Pearson may sell financial data arm

Pearson, the publishing and education group that owns the Financial Times, has confirmed that it is reviewing the future of its $1.5bn (£920m) stake in the financial information group Interactive Data Corporation. Its stake, 61% of a business valued at $2.4bn, was acquired in 2000. One option that Pearson is considering is a sale of the business. "Following recent press reports, Pearson and Interactive Data Corporation are today confirming that the board of Interactive Data is currently undertaking a preliminary review of strategic alternatives for the company," said a spokesman for Pearson. "Pearson and Interactive Data can give no assurance on the potential outcome or timing of this review process, and do not intend to make any further statements unless and until it becomes appropriate to do so". One report says that IDC, which has been looked at by private equity groups in the past, would be a good fit for financial data groups including Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters and McGraw-Hill. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".