PSO Pearson Plc

   By Neetha Mahadevan 
 

FRANKFURT--German publisher Axel Springer SE (SPR.XE) said Thursday it is not acquiring FT Group from British publisher Pearson PLC (PSON.LN), following reports of advanced talks between the companies.

Earlier Thursday, Pearson said it is in advanced talks over the potential sale of FT Group, which includes the Financial Times newspaper, but didn't say who it was in talks with.

Pearson added there was no certainty that the discussions would lead to a transaction, both the Financial Times itself and the website of Spiegel magazine reported Thursday afternoon that Axel Springer was the prospective buyer.

Write to Neetha Mahadevan at Neetha.Mahadevan@wsj.com