Pearson plc#Pearson VUE

In 1844 Samuel Pearson became an associate partner in a small brickmaking and contracting civil engineering company in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.{{cite book |first=Paul |last=Garner |title=British Lions and Mexican Eagles: Business, Politics and Empire in the Career of Weetman Pearson in Mexico, 1889-1919 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wSDMDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT51 |date=2011 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0804774451}} In 1856 Pearson's eldest son George entered the business, which became known as S. Pearson & Son, "sanitary tube and brickmakers and contractors for local public works in and around Bradford". In 1880, control passed to Samuel's grandson Weetman Dickinson Pearson (later 1st Viscount Cowdray), an engineer, who in 1890 moved the business to London and turned it into one of the world's largest construction companies.{{cite web |url=http://www.pearson.com/about-us/our-history.html |title=Our History |website=pearson.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015023257/http://www.pearson.com/about-us/our-history.html |archive-date=15 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}

Another of its prominent engineers was Ernest William Moir who, after working for Pearson on tunnels in New York City, became the contractor's agent on construction of the Blackwall Tunnel under the River Thames in London between 1892 and 1897.{{cite web |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1345 |title=Engineering Timelines – Blackwall Road Tunnel, northbound |website=engineering-timelines.com}}{{cite web |url=https://greenwichpeninsulahistory.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/centenary-of-the-opening-of-the-blackwall-tunnel/ |title=Centenary of the opening of the Blackwall Tunnel |website=greenwichpeninsulahistory.wordpress.com |publisher=Greenwich Peninsula History |date=30 July 2013}}[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46543 "Southern Blackwall: The Blackwall Tunnel", Survey of London - volumes 43 and 44: Poplar, Blackwall and Isle of Dogs (1994), pp. 640–645], accessed 17 March 2013.

Between 1880 and 1902 the company also built the Admiralty Harbour at Dover, the Halifax Dry Dock in Canada, the East River Railway Tunnels in New York City, the Mexican Grand Canal that drained Mexico City, the Tehuantepec Railway in Mexico, and railways and harbours around the world.{{cite web |title=Weetman Dickinson Pearson |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Weetman_Dickinson_Pearson |website=gracesguide.co.uk |publisher=Grace's Guide To British Industrial History}}{{cite web |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/pearson-plc-history/ |title=Pearson plc History |website=fundinguniverse.com |access-date=26 March 2016}}

In November 1915, the firm began construction of HM Factory, Gretna, the largest cordite factory in the UK during World War I.J. A. Spender, Weetman Pearson - First Viscount Cowdray, (London, Cassell and Company, 1930).

The construction business was shut down in the 1920s. Its final projects included construction of the Silent Valley Reservoir in Northern Ireland (contract awarded in 1923),{{cite web |title=A Century of Water from the Mournes - Part 2 - A concise history - The Silent Valley Reservoir - 1910–1933 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/down/A1068527.shtml |access-date=25 June 2020 |publisher=BBC |date=16 October 2014}} and completion of the Sennar Dam, in Sudan, in 1925."The Sennar Dam and the Gezira Irrigation Scheme", [http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/a/a2/Er19240926.pdf The Engineer] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104190643/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/a/a2/Er19240926.pdf |date=4 January 2015}}

In 1856, S. Pearson & Son advertised itself as manufacturing sanitary tubes and bricks in Yorkshire. Manufacturing expanded beyond sanitary tubes and bricks to include a variety of items globally, including nuts and bolts, specialist glass, pottery, porcelain and fine china, and related items.

Pearson acquired Allied English Potteries (including Royal Crown Derby) in 1964{{cite web |last1=Birks |first1=Steve |title=Allied English Potteries Ltd |url=https://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/19c.htm |website=thepotteries.org |access-date=12 February 2024}} and Doulton & Co. in November 1971, whereupon it merged those two potteries companies.{{cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Mike |title=Royal Doulton |url=https://potteryhistories.com/doultonhistory.html |website=potteryhistories.com |access-date=12 February 2024 |date=2011}}{{cite web |title=Royal Doulton Company Records |url=http://www.archives.staffordshire.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=G272%2F2 |website=archives.staffordshire.gov.uk |access-date=12 February 2024}} Pearson purchased the Fairey Group in 1980, and its engineering was merged with Doulton's industrial ceramics engineering.{{cite web |title=Doulton |url=https://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/history.htm |website=doultonusa.com |access-date=12 February 2024}}

Pearson sold Doulton Glass Industries Ltd in 1982. The Fairey Group became independent of Pearson in 1986 via a management buy-out. As Pearson refocused on its core publishing and media industries, it divested Royal Doulton, which was its remaining fine china division and the last of Pearson's manufacturing assets, in 1993.{{cite web |title=Pearson Announces Spinoff of Royal Doulton |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/12/business/company-news-pearson-announces-spinoff-of-royal-doulton.html |access-date=12 February 2024 |publisher=The New York Times |agency=Reuters |date=12 November 1993}}

The conglomerate entered the electrification market in 1900, when Weetman Pearson was requested to electrify Mexico's tramway system, and then the general electrical supply in the city of Vera Cruz and elsewhere.{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Cate |title=Records of S. Pearson and Son circa 1870–1955 |url=https://archives.sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk/Documents/SCM/Finding%20Aids/Named%20Archives/PEAR.pdf |website=sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk |publisher=Science Museum at Wroughton |access-date=11 February 2024}} This process was repeated in Chile. These electrical interests were consolidated into Whitehall Electric Investments Ltd in 1922.

In 1929 the electricity businesses in Mexico and Chile were sold, but similar electricity utilities were developed in southwestern England until they were nationalised in 1948.

