-2023
 
Cash
                                  113,548
0.01%
 
Swap
22-Mar-2019
 
Cash
                                  113,300
0.01%
 
Swap
2-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                    93,281
0.01%
 
CFD
17-Jul-2028
 
Cash
                                    92,500
0.01%
 
CFD
1-Mar-2028
 
Cash
                                    92,210
0.01%
 
Swap
14-Jun-2023
 
Cash
                                    86,565
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%
 
Swap
7-May-2019
 
Cash
                                    74,747
0.01%
 
Swap
7-Jul-2023
 
Cash
                                    73,094
0.01%
 
Swap
5-Sep-2019
 
Cash
                                    72,000
0.01%
 
CFD
27-Oct-2027
 
Cash
                                    71,883
0.01%
 
CFD
25-Apr-2019
 
Cash
                                    69,385
0.01%
 
Swap
3-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                    68,758
0.01%
 
CFD
20-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                    68,454
0.01%
 
CFD
5-Nov-2027
 
Cash
                                    64,825
0.01%
 
CFD
17-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                    64,651
0.01%
 
CFD
10-Jul-2019
 
Cash
                                    63,409
0.01%
 
Swap
7-May-2019
 
Cash
                                    59,699
0.01%
 
Swap
15-Jun-2023
 
Cash
                                    57,709
0.01%
 
CFD
20-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                    57,045
0.01%
 
CFD
1-Mar-2028
 
Cash
                                    56,462
0.01%
 
Swap
5-Sep-2019
 
Cash
                                    55,700
0.01%
 
CFD
17-Jul-2028
 
Cash
                                    55,000
0.01%
 
Swap
2-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                    54,448
0.01%
 
CFD
14-Jan-2021
 
Cash
                                    51,561
0.01%
 
CFD
25-Apr-2019
 
Cash
                                    50,000
0.01%
 
CFD
10-Mar-2028
 
Cash
                                    47,354
0.01%
 
Swap
1-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                    43,214
0.01%
 
CFD
14-Jan-2021
 
Cash
                                    42,705
0.01%
 
CFD
18-Nov-2019
 
Cash
                                    42,230
0.01%
 
Swap
23-Dec-2019
 
Cash
                                    42,200
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
27-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                    37,726
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%
 
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%
 
CFD
30-Oct-2028
 
Cash
                                    28,773
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
27-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                    24,265
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
25-Sep-2028
 
Cash
                                    21,600
0.003%
 
CFD
20-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                    21,546
0.003%
 
CFD
17-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                    20,349
0.003%
 
Swap
1-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                    20,297
0.003%
 
CFD
21-Jan-2028
 
Cash
                                    20,119
0.003%
 
Swap
7-Jul-2023
 
Cash
                                    19,160
0.002%
 
Swap
5-Sep-2019
 
Cash
                                    18,900
0.002%
 
CFD
17-Jul-2023
 
Cash
                                    18,700
0.002%
 
CFD
20-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                    17,955
0.002%
 
Swap
7-May-2019
 
Cash
                                    16,302
0.002%
 
Swap
28-Mar-2019
 
Cash
                                    16,200
0.002%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                    16,129
0.002%
 
Swap
30-Apr-2019
 
Cash
                                    15,800
0.002%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                    15,796
0.002%
 
Swap
15-Jun-2023
 
Cash
                                    15,589
0.002%
 
CFD
11-Nov-2020
 
Cash
                                    15,090
0.002%
 
CFD
21-Jul-2028
 
Cash
                                    15,000
0.002%
 
CFD
18-Sep-2019
 
Cash
                                    15,000
0.002%
 
CFD
19-Oct-2028
 
Cash
                                    15,000
0.002%
 
Swap
28-Nov-2018
 
Cash
                                    14,300
0.002%
 
Swap
17-Sep-2020
 
Cash
                                    14,153
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%
 
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
29-Nov-2018
 
Cash
                                    10,900
0.001%
 
CFD
28-Oct-2020
 
Cash
                                    10,812
0.001%
 
Swap
5-Sep-2019
 
Cash
                                    10,800
0.001%
 
CFD
27-Feb-2023
 
Cash
                                    10,519
0.001%
 
Swap
6-Feb-2019
 
Cash
                                    10,500
0.001%
 
CFD
27-Nov-2019
 
Cash
                                    10,110
0.001%
 
CFD
21-Oct-2021
 
Cash
                                       9,890
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%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                       7,437
0.001%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                       6,834
0.001%
 
CFD
27-Nov-2019
 
Cash
                                       6,740
0.001%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                       6,153
0.001%
 
CFD
20-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                       5,772
0.001%
 
CFD
15-Dec-2027
 
Cash
                                       5,000
0.001%
 
CFD
8-Mar-2028
 
Cash
                                       5,000
0.001%
 
CFD
12-May-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
27-Jan-2028
 
Cash
                                       4,641
0.001%
 
CFD
27-Oct-2028
 
Cash
                                       4,511
0.001%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                       3,941
0.001%
 
Swap
5-Sep-2019
 
Cash
                                       3,900
0.0005%
 
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%
 
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%
 
CFD
21-May-2020
 
Cash
                                       2,282
0.0003%
 
Swap
3-Nov-2021
 
Cash
                                       2,214
0.0003%
 
CFD
25-Oct-2028
 
Cash
                                       1,929
0.0002%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                       1,768
0.0002%
 
CFD
26-Oct-2028
 
Cash
                                       1,547
0.0002%
 
CFD
16-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                       1,259
0.0002%
 
CFD
15-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                       1,100
0.0001%
 
CFD
27-Jan-2028
 
Cash
                                       1,055
0.0001%
 
CFD
18-Sep-2028
 
Cash
                                          907
0.0001%
 
CFD
22-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                          836
0.0001%
 
CFD
20-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                          532
0.0001%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                          461
0.0001%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                          419
0.0001%
 
CFD
8-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                          400
0.0001%
 
CFD
22-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                          400
0.0001%
 
Call Option
21-Nov-2018
 
Cash
                                          398
0.0001%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                          329
0.00004%
 
Swap
22-May-2020
 
Cash
                                          323
0.00004%
 
CFD
9-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                          300
0.00004%
 
CFD
10-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                          300
0.00004%
 
CFD
15-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                          300
0.00004%
 
CFD
22-Nov-2028
 
Cash
                                          300
0.00004%
 
CFD
27-Sep-2028
 
Cash
                                          123
0.00002%
 
CFD
5-Oct-2028
 
Cash
                                          122
0.00002%
 
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
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
                            27,467,462
3.52%
 
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.
 
 

 
 
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: 23 November 2018
 
 
By: /s/ NATALIE WHITE
 
 
 
------------------------------------
 
Natalie White
 
Deputy Company Secretary