Press Release: Pearson to sell FT Group to Nikkei Inc.

Pearson will now be 100% focused on our global education strategy. The world of education is changing profoundly and we see huge opportunity to grow our business through increasing access to high quality education globally.

Nikkei has a long and distinguished track record of quality, impartiality and reliability in its journalism and global viewpoint. The Board and I are confident that the FT will continue to flourish under Nikkei's ownership".

Read a blog post by John Fallon about the FT sale.

Tsuneo Kita, Chairman and Group CEO of Nikkei, said:

"I am extremely proud of teaming up with the Financial Times, one of the most prestigious news organizations in the world. Our motto of providing high-quality reporting on economic and other news, while maintaining fairness and impartiality, is very close to that of the FT. We share the same journalistic values. Together, we will strive to contribute to the development of the global economy."

Evercore, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Cazenove acted as financial adviser to Pearson on this transaction.

Rothschild Group acted as financial advisers to Nikkei on this transaction.

Notes to editors

About Pearson
Pearson is the world's leading learning company, with 40,000 employees in more than 80 countries working to help people of all ages to make measurable progress in their lives through learning. For more information about Pearson, visit http://www.pearson.com.

About Nikkei Inc.
Nikkei Inc. is the largest independent business media group in Asia. It acts as an operating holding company with its flagship newspaper Nikkei as a core. Group operations range from books and magazines to digital media, database services, broadcasting and other activities such as economic/cultural events.