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Exhibit (a)(1)(J)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 September 2000
PEARSON PLC COMPLETES TENDER OFFER FOR SHARES OF NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
Pearson plc, the international media company, announced today the successful
completion of its cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of
National Computer Systems (NCS).
The depositary for the offer, ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., has
advised Pearson that some 31,054,446 shares (including some 1,459,792 shares
tendered by guaranteed delivery), or 94.76% of the shares, had been validly
tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of Pearson's tender offer
at 12:00 midnight, New York City time on September 7, 2000. Pearson has
accepted for payment all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to
the expiration of the tender offer.
Pearson plans to promptly effect a "short form" merger at the same $73 per share
offered in the tender offer under which it will acquire 100% ownership of
National Computer Systems.
For more information:
John Fallon Pearson plc Tel: +44(0) 207 411 2310
NOTE TO EDITORS
On July 31, Pearson announced its plans to acquire NCS for $2.5 billion and
merge NCS with Pearson Education to create the world's leading integrated
education company. For more information about Pearson, go to www.pearson.com.
