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Shareholder FAQs

General/Misc:

Share Certificate:

Dividends:

Shares and Shareholding:

US Listing and ADRs:

General Meetings:

Share Register Fraud

UK Shareholders

General/Misc:

Q: When are the next set of results being announced?

A: Our final results are usually announced in February and the interim results in July. Click here to view our financial calendar

Q: How do I get hold of a copy of the Annual Report?

A: You can either download a copy of the report by clicking here or request a copy to be mailed to you by writing to the Registrars at:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: What is the Company's registered address?

A: Pearson plc
80 Strand
London
WC2R 0RL
U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7010 2000

The registered number of the Company is 53723.

Q: Who are the Company's registrars?

A: Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: + 44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: On what stock exchanges are Pearson shares traded?

A: Ordinary shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange [LSE: PSON]. American Depository Shares (ADSs) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PSO].

Q: Does Pearson offer shareholders a Corporate ISA?

A: Yes. A Corporate ISA is administered by Equiniti. Should you wish to receive further information please contact:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: + 44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: What is the stock/ticker symbol for Pearson?

A: On the London Stock Exchange (LSE) our ticker symbol is PSON. On the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) the symbol is PSO.

Q: What is Pearson's official accounting currency?

A: Pearson reports all its financial statements in British Pounds Sterling (£).

Q: Where can I get a copy of the latest financial results announced by Pearson?

A: You can download copies of our interim and annual reports here or request a hard copy by contacting the Registrars at:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: + 44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: When does Pearson report its financial results?

A: Please see our financial calendar by clicking here

Share Certificate:

Q: I have lost my share certificate. How do I get a new one?

A: Please advise the Registrars - in writing - which share certificate is lost and you will be sent a Letter of Indemnity for completion. You should sign and return this to the Registrars to enable a duplicate share certificate to be issued. You can contact the Registrars at:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: Do I need a share certificate?

A: A share certificate in your name is evidence of your ownership of shares. However, with the development of electronic means of trading shares, most corporate investors no longer use share certificates and rely instead on secure systems for exchanging data with the registrar and the London Stock Exchange. Some brokers now offer services which enable you to hold shares in electronic format without needing to have a share certificate. This means that in theory you can deal much faster because there is no need to supply certificates as evidence of ownership, but there is often a charge for this service.

I reported a lost share certificate but now I've found it. What do I do?

A: If you have already completed a letter of indemnity and sent it back to the Registrar, the original certificate is now invalid. You must send it back to the Registrar to be cancelled.
If you have not yet returned it, please send the letter of indemnity back to the Registrar with a covering letter confirming that you have found the certificate and there is no need for a replacement to be issued.

Dividends:

What is a dividend?

A: A company that is making a profit often keeps a portion of its earnings to reinvest in the future of its business. The remaining profits will normally be given back to the owners of the company, its shareholders, as a dividend payment.
The dividend is often paid in two or more instalments over the year. The initial payments are called 'interim dividends' and the remainder, paid as a 'final' dividend, is approved by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

I've lost a dividend cheque. Can I have a new one?

A: Yes. If you confirm the details to the Registrars, they will send you a replacement.  They may charge a fee for this service.  If the shareholder is a nominee company, there will be an administration fee of £11.75 (including VAT) for replacement cheques over £50.00.

What does "ex-dividend" mean?

A: This is a description, sometimes abbreviated to 'xd' that is often quoted next to a share price. It translates as 'without dividend' and means that the next dividend payment is not included in the price of the share.
This is necessary because the dividend is paid to all shareholders who were on the register at close of trading on a specified day. Any shareholder buying shares who is registered after this day will not receive the dividend. To compensate for this, the market price usually drops by the amount of the dividend payment and the description 'xd' is added to share price quotations to confirm that this has happened.
To avoid confusion around this time, prices are sometimes quoted 'cum dividend' (meaning 'with dividend') which means that the buyer will be entitled to the next dividend payment and the share price has not been adjusted.

What is a tax credit on a dividend?

