UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 20-F

or

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018

or

For the transition period from/to

or

Date of event requiring this shell company report:

Commission file number 1-6439

Sony Kabushiki Kaisha

(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

SONY CORPORATION

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

Japan

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

7-1, KONAN 1-CHOME, MINATO-KU,

TOKYO 108-0075 JAPAN

(Address of principal executive offices)

J. Justin Hill, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

Sony Corporation of America

25 Madison Avenue, 26^th Floor

New York, NY 10010-8601

Telephone: 212-833-6722

E-mail: ir@sony.com

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the Annual Report:

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☑    No  ☐

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ☐    No  ☑

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Cautionary Statement

Statements made in this release with respect to Sony’s current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Sony. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those statements using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “plans,” “strategy,” “prospects,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “could” or “should,” and words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operations, financial performance, events or conditions. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other materials released to the public. These statements are based on management’s assumptions, judgments and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Sony cautions investors that a number of important risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and therefore investors should not place undue reliance on them. Investors also should not rely on any obligation of Sony to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Sony disclaims any such obligation. Risks and uncertainties that might affect Sony include, but are not limited to:

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Risks and uncertainties also include the impact of any future events with material adverse impact.

Important information regarding risks and uncertainties is also set forth elsewhere in this annual report, including in “Risk Factors” under “Item 3. Key Information,” “Item 4. Information on the Company,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” “Legal Proceedings” included in “Item 8. Financial Information,” Sony’s consolidated financial statements referenced in “Item 8. Financial Information” and “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”

In this document, Sony Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries are together referred to as “Sony” or “Sony Group.” In addition, sales and operating revenue are referred to as “sales” in the narrative description except in the consolidated financial statements.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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5

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

* Refer to Note 22 of the consolidated financial statements.

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The yen exchange rates represent noon buying rates for yen in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the business days in the respective periods.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

This section contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the Cautionary Statement appearing on page 2 of this annual report. Risks to Sony are also discussed elsewhere in this annual report, including, without limitation in the other sections of this annual report referred to in the Cautionary Statement.

Sony must overcome increasingly intense competition, which could lead to lower revenue or operating margins.

Sony has several business segments in different industries with many product and service categories, which cause it to compete with many existing and new competitors ranging from large multinational companies to highly specialized entities that focus on only one or a few businesses and also, potentially, with outsourced manufacturing service partners that currently supply products to Sony. These competitors may have greater financial, technical, labor and marketing resources available to them than those available to Sony. Sony’s financial condition and operating results depend on its ability to efficiently anticipate and respond to these established and new competitors.

The competitive factors Sony faces vary depending on the nature of the business. For example, Sony’s electronics businesses compete on the basis of various factors including price and function, while Sony’s Music and Pictures businesses compete for talent, such as artists, songwriters, actors, directors and producers, and for entertainment content that is created, acquired, licensed and/or distributed. Competition on price in the electronics businesses can lead to lower margins when costs do not fall at a proportional rate, and competition for talent and appealing product in the entertainment businesses can also lead to lower profitability if the higher costs required for such talent and content creation cannot be recouped through greater sales. Moreover, even for those products where Sony believes it has a strong competitive advantage, such as image sensors, it is possible that its competitors’ technological capabilities will accelerate such that Sony would be unable to maintain its advantageous market position. In its consumer electronics businesses, to produce products that appeal to changing and increasingly diverse consumer preferences or to overcome the fact that a relatively high percentage of consumers already possess similar products, Sony must develop superior technology, anticipate consumer tastes and rapidly develop attractive and differentiated products with competitive prices and features. Sony faces increasingly intense pricing pressure from competitors, retailer consolidation, new sales/distribution channels and shorter product cycles in a variety of consumer product categories. In the Music and Pictures segments, operating results can be impacted by worldwide consumer acceptance of their products, which is difficult to predict, by other competing products released at or near the same time and by alternative forms of entertainment and leisure activities available to consumers.

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If Sony is unable to maintain its advantageous market position in the fields in which it has a technological or other competitive advantage, Sony is unable to effectively anticipate and counter the ongoing price erosion that frequently affects its consumer products or the cost pressures affecting its businesses, there is a change in existing business models or consumer preferences, or the average prices of Sony’s consumer products decrease faster than Sony is able to reduce manufacturing costs, Sony’s operating results and financial condition may be adversely impacted.

To remain competitive and stimulate customer demand, Sony must invest in research and development to achieve product and service innovations and successfully manage frequent introductions of such new products and services.

To strengthen the competitiveness of its products and services, Sony continues to invest in research and development (“R&D”), particularly in growth areas such as image sensors and the Game & Network Services (“G&NS”) segment. However, Sony may not be successful in investing in R&D if it fails to identify products, services and market trends with significant growth potential. In addition, Sony’s investments may not yield the innovation or the expected results quickly enough, or competitors may lead Sony in technological innovation. This may hinder Sony’s ability to commercialize new and competitive products and services.

In the consumer electronics, network services and mobile communication industries, Sony must continually introduce, enhance and stimulate customer demand for products and services. Sales of these products and services are particularly sensitive to the significant weighting of consumer demand to the year-end holiday season. In Sony’s G&NS segment, the successful introduction and penetration of gaming platforms is a significant factor driving sales and profitability, and this success is affected by the ability to provide customers with attractive software line-ups and online services. However, there is no assurance that third-party software developers and publishers, major contributors to this effort, will continue to develop and release software. In addition, Sony believes that integrating its hardware, software, entertainment content and network services, and investing in R&D to effect such integration, is essential in generating revenue growth and profitability. However, this strategy depends on its ability to further develop network services technologies, coordinate and prioritize strategic and operational issues among Sony’s various business units and sales channels, continually introduce enhanced and competitively priced hardware that is seamlessly connected to network platforms with user interfaces that are innovative and attractive to consumers and also standardize technological and interface specifications industry-wide and across Sony’s networked products and business units. In addition, the G&NS, Music and Pictures segments must invest substantial amounts, which may include significant upfront investments, in internally developed software titles, artist advances, motion picture productions, television productions and broadcast programming before knowing whether their products will receive customer acceptance. Furthermore, underperformance of Pictures’ products in the initial distribution market is correlated with weak performance in subsequent distribution markets, which would have an adverse effect on Sony’s results in the year of initial release as well as future years.

The successful introductions of, and transitions to, new products and services depend on a number of factors, such as the timely and successful completion of development efforts, market acceptance, planning and executing an effective marketing strategy, managing new product introductions, managing production ramp-up issues, the availability of application software for new products, quality control and the concentration of consumer demand in the year-end holiday season. If Sony cannot achieve the expected results from its investment in R&D, adequately manage frequent introductions of new products and services and obtain consumer acceptance of its new products and services, or if Sony is not successful in implementing its integration strategy, Sony’s reputation, operating results and financial condition may be adversely impacted.

Sony’s strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, capital expenditures and restructurings, may not be successful in achieving their strategic objectives.

Sony actively engages in acquisitions, joint ventures, capital expenditures and other strategic investments to acquire new technologies, efficiently develop new businesses and enhance its business competitiveness. For example, on May 22, 2018, Sony signed a legally binding memorandum of understanding to acquire an approximately 60% equity interest in EMI Music Publishing. (The closing of this transaction is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals.)

When making acquisitions, Sony’s financial results may be adversely affected by the significant cost of the acquisition and/or integration expenses, failure to achieve synergies, failure to generate expected revenue and cost improvements, loss of key personnel and assumption of liabilities.

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When establishing joint ventures and strategic partnerships, Sony’s financial and operating results may be adversely affected by strategic or cultural differences with partners, conflicts of interest, failure to achieve synergies, additional funding or debt guarantees required to maintain the joint venture or partnership, requirements to buy out a joint venture partner, sell its shares or dissolve a partnership, insufficient management control including control over cash flow, loss of proprietary technology and know-how, impairment losses and reputational harm from the actions or activities of a joint venture that uses the Sony brand.

Sony invests heavily in production facilities and equipment in its electronics businesses, including fabrication facilities used to make image sensors for smartphones and other products. Sony may not be able to recover these capital expenditures in part or full or in the planned timeframe due to the competitive environment, lower-than-expected consumer demand or changes in the financial condition or business decisions of Sony’s major customers. Sony invested 45.0 billion yen and 106.6 billion yen of capital in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively, mainly for the purpose of increasing image sensor production capacity.

Further, Sony is implementing restructuring and transformation initiatives to enhance profitability, business autonomy and shareholder value and to clearly position each business within the overall business portfolio. For example, Sony transferred its battery business to Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Group in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. The expected benefits of these initiatives, including the expected level of profitability, may not be realized due to internal and external impediments or market conditions worsening beyond expectations. If Sony is not successful in achieving its restructuring and transformation initiatives, Sony’s operating results, financial condition, reputation, competitiveness or profitability may be adversely affected. Sony incurred restructuring charges in the amount of 38.3 billion yen, 60.2 billion yen and 22.4 billion yen in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Sony’s sales and profitability may be affected by the operating performance of wholesalers, retailers, other resellers and third-party distributors.

Sony is dependent for the distribution of its products on wholesalers, retailers, other resellers and third-party distributors, many of whom also distribute competitors’ products. For example, in some cases, Sony’s smartphones sold through cellular network carriers are subsidized by the carriers. There is no assurance that such subsidies will be continued at all or in the same amounts upon renewal of Sony’s agreements with these carriers or in agreements Sony enters into with new carriers. In addition, the Pictures segment depends on third-party exhibitors to distribute its motion pictures, and cable, satellite and other distribution systems to distribute its motion pictures and television programming; a decline in the licensing fees received from these third parties may adversely affect the Pictures segment’s sales. The Pictures segment’s worldwide television networks are also distributed on third-party cable, satellite and other distribution systems and the failure to renew, or renewal on less favorable terms of, television carriage contracts (broadcasting agreements) with these third-party distributors may adversely affect the Pictures segment’s ability to generate advertising and subscription sales through these networks.

Sony invests in programs to incentivize wholesalers, retailers, and other resellers and third-party distributors to position and promote Sony’s products, but there is no assurance that these programs will provide a significant return or incremental revenue by persuading consumers to buy Sony products instead of competitors’ products.

The operating results and financial condition of many wholesalers, retailers, other resellers and third-party distributors have been adversely impacted by competition, especially from online retailers, and weak economic conditions. If their financial condition continues to weaken, they stop distributing Sony’s products, or uncertainty regarding demand for Sony’s products or other factors cause them to reduce their ordering, marketing, subsidizing, or distributing Sony’s products, Sony’s operating results and financial condition may be adversely impacted.

As a global company, Sony is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations and a growing consumer focus on corporate social responsibility in many countries. Those laws and regulations, as well as consumer focus, might change in significant ways, leading to an increase in the costs of Sony’s operations, a curtailment of Sony’s activities, and/or an adverse effect on Sony’s reputation.

As a global company, Sony is subject to the laws and regulations of many countries throughout the world that affect its traditional and online operations in a number of areas, including advertising, promotions, consumer protection, import and export requirements, anti-corruption, anti-competition, environmental protection, privacy, data protection, content and broadcast regulation, labor, taxation, foreign exchange controls, as well as laws relating to the collection, use, retention, security and transfer of personally identifiable information, or PII.

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Compliance with these laws and regulations may be onerous and expensive. These laws and regulations continue to develop and may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, further increasing the cost of compliance and doing business. Any such developments could make Sony’s products less attractive to its customers, delay introduction of new products in one or more regions or cause Sony to change or limit its business practices. For example, a change in labor regulations or policies may significantly change local labor environments. Such a change in China or another country or regions in which Sony or a partner manufactures could cause interruptions in production and shipping of Sony’s products or components thereof, a sharp rise in local labor costs, or a shortage of well-trained employees, which may adversely affect Sony’s operating results. In addition, changes in laws or regulations or the judicial interpretation thereof that Sony relies on or Sony is subject to in conducting its operations, including online operations, as well as Sony’s failure to anticipate such changes, may subject Sony to greater risk of liability, increase the costs of compliance, or limit Sony’s ability to engage in certain operations or lead to discontinuance of certain operations.

