a6578278.htm
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of January 2011
Commission File Number: 001-06439

SONY CORPORATION
(Translation of registrant's name into English)

1-7-1 KONAN, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, 108-0075, JAPAN
(Address of principal executive offices)

The registrant files annual reports under cover of Form 20-F.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F,
 
Form 20-F  X
Form 40-F __
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Yes No X
 
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-______
 
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
SONY CORPORATION
 
(Registrant)
   
   
 
By:  /s/  Masaru Kato
 
                (Signature)
 
Masaru Kato
 
Executive Vice President and
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: January 20, 2011

List of materials

Documents attached hereto:
 
i) Press release announcing Sony Ericsson reports fourth quarter and full year 2010 results
 
 
 

 
 
Logo
 

PRESS RELEASE
January 20, 2011
 

Sony Ericsson reports fourth quarter and full year 2010 results


Highlights:
 
·
Four consecutive quarters of profitability during 2010
 
·
Improvement of Euro 1.1 billion of income before taxes, excluding restructuring charges, for the full year
 
·
Over 9 million Android-based Xperia™ phones shipped since launch


The consolidated financial summary for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Ericsson) for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010 is as follows:
 
    Q4 2009     Q3 2010     Q4 2010    
FY 2009
   
FY 2010
 
Number of units shipped (million)
  14.6     10.4     11.2     57.1     43.1  
Sales (Euro m.)
  1,750     1,603     1,528     6,788     6,294  
Gross margin (%)
  23 %   30 %   30 %   15 %   29 %
Operating income (Euro m.)
  -181     63     39     -1,018     159  
Operating margin (%)
  -10 %   4 %   3 %   -15 %   3 %
   Restructuring charges (Euro m.)
  -150     -4     -3     -164     -42  
   Operating income excl. restructuring charges (Euro m.)
  -32     67     43     -854     202  
   Operating margin excl. restructuring charges (%)
  -2 %   4 %   3 %   -13 %   3 %
Income before taxes (IBT) (Euro m.)
  -190     62     35     -1,043     147  
   IBT excl. restructuring charges (Euro m.)
  -40     66     39     -878     189  
Net income (Euro m.)
  -167     49     8     -836     90  
                               
Average selling price (Euro)
  120     154     136     119     146  
 
 
Bert Nordberg, President & CEO of Sony Ericsson commented, “2010 was a turnaround year for Sony Ericsson. Our four consecutive quarters of profit reflect the success of our shift towards an Android-based smartphone portfolio. We will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the creation of Sony Ericsson in 2011, and as shown by the recently announced Xperia™ arc, we will continue to focus on delivering the most entertaining smartphones worldwide.”
 
Income before taxes, excluding restructuring charges, was Euro 189 million for the full year 2010, compared with a loss of Euro 878 million in 2009. The improvement of approximately Euro 1.1 billion was driven by the success of a streamlined product portfolio focused on higher-end smartphones and an improved cost structure. Sales for the full year 2010 were Euro 6,294 million, a decrease of 7% from 2009, while gross margin improved from 15% in 2009 to 29%, in 2010.

During 2010 Sony Ericsson completed its company-wide transformation programme, improving its cost of sales ratio, reducing its global workforce by approximately 4,000 people in total, consolidating its facilities worldwide and decreasing annual operating expenses by more than Euro 880 million. The total restructuring charges for the transformation programme were Euro 381 million.
 
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Units shipped during the fourth quarter were 11.2 million, a year-on-year decrease of 23%, consistent with the streamlining of the portfolio to focus on higher-end smartphones. The sequential increase of 8%, related to seasonal factors, was somewhat constrained by a lack of new product launches during the quarter. Average selling price (ASP) for the quarter was Euro 136, a 13% increase year-on-year. ASP decreased 12% sequentially, mainly due to price erosion, foreign exchange and product mix. Sales for the quarter were Euro 1,528 million, a decrease of 13% year-on-year and a decrease of 5% sequentially.

The gross margin for the fourth quarter was 30%, an increase of 7 percentage points year-on-year and essentially flat sequentially, including the benefit of some one-time items, relating to certain royalty matters and warranty estimates.   

