| Pearson plc | Interactive Data | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of shares 000s | £m | Number of shares 000s | £m | £m | |
| At 1 January 2009 | 10,448 | 112 | 9,205 | 110 | 222 |
| Purchase of treasury shares | 2,200 | 13 | 1,280 | 20 | 33 |
| Release of treasury shares | (2,983) | (29) | – | – | (29) |
| At 31 December 2009 | 9,665 | 96 | 10,485 | 130 | 226 |
| Purchase of treasury shares | 8,000 | 77 | – | – | 77 |
| Release/cancellation of treasury shares | (3,656) | (36) | (10,485) | (130) | (166) |
| At 31 December 2010 | 14,009 | 137 | – | – | 137 |
The Group holds Pearson plc shares in trust to satisfy its obligations under its restricted share plans (see note 26). These shares, representing 1.7% (2009: 1.2%) of called-up share capital, are treated as treasury shares for accounting purposes and have a par value of 25p per share.
The nominal value of Pearson plc treasury shares amounts to £3.5m (2009: £2.4m).
At 31 December 2010 the market value of Pearson plc treasury shares was £141.2m (2009: £86.1m).