Violation of applicable laws or regulations by Sony, its employees, third-party suppliers, business partners and agents may subject Sony to fines, penalties, legal judgments, restrictions on business operations and/or reputational damage. Additionally, there is a growing global regulatory and consumer focus on corporate social responsibility and sourcing practices and increasing regulatory obligations of public disclosure regarding these matters. In particular, there is increased attention on labor practices, including work environments at electronic component manufacturers and original design manufacturing/original equipment manufacturing, or ODM/OEM, product manufacturers operating in Asia. Increased regulation or public pressure in this area could cause Sony’s compliance costs to increase, particularly since Sony uses many parts, components and materials to manufacture its products and relies on suppliers to provide these parts, components and materials but does not directly control the suppliers’ procurement or employment practices. A finding of non-compliance, or the perception that Sony has not responded appropriately to growing consumer concern for such issues, whether or not Sony is legally required to do so, may adversely affect Sony’s reputation, operating results and financial condition.

Sony must manage its large and increasing volume of procurement from third-party suppliers and business partners to control inventory levels, availability, costs and quality of parts, components, software and network services within volatile markets.

Sony’s products and services increasingly rely on third-party suppliers and business partners for parts, components, software and network services, including semiconductors, chipsets for PlayStation game consoles and mobile products, liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panels and the Android OS that is used in mobile products, televisions and services. External suppliers’ and partners’ shortages, fluctuations in pricing, quality issues, discontinued support, changes in business terms or prioritization of customers outside the electronics sector or of Sony’s competitors can adversely affect Sony’s operating results, brand and reputation. Reliance on third-party software and technologies may make it increasingly difficult for Sony to differentiate its products from competitors’ products. Also, shortages or delayed shipments of critical parts or components may result in a reduction or suspension of production at Sony’s or its business partners’ manufacturing sites, particularly where Sony is substantially reliant on one supplier, where there is limited production capacity for custom parts or components, or where there are initial manufacturing capacity constraints for products, parts or components that use new technologies.

Sony places orders for parts and components in line with production and inventory plans determined in advance based on its forecast of consumer demand, which is highly volatile and difficult to predict. Inaccurate forecasts of consumer demand or inadequate business planning can lead to a shortage or excess inventory, which can disrupt production plans and result in lost sales opportunities or inventory adjustments, respectively. Sony writes down the value of its inventory when the underlying parts, components or products have become obsolete, when inventory levels exceed the amount expected to be used, or when the value of the inventory is otherwise recorded at a value higher than net realizable value. For example, Sony recorded a 6.5 billion yen inventory write-down of certain image sensors for mobile products in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. Such lost sales opportunities, inventory adjustments, or shortages of parts and components have had and may have an adverse impact on Sony’s operating results and financial condition.

Sony’s sales, profitability and operations are sensitive to global and regional economic and political trends and conditions.

Sony’s sales and profitability are sensitive to economic trends in its major markets. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, 30.7%, 21.5% and 21.6% of Sony’s sales and operating revenue were attributable to Japan, the U.S. and Europe, respectively. These markets may be subject to significant economic downturns, resulting in an adverse impact on Sony’s operating results and financial condition. An actual or expected deterioration of

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economic conditions in any of Sony’s major markets may result in a decline in consumers’ consumption and adverse impacts on the businesses of commercial customers, resulting in reduced demand for Sony’s products and services. For example, in the Pictures segment, a general decline in the economy may result in decreased overall spending within the advertising market and a decline in third-party television networks’ ability to generate revenues, which could result in lower license fees paid by these networks for Sony’s content, which may adversely affect the Picture segment’s revenues.

In addition, Sony’s operations are conducted in many countries and regions around the world, and these international operations, particularly in certain emerging markets, can create challenges. For example, in Sony’s electronics businesses, production and procurement of products, parts and components in China and other Asian countries and regions increase the time necessary to supply products to other markets worldwide, which can make it more difficult to meet changing customer demand in a timely manner. Further, in certain countries and regions, Sony may encounter difficulty in planning and managing operations due to unfavorable political or economic factors, such as armed conflicts, deterioration in foreign relations, non-compliance with expected business conduct and a lack of adequate infrastructure. If international or domestic political and military instability disrupts Sony’s business operations or those of its business partners Sony’s operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Foreign exchange rate fluctuations can affect Sony’s operating results and financial condition.

Sony’s operating results and financial condition are sensitive to foreign exchange rate fluctuations because many of Sony’s products are sold in countries other than the ones in which they were developed and/or manufactured. For example, within Sony’s electronics businesses, research and development and headquarters’ overhead costs are incurred mainly in yen, and manufacturing costs, including material costs, costs of procurement of parts and components, and costs of outsourced manufacturing services, are incurred mainly in the U.S. dollar and yen. Sales are dispersed and recorded in Japanese yen, the U.S. dollar, euro, Chinese renminbi, and local currencies of other areas, including emerging markets. Consequently, foreign exchange rate fluctuations have had and may have an adverse impact on Sony’s operating results, especially when the yen or the euro weaken significantly against the U.S. dollar, when the yen strengthens significantly against the euro, or when the U.S. dollar strengthens against emerging market currencies. Sony’s operating results may also be adversely impacted by foreign exchange rate fluctuations since Sony’s consolidated statements of income are prepared by translating the local currency denominated operating results of its subsidiaries around the world into yen. Furthermore, as Sony’s businesses have expanded in China and other areas, including emerging markets, the impact of fluctuations of foreign currency exchange rates in these areas against the U.S. dollar and yen has increased. Mid- to long-term changes in exchange rate levels may interfere with Sony’s global allocation of resources and hinder Sony’s ability to engage in research and development, procurement, production, logistics, and sales activities in a manner that is profitable after the effect of such exchange rate changes.

Although Sony seeks to reduce its exposure to foreign exchange risk by hedging a portion of its net short-term foreign currency exposure shortly before the transactions are projected to occur, such hedging activity may not offset any, or only a portion, of the adverse financial effects of unfavorable movements in foreign exchange rates over the limited time the hedges are in place.

Moreover, since Sony’s consolidated balance sheet is prepared by translating the local currency denominated assets and liabilities of its subsidiaries around the world into yen, Sony’s equity capital may be adversely impacted when the yen strengthens significantly against the U.S. dollar, the euro and/or other foreign currencies.

Ratings downgrades or significant volatility and disruption in the global financial markets may adversely affect the availability and cost of Sony’s funding.

Sony’s credit ratings may be adversely impacted by unfavorable operating results and a decline in its financial condition. Any credit rating downgrades may, in turn, result in an increase in Sony’s cost of funding and may have an adverse impact on Sony’s ability to access commercial paper or mid- to long-term debt markets on acceptable terms.

Additionally, global financial markets may experience significant levels of volatility and disruption, generally putting downward pressure on financial and other asset prices and impacting credit availability. Historically, Sony’s primary sources of funds have been cash flows from operations, the issuance of commercial paper and other debt securities, such as term debt, as well as borrowings from banks and other institutional lenders. There can be no assurance that such sources will continue to be available on acceptable terms or be sufficient to meet Sony’s needs.

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As a result, Sony may seek other sources of financing to fund operations, such as the draw-down of funds from contractually committed lines of credit from financial institutions or the sale of assets, in order to repay commercial paper and mid- to long-term debt as they become due, and to meet other operational and liquidity needs. However, such funding sources may also not be available at acceptable terms or be sufficient to meet Sony’s requirements. As a result, Sony’s operating results, financial condition and liquidity may be adversely affected.

Sony’s success depends on the ability to recruit, retain and maintain productive relations with highly skilled personnel.

In order to continue to develop, design, manufacture, market, and sell products and services, in increasingly competitive markets, Sony must attract, retain and maintain productive relations with key personnel, both internally and externally, including its executive team, other management professionals, creative talent and other highly skilled employees such as hardware and software engineers. However, such key personnel are in high demand. In addition, business divestitures, restructuring or other transformation initiatives may lead to an unintended loss of experienced human resources or know-how. Actual or threatened work slowdowns or stoppages related to unionized workers, particularly in the entertainment businesses, could lead to delayed releases or cost increases. If these incidents occur or if Sony is unable to attract, retain and maintain productive relations with its highly skilled employees and key management professionals, Sony’s operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Sony’s intellectual property might be subject to unauthorized use or theft and it might encounter restrictions in its use of intellectual property owned by third parties.

Sony’s intellectual property relating to Sony’s products and services, including those of the electronics businesses, such as image sensors, might be subject to unauthorized use or theft. For example, digital technology, the availability of digital media, and global internet penetration impact Sony’s ability to protect its copyrighted content from unauthorized duplication, digital theft and counterfeiting, putting pressure on legitimate product sales. Sony has incurred and will continue to incur expenses to help protect its intellectual property rights; however, Sony’s various initiatives to prevent such unauthorized use or theft of intellectual property might not achieve their intended result, which could adversely affect Sony’s competitive position and the value of its investment in R&D. Additionally, Sony’s intellectual property rights may be challenged or invalidated, or such intellectual property rights may not be sufficient to provide Sony with competitive advantages.

Many of Sony’s products and services are designed under the license of patents and other intellectual property rights owned by third parties. Based upon past experience and industry practice, Sony believes it will be able to obtain or renew licenses relating to various intellectual property rights that its business needs in the future; however, such licenses may not be available at all or on acceptable terms, and as a consequence Sony may need to redesign or discontinue its marketing, selling or distribution of such products or services.

Claims have been and may be asserted against Sony that its products or services, including third-party parts, components, software and network services used in Sony’s products or services, infringe the intellectual property rights of other parties. Such claims may be asserted by competitors or by other rights holders, particularly as products and services evolve to include new technologies and enhanced functionality. Such claims might require Sony to enter into settlement or license agreements, pay significant damage awards, face an injunction or refrain from marketing, selling or distributing certain of its products and services.

The failure to prevent unauthorized use or theft of Sony’s intellectual property rights, the failure to enter into licenses for necessary third-party intellectual property rights, the invalidation of Sony’s intellectual property rights or the settlement of an infringement claim against Sony by others may adversely impact Sony’s reputation, operating results and financial condition.

Changes in consumer behavior resulting from new technologies and distribution platforms may adversely affect operating results in Sony’s Music and Pictures segments.

Technology, particularly digital technology, used in the Music and Pictures segments continues to evolve, rapidly leading to alternative methods for the delivery, consumption and storage of digital content. These technological advancements have changed consumer behavior and empowered consumers to seek more control over when, where and how they consume digital content. The prevalence of enhanced internet capabilities and other new media may continue to reduce the demand for packaged physical media and impact traditional broadcast television and in-theater motion picture viewership, which could negatively affect revenues from

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Sony’s entertainment businesses. Digital distribution revenues, such as those from subscription streaming services, may not be sufficient to offset the decline in physical media sales that has affected and may continue to affect the operating results of Sony’s Music and Pictures segments. If Sony is unable to adequately respond to these changes, or fails to effectively anticipate or adapt to new market changes, Sony’s operating results and financial condition may be adversely impacted.

Changes in the regulation and performance of financial markets may adversely affect the operating results and financial condition of Sony’s Financial Services segment.

Sony’s Financial Services segment operates in industries subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision, including the Japanese insurance and banking industries. Future developments or changes in laws, regulations or policies may lead to increased compliance costs or limitations on operations in the Financial Services segment. In addition, Sony Corporation’s ability to receive funds from its affiliate Sony Financial Holdings Inc. (“SFH”) in the form of financial support or loans is restricted by guidelines issued by regulatory agencies in Japan.

Changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and the value of Japanese government and corporate bonds, equities, real estate and other asset classes may have an adverse effect on the operating results and financial condition of the Financial Services segment. For example, the life insurance business has invested most of its general account assets in ultra-long-term Japanese government and corporate bonds to match the liability characteristics of the long-term maturity insurance policies it has underwritten. The life insurance business has guaranteed yields on outstanding policies while its investment portfolio could be reduced by the market changes discussed above. The banking businesses have invested most of their total loan balance, or over half of their total assets, in their mortgage loans account. An increase in non-performing loans or a decline in prices of the real estate collateral from the market changes discussed above or deterioration of credit quality may have an adverse effect on operating results and financial condition through an increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts.

The market changes discussed above, Sony’s management of these changes or the occurrence of earthquakes, pandemic disease or other catastrophic events in Japan could expose the life and non-life insurance businesses to increasing costs or adverse impact on their ability to meet policy commitments.

The insurance businesses’ policy reserves and deferred insurance acquisition costs are calculated based on many actuarial assumptions that are uncertain. Significant differences between these actuarial assumptions and actual situations may result in additional policy reserves being recorded and the accelerated amortization of deferred acquisition costs, through the changes of calculation assumptions. In particular, the insurance businesses calculate policy reserves and deferred insurance acquisition costs based on the actuarial assumptions, assuming the future schedule of insurance premium revenue, yield of investments, claims to be paid for occurrence of insured events and other factors. The review of these actuarial assumptions is required at least once in each fiscal year.