All of Pearson's overseas electricity utility businesses, which had spread to Greece, were closed by 1960.

While building the Tehuantepec National Railway in Mexico for President Porfirio Diaz, Weetman Pearson learned of oil deposits in south Texas and Mexico and in 1901 began buying prospective oil lands in those places.Yergin, Daniel, "The Prize, The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power", Simon & Schuster, 1991, pp. 230–232 After striking oil in Mexico in 1908,{{cite web |last1=Bud Frierman |first1=Lisa |last2=Godley |first2=Andrew C. |last3=Wale |first3=Judith |title=Weetman Pearson in Mexico and the Emergence of a British Oil Major, 1901–1919 |url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/business/empd042-07.pdf |website=reading.ac.uk |publisher=University of Reading |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602131024/http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/business/empd042-07.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2016 |date=2007}} he founded the Mexican Eagle Petroleum Company in 1909 to handle all of S. Pearson and Sons' oil interests.

In 1919 the Royal Dutch Shell Group acquired a large share of, and management of, Mexican Eagle, and Pearson formed Whitehall Petroleum Corporation Ltd. to take over Pearson's oil interests and to prospect globally for oil. It established a major oil company in the U.S., Amerada Corporation, in 1919.{{cite book |title=Hoover's Handbook of American Business 2008, Volume 1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781573111201/page/422 422–424] |publisher=Hoover's |date=2007 |isbn=978-1-57311-120-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781573111201/page/422}} Amerada was compulsorily acquired by the British government in 1941 due to World War II; a small interest was reacquired by Pearson in 1945.

In the 1950s Pearson expanded its North American oil and gas interests, and in the 1970s also expanded them globally. By 1989, Pearson divested its oil and gas exploration activities and sold Whitehall Petroleum.

In 1919, Pearson founded Whitehall Trust Ltd. as a finance and issuing house. In 1919 Pearson also acquired a 45% stake in the London branch of merchant bankers Lazard Brothers,{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/dragging-lazards-into-the-21st-century-1102311.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/dragging-lazards-into-the-21st-century-1102311.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Dragging Lazards into the 21st century |author=Andrew Garfield |date=25 June 1999 |publisher=The Independent |location=London}} an interest which was increased to 80% in 1932 during the depression years.

In 1976 Pearson acquired a stake in Embankment Trust Ltd.

By 1990 Pearson's stake in Lazard Brothers was reduced to 50% following Lazard's internationalization to Paris and New York, and Pearson acquired 10% stakes in the two overseas branches.

In 1999, due to the company's refocus on education, publishing, and media, Pearson sold its Lazard holdings for £410 million.

Following Wheetman Pearson's 1907 creation of Whitehall Securities as its holding company for all of Pearson's non-contracting industries, beginning in 1921 Pearson partnered with Dorman Long to form a coal-mining conglomerate in 1922,{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=W. |title=The Development of the Kent Coalfield, 1896–1946 |url=https://kar.kent.ac.uk/86510/1/602431.pdf |website=kar.kent.ac.uk |publisher=University of Kent at Canterbury |access-date=11 February 2024 |date=October 1972}}{{cite web |title=S. Pearson and Son |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/S._Pearson_and_Son |website=gracesguide.co.uk |publisher=Grace's Guide |access-date=11 February 2024}} called Pearson & Dorman Long Ltd.{{cite web |title=Pearson & Dorman Long Ltd, colliery owners |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F183159 |website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=11 February 2024}} The company purchased and operated many collieries in the UK through at least 1947.

In 1921, Pearson purchased a number of local daily and weekly newspapers in the United Kingdom, which it combined to form the Westminster Press group.

Following the British government's acquisition and nationalisation of several of Pearson's aviation, fuel, and energy divisions in the early 1940s due to World War II, Angela Murray became a director of the Pearson group and the chair of the Westminster Press in 1953. The Press owned local newspapers including the Oxford Mail, The Northern Echo and the Brighton Evening News with the backing of the Westmnster Press they were encouraged to find local news.{{Citation |last=Moss |first=Michael S. |title=Preston [née Pearson; other married name Murray], Angela Campbell (1910–1981), businesswoman, landowner, and conservationist |date=13 June 2024 |work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-63965 |access-date=28 June 2024 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.63965 |isbn=978-0-19-861412-8|url-access=subscription }}

In 1957, it bought the Financial Times and acquired a 50% stake in The Economist. It purchased the publisher Longman in 1968.

Pearson was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1969.

It bought the paperback publisher Penguin Books in 1970, and the children's imprint Ladybird Books in 1972.{{cite book |last1=Butt |first1=Stephen |title=Loughborough Through Time |date=2013 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=978-1-4456-1549-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvnBBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT11}} It bought a rival, the educational publisher Pitman Ltd, in 1985.{{cite web |title=Pitman Ltd |url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap3816/pitman-ltd |website=collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk |publisher=Science Museum Group |access-date=12 February 2024}}

In 1996 Pearson sold Westminster Press to Newsquest,{{Cite web |title=Pearson Sees Profits Fall 40 Percent, Selling Westminster Press Unit |agency=Associated Press |date=5 August 1996 |access-date=23 August 2014 |url=https://apnews.com/33080e847a4d32a788a4e5c48b5f9d69}} acquired the education division of HarperCollins from News Corporation,{{Cite web |issn=0362-4331 |last=Gilpin |first=Kenneth N. |title=Pearson to Buy a Publisher From News Corp. |publisher=The New York Times |access-date=23 August 2014 |date=10 February 1996 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/10/business/pearson-to-buy-a-publisher-from-news-corp.html}} and acquired book publishers Scott Foresman & Co..{{cite web |last1=Fabrikant |first1=Geraldine |last2=Myerson |first2=Allen R. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/18/business/simon-schuster-in-sale-to-british.html |title=Simon & Schuster In Sale To British |publisher=The New York Times |date=18 May 1998 |access-date=21 December 2016}}

