Pearson Profits Increase

Pearson today announced interim pre-tax profits of £54.6m, an increase of 57% on the same period last year.

The company, which has a 17.5% stake in BSkyB, has cut its workforce by 3000 since 1990. Results were also boosted by a strong contribution from Lazards Brothers bank, where Pearson has a 50% holding. The newspaper section of Pearson increased profits from £15.1m to £22.2m.