Sony’s facilities and operations are subject to damage and disruption as a result of catastrophic disasters, outages or similar events that could lead to supply chain, manufacturing and other business disruptions and have an adverse impact on Sony’s operating results.

Sony’s headquarters and many of Sony’s most advanced device manufacturing facilities, including those for semiconductors, are located in Japan, where the risk of earthquakes is relatively high. A major earthquake in Japan, especially in Tokyo, the Tokai area or the Kyushu and Tohoku areas, where Sony headquarters, certain product manufacturing sites and semiconductor manufacturing sites, respectively, are located, could cause substantial damage to Sony’s business operations, including damage to buildings, machinery, equipment and inventories, and the interruption of production at manufacturing facilities. For example, the earthquake of April 14, 2016 and subsequent earthquakes in the Kumamoto region in Japan caused damage to a semiconductor manufacturing site in Kyushu, which interrupted production at the site.

In addition, offices and facilities used by Sony, its suppliers, service providers and business partners, including those used for raw materials, parts, components, network, telecommunications and information systems infrastructure, R&D, material procurement, manufacturing, motion picture and television production, logistics, sales, and online and other services are located throughout the world and are subject to possible destruction, temporary stoppage or disruption as a result of unexpected catastrophic events such as natural disasters, pandemic diseases, terrorist attacks, large-scale power outages and large-scale fires. If any of these facilities or offices were to experience a significant loss as a result of any of the above events, it may disrupt Sony’s operations, delay design, development or production, interrupt shipments and postpone the recording of sales,

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and/or result in large expenses to repair or replace these facilities or offices. Sony may also be exposed to price increases for raw materials, parts and components, and lower demand from commercial customers. These situations may have an adverse impact on Sony’s operating results and financial condition.

Sony’s brand image, reputation and business may be harmed and Sony may be subject to legal and regulatory claims if there is a breach or other compromise of Sony’s information security or that of its third-party service providers or business partners.

Sony, its third-party service providers, suppliers and other business partners make extensive use of information technology to support business operations, and to provide network and online services to customers. These operations and services, as well as Sony’s business information, may be intentionally or inadvertently compromised by malicious third parties, including state-sponsored organizations, Sony employees, third-party service providers or other business partners. Such organizations or individuals may use a variety and combination of techniques, such as installing malicious software, exploiting vulnerabilities in information technology, using social engineering to mislead employees and business partners into disclosing passwords and sensitive information, and coordinating distributed denial-of-service attacks to render services unavailable. As cyber-attacks become increasingly sophisticated and automated, and as tools and resources become more readily available, there can be no guarantee that Sony’s actions, security measures and controls designed to prevent, detect or respond to intrusion, to limit access to data, to prevent loss, destruction, alteration, or exfiltration of business information, or to limit the negative impact from such attacks can provide absolute security against compromise. As a result, Sony’s business information, including personal information, may be lost, destroyed, disclosed, misappropriated, altered, or accessed without consent, and Sony’s information technology systems or operations, or those of its service providers or other business partners, may be disrupted. Malicious adversaries may also use unauthorized access to Sony’s networks as a platform to compromise Sony’s third-party business partners without Sony’s knowledge. Sony has previously been the subject of sophisticated and targeted attacks. For example, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, Sony’s Pictures segment was subject to a cyber-attack that resulted in unauthorized access to, and theft and disclosure of, Sony business information, including employee information and other information, and the destruction of data. Additionally, Sony’s network services, online game businesses and websites have been subject to cyber-attacks by groups and individuals with a range of motives and expertise, resulting in unauthorized access, denial of service, and the theft and/or disclosure of customer information.

Any of the above incidents can result in significant remediation costs. In addition, a disruption to Sony’s network and online services, information technology, or other compromise of its information security may have serious consequences to its business and operations, including lost revenues, damage to relationships with business partners and other third parties, disclosure, alteration, destruction or use of proprietary information and the failure to retain or attract customers. Moreover, such disruptions and breaches may result in a diversion of management’s attention and resources. Further, it may result in adverse media coverage, which may harm Sony’s brand image and reputation. Sony may also be subject to legal claims or legal proceedings, including regulatory investigations and actions. Sony’s cyber insurance may not cover all expenses and losses and, accordingly, such breaches or other compromises of Sony’s information security or that of its third-party service providers or business partners may have an adverse impact on Sony’s operating results and financial condition.

Sony’s business may suffer as a result of adverse outcomes of litigation and regulatory actions.

Sony faces the risk of litigation and regulatory actions in different countries in connection with its operations. Legal proceedings, including regulatory actions, may seek to recover very large indeterminate amounts or to limit Sony’s operations, and the possibility that they may arise and their magnitude may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. For example, legal proceedings, including regulatory actions, may result from antitrust scrutiny of market practices for anti-competitive conduct. A substantial legal liability or adverse regulatory outcome and the substantial cost to defend the litigation or regulatory actions may have an adverse effect on Sony’s reputation, operating results and financial condition.

Sony is subject to financial and reputational risks due to product quality and liability issues.

Sony’s products and services, such as consumer products, non-consumer products, parts and components, semiconductors, software and network services are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complicated as rapid advancements in technologies occur and as demand increases for mobile products and online services. Also, many Sony products are connected to the internet, and regularly communicate with services provided by Sony or third parties.

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Sony’s efforts to adapt to rapid advancements in technologies and increased demand for mobile products and online services, while also maintaining product quality, may not be successful and may increase exposure to product liability. As a result, Sony may incur both reputational damages and expenses in connection with, for example, product recalls and after-sales services. In addition, Sony may not be successful in introducing after-sales upgrades, enhancements or new features to existing products and services, or in enabling existing products and services to continue to conveniently and effectively integrate with other technologies and online services. Moreover, cyber-attacks targeting internet-connected products have increased significantly. For example, customer information and Sony or third-party technical information may be misappropriated, the functionality of Sony’s products and services may be impaired, or Sony products may be used in denial-of-service attacks. There can be no guarantee that Sony’s security measures will prevent products from being compromised.

As a result, the quality of Sony’s existing products and services may not remain satisfactory to consumers and become less marketable, less competitive or obsolete, and Sony’s reputation, operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected. Moreover, allegations of security vulnerability, health and safety issues related to Sony products, or lawsuits related to product quality, health issues arising from products or product safety, regardless of merit, may adversely impact Sony’s operating results and financial condition, either directly or as a result of the impact on Sony’s brand image and reputation as a producer of high-quality products and services. These issues are relevant to Sony products sold directly to customers, whether manufactured by Sony or a third party, and also to products of other companies that are equipped with Sony’s components, such as semiconductors.

Sony’s financial results and condition may be adversely affected by its employee benefit obligations.

Sony recognizes an unfunded pension obligation for its defined benefit pension plans based on (i) the Projected Benefit Obligation (“PBO”) under each pension plan less (ii) the fair value of the pension plan’s assets, in accordance with the accounting guidance for defined benefit plans. Actuarial gains and losses are amortized and included in pension expenses in a systematic manner over employees’ average remaining service periods. Any decrease of the pension plan asset value due to low returns from investments or increases in the PBO due to a lower discount rate, increases in rates of compensation and changes in certain other actuarial assumptions may increase the unfunded pension obligations and may have an adverse effect on Sony’s financial results and condition due to an increase in pension expenses.

Sony’s financial results and condition may be adversely affected by the status of its Japanese and foreign pension plans. Specifically, adverse equity market conditions and volatility in the credit markets may have an unfavorable impact on the value of Sony’s pension plan assets and its future estimated pension liabilities, the majority of which relate to the Japanese plans, which have approximately 30% of pension plan assets invested in equity securities. As a result, Sony’s financial results and condition could be adversely affected.

Further, Sony’s financial results and condition could be adversely affected by future pension funding requirements pursuant to the Japanese Defined Benefit Corporate Pension Plan Act (“Act”). Under the Act, Sony is required to meet certain financial criteria including periodic actuarial revaluation and the annual settlement of gains or losses of the plans. In the event that the actuarial reserve required by law exceeds the fair value of pension plan assets and that the fair value of pension assets may not be recovered within a certain moratorium period permitted by laws and/or special legislative decree, Sony may be required to make an additional contribution to its plans, which may reduce cash flows. Similarly, if Sony is required to make an additional contribution to a foreign plan to meet any funding requirements in accordance with local laws and regulations in each country, Sony’s cash flows might be adversely affected. If Sony is required to increase cash contributions to its pension plans when actuarial assumptions, such as an expected long-term rate of return of the pension plan assets, are updated for purposes of determining statutory contributions, it may have an adverse impact on Sony’s cash flows.

Further losses in jurisdictions where Sony has established valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, the inability of Sony to fully utilize its deferred tax assets, limitations on the use of its deferred tax assets under local law, exposure to additional tax liabilities or changes in Sony’s tax rates could adversely affect Sony’s net income and financial condition.

Sony is subject to income taxes in Japan and numerous other jurisdictions, and in the ordinary course of its business there are many situations where the ultimate tax determination can be uncertain, because of the transfer pricing for its intercompany transactions, and Sony is subject to continuous review by tax authorities of numerous jurisdictions. The calculation of Sony’s tax provision and the carrying value of tax assets, including net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards, require significant judgment and the use of estimates,

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including estimates of future taxable income. As additional evidence becomes available, Sony reassesses these assets to determine if they remain appropriate or whether a reduction by a valuation allowance is appropriate. As of March 31, 2018, total established valuation allowances were 899.8 billion yen. An increase in a valuation allowance may have an adverse impact on Sony’s net income and financial condition.

Deferred tax assets are evaluated on a jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis. As of March 31, 2018, Sony and/or its subsidiaries had valuation allowances principally in Japan and the U.S. Additionally, deferred tax assets could expire unused or otherwise not be realizable for a variety of reasons including the lack of sufficient taxable income in the appropriate jurisdiction. Sony’s net income and financial condition could be adversely affected when the deferred tax assets expire unused.

In some jurisdictions, the use of net operating loss carryforwards or tax credits to reduce taxable income in a subsequent period is limited to a fixed percentage of taxable income or may only be used to offset taxes on income from certain sources. Thus, it is possible that even with significant net operating loss carryforwards or tax credits, Sony could record and pay taxes in a jurisdiction where it has taxable income.

In addition to the above, Sony’s future effective tax rates may be unfavorably affected by changes in both the statutory rates and the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory rates or by other factors such as changes in tax laws and regulations or their interpretation, including limitations or restrictions on various tax deductions and credits, including deductions for royalties and interest.

Sony could incur asset impairment charges for goodwill, intangible assets or other long-lived assets.

Sony has a significant amount of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, including production facilities and equipment in its electronics businesses. A decline in financial performance, market capitalization, reduced estimates of future cash flows, changes in global economic conditions or changes in estimates and assumptions used in the impairment analysis, which in many cases requires significant judgment, could result in impairment charges against these assets. Goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are tested annually for impairment during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value below the carrying amount. Such an event or change in circumstances would include unfavorable variances from or adjustments to established business plans, significant changes in forecasted results or volatility inherent to external markets and industries. The increased levels of global competition and the faster pace of technological change to which Sony is exposed can result in greater volatility of these estimates, assumptions and judgments, and increase the likelihood of impairment charges. In addition, the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets held and used and long-lived assets to be disposed of is reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances, including the types of events or changes described above with respect to goodwill and intangible assets, indicate that the carrying value of the assets or asset groups may not be recoverable. If the carrying value of the asset or asset group is considered impaired, an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset or asset group exceeds its fair value. For example, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, Sony recorded impairment charges related to long-lived assets, both in the camera module business in the Semiconductors segment, amounting to 59.6 billion yen, and in the battery business in the Components segment, amounting to 30.6 billion yen. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, Sony recorded a 23.9 billion yen impairment charge against long-lived assets in the Semiconductors segment resulting from the termination of the development and manufacturing of certain high-functionality camera modules for external sale, as well as a 112.1 billion yen impairment charge related to goodwill in the Pictures segment. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, Sony recorded a 31.3 billion yen impairment charge against long-lived assets in the Mobile Communications segment. Any such charge may adversely affect Sony’s operating results and financial condition.

Holders of American Depositary Shares have fewer rights than shareholders and may not be able to enforce judgments based on U.S. securities laws.

The rights of shareholders under Japanese law to take actions, including voting their shares, receiving dividends and distributions, bringing derivative actions, examining Sony’s accounting books and records, and exercising appraisal rights, are available only to shareholders of record. Because the depositary, through its custodian agents, is the record holder of the shares underlying the American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), only the depositary can exercise those rights in connection with the deposited shares. The depositary will make efforts to vote the shares underlying ADSs in accordance with the instructions of ADS holders and will pay the dividends and distributions collected from Sony. However, ADS holders will not be able to bring a derivative action, examine Sony’s accounting books and records, or exercise appraisal rights through the depositary.