Income before taxes for the fourth quarter, excluding restructuring charges, was a profit of Euro 39 million, an increase of Euro 79 million year-on-year and a decrease of Euro 27 million sequentially, mainly due to lower sales.

Sony Ericsson’s net cash position as of December 31, 2010 was Euro 375 million. The negative cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was Euro 128 million, mainly due to increases in inventory due to seasonal factors as well as payments related to the transformation programme. 

During the quarter term loan facilities of Euro 150 million matured and were repaid in full.

Sony Ericsson estimates that the global handset market for the full year 2010 increased slightly in volume to almost 1.2 billion units. The company estimates that the global handset market for the fourth quarter was essentially flat year-on-year and its market share for the fourth quarter was approximately 3% in units and approximately 5% in value. Sony Ericsson estimates that its market share for the full year 2010 was approximately 4% in units and approximately 6% in value.
 
Sony Ericsson forecasts modest growth in units in the global handset market for 2011.
 
The liquid identity is a registered trademark of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Xperia™ is a trademark of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Sony is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. Ericsson is a registered trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved and subject to change without prior notice.

EDITOR’S NOTES:

Financial statements:
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated income statement – isolated quarters
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of cash flows
Consolidated statement of cash flows – isolated quarters
Net sales by market area by quarter

Sony Ericsson is a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson established in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in London and operations in all major markets.  Sony Ericsson’s vision is to become the industry leader in Communication Entertainment; where new styles of communicating through the internet and social media, become entertainment. Sony Ericsson offers exciting consumer experiences through phones, accessories, content and applications.  For more information please visit, www.sonyericsson.com.
 
 
- ENDS –
 
 
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CONTACTS:
 
Ericsson investor relations
Susanne Andersson (Stockholm) +46 10 719 4631

Sony investor relations
Yoshinori Hashitani (Tokyo) +81 3 6748 2111
Yas Hasegawa (London) +44 20 7426 8696

Press / Media
Sony Ericsson global communications and PR
Aldo Liguori (London) +44 20 8762 5860
Gustaf Brusewitz (London) +44 7960 58 19 68

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties.  Sony Ericsson has identified certain important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. For a detailed description of risk factors see Sony's and Ericsson's filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly each company's latest published Annual Report on Form 20-F.
 
 
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Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
   
Oct-Dec
   
Jan-Dec
 
EUR million
 
2009
   
2010
   
Change
   
2009
   
2010
   
Change
 
                                     
Net sales
  1,750     1,528     -13 %   6,788     6,294     -7 %
Cost of sales
  -1,341     -1,069     -20 %   -5,782     -4,440     -23 %
Gross profit
  409     459     12 %   1,006     1,853     84 %
Gross margin %
  23 %   30 %   7 %   15 %   29 %   14 %
                                     
Research and development expenses
  -299     -214     -28 %   -1,108     -840     -24 %
Selling and administrative expenses
  -299     -212     -29 %   -964     -893     -7 %
Operating expenses
  -599     -427     -29 %   -2,072     -1,732     -16 %
                                     
Other operating income, net
  8     7     -13 %   48     38     -21 %
Operating income
  -181     39           -1,018     159        
Operating margin %
  -10 %   3 %         -15 %   3 %      
                                     
Financial income
  4     2     -50 %   21     18     -14 %
Financial expenses
  -12     -6     -50 %   -46     -30     -35 %
Income before taxes
  -190     35           -1,043     147        
                                     
Taxes
  36     -27           236     -48        
Minority interest
  -12     0           -29     -9     -69 %
Net income
  -167     8           -836     90        
                                     
                                     
Number of units shipped (million)
  14.6     11.2     -23 %   57.1     43.1     -25 %
ASP (EUR)
  120     136     13 %   119     146     23 %
                                     
                                     
                                     
EUR million
 
Oct-Dec
         
Jan-Dec
       
Restructuring charges
  2009     2010           2009     2010        
  Cost of sales
  -41     2           -39     -32        
  Research and development expenses
  -72     0           -84     7        
  Sales and administrative expenses
  -37     -5           -41     -17        
Total
  -150     -3           -164     -42        
 
 
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Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT - ISOLATED QUARTERS
 