A: A dividend is normally paid net of a portion of tax, referred to as a 'tax credit', which is then used by the company to pay the Corporation Tax that is charged on its profits. The portion of tax credit is currently fixed at one tenth of the gross dividend. The Registrars will send you a tax voucher on behalf of the company which shows the amount of tax credit paid on each dividend. You should keep this document as the Inland Revenue may ask you for the information. If you are a lower rate tax payer, you cannot normally reclaim the tax credit but if you pay tax at the higher rate, you may have to pay a further liability. For more information on your personal tax position, you should consult a financial advisor or contact your Tax Office.
The Registrars can issue a replacement tax voucher if you need one. There is no charge for a replacement requested within one month of payment. After that there is a charge of £11.75 including VAT for the first replacement and a charge of £2.35 for additional replacements.

How do I obtain historical share prices?

A: Historical share prices can be found in the share price section of this website, where we hold data going back ten years. View historical share prices. If you require share prices prior to this, you should contact your own broker. Alternatively, the London Stock Exchange can provide this information.

Q: When are dividends usually paid?

A: Dividends are normally paid twice a year in March and October.

Q: Can my dividend be reinvested and used to purchase more shares?

A: Yes, you can elect to receive future dividends as shares rather than cash under Pearson's Dividend ReInvestment Plan (DRIP). You can participate by completing a DRIP mandate form (available here) or contact the Registrars directly at :

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

DRIP allows shareholders to reinvest their cash dividends in shares bought on the London Stock Exchange. On each dividend payment date, the company buys shares in the market on your behalf using your cash dividend, having first deducted a percentage to cover stamp duty and administration fees. A share certificate will be sent to you about 10 working days after the dividend payment date. To be eligible for the next dividend, the Registrars must have received your completed form at least 10 days before payment date. An explanation of how the plan operates and the charges, together with a mandate form is available from our Registrars.

Q: Can I have dividends paid direct to my bank/building society account?

A: Yes, you can ask to have your dividends paid direct into a bank or building society account, which will:

A tax voucher will be sent to your registered address so you know when and how much has been paid into your account. If you would like your dividends to be paid in this way, please complete a Bank mandate form. You can download a payment instruction form here or request a copy from the Registrars at:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

IMPORTANT: Please take care when completing the sort code and account number as we cannot accept liability if you give incorrect information and your dividend is paid into the wrong account. If a building society account is to be credited, please ask them to stamp the completed form to confirm that the quoted account details are correct.

Q: My dividend cheque is out-of-date. What do I do?

A: You should return your cheque to the Registrars to be reissued. Please note that Pearson dividend cheques are valid for 6 months from the date of issue.

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: I have not received my dividend cheque. Whom do I contact?

A: If you have not received the dividend payment please contact the Registrars at:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Shares and Shareholding:

Q: How do I buy/sell Pearson Ordinary shares?

A: Pearson shares can be bought and sold by contacting a stockbroker. Pearson can offer shareholders a simple, low cost share dealing service in conjunction with the stockbrokers Cazenove & Co. who operate a postal facility.

Cazenove
12 Tokenhouse Yard
London EC2R 7AN
U.K.
T: +44 20 7588 2828

Q: I want to give shares to someone as a gift. How do I go about it?

A: You should complete a stock transfer form and return it to the Registrar with your share certificate(s). To print a form click here. The address of the Registrars is:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.v T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: One of my relatives has just died and I have been named a beneficiary. What steps do I need to take to have the shares transferred into my name?

A: The Registrars require a certified copy of the death certificate, a sealed office copy of the Grant of Representation when available and the share certificate(s). Once the Grant has been noted on their records they will arrange to have the shares transferred into the name of the beneficiary. For further details, please contact the Registrars direct at:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: How do I inform you of my change of address?

A: Please write to the Registrar providing both your previous address and new address. You may also download the form here. A change of address cannot be accepted over the telephone. Please send correspondence to:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: How do I check a shareholding?

A: Shareholdings can be checked on-line by going to http://www.shareview.co.uk or by contacting the Registrars at:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: I have recently changed my name, what should I do?

A: Write to the Registrars giving full details of the following:

Please send this to our Registrars at:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
U.K.
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

Q: What am I entitled to as a registered shareholder?

A: When you either buy shares or shares are transferred to you, you become a part owner of the company. The benefits of owning shares include:

Q: Is this a good time to buy/sell Pearson shares?

A: Under the Financial Services Act, we are not authorised to provide advice to investors on share dealing. For advice on dealing, please contact your stockbroker or financial adviser.

Q: How can I check today's share price?

A: Click here to view the current shareprice.

Q: Where do I get hold of the original price I paid for my shares?