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Sony Corporation is incorporated in Japan with limited liability. A majority of Sony’s directors and corporate executive officers are non-U.S. residents, and a substantial portion of the assets of Sony Corporation and the assets of Sony’s directors and corporate executive officers are located outside the U.S. As a result, it may be more difficult for investors to enforce against Sony Corporation or such persons, judgments obtained in U.S. courts predicated upon civil liability provisions of the federal and state securities laws of the U.S. or similar judgments obtained in other courts outside Japan. There is doubt as to the enforceability in Japanese courts, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon the federal and state securities laws of the U.S.

Sony Corporation was established in Japan in May 1946 as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, a joint stock company (Kabushiki Kaisha) under Japanese law. In January 1958, it changed its name to Sony Kabushiki Kaisha (“Sony Corporation” in English).

In December 1958, Sony Corporation was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (the “TSE”). In June 1961, Sony Corporation issued American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) in the U.S.

In March 1968, Sony Corporation established CBS/Sony Records Inc. in Japan, as a 50-50 joint venture company between Sony Corporation and CBS Inc. in the U.S. In January 1988, the joint venture became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, and in April 1991, changed its name to Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (“SMEJ”). In November 1991, SMEJ was listed on the Second Section of the TSE.

In September 1970, Sony Corporation was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

In August 1979, Sony Corporation established Sony Prudential Life Insurance Co., Ltd. in Japan, as a 50-50 joint venture company between Sony Corporation and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. In April 1991, the joint venture changed its name to Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (“Sony Life”). In March 1996, Sony Life became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, and in April 2004, with the establishment of SFH, a financial holding company, Sony Life became a wholly-owned subsidiary of SFH.

In July 1984, Sony Magnescale Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, was listed on the Second Section of the TSE. The subsidiary changed its name to Sony Precision Technology Inc. in October 1996 and then to Sony Manufacturing Systems Corporation in April 2004. In April 2012, Sony Manufacturing Systems was merged into Sony EMCS Corporation. Sony EMCS Corporation changed its name to Sony Global Manufacturing & Operations Corporation in April 2016.

In July 1987, Sony Chemicals Corporation, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, was listed on the Second Section of the TSE. The subsidiary changed its name to Sony Chemical & Information Device Corporation in July 2006, and changed its name again to Dexerials Corporation in October 2012.

In January 1988, Sony Corporation acquired CBS Records Inc., the music business division of CBS Inc. in the U.S. The acquired company changed its name to Sony Music Entertainment Inc. in January 1991 and then to Sony Music Holdings Inc. in December 2008.

In November 1989, Sony Corporation acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. in the U.S. In August 1991, Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. changed its name to Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. (“SPE”).

In November 1993, Sony established Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (“SCEI”) in Japan. SCEI changed its name to Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (“SIEI”) in April 2016.

In October 1995, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (“Sony/ATV”) was formed as a 50-50 joint venture company between Sony Corporation and Michael Jackson. In September 2016, the joint venture became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation.

In January 2000, acquisition transactions by way of a share exchange were completed such that three subsidiaries which had been listed on the TSE — SMEJ, Sony Chemicals Corporation (currently Dexerials Corporation), and Sony Precision Technology Inc. (which was merged into Sony EMCS Corporation) — became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Sony Corporation. In September 2012, Sony Corporation completed the sale of certain of its chemical products businesses, including Sony Chemical & Information Device Corporation (currently Dexerials Corporation) to Development Bank of Japan Inc.

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In October 2001, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”), a 50-50 joint venture company between Sony Corporation and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (“Ericsson”) of Sweden, was established. In February 2012, Sony acquired Ericsson’s 50% equity interest in Sony Ericsson. As a result of the acquisition, Sony Ericsson became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony and changed its name to Sony Mobile Communications AB.

In October 2002, Aiwa Co., Ltd. (“Aiwa”), then a TSE-listed subsidiary, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation. In December 2002, Aiwa was merged into Sony Corporation.

In June 2003, Sony Corporation adopted the “Company with Three Committees” corporate governance system in line with the revised Japanese Commercial Code then effective. (Refer to “Board Practices” in “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.”)

In April 2004, Sony Corporation established SFH, a financial holding company, in Japan. Sony Life, Sony Assurance Inc. (“Sony Assurance”), and Sony Bank Inc. (“Sony Bank”) became subsidiaries of SFH. In October 2007, SFH was listed on the First Section of the TSE in conjunction with the global initial public offering of shares of SFH by Sony Corporation and SFH.

In April 2004, S-LCD Corporation (“S-LCD”), a joint venture between Sony Corporation and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. of Korea for the manufacture of amorphous thin film transistor LCD panels, was established in Korea. Sony’s stake in S-LCD was 50% minus 1 share. In January 2012, Sony sold all of its shares of S-LCD to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

In August 2004, Sony combined its worldwide recorded music business, excluding its recorded music business in Japan, with the worldwide recorded music business of Bertelsmann AG (“Bertelsmann”), forming a 50-50 joint venture, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (“SONY BMG”). In October 2008, Sony acquired Bertelsmann’s 50% equity interest in SONY BMG. As a result of the acquisition, SONY BMG became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony. In January 2009, SONY BMG changed its name to Sony Music Entertainment (“SME”).

In December 2005, Sony Communication Network Corporation, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, was listed on the Mother’s market of the TSE, and was later listed on the First Section of the TSE in January 2008. Sony Communication Network Corporation was renamed So-net Corporation (“So-net”) in July 2013. In January 2013, Sony Corporation acquired all of the common shares of So-net through a tender offer and subsequent share exchange and, as a result of the acquisition, So-net became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation. So-net was renamed Sony Network Communications Inc. (“SNC”) in July 2016.

In April 2013, Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc. (“SOMED”), a medical business venture between Sony Corporation and Olympus Corporation (“Olympus”) was established in Japan. Sony’s stake in SOMED is 51%.

In July 2014, Sony Corporation sold its personal computer (“PC”) business operated under the VAIO brand to Japan Industrial Partners, Inc.

In July 2014, pursuant to a separation of Sony’s businesses into distinct subsidiaries, the television business was split out and began operations as Sony Visual Products Inc. (“SVP”).

In October 2015, the video and sound business was split out and began operations as Sony Video & Sound Products Inc. (“SVS”).

In April 2016, the semiconductors business was split out and began operations as Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (“SSS”).

In April 2017, the imaging products and solution business was split out and began operations as Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc. (“SIPS”), which completed the sequential separation of Sony’s business units into distinct subsidiaries.

In September 2017, Sony transferred its battery businesses to the Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Group.

Sony Corporation’s registered office is located at 7-1, Konan 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0075, Japan, telephone +81-3-6748-2111.

The agent in the U.S. for purposes of this Item 4 is Sony Corporation of America (“SCA”), 25 Madison Avenue, 26^th Floor, New York, NY 10010-8601 (Attn: Office of the General Counsel).

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Principal Capital Investments

In the fiscal years ended March 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, Sony’s capital expenditures were 468.9 billion yen, 272.2 billion yen and 332.1 billion yen, respectively. Sony’s capital expenditures are expected to be approximately 360.0 billion yen during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. For a breakdown of principal capital expenditures and divestitures (including interests in other companies), refer to “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.” The funding requirements of such various capital expenditures are expected to be financed by cash provided principally by operating and financing activities or the existing balance of cash and cash equivalents.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, Sony invested approximately 128.1 billion yen in the Semiconductors segment. This investment included approximately 106.6 billion yen to increase image sensor production capacity.

Sony is engaged in the development, design, production, manufacture, offer and sale of various kinds of electronic equipment, instruments and devices for consumer, professional and industrial markets such as network services, game hardware and software, televisions, audio and video recorders and players, still and video cameras, mobile phones, and semiconductors. Sony is engaged in the development, production, manufacture, and distribution of recorded music and the management and licensing of the words and music of songs as well as the production and distribution of animation titles, including game applications based on animation titles. Sony is also engaged in the production, acquisition and distribution of motion pictures and television programming and the operation of television and digital networks. Further, Sony is also engaged in various financial services businesses, including life and non-life insurance operations through its Japanese insurance subsidiaries and banking operations through a Japanese internet-based banking subsidiary.

Sony has striven to ensure the implementation of 1) clearly attributable accountability and responsibility, 2) management policies with an emphasis on sustainable profit generation and 3) the acceleration of decision-making processes and reinforcement of business competitiveness. To achieve this, Sony has separated its business units within Sony Corporation to form distinct subsidiaries and operate them alongside existing Sony Group companies. These separations include SVP in July 2014, SVS in October 2015, SSS in April 2016, and SIPS in April 2017. As a result of this separation of businesses, all segments are now being operated as subsidiaries of Sony Corporation.

Sony realigned its business segments from the first quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. As a result of this realignment, the operations of the former Components segment are now included in All Other.

Products and Services

Game & Network Services (“G&NS”)

Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (“SIE”) undertakes product research, development, design, marketing, sales, production, distribution and customer service for PlayStation^® hardware, software, content and network services.

The G&NS segment includes the Network and Hardware and Others categories. Network includes network services relating to game, video and music content provided by SIE; and Hardware and Others includes home and portable game consoles, packaged software and peripheral devices.

Music

Recorded Music:

“Recorded Music” includes the distribution of physical and digital recorded music and revenue derived from artists’ live performance. SME, a global entertainment company, excluding Japan, is engaged primarily in the development, production, marketing and distribution of recorded music in all commercial formats and genres. SMEJ is an entertainment company focused on the Japanese market, which includes a Japanese domestic recorded music business that produces recorded music and music videos through contacts with many artists in all music genres.

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Music Publishing:

“Music Publishing” includes the management and licensing of the words and music of songs. Sony/ATV is a U.S.-based music publishing business that owns and acquires rights to musical compositions, exploiting and marketing these compositions and receiving royalties or fees for their use.

Visual Media and Platform:

“Visual Media and Platform” includes the production and distribution of animation titles, game applications based on animation titles and various service offerings for music and visual products. These businesses are operated primarily by SMEJ.

Pictures

Motion Pictures:

“Motion Pictures” includes the worldwide production, acquisition and distribution of live-action and animated motion pictures. SPE’s motion picture production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films and Sony Pictures Classics. SPE also operates Sony Pictures Imageworks, a visual effects and animation unit, and manages a studio facility, Sony Pictures Studios, which includes post-production facilities.

Television Productions:

“Television Productions” includes the production, acquisition and distribution of television programming including scripted series, unscripted “reality” or “light entertainment,” daytime serials, game shows, animated series, made for television movies and miniseries and other programming. Outside the U.S., SPE produces local language programming and licenses SPE owned programming and formats around the world.

Media Networks:

“Media Networks” includes the operation of television and digital networks worldwide. SPE’s television networks around the world include Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited, which operates television networks in India, and a controlling interest in Game Show Network, which operates a U.S.-based cable network and an online game business. Digital networks include Crackle, a multi-platform video entertainment network focusing on premium video content.

Home Entertainment & Sound (“HE&S”)

SVP undertakes product research, development, design, marketing, sales, production, distribution and customer services for televisions. SVS undertakes product research, development, design, marketing, sales, production, distribution and customer services for video and sound products.

Imaging Products & Solutions (“IP&S”)

SIPS undertakes product research, development, design, manufacturing, sales, distribution and customer service for interchangeable lens cameras, compact digital cameras, consumer and professional video cameras as well as display products such as projectors and medical equipment. Additionally, SIPS is responsible for the broadcast/professional solutions business and the FeliCa contactless IC (integrated circuit) card technology business. SOMED undertakes development support to provide comprehensive medical and imaging device solutions for operating rooms and other medical areas.

The IP&S segment includes the Still and Video Cameras as well as Other categories. Still and Video Cameras includes interchangeable lens cameras, compact digital cameras, consumer video cameras and video cameras for broadcast. Other includes display products such as projectors and medical equipment.

Mobile Communications (“MC”)

Sony Mobile Communications Inc. (“Sony Mobile”) undertakes product research, development, design, marketing, sales, production, distribution and customer services for mobile phones, tablets, accessories and applications. SNC provides internet broadband network services to subscribers as well as creates and distributes content through its portal services to various electronics product platforms such as PCs and mobile phones.

