<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
(Rule 13d-101)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED
IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULE 13D-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS
THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-2(a)
(Amendment No. 3)(1)
MARKETWATCH.COM, INC.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $ .01 per share
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(Title of Class of Securities)
570619106
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(CUSIP Number)
Philip J. Hoffman
c/o Pearson Inc.
1330 Avenue of the Americas, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10019
(212) 641-2421
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
With Copies To:
Howard A. Kenny, Esq.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
101 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10178
(212) 309-6000
January 8, 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13D to
report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing
this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the
following box . /_/
NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and
five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. SEE Rule 13d-7(b) for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.
(Continued on following pages)
(Page 1 of 9 Pages)
(1) The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person"s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, SEE the
Notes).
<PAGE>
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CUSIP No. 570619106 13D Page 2 of 9 Pages
------------ -- --
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
PEARSON PLC EIN:
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) /_/
(b) /X/
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS*
NOT APPLICABLE
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e) /_/
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
ENGLAND & WALES
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES --------------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY
EACH SEE ITEM 5 OF THE ATTACHED SCHEDULE
REPORTING --------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
--------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
SEE ITEM 5 OF THE ATTACHED SCHEDULE
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
SEE ITEM 5 OF THE ATTACHED SCHEDULE
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES* /_/
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
SEE ITEM 5 OF THE ATTACHED SCHEDULE
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
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*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
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CUSIP No. 570619106 13D Page 3 of 9 Pages
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
PEARSON OVERSEAS HOLDINGS LTD. EIN:
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) /_/
(b) /X/
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS*
NOT APPLICABLE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)
/_/
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
ENGLAND & WALES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES --------------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY
EACH 5,636,814(1)
REPORTING --------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
--------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,636,814(1)
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,636,814(1)
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES* /_/
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
34.4%(1)
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
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*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
--------
(1) Includes 5,636,814 shares purchased from Data Broadcasting Corporation
pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 27, 2000, by and
between Data Broadcasting Corporation and Pearson Overseas Holdings Ltd.
<PAGE>
ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER
This Amendment No. 3 ("Amendment No. 3") to the Statement on
Schedule 13D, originally filed on April 7, 2000 and as amended by Amendment No.
1, filed on May 15, 2000, and by Amendment No. 2, filed on January 8, 2001
(collectively, the "Amendments" and, as so amended, the "Statement"), with
respect to the common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of
MarketWatch.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), amends Items 2, 3
and 4 and amends and restates Item 5 and Schedules A and B of the Statement. The
principal executive office of the Company is 825 Battery Street, San Francisco,
California 94111. Information given in response to each item shall be deemed
incorporated by reference in all other items. Capitalized terms used but not
defined in this Amendment No. 3 shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
them in the Statement.
ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND
Item 2 as set forth in the Statement is amended by the replacement
of paragraph (a) with the following:
(a) This Statement is being filed by each of the following persons
pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"): (i) Pearson plc, a corporation organized under the laws of
England & Wales ("Pearson"), and (ii) Pearson Overseas Holdings Ltd., a
corporation organized under the laws of England & Wales ("Pearson Overseas" and,
collectively with Pearson, the "Reporting Persons"). Each of (i) Pearson
Netherlands B.V., a corporation organized under the laws of the Netherlands;
(ii) Pearson AG, a corporation organized under the laws of Switzerland; (iii)
Pearson Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware; and (iv)
Pearson Longman, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware, each
of which were previously reporting persons due to their control relationship
with Data Broadcasting Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware ("DBC"); and DBC, which was previously the direct owner of the Common
Stock of the Company, are no longer reporting persons.
Pearson is an international media company. Pearson Overseas is an
investment holding company owned by Pearson.
ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION
Item 3 as set forth in the Statement is amended by the replacement
of the last two paragraphs with the following:
The total amount of funds required by Pearson Overseas to acquire
the Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement (as
described in the response to Item 4) is $26,887,602.78 (the "DBC Purchase
Price"). Pearson Overseas obtained the DBC Purchase Price from its working
capital, as well as the working capital of its parent company, Pearson.
As of November 1, 2000, the Secured Promissory Note referred to in
Item 3 has been repaid in full and, upon such repayment, the Stock Pledge
Agreement was automatically terminated pursuant to its terms.