A: Your contract note which was provided by the broker when purchasing the shares will have this information. Also the Stock Exchange can provide this information. Click here for current share price information.

Q: I have a question about the tax on my shares and or dividends - whom do I speak to?

A: Your financial adviser.

Can I transfer shares to a child?

It is usually possible to transfer shares to someone below the age of eighteen (or sixteen if the company is registered in Scotland) but you should note that this can lead to complications: for example, dividends will be paid only in the name of the shareholder and if you subsequently wish to transfer shares held in the name of a minor, you will need a court order.

Alternatively, you can continue to hold shares in your name on behalf of the minor, segregating them from other shares you may hold by adding a 'designation'. This is a short identifier, usually a few letters long that marks the shares on our records as a separate holding. You can do this by filling in a stock transfer form, completing the form with your name as both transferor and transferee and specifying a designation in the transferee details. When choosing a designation, you must avoid using names and recognisable phrases.

How do I donate my shares to charity?

If you hold a small number of shares, the value of which may make it uneconomical to sell them, you can give them to charity through ShareGift, the charity share donation scheme. This is a registered charity (no.1052686) which accumulates small shareholdings, sells them and donates the proceeds to a wide range of different UK charities. The service is free (although there may be an indemnity fee if you have lost your share certificate). Giving shares to charity in this way does not give rise to any gain or loss for Capital Gains Tax purposes, and UK taxpayers may be able to claim income relief on the value of their donation.

For further information on ShareGift please log on to their website www.sharegift.org or write to them at 17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH. 

US Stockholders

US Listing and ADRs:

Q: Can I buy Pearson shares in the United States?

A: You cannot buy ordinary Pearson shares in the United States but you have the opportunity to buy ADRs.

Q: What are ADRs and ADSs?

A: ADSs are American Depository Shares. They are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and are represented by ADRs (American Depository Receipts). Pearson has a sponsored level 1 ADR program. The Bank of New York administers the ADR programme on behalf of the company. More information is available at: www.adrbny.com.

Q: Where can I get information on Pearson ADSs and ADRs?

A: Here are a few facts.

Ratio: 1 ADS = 1 Pearson ordinary share
Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Symbol: PSO
Sponsoring Bank: Bank of New York - Tel: 1-888-269-2377 (toll free within the US) or 001 212 815 3700
www.bny.com More information is available by clicking here.

Q: Where can I find FAQ's in relation to ADR's?

A: Please visit the Bank of New York's website at: https://www.adrbny.com

Q: How do I contact the Bank of New York?

A: http://www.adrbny.com/adr_phone_directory.jsp

Links:

REGISTRARS - EQUINITI ADDRESS:
Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
T: +44 (0)845 607 6838

STOCKBROKER:
Cazenove
12 Tokenhouse Yard
London EC2R 7AN

T: +44 20 7588 2828

General Meetings:

What is the annual general meeting?

Public limited companies are required to hold an annual general meeting, or AGM of shareholders at which decisions are taken on the company's business. The 'ordinary' business of the AGM is repeated every year and includes accepting the company's accounts for the year and fixing the proportion of a company's profits that will be paid back to shareholders as a dividend.
The company directors often take this opportunity to put forward other business requiring the approval of shareholders e.g. renewal of a share plan.

If I cannot attend the annual general meeting, can I still vote?

If you cannot go to the meeting yourself, you can appoint someone else to go in your place as your 'proxy'. To do this, you must complete the proxy card that is sent to you with the notice of meeting and send it back to us in advance of the meeting.
You can also, if you wish, appoint more than one proxy provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by you.
If a poll is taken on a resolution, your proxy can cast your vote for you and speak on your behalf.

If you cannot appoint a proxy to attend the meeting in person, you can still send the proxy form back to us and in the event of a poll on any resolution, the Chairman will cast your vote for you in line with the instructions you give on the form. It is also possible to send your proxy instruction over the web. If this service is available, details will be sent to you with the information about the meeting.

Can I receive shareholder communications electronically?

We send most shareholder communications, including the annual report, electronically via our website except for those shareholders who have told us that they wish to receive these communications via email or in paper form. Shareholders are informed when a new communication is available on the website.
If you would prefer to receive shareholder communications by email then you just need to create a Shareview holding which you can use to tell the Registrars your preferred option for company mailings. You can change this any time you log on to your Shareview holding.
Any shareholder can request a shareholder communication in hard copy at any time and we will send it to them free of charge.