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Semiconductors

SSS and its subsidiary Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation undertake product research, development, design, manufacturing, marketing, sales, production, distribution and customer services for complementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensors, charge-coupled devices (“CCDs”), large-scale integration systems (“LSIs”) and other semiconductors.

Financial Services

In the Financial Services segment, on April 1, 2004, Sony established a wholly-owned subsidiary, SFH, a holding company for Sony Life, Sony Assurance and Sony Bank, with the aim of integrating various financial services including insurance and savings and loans, and offering individual customers high value-added products and high-quality services. On October 11, 2007, in conjunction with the global initial public offering of shares of SFH, the shares of SFH were listed for trading on the First Section of the TSE. Following this global offering, SFH remains a consolidated subsidiary of Sony Corporation, which is the majority shareholder of SFH.

SFH conducts insurance, banking and other operations primarily through Sony Life, a Japanese life insurance company, Sony Assurance, a Japanese non-life insurance company, and Sony Bank, a Japanese internet-based bank, which are all wholly-owned by SFH.

All Other

All Other consists of various operating activities, including the batteries, recording media and storage media businesses, the disc manufacturing business outside of Japan and the PC business, which was sold in July 2014. Certain costs related to the PC business remain in All Other.

Sales and Distribution

Electronics*

* The term “Electronics” refers to the sum of the G&NS, HE&S, IP&S, MC and Semiconductors segments.

Sony’s electronics products and services, excluding those in the game business, are marketed throughout the world under the trademark “Sony,” which has been registered in approximately 200 countries and territories.

In most cases, sales of Sony’s electronics products are made to sales subsidiaries of Sony Corporation located in or responsible for sales in the countries and territories where Sony’s products and services are marketed. These subsidiaries then sell those products to unaffiliated local distributors and dealers or through direct sales, such as through the internet. In some regions, sales of certain products and services are made directly to local distributors by Sony Corporation.

Sales of electronics products and services are particularly seasonal and also vary significantly with the timing of new product introductions and the economic conditions of each country. Sales for the third quarter ending December 31 of each fiscal year are generally higher than other quarters of the same fiscal year due to demand in the year-end holiday season.

Japan:

Sony Marketing (Japan) Inc. markets consumer electronics products mainly through retailers. Sony Business Solutions Corporation markets professional electronics products and services. For electronic components, Sony sells products directly to wholesalers and manufacturers.

United States:

Sony markets its electronics products and services through Sony Electronics Inc. and other wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S.

Europe:

In Europe, Sony’s electronics products and services are marketed through sales subsidiaries including Sony Europe Limited, which is headquartered in the United Kingdom and has branches in European countries, and Sony Electronics JSC in Russia.

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China:

Sony markets its electronics products and services through Sony (China) Limited, Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Limited and other wholly-owned subsidiaries in China.

Asia-Pacific:

In Asia-Pacific, Sony’s electronics products and services are marketed through sales subsidiaries including Sony India Private Limited, Sony Electronics of Korea Corporation, Sony Taiwan Limited and Sony Electronics Vietnam.

Other Areas:

In overseas areas other than the U.S., Europe, China and Asia-Pacific, Sony’s electronics products and services are marketed through sales subsidiaries including Sony Brasil Ltda., Sony Middle East & Africa FZE in the United Arab Emirates and Sony de Mexico S.A.de C.V.

PlayStation^® hardware, software and content and network services are marketed and distributed by SIE, SIEI, and Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, Ltd. (“SIEE”).

Along with certain of its global corporate functions in Japan, Sony Mobile has sales and marketing operations in many major regions of the world, as well as manufacturing sites in China and product development sites in Japan, Sweden and China. Sony Mobile brings its products to market through direct and indirect distribution channels, such as third-party cellular network carriers and retailers, as well as through its website.

Music

SME and SMEJ develop, produce, market, and distribute recorded music in various commercial formats. SME and its affiliates conduct business globally under “Columbia Records,” “Epic Records,” “RCA Records” and other labels. SMEJ conducts business in Japan under “Sony Music Records,” “Epic Records Japan,” “SME Records,” “Ki/oon Music,” “Sony Music Associated Records” and other labels.

Sony owns and acquires rights to musical compositions, exploits and markets these compositions, receives royalties or fees for their use and conducts its music publishing business in countries other than Japan primarily under the Sony/ATV name. Sony/ATV, previously a 50%-owned and consolidated joint venture, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony on September 30, 2016 as a result of Sony’s acquisition of the 50% equity interest in Sony/ATV owned by the Estate of Michael Jackson (the “Estate”).

SMEJ creates artwork and produces packaged home entertainment products including music/games, and organizes various events in Japan through Sony Music Communications Inc. and its affiliates. SMEJ also produces, markets, and distributes animation products and game applications based on animation titles under the Aniplex name.

Pictures

SPE generally retains all rights relating to the worldwide distribution of its internally produced motion pictures and television programming, including rights for theatrical exhibition, home entertainment distribution, pay and free television exhibition and other markets. SPE also acquires distribution rights to motion pictures and television programming produced by other companies, and jointly produces and distributes motion pictures and television programming with other studios, television networks or production companies. These rights may be limited to particular geographic regions, specific forms of media or periods of time.

Within the U.S., SPE uses its own distribution service businesses, Sony Pictures Releasing and Sony Pictures Classics, for the U.S. theatrical release of its motion pictures and for the theatrical release of motion pictures acquired from and produced by others.

Outside the U.S., SPE generally distributes and markets motion pictures through one of its Sony Pictures Releasing International subsidiaries. In certain countries, however, SPE has joint distribution or sub-distribution arrangements with other studios, or arrangements with independent local distributors or other entities.

The worldwide home entertainment distribution of SPE’s motion pictures and television programming (and product acquired or licensed from others) is handled through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, except in certain countries where SPE has joint distribution or sub-distribution arrangements with other studios, or

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arrangements with independent local distributors. Product is distributed in various home media formats including DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ and Digital Distribution. Digital Distribution includes electronic sell-through and video-on-demand distributed on cable, direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) providers and digital platforms, as well as hotel pay-per-view.

The worldwide television distribution of SPE’s motion pictures and television programming (and product acquired or licensed from others) is handled through Sony Pictures Television. SPE’s library of motion pictures and television programming is licensed to linear distributors such as broadcast television networks, pay and basic cable networks and DBS providers, as well as to digital platforms such as subscription and advertising supported digital platforms (including Sony’s PlayStation^TM Network, Netflix, Amazon, Crackle and YouTube Red).

SPE’s television networks are distributed through cable, DBS providers, telecommunications companies and digital platforms to viewers around the world. These networks generate advertising, subscription and other ancillary revenues.

Financial Services

Sony Life conducts its life insurance business primarily in Japan. Sony Life’s core business is providing death protection and other insurance products to individuals, primarily through a consulting-based sales approach utilizing its experienced team of Lifeplanner^® sales employees as well as partner independent sales agents. Sony Life provides tailor-made life insurance products that are optimized for each customer. As of March 31, 2018, Sony Life employed 5,142 Lifeplanner^® sales employees. Sony Life maintains an extensive service network which mainly consists of the Lifeplanner^® channel and the independent agent channel in Japan. The Lifeplanner^® channel is characterized by recruitment of high-caliber sales professionals from industries outside the life insurance industry, quality improvement through education and training, performance-linked compensation and high productivity. Lifeplanner^® sales employees offer custom-made packages. Most of the agents in the independent agent channel are corporate and non-exclusive agents, primarily shop-style agents. Shop-style agents are a sub-channel of the independent agent channel, who offer insurance in local stores and provide customers with opportunities to compare various insurers’ products. To enhance Sony Life’s relationship with independent agents, Sony Life’s agent support staff provides independent agents with various support services, including recruiting, training and sales promotion activities. As part of its plan to expand its sales of individual annuity products, Sony Life established a Japanese joint venture company with AEGON N.V. in August 2009. The 50-50 joint venture, known as AEGON Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd., began operations in Japan in December 2009.

Sony Assurance has conducted a non-life insurance business in Japan since October 1999. Sony Assurance’s core business is providing automobile insurance products and medical insurance products to individual customers, primarily through direct marketing via the internet and the telephone. The direct marketing business model employed by Sony Assurance enables it to improve operating efficiency and lower the costs of marketing and maintaining its insurance policies, creating savings which it passes on to policyholders in the form of competitively priced premiums.

Sony Bank has conducted banking operations in Japan since June 2001. As an internet bank focusing on the asset management and borrowing needs of individual customers, Sony Bank offers an array of products and services including yen and foreign currency deposits, investment trusts and mortgages. By using Sony Bank’s transaction channel, the “MONEYKit” service website, account holders can invest and manage assets over the internet according to their life plans. On July 1, 2011, Sony Bank acquired Sony’s 57% equity interest in Sony Payment Services Inc. (“Sony Payment Services”), resulting in Sony Payment Services becoming a consolidated subsidiary of Sony Bank. Sony Payment Services is an industry-leading provider of credit card settlement services to members of its internet network.

All Other

Sony Energy Devices Corporation and Sony Storage Media Solutions Corporation sell their battery and storage media products, respectively, through Sony’s Electronics sales companies, mentioned in the Electronics’ Sales and Distribution section above, as well as through their own sales forces. Sony DADC group (“Sony DADC”) offers Blu-ray Disc™, DVD and CD media replication services as well as digital and physical supply chain solutions to business customers.

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Sales to External Customers by Geographic Area

The following table shows Sony’s consolidated sales to external customers in each of its major markets for the periods indicated.

Sources of Supply

Sony procures raw materials, parts and components used in the production of its products on a global basis on the most favorable terms that it can achieve. These items are purchased from various suppliers around the world. Sony has a general policy of maintaining multiple suppliers for important parts and components and, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, Sony continued to optimize the number of its suppliers to achieve efficiencies and to minimize procurement risk when possible.

When raw materials, parts and components become scarce, the cost of production rises. For example, LCD panels and memory devices, which are used in multiple applications, can influence Sony’s performance when the cost of such parts and components fluctuates substantially. With regard to raw materials, the market price of copper has the potential to proportionately affect the cost of the parts and components that utilize copper, such as printed circuit boards and power cables. The price of resin and sheet steel, which is widely used in mechanical parts and components, may also fluctuate and impact the cost of those parts and components.

After-Sales Service

Sony provides repair and servicing functions in the areas where its electronics products are sold. Sony provides these services through its own online support network, call centers, service centers, factories, authorized independent service centers, authorized servicing dealers and subsidiaries.

In line with industry practices of the electronics businesses, almost all of Sony’s consumer-use products that are sold in Japan carry a warranty, generally for a period of one year from the date of purchase, covering repairs, free of charge, in the case of a malfunction in the course of ordinary use of the product. Warranties outside of Japan generally provide coverage for various periods of time depending on the product and the area in which it is marketed. In the case of broadcast- and professional-use products, Sony maintains support contracts with customers in addition to warranties.

To further help ensure customer satisfaction, Sony maintains customer information centers in its principal markets and web support information for all markets.

Patents and Licenses

Sony has a number of Japanese and foreign patents relating to its products. Sony is licensed to use a number of patents owned by others, covering a wide range of products. Certain of these licenses are important to Sony’s business. Sony products that employ DVD player functionality, including PlayStation^®4 (“PS4”) and PlayStation^®3 (“PS3”) hardware, are substantially dependent upon patents that relate to technologies specified in the DVD specifications and are licensed from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Sony products that employ Blu-ray Disc™ player functionality and DVD player functionality, including PS4 and PS3 hardware, are substantially dependent upon patents that relate to technologies specified in the Blu-ray Disc™ specifications and are licensed by MPEG LA LLC and One-Blue, LLC, in addition to the patents that relate to technologies specified in the DVD specifications, as described above. Sony’s smartphone products are substantially dependent upon patents that relate to technologies specified in certain codec standards and are licensed by MPEG LA LLC and Via Licensing Corporation, as well as patents that relate to CDMA technologies specified by the standard-setting bodies within the telecommunications industry and are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated and NTT DOCOMO, INC. Sony considers its overall license position beneficial to its operations.

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Competition

In each of its principal product lines and services, Sony encounters intense competition throughout the world. Sony believes, however, that in the aggregate it competes successfully and has a major position in all of the principal product lines and services in which it is engaged, although the strength of its position varies with products and markets. Refer to “Risk Factors” in “Item 3. Key Information.”