In 1929, Pearson's Whitehall Securities entered the aviation field, purchasing an interest in Airwork Services.The ATL-98 Carvair: A Comprehensive History of the Aircraft and All 21 Airframes (Part 1: Getting off the ground – Airwork), p. 14

By 1935 Whitehall Securities had major interests in a number of British airlines and aviation companies, including Spartan Air Lines, Saunders-Roe, United Airways, and Hillman's Airways.Airways (The Archive: The Legacy of BOAC (Pt. 1)), p. 62 In September 1935, Hillman's Airways, Spartan Air Lines, and United Airways merged to form British Airways Ltd In 1936, British Airways absorbed British Continental Airways and Crilly Airways. In 1940, British Airways was nationalised due to World War II.

In 1937 the company acquired Northern & Scottish Airways and Highland Airways, and merged them into a new company, Scottish Airways.{{cite book |last1=Lo Bao |first1=Phil |last2=Hutchison |first2=Iain |title=BEAline to the Islands |date=2002 |publisher=Kea Publishing |location=Erskine, Scotland |isbn=0951895842 |page=99 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z5JZ9GBTZwwC |access-date=25 June 2020}} This airline was nationalised by the British government in 1947 and merged into British European Airways.

Pearson's aviation interests ended by 1959, when Saunders-Roe was sold to Westland Aircraft.{{cite book |editor1-last=Long |editor1-first=Steven |editor2-last=Jacques |editor2-first=Derek |editor3-last=Kepos |editor3-first=Paula |title=International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 207 |date=2019 |publisher=St. James Press / Gale Cengage |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1066283259 |chapter=Pearson plc |oclc=1066283259}}

in 1981 Pearson's publishing subsidiary Pearson Longman established Goldcrest Films and Television in 1981, led by the founder of Goldcrest Films, John Eberts, and chaired by James Lee, chief executive of Pearson Longman.{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Dennis |date=3 July 1981 |title=Pearson builds on Trident deal |page=15 |website=newspapers.com |publisher=The Guardian |publication-place=United Kingdom |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58551234/the-guardian/ |access-date=2 September 2020}} At its inception, the new concern owned 40% of Goldcrest Films.

In 1986, Pearson invested in the British Satellite Broadcasting consortium, which a few years later merged with Sky Television to form a new company, British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB).{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/237074.stm |title=Granada and Pearson sell BSB stake |publisher=BBC |date=17 December 1998 |access-date=18 April 2011}}

During the 1990s, the company acquired a number of TV production and broadcasting assets, including former ITV franchisee Thames Television,{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/pearson-looks-for-foreign-tv-station-agreed-bid-for-thames-values-the-programme-maker-at-pounds-99m-1457057.html |title=Pearson looks for foreign TV stations Agreed bid for Thames values the programme maker at 99m |first=Patrick |last=Hosking |publisher=The Independent |date=23 April 1993}}{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/media-how-thames-turned-the-tide-from-failed-franchisee-to-thriving-indie-producer-there-can-be-life-1392970.html |title=How Thames turned the tide: From failed franchisee to thriving "indie" producer: there can be life after broadcasting death, as Richard Last witnessed |first=Richard |last=Last |publisher=The Independent |date=9 February 1994 |access-date=11 April 2018}} Australian production company Grundy Television,{{cite web |last=Dawdtrey |first=Adam |url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/pearson-goes-global-via-grundy-purchase-99127863 |title=Pearson goes global via Grundy purchase |periodical=Variety |date=3 April 1995 |access-date=27 May 2022}}{{cite web |last=de Logu |first=Simona |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/03/29/Pearson-buys-Aussie-TV-production-firm/5979796453200 |title=Pearson buys Aussie TV production firm |agency=UPI |date=29 March 1995 |access-date=27 May 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/30/business/international-briefs-pearson-to-expand-in-tv.html |title=International Briefs; Pearson to Expand in TV |newspaper=The New York Times |date=30 March 1995 |access-date=27 May 2022}} U.S. television company All American Communications Inc.,{{cite press release |url=http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/aanews.htm |title=ACQUISITION OF ALL AMERICAN BY PEARSON TO CREATE THE WORLD'S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION PRODUCER |publisher=Pearson Television |date=1 October 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000902080204/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/aanews.htm |archive-date=2 September 2000}} Italian drama production company Mastrofilm,{{cite press release |url=http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article21.htm |title=PEARSON TELEVISION ACQUIRES ITALIAN PRODUCTION COMPANY |publisher=Pearson Television |date=3 November 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000902075255/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article21.htm |archive-date=2 September 2000}} European animation financer and distributor EVA Entertainment,{{cite press release |url=http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article27.htm |title=PEARSON TELEVISION ACCELERATES ANIMATION BUSINESS |publisher=Pearson Television |date=2 February 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000528130535/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article27.htm |archive-date=28 May 2000}} and UK production company Talkback Productions.{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/pearson-close-to-talkback-acquisition/402103.article |title=Pearson close to Talkback acquisition |periodical=Screen International |date=14 April 2000 |access-date=29 May 2022}}