What happens if I change my e-mail address?

You should make sure that your e-mail address on your Shareview holding is up to date. If the Registrars are unable to send your shareholder communications because the address you have given is not recognised, they will send you a paper copy of the e-mail by post within 48 hours.

Share Register Fraud

What forms does share register fraud take?

Stealing shares or proceeds of sale on the disposal of shares

The fraudster sends a change of address notice to the Registrars, followed by an indemnity request for a lost share certificate. Once the duplicate share certificate has been sent out to the "new" address, the fraudster then requests an off-market transfer of the shares to a different account thereby effectively stealing the shares.

Boiler-Room fraud

You are contacted out of the blue by a "broker" offering you a great deal on shares, often in smaller companies you may not have heard of or possibly other investments such as futures, options or foreign exchange.

After buying the shares, you may have difficulty in getting the shares or their certificates. And when you try to sell them, you won't know if the price is fair - or you could find the price is inexplicably lower. If you do manage to persuade the firm to sell your shares for you, you may have difficulty getting the proceeds from the sale or be put under a lot of pressure to buy other shares with the money.

What should I look out for?

Unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters which imply a connection with Pearson. These are typically from overseas based "brokers" who target UK shareholders offering to sell what often turns out to be worthless or high risk shares in UK or US investments.

When the Registrars receive a change of address notice they send a security letter to the old address to check that the request is genuine. If you receive such a letter and you are not changing your address you must contact the Registrars immediately on 0845 607 6838.

How can I protect my shares from potential fraud?

If you receive any unsolicited investment advice:-

  1. Ensure that you obtain the correct name of the person and organisation and make a record of any other information they give you e.g telephone number; address.
  2. Check that they are properly authorised by the FSA before getting involved. You can check at www.fsa.gov.uk/register
  3. Inform our Registrars on 0845 607 6838. They are not able to investigate such incidents themselves but they will record the details and pass them on to Pearson and liaise with the FSA.
  4. The FSA also maintains on its website a list of unauthorised overseas firms who are targeting, or have targeted, UK investors and any approach from such organisations should be reported to the FSA so that this list can be kept up-to-date and any other appropriate action can be considered.The FSA can be contacted by completing an online form at www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/law/alerts/overseas.shtml or on 0845 606 1234.
  5. Transfer your shares to a Corporate Sponsored Nominee

    6. The Corporate Sponsored Nominee (CSN) is a way of holding shares without a share certificate. Instead of registering as a shareholder directly on the register of members, your shares are held on your behalf by a nominee company. You are still the beneficial owner of the shares and instruct the nominee to buy, sell or transfer your holding on your behalf. A CSN is a nominee that is sponsored by Pearson particularly for its shareholders. The nominee has the backing of the company and so participants enjoy in practice the same rights as shareholders including receiving dividends and annual reports and playing a part in the company's general meetings.

    Holding shares this way has a number of benefits:

    You do not hold a share certificate, and so there is no possibility of having to pay a fee to replace it if it goes missing.

    The shares are held electronically, making it possible to transfer or sell shares very quickly.

    The nominee's name is entered on the register of members instead of yours, and your personal details are hidden from public view.

    You can open an account by transferring shares into the CSN. To do this, you will need to call 0845 607 6838 to obtain a copy of the terms & conditions and an application form. Completed forms should be returned, together with your share certificate(s) to:

    Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA

    What do I do if my shares are stolen?

    If you have been a victim of share register or boiler room fraud, you should retain all material and documents provided to you, such as bank statements and contract notes. You should report the matter to the FSA and also your local police, even if it is only for their information. Based on a number of complaints, the police may be able to assess the magnitude of this fraud. Testimonies by different people will help paint a fuller picture and co-ordinate their actions better. However, it is highly unlikely that your money will be recovered.

    A company claims to want to buy my shares back - should I sell?

    It is likely that your name and details have been passed on or bought by another fraudster, pretending to offer you a lifeline by buying your worthless shares. There are many such operations which are sometimes known as recovery rooms. In fact, the only thing they ever recover is more money from the victims. You will notice that before you get any money from them, they require a payment of "a purchaser bond" or "guarantee" or a "fee" of some sort, allegedly to release the shares or to secure the deal. However, after these people receive their "fee", they just disappear and you will probably never hear from them again.