Electronics and All Other

Sony believes that its product planning and product design expertise, the high quality of its products, its record of innovative product introductions and product improvements, the user experience it provides and the ecosystem that supports such an experience, its price competitiveness derived from reductions in manufacturing and indirect costs, and its extensive marketing and servicing efforts are important factors in maintaining its competitive position. Continuing to provide high-value added products, services and experiences is a key factor by which Sony aims to differentiate itself in the highly competitive market of consumer electronics. Sony believes that the success of the G&NS businesses is determined by the availability of attractive software titles and related content, downloadable content, network services and peripherals. In the Semiconductors segment, Sony puts significant effort into keeping Sony’s strong competitive position by investing in R&D and production capacity, while also trying to avoid overinvesting and increasing fixed costs by carefully monitoring customer demand, market trends and demand for end-user products.

Music

Success in the music industry is dependent to a large extent upon the artistic and creative abilities of artists, producers and employees and is subject to the vagaries of public taste. The Music segment’s future competitive position depends on its continuing ability to attract and develop artists and products that can achieve a high degree of public acceptance as well as offer efficient services. In addition, Sony believes that the success of the Music segment’s animation products and game applications business, Aniplex, is largely dependent on the creative talent of game producers and developers, and is also subject to the vagaries of public taste.

Pictures

SPE faces intense competition from all forms of entertainment and other leisure activities to attract the attention of audiences worldwide. SPE competes with other motion picture studios and production companies to obtain story rights and talent, including writers, actors, directors and producers, which are essential to the success of SPE’s products. SPE competes with other companies, in particular technology companies, who are expanding into the production or distribution of film and television programing. In motion picture production and distribution, SPE faces competition to obtain exhibition and distribution outlets and optimal release dates for its products. In addition, SPE faces competition to acquire motion pictures and television programming from third parties. In television production and distribution, competition arises from the increasing fragmentation of audiences among broadcast and cable networks, DBS providers, digital platforms and other outlets both within and outside of the U.S. Furthermore, broadcast networks in the U.S., or their affiliated production companies, continue to produce their own shows internally. This competitive environment may result in fewer opportunities to produce shows for U.S. networks and a shorter lifespan for ordered shows that do not immediately achieve favorable ratings. SPE’s worldwide television networks compete for viewers with broadcast and cable networks, DBS providers, digital platforms and other forms of entertainment. The growth in the number of networks around the world has increased the competition for advertising and subscription revenues, acquisition of programming, and distribution of SPE’s television networks by cable, DBS providers, digital platforms and other distribution systems.

Financial Services

In the Financial Services segment, Sony faces strong competition in the financial services markets in Japan. In recent years, the regulatory barriers between the life insurance and non-life insurance industries as well as among the insurance, banking and securities industries have been relaxed, resulting in new competitive pressures.

Sony Life competes not only with traditional insurance companies in Japan but also with other companies including online insurance companies, foreign-owned life insurance companies and a number of Japanese cooperative associations.

Sony Assurance competes against insurers that sell their policies through sales agents as well as insurers that, like Sony Assurance, primarily sell their policies through direct marketing via the telephone and the

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internet. Competition in Japan’s non-life insurance industry has intensified in recent years, in part due to a number of new market entrants, including foreign-owned insurers.

Some of the competitors in the life insurance and non-life insurance businesses have advantages over Sony including:

Sony Bank has focused on providing retail asset management and mortgage services for individuals, and faces significant competition in Japan’s retail financial services market. Sony Bank competes with traditional banking institutions, regional banks, trust banks, non-bank companies, and newer financial groups providing online full-services of bank and brokerage in Japan.

In the Financial Services segment, it is important to maintain a strong and healthy financial foundation for the business as well as to meet diversifying customer needs. Sony Life and Sony Assurance have maintained a high solvency margin ratio, relative to the Japanese domestic minimum solvency margin ratio requirements. Sony Bank has maintained a sufficient capital adequacy ratio relative to the Japanese domestic criteria.

Government Regulations

Sony’s business activities are subject to various governmental regulations in different countries in which it operates, including regulations relating to: various business/investment approvals; trade affairs, including customs, import and export control; competition and antitrust; anti-bribery; advertising and promotion; intellectual property; broadcasting, consumer and business taxation; foreign exchange controls; personal information protection; product safety; labor; human rights; conflict; occupational health and safety; environmental; and recycling requirements.

In Japan, Sony’s insurance businesses are subject to the Insurance Business Act and approvals and oversight from the Financial Services Agency (“FSA”). The primary purpose of the Insurance Business Act and related regulations is to protect policyholders, not shareholders. The Insurance Business Act specifies the types of businesses insurance companies may engage in, imposes limits on the types and amounts of investments that can be made and requires insurance companies to maintain specified reserves and a minimum solvency margin ratio. In particular, life insurance companies must maintain a premium reserve (for the portion of their portfolio other than unearned premiums), an unearned premium reserve, a reserve for refunds with respect to certain insurance contracts of life insurance companies specified in the Insurance Business Act’s regulations, and a contingency reserve in amounts no lower than the amount of the “standard policy reserve” as set forth by the regulatory guidelines. The FSA maintains a solvency standard which is used by Japanese regulators to monitor the financial strength of insurance companies. Non-life insurance companies are also required to provide a policy reserve. Sony Bank is also subject to regulation by the FSA under the Banking Act of Japan, including the requirement that it maintain a minimum capital adequacy ratio in accordance with capital adequacy guidelines adopted by the FSA based on the Basel III agreement. The FSA has broad regulatory powers over insurance and banking businesses in Japan, including the authority to grant or revoke operating licenses and to request information and conduct onsite inspections of books and records. Sony’s subsidiaries in the Financial Services segment are subject to the Japanese Insurance Business Act and Banking Act that require insurance and business companies to maintain their financial credibility and to secure protection for policyholders and depositors in view of the public importance of insurance and banking services. As such, lending and borrowing between subsidiaries in the Financial Service segment and the other companies within Sony Group is strictly limited.

In addition, Sony’s telecommunication businesses in Japan are subject to approvals and oversight from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, under the Telecommunications Business Act and other regulations related to the internet businesses and communication methods in Japan.

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Social Responsibility Regulations Such as Environmental and Human Rights Regulations

Sony monitors, evaluates, and complies with new environmental requirements that may affect its operations. For example, in Europe, Sony is required to comply with a number of environmental regulations enacted by the EU such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (“RoHS”) Directive, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (“WEEE”) Directive and the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (“REACH”) regulation. Similar regulations are being formulated in other areas of the world, including South American and Southeast Asian countries.

Sony has taken steps to address new regulations or governmental policies related to climate change including carbon disclosure, greenhouse gas emission reduction, carbon taxes and energy efficiency for electronics products. For example, Sony has established an internal management system in response to the EU directive on energy-related products and their energy efficiency (“ErP”).

Sony also monitors and evaluates newly adopted laws and regulations that may affect its operations applicable to purchasing activities including the procurement of raw materials, with respect to environmental, occupational health and safety, human rights, labor and armed conflict issues, and complies as appropriate.

Also refer to “Risk Factors” in “Item 3. Key Information.”

Disclosure pursuant to Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012

Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 added Section 13(r) to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended. Section 13(r) requires an issuer to disclose in its annual or quarterly reports, as applicable, whether it or any of its affiliates knowingly engaged in certain activities, transactions or dealings relating to Iran or with designated natural persons or entities sanctioned under programs relating to terrorism or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Disclosure is required even where the activities, transactions or dealings are conducted outside the U.S. by non-U.S. affiliates in compliance with applicable law, and whether or not the activities are sanctionable under U.S. law.

Sony is aware that certain transactions during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, as described below, may be disclosable pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act.

Sony does not customarily allocate net profit on a country-by-country or activity-by-activity basis, other than as set forth in Sony’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP; thus, the net profit and loss described below are non-U.S. GAAP figures and are estimated solely for the purpose of preparing this disclosure pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act. The information below is to the best of Sony’s knowledge, and in particular Sony may not be aware of all potentially reportable sales by third-party-owned dealers and distributors.

Sony is not aware of any other activity, transaction or dealing by Sony Corporation or any of its affiliates during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 that is disclosable in this report under Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act. As of the date of this report, Sony does not anticipate that any activity, transaction or dealing that may be disclosable will be conducted during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, except as described above in connection with the wind-down of its representative office or for certain transactions through third-party-owned dealers that Sony believes to be intended for hospitals and health organizations in Iran. Nevertheless, Sony has continued to monitor developments in this area, especially in the light of the United States’ decision to cease its participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of July 14, 2015, among the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, Germany, the European Union and Iran, and will determine whether and to

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what extent they affect Sony’s business with Iranian customers as currently conducted and may additionally be conducted. Such business activities may require disclosure pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act. Sony intends to conduct any such business activities in accordance with applicable law.

Sony believes, and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure that, its transactions with Iran and elsewhere have been conducted in accordance with applicable economic sanctions laws and regulations and do not involve transactions likely to result in the imposition of sanctions or other penalties on Sony. However, there can be no assurance that Sony’s policies and procedures will be effective, and if the relevant authorities were to impose penalties or sanctions against Sony, the impact of such sanctions could be material.

The following table sets forth the significant subsidiaries owned, directly or indirectly, by Sony Corporation.

* Sony Corporation owns 63% of Sony Financial Holdings Inc., and Sony Financial Holdings Inc. owns 100% of Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Sony Bank Inc. and Sony Assurance Inc.

Sony has a number of offices, plants and warehouses throughout the world. Most of the buildings and land in/on which such offices, plants and warehouses are located are owned by Sony.

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The following table sets forth information as of March 31, 2018 with respect to plants used for the production of products mainly for electronics products and services with floor space of more than 500,000 square feet:

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In addition to the above facilities, Sony has a number of other plants for electronic products throughout the world. Sony owns R&D facilities, and Sony Corporation’s headquarters building, with a total floor space of approximately 1,753,000 square feet, in Tokyo, Japan, where administrative functions and product development activities are carried out. SIEI has its corporate headquarters in Sony Corporation’s headquarters building and leases additional office space in Tokyo from a third party, where administrative functions, product development, and software development are carried out. SIE and SIEE lease their offices in the U.S. and Europe, respectively.

SPE’s corporate offices and motion picture and television production facilities are headquartered in Culver City, California, where it owns and operates a studio facility, Sony Pictures Studios, with aggregate floor space of approximately 1,939,200 square feet. SPE also leases office space and motion picture and television support facilities from third parties and affiliates of Sony Corporation in various worldwide locations. SPE’s film and videotape storage operations are located in various leased locations in the U.S. and Europe.

SME’s corporate offices are headquartered in New York, NY where it leases office space from SCA. SME also leases office space from third parties in various locations worldwide.

Most of SMEJ’s offices, including leased premises, are located in Tokyo, Japan.

SCA’s corporate offices are headquartered in New York, NY where it leases office space from a third party.

On April 1, 2017, Sony China completed the transfer of all of the equity interest in Sony Electronics Huanan Co., Ltd., which manufactures camera modules, to Shen Zhen O-film Tech Co., Ltd.

On September 1, 2017, Sony completed the transfer to Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Group of the battery-related plants located in Japan, China and Singapore.

None

Sales

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, sales and operating revenue (“sales”) were 8,544.0 billion yen, an increase of 940.7 billion yen compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. This increase was due to increases in sales in all segments except for the Mobile Communications (“MC”) segment and All Other. In addition, sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 included 6.7 billion yen and 2.6 billion yen of insurance recoveries, mainly for opportunity losses related to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes (the “Kumamoto Earthquakes”) in the Semiconductors segment and the Imaging Products & Solutions (“IP&S”) segment, respectively.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales were 7,603.3 billion yen, a decrease of 502.5 billion yen, or 6% compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. This decrease was primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange rates. On a constant currency basis, sales were essentially flat year-on-year, due to significant increases in Game & Network Services (“G&NS”) and Semiconductors segment sales, substantially offset by a significant decrease in MC segment sales.

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Cost of Sales, Selling, General and Administrative Expenses and Other Operating (Income) Expense, net

“Sales” in the analysis of the ratio of “cost of sales” to sales, the ratio of “R&D costs” to sales, and the ratio of “selling, general and administrative expenses (“SGA expenses”)” to sales refers only to the “net sales” and “other operating revenue” portions of consolidated sales (which excludes financial services revenue). This is because “financial services expenses” are recorded separately from cost of sales and SGA expenses in the consolidated financial statements. The calculations of all ratios below that pertain to reportable segments include intersegment transactions.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, cost of sales increased 435.2 billion yen year-on-year to 5,188.3 billion yen. The ratio of cost of sales to sales improved year-on-year from 72.9% to 70.9%.

R&D costs (all R&D costs are included within cost of sales) increased 11.1 billion yen year-on-year to 458.5 billion yen. The ratio of R&D costs to sales was 6.3% compared to 6.9% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. For further details, refer to Research and Development in Item 5.C.