In 1994, Pearson acquired software publisher The Software Toolworks for US$462{{nbsp}}million,{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/01/business/pearson-enters-multimedia-software-arena.html |title=Pearson Enters Multimedia Software Arena |first=Steve |last=Lohr |date=1 April 1994 |publisher=The New York Times |access-date=29 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626222253/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/01/business/pearson-enters-multimedia-software-arena.html |archive-date=26 June 2019 |url-status=live}} and rebranded it Mindscape.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aAgEAAAAMBAJ |title=TOP OF MIND |magazine=Billboard |volume=106 |issue=46 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=12 November 1994 |page=90}} In 1998, Pearson sold Mindscape to The Learning Company for US$150{{nbsp}}million, taking a $346 million loss on the sale.{{cite web |title=Pearson loses Mindscape |url=https://money.cnn.com/1998/03/06/deals/mindscape/ |website=money.cnn.com |publisher=CNN |date=6 March 1998 |access-date=13 December 2021}}

In 2000, Pearson merged its television holdings with CLT-UFA to form the RTL Group.{{cite web |last1=Milmo |first1=Dan |title=RTL chief defends Pearson TV acquisition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/sep/19/rtl.pearson |access-date=9 February 2024 |publisher=The Guardian |date=19 September 2001}} In 2002 it exited the industry entirely by selling its 22% stake in RTL to Bertelsmann.{{cite web |title=Pearson Completes Sale Of RTL Stake To Bertelsman |url=https://the-media-leader.com/pearson-completes-sale-of-rtl-stake-to-bertelsman/ |website=the-media-leader.com |access-date=9 February 2024 |date=1 February 2002}}{{Cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_Dec_24/ai_81087547 |title=Pearson agrees to sell 22% stake in RTL Group |publisher=FindArticles |website=findarticles.com |access-date=18 April 2011 |date=2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104183852/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_Dec_24/ai_81087547 |archive-date=4 January 2009}}

Marjorie Scardino, who was CEO of Pearson plc from 1997 to 2013, increasingly focused the conglomerate on education and on making education acquisitions.{{Cite web |last1=Baird |first1=Dugald |last2=Sabbagh |first2=Dan |title=Pearson chief executive Marjorie Scardino to step down |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/03/pearson-marjorie-scardino-step-down |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=The Guardian |date=3 October 2012}}{{Cite web |last1=Chozick |first1=Amy |title=Scardino, Chief of Pearson, to Step Down |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/business/media/scardino-ceo-of-pearson-to-step-down.html |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=3 October 2012}} In 1998, Pearson plc purchased the education division of Simon & Schuster, which included Prentice Hall, Allyn & Bacon,{{Cite web |last1=Walsh |first1=Mark |title=Pearson Hopes To "Widen the Definition Of Education" |url=https://www.edweek.org/education-industry/pearson-hopes-to-widen-the-definition-of-education/2001/02 |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=Education Week |date=21 February 2001}}{{cite web |last1=Selingo |first1=Jeffrey J. |title=British Publisher Announces Plan to Buy Simon & Schuster's Textbook Division |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/british-publisher-announces-plan-to-buy-simon-schusters-textbook-division-103710/ |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=The Chronicle of Higher Education |date=19 May 1998}} and parts of Macmillan Inc. including the Macmillan name.{{cite web |title=Macmillan Rises from the Dustbin |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/3303-macmillan-rises-from-the-dustbin.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |publisher=Publishers Weekly |date=12 October 2007}}{{cite web |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |title=Holtzbrinck's U.S. Arm Now Macmillan |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/612-holtzbrinck-s-u-s-arm-now-macmillan.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |publisher=Publishers Weekly |date=9 October 2007}} Later in 1998 it merged Simon & Schuster's educational business with Addison Wesley Longman to form Pearson Education.{{cite web |title=Pearson Education: World's Leading Education Business Is Launched |url=http://www.pearson.com/news/contents/headline/current/educate.htm/ |website=pearson.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990224164746/http://www.pearson.com/news/contents/headline/current/educate.htm/ |archive-date=24 February 1999 |date=30 November 1998}}

Pearson sold and divested most of its Simon & Schuster divisions in 1999.

• {{cite web |date=24 May 1999 |title=Pearson Sells Two Former S&S Units |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990524/32256-pearson-sells-two-former-s-amp-s-units.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
• {{cite web |last=Milliot |first=Jim |date=31 May 1999 |title=Wiley, Kluwer Acquire Two Pearson Units |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990531/35347-wiley-kluwer-acquire-two-pearson-units.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
• {{cite web |last=Milliot |first=Jim |date=31 May 1999 |title=Six Macmillan Library Kids Imprints Closed |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990531/40646-six-macmillan-library-kids-imprints-closed.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
• {{cite web |date=28 June 1999 |title=Macmillan Library Units to Join Gale |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990628/34076-macmillan-library-units-to-join-gale.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
• {{cite web |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |last2=Baker |first2=John F. |date=5 July 1999 |title=IDG Books Buys Macmillan General Reference |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990705/24783-idg-books-buys-macmillan-general-reference.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}

In March 2000 Pearson acquired the illustrated reference publisher Dorling Kindersley and integrated it within Penguin.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/696695.stm |title=Pearson buys Dorling Kindersley |publisher=BBC |date=31 March 2000 |access-date=29 December 2012}} It acquired National Computer Systems (NCS) in September 2000, entering the educational assessment and school management systems market in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/Business-international/Pearson-to-acquire-NCS-for-$25-billion-Move-will-create-worlds-top-education-firm.html |title=Pearson buys NCS |website=faqs.org |access-date=18 April 2011}}

In 2002, Pearson purchased Rough Guides, the travel publisher, and brought it under Penguin.{{cite web |title=Pearson Timeline |url=http://www.pearsonlongman.com/longman_greece/pearson_timeline.asp |website=pearsonlongman.com |access-date=15 February 2024}}

