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
30 April 2021
Pearson plc
('Pearson' or the 'Company')
Results of Annual General Meeting 2021
Pearson plc held its annual general meeting ('AGM') at 12 noon today. Resolutions 1 to 18, and 20, as set out in the Company's Notice of AGM dated 24 March 2021, were proposed and approved on a poll. Resolution 19, which sought approval to hold general meetings on 14 clear days' notice, was not passed.
The table below shows the results of the poll for each resolution. As at 6.30pm on 28 April 2021, the Company's issued share capital was 753,734,370 ordinary shares of 25p each. The Company does not hold any ordinary shares in Treasury. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company were 753,734,370. The proportion of the Company's issued share capital represented by those votes cast is approximately 82.6%.
Resolution
For and Discretionary
% votes cast For and Discretionary
Against
% votes
cast Against
Total votes cast (excluding votes withheld)
% of issued capital voted
Withheld/
Abstentions*
1.
To receive the 2020 report and accounts
622,032,902
99.99
47,267
0.01
622,080,169
82.53%
518,169
2.
To declare a final dividend
622,414,932
99.97
162,029
0.03
622,576,961
82.60%
21,377
3.
To elect Andy Bird
622,365,032
99.98
146,737
0.02
622,511,769
82.59%
79,705
4.
To re-elect Elizabeth Corley
521,566,499
83.78
100,975,619
16.22
622,542,118
82.59%
49,356
5.
To re-elect Sherry Coutu
583,616,600
93.75
38,891,824
6.25
622,508,424
82.59%
83,050
6.
To re-elect Sally Johnson
622,066,654
99.92
475,188
0.08
622,541,842
82.59%
49,632
7.
To re-elect Linda Lorimer
622,359,361
99.97
157,456
0.03
622,516,817
82.59%
74,657
8.
To re-elect Graeme Pitkethly
622,353,764
99.97
158,085
0.03
622,511,849
82.59%
79,625
9.
To re-elect Tim Score
583,410,391
93.73
39,052,073
6.27
622,462,464
82.58%
129,010
10.
To re-elect Sidney Taurel
554,638,906
89.36
66,024,487
10.64
620,663,393
82.35%
1,928,081
11.
To re-elect Lincoln Wallen
622,348,971
99.97
189,126
0.03
622,538,097
82.59%
53,377
12.
To approve the annual remuneration report
390,536,623
62.75
231,880,414
37.25
622,417,037
82.58%
181,301
13.
To re-appoint the auditors
601,070,597
96.55
21,473,855
3.45
622,544,452
82.59%
53,886
14.
To determine the remuneration of the auditors
619,894,574
99.58
2,645,756
0.42
622,540,330
82.59%
52,950
15.
To authorise the company to allot ordinary shares
542,431,953
87.13
80,129,183
12.87
622,561,136
82.60%
37,202
16.
To waive the pre-emption rights
560,976,071
90.12
61,507,273
9.88
622,483,344
82.59%
114,994
17.
To waive the pre-emption rights - additional percentage
542,937,885
87.22
79,553,166
12.78
622,491,051
82.59%
107,287
18.
To authorise the company to purchase its own shares
614,537,945
98.71
8,026,931
1.29
622,564,876
82.60%
33,462
19.
To approve the holding of general meetings on 14 clear days' notice
341,087,427
54.79
281,476,924
45.21
622,564,351
82.60%
33,987
20.
To approve the adoption of New Articles
622,366,464
99.98
138,923
0.02
622,505,387
82.59%
92,951
* Votes withheld are not legal votes.
In accordance with the Listing Rules, copies of the New Articles of Association and the resolutions that do not constitute ordinary business at an annual general meeting will shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism which is located at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism
The Board appreciates the support shown by the majority of shareholders for most of the resolutions at today's AGM. We note the opposition to the motion to authorise holding general meetings on 14 clear days' notice, as well as the significant minority vote against Pearson's remuneration report.
Pearson has engaged extensively with shareholders in recent months and there is strong ongoing support for Andy Bird's appointment as Chief Executive and confidence in his new strategy to return Pearson to growth.
We will continue to engage actively with shareholders to understand their views and, where applicable, their reasons for voting down resolution 19 and for the significant minority vote against resolution 12 and will carefully consider all feedback. We will publish an update on that engagement and on any action taken as a result of this within six months of the AGM, in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.
***ENDS***
Contacts
Investor Relations
Jo Russell
Anjali Kotak
Teddy Symington
+44 (0) 7785 451 266
+44 (0) 7802 890 724
+44 (0) 7443 354 088
Media
Tom Steiner
Gemma Terry
+44 (0) 7787 415 891
+44 (0) 7841 363 216
Teneo
Charles Armitstead
+44 (0) 7703 330 269
About Pearson
Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose - to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world's leading learning company. Learn more at pearsonplc.com and @Pearsonplc.

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Pearson plc published this content on 30 April 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 30 April 2021 16:12:06 UTC.