SGA expenses increased 77.2 billion yen year-on-year to 1,583.2 billion yen. The ratio of SGA expenses to sales improved year-on-year from 23.1% to 21.6%.

Other operating expense, net, was 4.1 billion yen, a decrease of 144.9 billion yen year-on-year. This significant improvement was mainly due to the following factors that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 and the absence of the following factors that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. Refer to Note 20 of the consolidated financial statements.

Factors that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018

Factors that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, cost of sales decreased by 413.9 billion yen year-on-year, to 4,753.0 billion yen. The cost of sales included net charges of 15.4 billion yen in expenses in the Semiconductors segment resulting from the Kumamoto Earthquakes. The ratio of cost of sales to sales improved year-on-year from 73.4% to 72.9%.

R&D costs (all R&D costs are included within cost of sales) decreased by 20.7 billion yen year-on-year, to 447.5 billion yen. The ratio of R&D costs to sales was 6.9% compared to 6.7% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For further details, refer to Research and Development in Item 5.C.

SGA expenses decreased by 186.0 billion yen year-on-year, to 1,506.0 billion yen, mainly due to the impact of the appreciation of the yen. The ratio of SGA expenses to sales improved year-on-year from 24.0% to 23.1%.

Other operating expense, net was 149.0 billion yen, an increase of 101.8 billion yen year-on-year. This significant deterioration was mainly due to the above-mentioned factors that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, as well as the factors listed below that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. Refer to Note 20 of the consolidated financial statements.

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Factors that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016

Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliated Companies

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, equity in net income of affiliated companies was 8.6 billion yen, an increase of 5.0 billion yen year-on-year. This increase was primarily due to an improvement of equity in net income (loss) for SA Reinsurance Ltd. in the Financial Services segment. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, equity in net income of affiliated companies was 3.6 billion yen, an increase of 1.3 billion yen year-on-year.

Operating Income

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, operating income increased 446.2 billion yen year-on-year to 734.9 billion yen. This significant increase was due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales and the positive impact of foreign exchange rates as well as the above-mentioned factors that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. Operating income in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 included the above-mentioned factors that occurred in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, operating income decreased 5.5 billion yen year-on-year, to 288.7 billion yen. This decrease was mainly due to the 962 million U.S. dollars (112.1 billion yen) impairment charge of goodwill recorded in the Pictures segment, substantially offset by an improvement in the operating results of the MC segment and an increase in the operating income of the G&NS segment.

Other Income and Expenses

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, other income increased by 9.3 billion yen year-on-year, to 23.7 billion yen, while other expenses increased by 8.0 billion yen year-on-year, to 59.5 billion yen. The net amount of other income and other expenses was an expense of 35.8 billion yen, an improvement of 1.3 billion yen year-on-year primarily due to an increase in interest and dividend income as well as lower losses on the devaluation of securities investments, partially offset by an increase in net foreign exchange losses.

The foreign exchange loss, net, increased by 8.5 billion yen year-on-year, to 30.6 billion yen.

Interest and dividends in other income of 19.8 billion yen were recorded in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, an increase of 8.3 billion yen year-on-year. Interest recorded in other expenses totaled 13.6 billion yen, a decrease of 1.0 billion yen year-on-year.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, other income decreased by 52.4 billion yen year-on-year, to 14.4 billion yen, while other expenses decreased by 5.0 billion yen year-on-year, to 51.5 billion yen. The net amount of other income and other expenses was an expense of 37.1 billion yen, a deterioration of 47.4 billion yen year-on-year primarily due to the absence in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 of a 46.8 billion yen gain on the sale of certain shares of Olympus recorded in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016.

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The foreign exchange loss, net, increased by 1.6 billion yen year-on-year, to 22.2 billion yen.

Interest and dividends in other income of 11.5 billion yen were recorded in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of 1.0 billion yen year-on-year. Interest recorded in other expenses totaled 14.5 billion yen, a decrease of 10.7 billion yen year-on-year, mainly due to a decrease in interest rates.

Income before Income Taxes

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, income before income taxes was 699.0 billion yen, an increase of 447.4 billion yen year-on-year. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, income before income taxes was 251.6 billion yen, a decrease of 52.9 billion yen year-on-year.

Income Taxes

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, Sony recorded 151.8 billion yen of income tax expense, resulting in an effective tax rate of 21.7%, which was lower than the effective tax rate of 49.3% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. This lower effective tax rate in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 was mainly due to (1) profits recorded at Sony Corporation and its national tax filing group in Japan, and in the U.S. consolidated tax filing group, both of which have established valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, compared to the losses recorded for those groups in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 and (2) the negative impact of the nondeductible goodwill charge that was recorded in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. In addition, during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, Sony recorded a 13.8 billion yen tax benefit related to deferred tax liabilities as a result of U.S. tax reform. Refer to Note 21 of the consolidated financial statements.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, Sony recorded 124.1 billion yen of income tax expense, resulting in an effective tax rate of 49.3%, which exceeded the effective tax rate of 31.1% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. This higher effective tax rate was mainly due to the nondeductible impairment charge of goodwill recorded during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. Refer to Note 21 of the consolidated financial statements.

Net Income Attributable to Sony Corporation’s Stockholders

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, the net income attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders, which excludes net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, was 490.8 billion yen, an increase of 417.5 billion yen year-on-year.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of 56.5 billion yen was recorded, an increase of 2.2 billion yen year-on-year.

Basic net income per share and diluted net income per share, attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 were 388.32 yen and 379.75 yen, respectively, compared with 58.07 yen and 56.89 yen, respectively, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. Refer to Note 22 of the consolidated financial statements.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, the net income attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders, which excludes net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, was 73.3 billion yen, a decrease of 74.5 billion yen year-on-year.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of 54.3 billion yen was recorded, a decrease of 7.7 billion yen year-on-year. This decrease was mainly due to the acquisition of the 50% equity interest in Sony/ATV held by the Estate, making Sony/ATV a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.

Basic net income per share and diluted net income per share, attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 were 58.07 yen and 56.89 yen, respectively, compared with 119.40 yen and 117.49 yen, respectively, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. Refer to Note 22 of the consolidated financial statements.

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Operating Performance by Business Segment

The following discussion is based on segment information. Sales and operating revenue in each business segment include intersegment transactions. Refer to Note 28 of the consolidated financial statements.

In addition to those significant trends, uncertainties and events listed herein, refer to Trend Information in Item 5.D for more information on significant trends, uncertainties and events that had, or may have, an effect on business segment operating performance.

Game & Network Services (“G&NS”)

Key Financial Figures

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, Sales increased 294.0 billion yen year-on-year to 1,943.8 billion yen. This increase was primarily due to an increase in PlayStation^®4 (“PS4”) software sales, including sales through the network, the impact of foreign exchange rates, as well as an increase in the number of subscribers for PlayStation^®Plus, a paid membership service.

Operating income increased 41.9 billion yen year-on-year to 177.5 billion yen. This increase was primarily due to the above-mentioned increase in sales, partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. During the current fiscal year, there was a 19.8 billion yen positive impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

The operating performance of the G&NS segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 reflected the continued demand for hardware, software and network services. The expansion of the PS4 eco-system is expected to continue throughout the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, and Sony intends to expand the network services business during that fiscal year as the PS4 eco-system continues to be in its harvesting period.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales increased 97.9 billion yen year-on-year to 1,649.8 billion yen. This increase was primarily due to an increase in PS4 software sales, including sales through the network, as well as an increase in PS4 hardware sales, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates and the impact of a price reduction for PS4 hardware.

Operating income increased 46.9 billion yen year-on-year to 135.6 billion yen. This significant increase was primarily due to PS4 hardware cost reductions and the above-mentioned increase in PS4 software sales, partially offset by the impact of the price reduction for PS4 hardware and a decrease in PS3 software sales.

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Music

Key Financial Figures

The Music segment results include the yen-translated results of SME and Sony/ATV, both U.S.-based operations which aggregate the results of their worldwide subsidiaries on a U.S. dollar basis and the results of SMEJ, a Japan-based music company which aggregates its results in yen. The segment also includes equity in net income for EMI Music Publishing (“EMI”), an affiliated company accounted for under the equity method for which Sony records 39.8% of EMI’s net income in the segment operating income.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, sales increased 152.3 billion yen year-on-year to 800.0 billion yen. This significant increase was mainly due to higher Visual Media and Platform sales and higher Recorded Music sales. Visual Media and Platform sales increased due to the continued strong performance of Fate/Grand Order, a game application for mobile devices. Recorded Music sales increased due to a continued increase in digital streaming revenues. Best-selling music titles included P!nk’s Beautiful Trauma, DJ Khaled’s Grateful and Camila Cabello’s Camila.

Operating income increased 52.0 billion yen year-on-year to 127.8 billion yen. This increase was primarily due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales and the above-mentioned gain recorded on the sale of real estate.

The operating performance of the Music segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 reflected continued growth in the market for recorded music after many years of historical market decline, as the continued development and growth of digital streaming has continued to offset the decreases in physical and digital download revenues. Additionally, the music industry also faces increased margin pressure from higher artist royalty costs, as well as pressure on top line licensing rates with our digital partners. In this environment, Sony has pursued initiatives to offset the decreases in physical and digital download revenues with increased streaming, broadcast, and other licensing revenues through continued investment in new recorded music and music publishing rights. Sony intends to continue these initiatives in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, while also undertaking various measures to maintain the current momentum of Fate/Grand Order and other game applications based on animation titles.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales increased 28.4 billion yen year-on-year to 647.7 billion yen, while sales increased significantly year-on-year on a constant currency basis (as described below under “Foreign Exchange Fluctuations and Risk Hedging”). The significant increase in sales on a constant currency basis was due to higher Visual Media and Platform sales and higher Recorded Music sales. Visual Media and Platform sales increased due to the strong performance of Fate/Grand Order, a game application for mobile devices in Japan. Recorded Music sales increased due to an increase in digital streaming revenues. Best-selling music titles included Beyoncé’s Lemonade, various hit tracks from The Chainsmokers and Sia’s This is Acting.

Operating income decreased 10.7 billion yen year-on-year to 75.8 billion yen. Operating income decreased primarily due to the absence of the above-mentioned 151 million U.S. dollar (18.1 billion yen) gain that was recorded in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016 on the remeasurement of SME’s equity interest in The Orchard. The operating results of the Music segment were also positively impacted by the above-mentioned increase in sales, partially offset by the negative impact of the appreciation of the yen against the U.S. dollar.

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Pictures

Key Financial Figures

Pictures segment results presented below are a yen-translation of the results of SPE, a U.S.-based operation that aggregates the results of its worldwide subsidiaries on a U.S. dollar basis. Management analyzes the results of SPE in U.S. dollars, so discussion of certain portions of its results is specified as being on “a U.S. dollar basis.”

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, sales increased 107.9 billion yen year-on-year (a 10% increase on a U.S. dollar basis) to 1,011.1 billion yen. The significant increase in sales on a U.S. dollar basis was due to higher sales in Media Networks, Motion Pictures, and Television Productions. Media Networks sales increased primarily due to higher advertising and subscription revenues resulting from the acquisition of TEN Sports Network and improved ratings, both in India. Motion Pictures sales increased due to the strong worldwide theatrical performance of Spider-Man: Homecoming and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, partially offset by lower television licensing revenues for catalog product. Television Productions sales increased due to higher licensing revenues for various U.S. television series including The Goldbergs, The Good Doctor and Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams, partially offset by lower television licensing revenues for catalog product.

Operating income of 41.1 billion yen was recorded, compared to an operating loss of 80.5 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. This significant improvement in operating results was primarily due to the absence of the 962 million U.S. dollars (112.1 billion yen) impairment charge of goodwill recorded in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. Operating results also improved due to the above-mentioned increase in sales, partially offset by an operating loss from TEN Sports Network, which was acquired in February 2017.