In 2003 it acquired Edexcel,{{Cite web |author=Rebecca Smithers and Kevin Massy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jun/30/politics.schools |title=New marking fiasco |publisher=The Guardian |location=London |date=30 June 2003 |access-date=18 April 2011}} a provider of qualifications in the UK, and in 2004 acquired about 80% stake in Meximerica Media Inc for the swelling U.S. Hispanic market.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108207230225484474 |title=Pearson Acquires Newspaper Concern For Hispanic Market |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=16 April 2004}} Pearson purchased a series of other testing and assessment businesses, including Knowledge Technologies in 2004,{{cite web |url=http://www.pearsonkt.com/company.shtml |title=Pearson Knowledge Technologies |website=pearsonkt.com |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715061505/http://www.pearsonkt.com/company.shtml |archive-date=15 July 2011}} AGS in 2005,{{Cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200506/ai_n14757442 |title=Pearson buys AGS Publishing for $270 million | AFP | Find Articles at BNET |date=3 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103222154/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200506/ai_n14757442 |archive-date=3 January 2009}} and Promissor in 2006.{{Cite web |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6301535.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609182138/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6301535.html |url-status=dead |title=Peason buys Promissor |archive-date=9 June 2007 |website=publishersweekly.com}} It acquired National Evaluation Systems, a provider of customised state assessments for teacher certification in the US, in 2006{{cite web |url=http://gazettenet.com/2006/04/26/nes-sold-global-company-licensing-tests-key?SESSa1e83f95fbc8e85404d6e6764114bd93=gnews |title=NES sold to global company |access-date=26 April 2006 |website=gazettenet.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507135623/http://www.gazettenet.com/2006/04/26/nes-sold-global-company-licensing-tests-key?SESSa1e83f95fbc8e85404d6e6764114bd93=gnews |archive-date=7 May 2013}} and acquired eCollege, a digital learning technology group, in 2007.{{cite web |last=Nagel |first=David |url=http://campustechnology.com/articles/2007/05/pearson-to-acquire-ecollege.aspx |title=Pearson To Acquire College |website=campustechnology.com |date=16 May 2007 |access-date=21 March 2015}}

It sold Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, a Catholic publishing division it operated under the Scott Foresman imprint, to RCL Benziger in 2007.{{Cite web |date=6 September 2007 |title=RCL Publishing LLC ("RCL Benziger"), a CFM Religion Publishing Group LLC division, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, a Scott Foresman imprint, from Pearson Education |url=http://www.wicksgroup.com/newsContent.asp?pageID=77&newsID=15 |website=wicksgroup.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015420/http://www.wicksgroup.com/newsContent.asp?pageID=77&newsID=15 |archive-date=3 December 2013}} In 2007 Pearson Education sold the Macmillan name to Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, which had purchased Macmillan Publishing Ltd. in the late 1990s.{{cite web |title=Holtzbrinck |url=https://ulib.niu.edu/publishers/Holtzbrinck.htm |publisher=Northern Illinois University |access-date=7 December 2023}}

In 2008 Pearson acquired Harcourt Assessment and Harcourt Education International from Reed Elsevier{{cite web |url=http://www.pearson.com/news/2007/may/pearson-acquires-harcourt-assessment-and-harcourt-education-inter.html |title=Pearson acquires Harcourt Assessment and Harcourt Education International from Reed Elsevier |access-date=11 May 2013 |publisher=Pearson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214182021/http://www.pearson.com/news/2007/may/pearson-acquires-harcourt-assessment-and-harcourt-education-inter.html |archive-date=14 December 2012}} and merged them into Pearson Assessment & Information.{{cite web |url=http://www.pearsonassessments.com/haiweb/Cultures/en-US/Site/Community/PostSecondary/NewsEvents/PressReleases/NewsRelease013008.htm |title=Pearson Completes Acquisition of Harcourt Assessment |access-date=16 July 2011 |publisher=Assessment & Information group of Pearson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327140816/http://www.pearsonassessments.com/haiweb/Cultures/en-US/Site/Community/PostSecondary/NewsEvents/PressReleases/NewsRelease013008.htm |archive-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}

In February 2008, Pearson announced the sale of its Pearson Data Management Division (formerly the scanner manufacturing and servicing division of NCS Inc.) to Scantron Corporation (part of M&F Worldwide) which had been its main competitor.{{Cite press release |title=Completes the Acquisition of Pearson's Data Management Business |publisher=Pearson plc |date=24 February 2008 |url=http://datamanagement.scantron.com/news/08-02-24.htm |access-date=8 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408093448/http://datamanagement.scantron.com/news/08-02-24.htm |archive-date=8 April 2008}}

In 2010, Pearson acquired the adult English training service Wall Street Institute{{cite web |last=Neilan |first=Catherine |url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-buys-wall-street-institute-92m-cash |title=Pearson buys Wall Street Institute for $92m in cash |date=29 July 2010 |website=thebookseller.com |access-date=21 March 2015}} and the school learning systems division of Sistema Educacional Brasileiro (SEB).{{cite web |last1=Browning |first1=Jonathan |last2=Saitto |first2=Serena |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-07-22/pearson-buys-sistema-educacional-brasileiro-learning-unit-for-499-million |title=Pearson Buys Sistema Learning Unit for $499 Million |publisher=Bloomberg News |date=22 July 2010 |access-date=21 March 2015}} Also in 2010, the company sold its 61% stake in Interactive Data to investment funds managed by Silver Lake Partners and Warburg Pincus.{{cite web |last=Sweney |first=Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/may/04/paerson-idc-interactive-data-corporation |title=Pearson sells IDC stake for $2bn |date=4 May 2010 |publisher=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=21 March 2015}}

