Pearson plc - (the "Company") Notification of PDMR Interests

Rhea-AI Summary

Pearson (PSO) has disclosed significant Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) share transactions for several key executives. CFO Sally Johnson received 136,077 ordinary shares and sold 63,957 shares at £11.7366 per share (£750,637.73) for tax purposes. Enterprise Learning President Vishaal Gupta received 138,651 shares and sold 50,318 shares at £11.7366 (£590,562.24). Higher Education President Tom ap Simon received 57,784 ADRs, English Language Learning President Sharon Hague received 23,768 shares and sold 11,173 shares (£131,133.03), and Assessment President Arthur Valentine received 63,300 ADRs. All transactions occurred on May 1, 2025, with ordinary share sales executed on the London Stock Exchange.

Positive

• Multiple senior executives received substantial LTIP share awards, indicating successful achievement of long-term performance targets
• Executives retained significant portions of their vested shares, showing confidence in the company

Negative

• Large-scale insider share sales totaling over £1.47 million, though primarily for tax purposes
• Significant share dilution from the release of new shares to executives

News Market Reaction – PSO

-1.68%

1 alert

-1.68% News Effect

On the day this news was published, PSO declined 1.68%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them

LONDON, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
a)	Name	Tom ap Simon
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	President – Higher Education and Virtual Learning
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Pearson plc
b)	LEI	2138004JBXWWJKIURC57
4	Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted
a)	Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument	American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in Pearson plc, each ADR represents one ordinary share of 25 pence in Pearson plc
	Identification code	ISIN: US7050151056
b)	Nature of the transaction	Release of ADRs settled on a net-of-tax basis, following release of share award under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	Volume: 57,784 Price: n/a
d)	Aggregated information -  Aggregated volume -  Price	Aggregated volume: see 4 (c) above Aggregated price: see 4 (c) above
e)	Date of the transaction	1 May 2025
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

 

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
a)	Name	Sharon Hague
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	President – English Language Learning
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Pearson plc
b)	LEI	2138004JBXWWJKIURC57
4	Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction]; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted
a)	Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument	Ordinary shares of 25 pence each in Pearson plc
	Identification code	ISIN: GB0006776081
b)	Nature of the transaction	Release of ordinary shares following release of share award under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and sale of shares to cover tax liabilities arising from vesting share awards
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	Release of ordinary shares following release of LTIP award	Sale of ordinary shares to cover tax liability
		Volume: 23,768 Price: n/a	Volume: 11,173 Price: £11.7366 per share Aggregated price: £131,133.03
d)	Aggregated information -  Aggregated volume -  Price	Aggregated volume: see 4 (c) above Aggregated price: see 4 (c) above
e)	Date of the transaction	1 May 2025
f)	Place of the transaction	London Stock Exchange (XLON)

 

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
a)	Name	Sally Johnson
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Financial Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Pearson plc
b)	LEI	2138004JBXWWJKIURC57
4	Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted
a)	Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument	Ordinary shares of 25 pence each in Pearson plc
	Identification code	ISIN: GB0006776081
b)	Nature of the transaction	Release of ordinary shares following release of share award under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and sale of shares to cover tax liabilities arising from vesting share awards
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	Release of ordinary shares following release of LTIP award	Sale of ordinary shares to cover tax liability
		Volume: 136,077 Price: n/a	Volume: 63,957 Price: £11.7366 per share Aggregated price: £750,637.73
d)	Aggregated information -  Aggregated volume -  Price	Aggregated volume: see 4 (c) above Aggregated price: see 4 (c) above
e)	Date of the transaction	1 May 2025
f)	Place of the transaction	London Stock Exchange (XLON)

 

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
a)	Name	Arthur Valentine
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	President – Assessment & Qualifications
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Pearson plc
b)	LEI	2138004JBXWWJKIURC57
4	Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted
a)	Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument	American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in Pearson plc, each ADR represents one ordinary share of 25 pence in Pearson plc
	Identification code	ISIN: US7050151056
b)	Nature of the transaction	Release of ADRs settled on a net-of-tax basis, following release of share award under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	Volume: 63,300 Price: n/a
d)	Aggregated information -  Aggregated volume -  Price	Aggregated volume: see 4 (c) above Aggregated price: see 4 (c) above
e)	Date of the transaction	1 May 2025
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

 

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
a)	Name	Vishaal Gupta
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	President – Enterprise Learning and Skills
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Pearson plc
b)	LEI	2138004JBXWWJKIURC57
4	Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction]; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted
a)	Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument	Ordinary shares of 25 pence each in Pearson plc
	Identification code	ISIN: GB0006776081
b)	Nature of the transaction	Release of ordinary shares following release of share award under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and sale of shares to cover tax liabilities arising from vesting share awards
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	Release of ordinary shares following release of LTIP award	Sale of ordinary shares to cover tax liability
		Volume: 138,651 Price: n/a	Volume: 50,318 Price: £11.7366 per share Aggregated price: £590,562.24
d)	Aggregated information -  Aggregated volume -  Price	Aggregated volume: see 4 (c) above Aggregated price: see 4 (c) above
e)	Date of the transaction	1 May 2025
f)	Place of the transaction	London Stock Exchange (XLON)

Media Contacts: 
Laura Ewart - UK
Laura.ewart@pearson.com

Dan Nelson - US
Dan.nelson@pearson.com

FAQ

How many Pearson (PSO) shares did CFO Sally Johnson receive and sell in May 2025?

Sally Johnson received 136,077 ordinary shares and sold 63,957 shares at £11.7366 per share (total £750,637.73) to cover tax liabilities.

What was the total value of Pearson executive share sales in May 2025?

The total value of share sales was approximately £1.47 million, primarily conducted to cover tax liabilities from LTIP awards.

Which Pearson executives received ADRs instead of ordinary shares in May 2025?

Tom ap Simon (57,784 ADRs) and Arthur Valentine (63,300 ADRs) received American Depositary Receipts instead of ordinary shares.

What was the share price for Pearson LTIP-related sales in May 2025?

The shares were sold at £11.7366 per share on the London Stock Exchange.