The operating performance of the Pictures segment in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 reflected the following underlying market trends. In the market in which Motion Pictures operates, a larger share of film revenue is concentrated in tent-pole films while demand for packaged physical media continues to decline. In this environment, Sony is working to expand the global appeal of its films, enhance developed and acquired intellectual property and maximize digital distribution revenues. In the market in which Television Productions operates, U.S. networks are continuing to seek to own more of the content broadcast on their networks. This impacts the number of series that these networks license from third-party producers such as SPE or the rights SPE retains in the series that are licensed. Sony, which does not own a major U.S. broadcast network, has been striving to build strong relationships with top content creators and major networks around the world to offset this impact. In the market in which Media Networks operates, there has been a gradual movement from a linear carriage environment — that is, one in which a viewer watches a program at a particular, pre-scheduled time — to a non-linear, on-demand carriage environment, which has put pressure on Media Networks’ carriage negotiations with distributors. As a result, Sony expects to continue to aim to differentiate its branded channels from the competition. Sony intends to continue these initiatives in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales decreased 35.0 billion yen year-on-year (a 5% increase on a U.S. dollar basis) to 903.1 billion yen, primarily due to the impact of the appreciation of the yen against the U.S. dollar. The increase in sales on a U.S. dollar basis was primarily due to higher sales for Television Productions and Media Networks. Sales for Television Productions increased primarily due to higher subscription video-on-demand licensing revenues. The increase in sales for Media Networks was due to higher advertising and subscription revenues mainly in India, Latin America and the U.S.

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Operating loss of 80.5 billion yen was recorded, compared to operating income of 38.5 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. This significant deterioration in operating results was primarily due to the above-mentioned 962 million U.S. dollars (112.1 billion yen) impairment charge of goodwill. The operating results for the Pictures segment were also negatively impacted by higher programming and marketing expenses for Media Networks as well as higher theatrical marketing expenses for Motion Pictures.

Home Entertainment & Sound (“HE&S”)

Key Financial Figures

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, sales increased 183.7 billion yen year-on-year to 1,222.7 billion yen, primarily due to an improvement in the product mix of televisions reflecting a shift to high value-added models, as well as the impact of foreign exchange rates.

Operating income increased 27.3 billion yen year-on-year to 85.8 billion yen. This increase was primarily due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales and the positive impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by an increase in research and development, marketing and other expenses.

The operating performance of the HE&S segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 reflected the relatively stabilized television market and a continued market shift to high value-added models such as 4K televisions. In this environment, Sony expects to continue to pursue an improvement in product mix reflecting the shift to high value-added models such as 4K OLED televisions, and an enhancement of its marketing initiatives.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales decreased 120.0 billion yen year-on-year to 1,039.0 billion yen, primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange rates.

Operating income increased 7.9 billion yen year-on-year to 58.5 billion yen. This increase was primarily due to an improvement in the product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange rates as well as an increase in expenses resulting from the change in the method of calculating royalties and other costs for brand and patent utilization, pursuant to the separation of Sony’s businesses into distinct subsidiaries and the realignment of corporate functions.

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Imaging Products & Solutions (“IP&S”)

Key Financial Figures

* Digital cameras include compact digital cameras and interchangeable lens cameras.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, sales increased 76.3 billion yen year-on-year to 655.9 billion yen. This significant increase was mainly due to the absence of the impact from the Kumamoto Earthquakes in the previous fiscal year, the impact of foreign exchange rates and an improvement in the product mix of Still and Video Cameras reflecting a shift to high value-added models.

Operating income increased 27.7 billion yen year-on-year to 74.9 billion yen. This significant increase was mainly due to the above-mentioned improvement in product mix, the positive impact of foreign exchange rates and the absence of the impact from the Kumamoto Earthquakes in the previous fiscal year.

The operating performance of the IP&S segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 reflected shrinking markets for compact digital cameras, consumer video cameras and interchangeable lens cameras. In this environment, Sony continued to strengthen its high value-added products, such as interchangeable lens cameras and lenses, and focus on high-end models within its product portfolio of compact digital cameras and consumer video cameras. Sony intends to continue these initiatives in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales decreased 104.3 billion yen year-on-year to 579.6 billion yen. This significant decrease was mainly due to the impact of foreign exchange rates and a decrease in unit sales resulting from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes.

Operating income decreased 22.1 billion yen year-on-year to 47.3 billion yen. This significant decrease was mainly due to the negative impact of foreign exchange rates and the impact of the above-mentioned decrease in unit sales, partially offset by an improvement in the product mix of Still and Video Cameras reflecting a shift to high value-added models and cost reductions.

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Mobile Communications (“MC”)

Key Financial Figures

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, sales decreased 35.4 billion yen year-on-year to 723.7 billion yen. This decrease was due to a decrease in smartphone unit sales.

Operating loss of 27.6 billion yen was recorded, compared to operating income of 10.2 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. This deterioration in operating results was mainly due to a 31.3 billion yen loss recorded as an impairment charge against long-lived assets, the decrease in unit sales and an increase in the price of key components, partially offset by a reduction in operating costs.

The operating performance of the MC segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 reflected the continued slowing and maturation of the smartphone market on a global scale. In addition, the Japanese carrier market, where Sony sells many premium smartphones due to its brand strength, shrank mainly due to the proliferation of mobile virtual network operators, with which Sony has traditionally not had business relationships. In this environment, Sony continued to focus on increasing smartphone sales in areas outside of Japan, but these efforts were unsuccessful mainly due to fierce competition. As a result, beginning in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, Sony intends to reduce the quantity of unprofitable models and stabilize the segment’s operating results by further reducing operating costs and by growing recurring revenue businesses, such as the internet service provider business.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales decreased 368.3 billion yen year-on-year to 759.1 billion yen. This significant decrease was primarily due to a decrease in smartphone unit sales mainly in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, as well as a significant downsizing of unit sales in unprofitable regions.

Operating income of 10.2 billion yen was recorded, compared to an operating loss of 61.4 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. Despite the impact of the above-mentioned decrease in sales, operating results improved significantly mainly due to a reduction in operating costs including the benefit of restructuring initiatives, an improvement in profitability resulting from a concentration on fewer geographic areas and a focus on high value-added models, the positive impact of foreign exchange rates, as well as a reduction in restructuring charges.

Semiconductors

Key Financial Figures

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Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, sales increased 76.9 billion yen year-on-year to 850.0 billion yen. This increase was primarily due to a significant increase in unit sales of image sensors for mobile products, as well as the absence of the impact from the Kumamoto Earthquakes which resulted in a production decrease in the previous fiscal year, partially offset by a significant decrease in sales of camera modules, a business which was downsized.

Operating income of 164.0 billion yen was recorded, compared to operating loss of 7.8 billion yen in the previous fiscal year. This significant improvement in operating results was primarily due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales, the 28.3 billion yen gain resulting from the sale of the entire equity interest in a manufacturing subsidiary in the camera module business, the 8.6 billion yen gain resulting from the sale of manufacturing equipment, as well as the 6.7 billion yen in insurance recoveries related to the Kumamoto Earthquakes. Additionally, in the previous fiscal year, the Semiconductors segment operating results included the above-mentioned 23.9 billion yen impairment charge against long-lived assets relating to camera modules, net charges of 15.4 billion yen in expenses resulting from the Kumamoto Earthquakes and 6.5 billion yen in inventory write-downs of certain image sensors for mobile products.

The operating performance of the Semiconductors segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 reflected continued growth in demand for image sensors for mobile products, which is currently the most important market for Sony’s image sensors. This growth was largely due to increased demand for high value-added products that use these image sensors to improve their front-facing cameras, dual-lens cameras and video functionality. In this environment, Sony continued to streamline the portfolio of the Semiconductors segment to focus on image sensors, exiting from certain other businesses in the segment, including the camera modules business. Sony also continued to invest in production capacity for image sensors and increased its customer base while carefully monitoring demand. Sony intends to continue these initiatives in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales increased 34.1 billion yen year-on-year to 773.1 billion yen. This increase in sales was primarily due to a significant increase in unit sales of image sensors mainly for mobile products, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates, a significant decrease in sales of camera modules, a business which was downsized, and the decrease in production due to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes. Sales to external customers increased 10.1% year-on-year.

Operating loss of 7.8 billion yen was recorded, compared to operating income of 14.5 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. This significant deterioration in operating results was primarily due to the negative impact of foreign exchange rates, the above-mentioned expenses resulting from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, and a 6.5 billion yen write-down of inventories of certain image sensors mainly for mobile products. This deterioration was partially offset by the above-mentioned year-on-year increase in sales and the decrease in impairment charges against long-lived assets related to the camera module business.

Electronics*

* The term “Electronics” refers to the sum of the G&NS, HE&S, IP&S, MC, and Semiconductors segments.

Inventory

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Sales to External Customers by Geographic Area

Manufacturing by Geographic Area

The following tables set forth the Electronics segments’ total production breakdown of in-house and outsourced production, and the breakdown of in-house production by geographic regions. Figures in parentheses indicate the percentage of products that were exported from each geographic region to other regions.

Total production breakdown of in-house and outsourced production*

Breakdown of in-house production by geographic regions*

* Because decimals have been rounded upwards, there may be cases in which the sum of individual figures does not equal 100%.

Financial Services

In Sony’s Financial Services segment, the results include SFH and SFH’s consolidated subsidiaries such as Sony Life, Sony Assurance and Sony Bank. The results of Sony Life discussed below on the basis of U.S. GAAP differ from the results that SFH and Sony Life disclose separately on a Japanese statutory basis.

Key Financial Figures

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2017:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, financial services revenue increased 140.9 billion yen year-on-year to 1,228.4 billion yen. This was primarily due to an increase in revenue at Sony Life. Revenue at Sony Life increased 128.0 billion yen year-on-year to 1,093.6 billion yen, primarily due to higher insurance premium revenue reflecting an increase in the policy amount in force.

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Operating income increased 12.5 billion yen year-on-year to 178.9 billion yen primarily due to an increase in operating income at Sony Life and a decrease of equity in net loss of affiliated companies. Operating income at Sony Life increased 4.8 billion yen year-on-year to 159.1 billion yen, mainly due to a gain recorded on the sale of real estate held for investment purposes in the general account, as well as an improvement in net gains and losses on derivative transactions to hedge market risk pertaining to minimum guarantees for variable life insurance. These increases were partially offset by a year-on-year increase in amortization of deferred insurance acquisition costs, primarily driven by a decrease in interest rates in the current fiscal year compared to an increase in interest rates in the previous fiscal year.

The operating performance of the Financial Services segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 reflected the circumstances in the Japanese economy, bond market and foreign exchange market. The Japanese economy continued to recover, as global demand for information technology products continued and a stable recovery in the Japanese employment situation fueled domestic demand. However, early 2018 was marked by a growing sense of uncertainty regarding the overseas political and economic situation, causing instability in the financial markets with the yen appreciating and stock prices falling. Between April 2017 and September 2017, such factors as political uncertainty and geopolitical risk pushed down Japanese government bond (“JGB”) yields. On the other hand, since October 2017, debates on tax reform in the United States prompted a rise in U.S. government bond yields, which rippled outward to affect JGB yields. Furthermore, with crude oil prices beginning to trend upward, Japan’s core consumer price index increased, spurring expectations among market participants that the Bank of Japan (“BOJ”) would lift the 10-year interest rate target defined in its “quantitative and qualitative monetary easing with long- and short-term interest rate controls.” However, as this situation prompted yen appreciation, the BOJ engaged in fixed-rate buying operations to curtail the rise in JGB yields, thereby indicating its stance toward continuing current levels of monetary easing. Although Sony expects the current environment to continue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, Sony is continuing to pursue growth in the Financial Services segment by focusing on differentiating itself through high-quality financial products and services.

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared to fiscal year ended March 31, 2016:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, financial services revenue was 1,087.5 billion yen, essentially flat year-on-year. This was primarily due to an improvement in investment performance in the separate account driven by a rise in the stock market, substantially offset by a decrease in insurance premium revenue and a deterioration in investment performance in the general account, all at Sony Life. Revenue at Sony Life was 965.6 billion yen, essentially flat year-on-year.

Operating income increased 9.9 billion yen year-on-year to 166.4 billion yen primarily due to an increase in operating income at Sony Life. Operating income at Sony Life increased 15.5 billion yen year-on-year to 154.3 billion yen mainly due to decreases in the amortization of deferred insurance acquisition costs and the provision of policy reserves, primarily driven by an increase in interest rates and the improvement in the stock market, partially offset by a decline in net gains on sales of securities in the general account.

Information on Operations Separating Out the Financial Services Segment

The following schedules show unaudited condensed statements of income for the Financial Services segment and all other segments excluding Financial Services. These presentations are not in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which is used by Sony to prepare its consolidated financial statements. However, because the Financial Services segment is different in nature from Sony’s other segments, Sony believes that a comparative presentation may be useful in understanding and analyzing Sony’s consolidated financial statements. Transactions between the Financial Services segment and Sony without the Financial Services segment, including noncontrolling interests, are included in those respective presentations, then eliminated in the consolidated figures shown below.

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