Pearson Education was rebranded as simply Pearson in 2011.{{cite web |title=About Pearson |url=http://www.pearsoned.com/about-us/ |website=pearsoned.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013025843/http://www.pearsoned.com/about-us/ |archive-date=13 October 2011}}

In July 2011, Pearson announced the creation of Pearson College, a British degree provider based in London.{{cite web |last=Gill |first=John |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=416714 |title=Royal Holloway to validate new Pearson degree |access-date=17 November 2012 |publisher=Times Higher Education |date=4 July 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/aug/14/ft-owners-pearson-plan-college?newsfeed=true |title=FT owners plan college for business degrees |access-date=17 November 2012 |publisher=The Guardian |location=London |date=14 August 2012}} Also in 2011, Pearson acquired Connections Education and agreed to sell its 50% stake in FTSE International Limited to the London Stock Exchange for £450 million.{{cite web |last=Halliday |first=Josh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/dec/12/pearson-to-sell-ftse-stake-450m |title=Pearson to sell FTSE stake for £450m |publisher=The Guardian |location=London |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=21 March 2015}} In 2011, Pearson also increased its stake in TutorVista to 76%.{{cite web |author=Mark Sweney |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jan/18/pearson-tutorvista-india |title=Pearson buys controlling stake in TutorVista for $127m |publisher=The Guardian |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=4 December 2016}}

In May 2012 Pearson announced its acquisition of GlobalEnglish Corporation, an American Business English software and solutions company, in an all-cash transaction.{{cite web |title=Pearson's world-leading English learning business strengthens its position in the corporate market |url=http://www.globalenglish.com/whoweare/newsroom/press_releases/782 |website=globalenglish.com |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707010743/http://www.globalenglish.com/whoweare/newsroom/press_releases/782 |archive-date=7 July 2012}}

In October 2012 Pearson entered into talks with rival conglomerate Bertelsmann, over the possibility of combining their respective publishing companies, Penguin Group and Random House,{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/eaf8eaaa-1eac-11e2-be82-00144feabdc0.html |title=Penguin and Random House in merger talks |publisher=Financial Times |date=25 October 2012}} and said it would merge Penguin Books with Bertelsmann's Random House to create the world's biggest consumer book publisher.{{cite web |last=Holton |first=Kate |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pearson-idUSBRE89S0C120121029 |title=Random, Penguin merging to form leading publisher |date=29 October 2012 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=1 July 2017 |archive-date=28 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128104202/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/29/us-pearson-idUSBRE89S0C120121029 |url-status=live}}

In February 2013, following government changes to apprenticeship funding rules, Pearson sold its Pearson in Practice, a UK vocational training business, to West Nottinghamshire College, which renamed it Vision Workforce Skills.{{cite web |url=http://www.wnc.ac.uk/About-Us/News-And-Events/Press-Release.aspx?PRID=629 |title=Training provider Pearson in Practice to transfer over to West Nottinghamshire College |date=21 February 2013 |website=wnc.ac.uk |publisher=West Nottinghamshire College |access-date=10 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402175647/http://wnc.ac.uk/About-Us/News-And-Events/Press-Release.aspx?PRID=629 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.visionworkforceskills.co.uk/ |title=Vision Workforce Skills |website=visionworkforceskills.co.uk |access-date=10 June 2013}}

In May 2013, Pearson announced a new restructuring plan to invest in digital learning and emerging markets, after predicting weaker earnings.{{Cite web |last1=Young |first1=Sarah |title=Pearson sees 2013 flat, begins restructuring plan |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pearson-idUKBRE91O08I20130225 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108195815/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pearson-idUKBRE91O08I20130225 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2016 |access-date=18 January 2015 |publisher=Reuters |date=25 February 2013}} The change supported the decoupling of the Penguin consumer publishing business into a separate entity with Random House (forming Penguin Random House). The new structure combined the separate education companies, Pearson International and Pearson North America under one Pearson company and Pearson reorganised around three global lines of business – School, Higher Education and Professional. The Financial Times Group and Pearson English formed part of Pearson Professional.{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Kathy |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324659404578500433025096180 |title=Pearson details restructuring |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=23 May 2013 |access-date=26 June 2013}}

In July 2014, the company announced it had cut 4,000 jobs, representing 10% of the company's workforce.{{Cite news |last1=Orihuela |first1=Rodrigo |last2=Schweizer |first2=Kristen |title=Pearson cutting 4,000 jobs as first-half sales decline |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-25/pearson-first-half-sales-drop-6-5-percent-on-strength-of-pound.html |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg News |date=25 July 2014}}

Pearson announced in July 2015 that it had agreed to sell the FT Group, which includes business daily Financial Times, to Japanese media group Nikkei for £844 million, or $1.32 billion. The sale does not include FT Group's London property at One Southwark Bridge.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d7e95338-3127-11e5-8873-775ba7c2ea3d.html |title=Nikkei to buy FT Group for £844m from Pearson |author=Henry Mance, Arash Massoudi and James Fontanella-Khan |publisher=Financial Times |date=23 July 2015 |access-date=28 July 2015}} Pearson retained the publishing rights to FT Press and licensed the trademark from Nikkei.{{Cite web |title=Pearson FT Press |url=https://www.informit.com/promotions/pearson-ft-press-141135 |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=informit.com}} In August 2015, Pearson's sold its 50% stake in The Economist to the Agnelli family,{{cite web |title=Pearson sells Economist Group stake |publisher=BBC |date=12 August 2015 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33878566 |access-date=12 August 2015}} who previously held 4.7% of the group.{{cite web |url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/article/pearson-sell-economist-group-stake/1357659 |title=Pearson to sell Economist Group stake |author=Omar Oakes |publisher=Brand Republic |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=28 July 2015}} The remaining 50% of The Economist Group is owned by the Schroders, Cadburys and the Rothschilds.