   
2009
   
2010
 
EUR million
  Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4  
                                                 
Net sales
  1,736     1,684     1,619     1,750     1,405     1,757     1,603     1,528  
Cost of sales
  -1,591     -1,483     -1,367     -1,341     -975     -1,266     -1,130     -1,069  
Gross profit
  145     200     252     409     429     492     473     459  
Gross margin %
  8 %   12 %   16 %   23 %   31 %   28 %   30 %   30 %
                                                 
Research and development expenses
  -303     -245     -260     -299     -216     -218     -191     -214  
Selling and administrative expenses
  -225     -235     -205     -299     -207     -245     -228     -212  
Operating expenses
  -528     -480     -465     -599     -423     -463     -420     -427  
                                                 
Other operating income, net
  13     6     21     8     14     7     10     7  
Operating income
  -369     -274     -193     -181     20     36     63     39  
Operating margin %
  -21 %   -16 %   -12 %   -10 %   1 %   2 %   4 %   3 %
                                                 
Financial income
  9     6     3     4     7     2     7     2  
Financial expenses
  -10     -15     -9     -12     -9     -7     -8     -6  
Income before taxes
  -370     -283     -199     -190     18     31     62     35  
                                                 
Taxes
  84     74     42     36     6     -16     -12     -27  
Minority interest
  -6     -4     -6     -12     -3     -4     -2     0  
Net income
  -293     -213     -164     -167     21     12     49     8  
                                                 
                                                 
Number of units shipped (million)
  14.5     13.8     14.1     14.6     10.5     11.0     10.4     11.2  
ASP (EUR)
  120     122     114     120     134     160     154     136  
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
EUR million   2009     2010  
Restructuring charges
  Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4  
  Cost of sales
  -7     9     0     -41     2     -33     -3     2  
  Research and development expenses
  -2     -9     -1     -72     -2     -1     10     0  
  Sales and administrative expenses
  -3     -1     -1     -37     -3     2     -11     -5  
Total
  -12     -1     -2     -150     -3     -32     -4     -3  
 
 
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Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 
   
Dec 31
   
Jun 30
   
Sep 30
   
Dec 31
EUR million
 
2009
   
2010
   
2010
   
2010
                       
ASSETS
                     
                       
Total fixed and financial assets
  779     836     813     803
                       
Current assets
                     
Inventories
  358     467     457     460
Accounts receivable
  832     1,063     986     836
Other assets
  415     412     328     295
Other short-term cash investments
  489     477     440     276
Cash and bank
  389     562     482     329
Total current assets
  2,483     2,981     2,692     2,196
                       
                       
Total assets
  3,262     3,817     3,505     2,999
                       
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
                     
                       
Shareholders' equity
  381     510     480     532
Minority interest
  47     66     62     42
Total equity
  428     575     541     574
                       
Borrowing, Non Current
  0     101     100     100
Other long-term liabilities
  32     40     30     32
Total long-term liabilities
  32     141     130     132
                       
Accounts payable
  852     973     922     769
Borrowing, Current
  258     329     284     130
Other current liabilities
  1,692     1,798     1,628     1,394
Total current liabilities
  2,802     3,101     2,834     2,293
                       
Total shareholders' equity and liabilities
  3,262     3,817     3,505     2,999
                       
Net cash*
  620     609     538     375
 
 
* Net cash is defined as cash and bank plus short-term cash investments less interest-bearing liabilities.
 
 
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Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

   
Oct-Dec
   
Jan-Dec
EUR million
 
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
                       
OPERATING
                     
Net income
  -167     8     -836     90
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
  48     -50     135     -156
    -119     -42     -701     -65
                       
Changes in operating net assets
  -97     -86     333     -183
Cash flow from operating activities
  -216     -128     -368     -248
                       
INVESTING
                     
Investing activities
  -10     -18     -84     -4
Cash flow from investing activities
  -10     -18     -84     -4
                       
FINANCING
                     
Financing activities
  100     - 178     205     - 60
Cash flow from financing activities
  100     -178     205     -60
                       
Net change in cash
  -126     -324     -247     -312
Cash, beginning of period
  996     921     1,125     878
Translation difference in Cash
  8     7     -1     38
Cash, end of period
  878     605     878     605
 
 
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Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - ISOLATED QUARTERS
 