4
<PAGE>
ITEM 4. PURPOSES OF TRANSACTIONS
Item 4 as set forth in the Statement is amended by the replacement
of the last paragraph with the following:
On December 27, 2000, DBC and Pearson Overseas entered into a Stock
Purchase Agreement (the "DBC Stock Purchase Agreement"), a copy of which has
been filed as an exhibit hereto. On January 8, 2001, pursuant to the DBC Stock
Purchase Agreement, Pearson Overseas purchased all 5,636,814 shares of Common
Stock of the Company from DBC for the DBC Purchase Price.
ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
Item 5 as set forth in the Statement is amended and restated to read
in its entirety as follows:
(a) Pearson Overseas owns 5,636,814 shares of Common Stock of the
Company (the "Shares"). Pearson Overseas' holding of 5,636,814 shares of Common
Stock of the Company represents approximately 34.4% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company. For purposes of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act, Pearson, which is the parent company of
Pearson Overseas, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares indirectly as a
result of its control relationship with Pearson Overseas. Any such beneficial
ownership would represent the same shared voting and dispositive power exercised
by Pearson Overseas over the Shares. Pearson disclaims beneficial ownership of
the Shares.
(b) The responses of the Reporting Persons to Items (7) through (11)
of the portions of pages 2 through 3 hereto which relate to shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned are incorporated herein by reference.
(c) Except as described in the response to Item 4, there have been
no transactions in the shares of Common Stock during the past sixty days by any
Reporting Person or any other person listed on Schedule B.
(d) No person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Pearson Overseas.
(e) Not applicable
Except as described in this response to Item 5, none of the persons
listed on Schedule B beneficially own any shares of Common Stock.
5
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the knowledge and belief
of each of the undersigned, each of the undersigned certifies that the
information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: January 18, 2001
Pearson plc
By: /s/ Julia Casson
------------------------------------------
Name: Julia Casson
Title: Company Secretary
Pearson Overseas Holdings Ltd.
By: /s/ S. Jones
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Name: S. Jones
Title: Secretary
Pearson Netherlands B.V.
By: /s/ D. H. Colville
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Name: D. H. Colville
Title: Director
Pearson AG
By: /s/ Peter Gill
-----------------------------------------
Name: Peter Gill
Title: Director
Pearson Inc.
By: /s/ Thomas Wharton
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Name: Thomas Wharton
Title: Secretary and Vice President of
Taxation
6
<PAGE>
Pearson Longman, Inc.
By: /s/ William Lincoln
------------------------------------------
Name: William Lincoln
Title: President
Data Broadcasting Corporation
By: /s/ Steven G. Crane
------------------------------------------
Name: Steven G. Crane
Title: Executive Vice President
and Chief Executive Officer
7
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON ADDRESS OF THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE
------------------------ -------------------------------
Pearson 3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE, England
Pearson Overseas 3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE, England
8
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE B
PEARSON PLC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Position Principal Occupation/Business Address
---- -------- -------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Lord Stevenson Chairman Director/Little Tufton House,
3 Dean Trench Street, London SW1P 3HB
Marjorie M. Scardino Chief Executive Director/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
David C. M. Bell Executive Director Director/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
John C. Makinson Finance Director Finance Director/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
Lord Burns Non-Executive Member of House of Lords/
13 North Avenue, London W13 8AP
Gill M. Lewis Non-Executive Managing Partner/Heidrick & Struggles,
Director 100 Picaddilly, London W1V 9FN
Reuben Mark Non-Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer/Colgate-Palmolive Co,
Director 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022-7499
Vernon L. Sankey Non-Executive Director/The Cherubs, Parsonnage Lane,
Director Farnham Common, Bucks SL2 3NZ
Julia M. Casson Secretary Secretary/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
Rana Talwar Non-Executive Director/Standard Chartered Bank PLC,
Director 1 Aldermanbury Square, London EC2V 7SB
<CAPTION>
PEARSON OVERSEAS HOLDINGS LTD.
Name Position Principal Occupation/Business Address
---- -------- -------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
David H. Colville Director Chartered Accountant/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
John C. Makinson Director Finance Director/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
Peter R. Gill Director Director, Financial Operations/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
Marjorie M. Scardino Director Director/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
Alan C. Miller Director Accountant/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
Stephen Jones Secretary Assistant Secretary/Pearson plc,
3 Burlington Gardens, London W1X 1LE
</TABLE>
9