Following the sale of its financial news publications Financial Times and The Economist in 2015, Pearson plc rebranded in January 2016 to focus solely on education, and the corporation adopted a new logo,{{Cite web |last1=Cowdrey |first1=Katherine |title=Pearson rebrand to reflect 100% focus on education |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-rebrands-reflect-100-focus-education-319864 |access-date=12 September 2023 |publisher=The Bookseller |date=7 January 2016}} the interrobang (‽), a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point, meant to convey a "combination of excitement, curiosity and individuality" and "the excitement and fun of learning".{{Cite web |title=Logo: The Interrobang |url=https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/corporate/global/pearson-dot-com-v2/files/logos/Pearson_Guidelines_Logo.pdf |website=pearson.com |access-date=12 September 2023}}

In July 2017, Pearson sold its Tutor Vista and Edurite lines of business to India-based education technology company, Byju's.{{Cite web |last=Dhamija |first=Anshul |url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/byjus-acquires-tutorvista-and-edurite-from-pearson/47449/1 |title=Byju's acquires TutorVista and Edurite from Pearson |website=forbesindia.com |publisher=Forbes India |language=en |access-date=4 July 2017}} In July 2017, it also agreed to reduce its holding in Penguin Random House to 25%, by selling a 22% stake in the business to Bertelsmann.{{Cite web |title=Pearson sells 22% stake in Penguin Random House |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40566637 |access-date=12 July 2017 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |date=11 July 2017}}

In August 2017 Pearson announced that it would cut 3,000 staff in an effort to save £300 million annually.{{Cite web |last=Sweney |first=Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/aug/04/pearson-to-axe-3000-jobs-after-slump-at-main-us-business |title=Pearson to axe 3,000 jobs after slump at main US business |date=4 August 2017 |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2018}} In August 2017 it also sold the language-training subsidiary Global Education to Chinese company Pu-Xin Education.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Heloise |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-sells-global-education-puxin-education-614566 |title=Pearson sells Global Education to Puxin for £62m |date=16 August 2017 |website=thebookseller.com |publisher=The Bookseller |access-date=12 September 2017}}

In 2019, Pearson sold its US K-12 courseware business to the private equity firm Nexus Capital Management,{{cite web |last=Wan |first=Tony |title=Finally Pearson Sells Its US K-12 Courseware Business — for $250 Million |publisher=EdSurge |access-date=13 October 2019 |date=18 February 2019 |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-02-18-finally-pearson-sells-its-us-k-12-courseware-business}} which rebranded it as Savvas Learning Company.{{cite web |last1=Millward |first1=Wade Tyler |title=Former Pearson K-12 Courseware Business Rebrands as Savvas Learning |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-10-29-former-pearson-k-12-courseware-business-rebrands-as-savvas-learning |website=EdSurge |access-date=1 February 2024 |date=29 October 2019}}{{Cite web |last1=Molnar |first1=Michele |title=Pearson K12 Spinoff Rebranded as "Savvas Learning Company" |url=https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/pearson-k12-spinoff-rebranded-savvas-learning-company/ |website=marketbrief.edweek.org |date=6 May 2020 |access-date=1 February 2024}} Pearson also sold its remaining 25% stake in Penguin Random House to Bertelsmann.{{Cite web |last=Calatayud |first=Adria |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pearson-ceo-to-retire-and-company-will-sell-remaining-penguin-random-house-stake-2019-12-18 |title=Pearson CEO to Retire and company will sell remaining Penguin Random House stake |website=marketwatch.com |publisher=MarketWatch |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=18 December 2019}}

Pearson CEO John Fallon retired from the company in 2020, and was succeeded by Andy Bird on 19 October 2020.{{cite web |last1=Pfeiffer |first1=Thomas |last2=Seal |first2=Thomas |title=Pearson Names Ex-Disney Executive as CEO, Ending Long Search |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/pearson-names-ex-disney-executive-as-ceo-ending-long-search/ar-BB18iFmv |access-date=24 August 2020 |publisher=MSN |date=24 August 2020}}

In December 2021, Pearson announced that Omid Kordestani had been appointed as the chairman of the board of directors,{{Cite web |date=16 December 2021 |title=Pearson appoints Silicon Valley veteran Omid Kordestani as chair |publisher=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/09f5c19a-0822-4b07-b2bb-69de223ae820 |access-date=18 May 2022}}{{Cite web |date=16 December 2021 |title=Pearson hires former Twitter exec Omid Kordestani as Chair Designate |url=https://www.cityam.com/pearson-hires-former-twitter-exec-omid-kordestani-as-chair-designate/ |access-date=18 May 2022 |website=cityam.com |language=en}} effective March 2022.{{Cite web |title=Introducing our leaders |url=https://plc.pearson.com/en-GB/company/leadership |access-date=18 May 2022 |website=plc.pearson.com |language=en}}

In April 2022, Pearson announced it had acquired the online language learning platform, Mondly.{{Cite web |title=Pearson reports 7% underlying sales growth as it acquires language learning platform Mondly |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-reports-7-underlying-sales-growth-as-it-acquires-language-learning-platform-mondly |access-date=29 April 2022 |website=thebookseller.com |publisher=The Bookseller |language=en}}

In April 2022, Pearson acquired ClutchPrep, which was renamed Channels and added to the Pearson website.{{cite web |title=Clutch Prep acquired by Pearson |date=12 April 2022 |url=https://refreshmiami.com/clutch-preps-journey-from-startup-to-exit-what-a-run-it-was/}}{{Cite press release |title=Pearson Releases Curated Video & Practice Feature to Enhance Learning Experiences for All College Students |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearson-releases-curated-video--practice-feature-to-enhance-learning-experiences-for-all-college-students-301599800.html}}