   
2009
   
2010
EUR million
  Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4
                                               
OPERATING
                                             
Net income
  -293     -213     -164     -167     21     12     49     8
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
  29     37     20     48     -44     4     -66     -50
    -263     -176     -143     -119     -23     16     -17     -42
                                               
Changes in operating net assets
  321     60     49     -97     -72     13     -38     -86
Cash flow from operating activities
  58     -115     -94     -216     -94     29     -54     -128
                                               
INVESTING
                                             
Investing activities
  -19     -13     -42     -10     27     -15     2     -18
Cash flow from investing activities
  -19     -13     -42     -10     27     -15     2     -18
                                               
FINANCING
                                             
Financing activities
  - 53     0     159     100     150     0     - 32     - 178
Cash flow from financing activities
  -53     0     159     100     150     0     -32     -178
                                               
Net change in cash
  -14     -128     22     -126     83     15     -85     -324
Cash, beginning of period
  1,125     1,116     965     996     878     980     1,039     921
Translation difference in Cash
  5     -23     9     8     19     45     -33     7
Cash, end of period
  1,116     965     996     878     980     1,039     921     605
 
 
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Sony Ericsson
NET SALES BY MARKET AREA BY QUARTER
 
EUR million
                                               
   
2009
   
2010
 
Isolated quarters
  Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4  
Europe, Middle East & Africa *
  977     927     875     966     711     876     837     795  
Americas
  200     195     232     222     201     223     222     205  
Asia
  559     562     512     562     493     659     544     528  
Total
  1,736     1,684     1,619     1,750     1,405     1,757     1,603     1,528  
* of which Western Europe
  721     678     636     678     525     668     632     569  
                                                 
    2009     2010  
Sequential change (%)
  Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4  
Europe, Middle East & Africa *
  -40 %   -5 %   -6 %   10 %   -26 %   23 %   -4 %   -5 %
Americas
  -69 %   -3 %   19 %   -4 %   -9 %   11 %   0 %   -8 %
Asia
  -12 %   1 %   -9 %   10 %   -12 %   34 %   -17 %   -3 %
Total
  -40 %   -3 %   -4 %   8 %   -20 %   25 %   -9 %   -5 %
* of which Western Europe
  -35 %   -6 %   -6 %   7 %   -23 %   27 %   -5 %   -10 %
                                                 
    2009     2010  
Year over year change (%)
  Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4  
Europe, Middle East & Africa *
  -35 %   -33 %   -39 %   -41 %   -27 %   -6 %   -4 %   -18 %
Americas
  -59 %   -74 %   -67 %   -65 %   1 %   14 %   -4 %   -8 %
Asia
  -23 %   -19 %   -24 %   -12 %   -12 %   17 %   6 %   -6 %
Total
  -36 %   -40 %   -42 %   -40 %   -19 %   4 %   -1 %   -13 %
* of which Western Europe
  -26 %   -25 %   -33 %   -39 %   -27 %   -1 %   -1 %   -16 %
                                                 
    2009     2010  
Year to date
  0903     0906     0909     0912     1003     1006     1009     1012  
Europe, Middle East & Africa *
  977     1,903     2,778     3,744     711     1,587     2,424     3,219  
Americas
  200     395     627     850     201     424     646     851  
Asia
  559     1,121     1,633     2,194     493     1,152     1,695     2,224  
Total
  1,736     3,419     5,038     6,788     1,405     3,162     4,765     6,294  
* of which Western Europe
  721     1,400     2,036     2,714     525     1,193     1,825     2,393  
                                                 
    2009     2010  
YTD year over year change (%)
  0903     0906     0909     0912     1003     1006     1009     1012  
Europe, Middle East & Africa *
  -35 %   -34 %   -35 %   -37 %   -27 %   -17 %   -13 %   -14 %
Americas
  -59 %   -68 %   -68 %   -67 %   1 %   7 %   3 %   0 %
Asia
  -23 %   -21 %   -22 %   -20 %   -12 %   3 %   4 %   1 %
Total
  -36 %   -38 %   -40 %   -40 %   -19 %   -8 %   -5 %   -7 %
* of which Western Europe
  -26 %   -25 %   -28 %   -31 %   -27 %   -15 %   -10 %   -12 %
 
 
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