In September 2023, CEO Andy Bird announced his impending retirement.{{cite web |last1=Shabong |first1=Yadarisa |last2=Mathews |first2=Eva |title=Pearson names Microsoft executive Abbosh CEO as Bird retires |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/pearson-names-omar-abbosh-its-new-ceo-2023-09-20/ |access-date=19 February 2024 |publisher=Reuters |date=20 September 2023}} He was succeeded by Omar Abbosh, president of Microsoft's Industry Solutions business, on 8 January 2024.{{cite web |last1=Siampani |first1=Anna |title=Pearson Confirms Omar Abbosh will Assume the role of CEO in January |url=https://ceoworld.biz/2023/10/30/pearson-confirms-omar-abbosh-will-assume-the-role-of-ceo-in-january/ |website=ceoworld.biz |access-date=19 February 2024 |date=30 October 2023}}

Pearson plc is a holding company, and conducts its business primarily through subsidiaries and other affiliates.{{cite web |author1=Pearson plc |title=Form 20-F: Annual Report for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2022 |url=https://plc.pearson.com/sites/pearson-corp/files/pearson/files/pearson-form-20-f-fy22.pdf |website=plc.pearson.com |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |access-date=19 February 2024 |date=31 March 2023}} As of December 2022, its main subsidiaries are:

• Pearson Education Inc. (United States);
• Pearson Education Ltd. (United Kingdom);
• NCS Pearson, Inc. (United States).

According to the company's website, its business divisions consist of:{{cite web |title=Our Business Divisions |url=https://plc.pearson.com/en-GB/company/our-business-divisions |website=plc.pearson.com |access-date=22 February 2024}}

• Assessment & Qualifications;
• Virtual Learning;
• English Language Learning;
• Workforce Skills;
• Higher Education.

Concerns exist around the amount of influence Pearson, being a commercial company, has on public education.{{cite web |last=Mansell |first=Warwick |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/jul/16/pearson-multinational-influence-education-policy |title=Should Pearson, a giant multinational, be influencing our education policy? |date=16 July 2012 |access-date=25 September 2013 |publisher=The Guardian |location=London}} Other concerns are around tax avoidance, high value contracts, and an instance of laying off teachers to offset the high costs of testing.{{cite web |url=http://www.wiredacademic.com/2011/10/pearson-draws-criticism-from-new-york-to-texas-justified-or-unjustified/ |title=Pearson Draws Criticism From New York to Texas... Justified? Or Unjustified? |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=25 September 2013 |website=wiredacademic.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928053128/http://www.wiredacademic.com/2011/10/pearson-draws-criticism-from-new-york-to-texas-justified-or-unjustified/ |archive-date=28 September 2013}} In 2017, more than six out of ten Pearson shareholders voted against the chief executive's pay package of £1.5 million after the company made a record loss.{{cite web |author=Mark Sweney |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/05/pearson-shareholders-reject-pay-revolt-john-fallon |title=Pearson shareholders reject chief executive's £1.5m pay package |publisher=The Guardian |date=5 May 2017 |access-date=6 May 2017}} Pearson US has been criticised for using offshore tax avoidance schemes involving a host of companies at a service address in Luxembourg.{{cite web |last=Tarek |first=Alia |url=https://www.world.tax/articles/when-pearson-us-took-a-tax-break.php |title=When Pearson US took a tax break – Courtesy of PwC |date=3 July 2015 |website=world.tax |access-date=2 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011073438/https://www.world.tax/articles/when-pearson-us-took-a-tax-break.php |archive-date=11 October 2016}}

Pearson owns Edexcel, a British education and examination board.{{cite web |title=The Senior Management Team |url=http://www.edexcel.com/Aboutus/who-we-are/our-people/smt/Pages/home.aspx |publisher=Pearson Edexcel}} Edexcel has produced qualifications which link to Pearson texts, although Edexcel also continues to endorse textbooks published by other companies. Edexcel has also faced criticism over repeated leaks of exam material in consecutive years; police investigations into some of the incidents were referred to prosecutors.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-48646188 |title=Edexcel launches investigation after A-level maths paper leaked online |date=15 June 2019 |publisher=BBC |access-date=22 June 2019}}

In June 2010, Pearson plc received notification that the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) founded by Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi as a sovereign fund had acquired 24.4 million shares within the company via Euroclear. On further investigation, Pearson said the LIA may have acquired an additional 2.1 million shares, resulting in a total interest of 26.5 million shares. At the time, this represented a major holding of 3.27% within the company and the investment was worth around £280 million.{{cite web |last=Sweney |first=Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/mar/01/pearson-libyan-investment-authority-stake |title=Pearson freezes stake held by Libyan Investment Authority |date=1 March 2011 |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=26 March 2016}}

{{Portal|Companies|Books}}

• Bertelsmann
• Elsevier
• Holtzbrinck Publishing Group
• Lagardère Publishing
• McGraw Hill Education
• News Corp
• Scholastic Corporation
• Thomson Reuters
• Wiley (publisher)

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Pearson plc}}

• [https://plc.pearson.com/ Official website]
• {{cite web |title=Pearson Timeline |url=http://www.ulib.niu.edu/publishers/index.htm |work=The Academic Publishing Industry: A Story of Merger and Acquisition |author=Mary H. Munroe |date=2004 |publisher=Northern Illinois University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020160102/http://www.ulib.niu.edu/publishers/Pearson.htm |archive-date=20 October 2014}}

{{Pearson}}

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