Form 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of January 2005
Commission File Number: 001-06439
SONY CORPORATION
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
7-35 KITASHINAGAWA 6-CHOME, SHINAGAWA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN
(Address of principal executive offices)
The registrant files annual reports under cover of Form 20-F.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F,
Form 20-F X Form 40-F __
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Yes_ No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-______
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SONY CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By:__ /s/ Katsumi Ihara
(Signature)
Katsumi Ihara
Executive Deputy President,
Group Chief Strategy Officer
and Chief Financial Officer
Date: January 18, 2005
List of materials
Documents attached hereto:
i) A press release regarding Sony Ericsson Q4 Results
January 18,2005
Sony Ericsson reports sustained growth in sales and profits
Tokyo and Stockholm - Sony and Ericsson today announced the consolidated
financial summary for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Ericsson), the 50:50 joint
venture of Sony and Ericsson.
Q4 2003 Q3 2004 Q4 2004 2003 2004
Numbers of units shipped (million) 8.0 10.7 12.6 27.2 42.3
Sales (EURO m.) 1437 1678 2005 4673 6525
Income before taxes (EURO m.) 46 136 140 -130 486
Net income (EURO m.) 43 90 55 -86 316
* Q3 & Q4 2004 IBT includes consolidation of BMC(1) and Net Income
includes deduction of minority interest in BMC
** Q4 2004 Net Income includes a negative effect of a valuation
allowance on deferred tax assets of Euro 45 million
Units shipped in the quarter reached 12.6 million, a 56% increase compared to
the same period last year. Sales for the quarter were Euro 2,005 million,
representing a year-on-year increase of 40%. Income before taxes was Euro 140
million and net income was Euro 55 million, which represent year-on-year
improvements of Euro 94 million (204%) and Euro 12 million (28%) respectively.
The company experienced a strong quarter led by consumer demand for the V800
series and Z1010 3G UMTS phones, as well as GSM models like the S700, K700 and
K500 series. During the quarter Sony Ericsson increased investment in brand and
product development, while the Average Selling Price (ASP), one of the highest
in the industry, increased sequentially to Euro 160.
"2004 was a good year for Sony Ericsson as the company established profitability
and entered into a growth phase in its development," said Miles Flint, President
of Sony Ericsson. "The fourth quarter continued a trend of expansion in both
volume and sales, showing the company's ability to effectively compete in this
dynamic market. Strong growth in Q4 was led by good up-take of our latest 3G
UMTS phone which has laid the groundwork for future expansion of our 3G
portfolio."
During the fourth quarter, Sony Ericsson launched a new entry-level GSM product,
the J200, for the Asia Pacific and Chinese markets, and introduced the Vodafone
V800 and V802SE UMTS phones for the global and Japanese markets. The company
also announced the entry-level T290 which will start shipping globally during
Q1 and signed an agreement with Sharp Corporation in relation to the
co-development of 3G FOMA(R) base software for NTT DoCoMo(2) in Japan. In
addition, Sony Ericsson announced a major global sports sponsorship with the
WTA (Women's Tennis Association) Tour at the beginning of January 2005.
____________________________________
(1) On June 30 2004, Sony Ericsson announced it had increased its equity stake
in a Chinese factory, Beijing Ericsson Putian Mobile Communications Co. Ltd.
(BMC) to 51%, taking over majority ownership of the facility from Ericsson. BMC
operations have been fully consolidated into Sony Ericsson from the second
quarter 2004 which had a positive effect on the company results. The name of the
factory has been changed to Beijing SE Putian Mobile Communications Co. Ltd
(BMC).
(2) FOMA is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other
countries. NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is only available to subscribers in Japan.
Note:
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications serves the global communications market with
innovative and feature-rich mobile phones, accessories, PC-cards and
M2M solutions. Established as a joint venture by Ericsson and Sony in 2001,
with headquarters in London, the company employs approximately 5,000 people
worldwide, including R&D sites in Europe, Japan, China and America. For more
information, please visit www.SonyEricsson.com
CONTACTS:
Investors/Analysts
Ericsson Investor Relations
Gary Pinkham, Vice President (Sweden) +46 8 719 0000
Sony Investor Relations
Yukio Ozawa, Vice President (Tokyo) +81 3 5448 2180
Chris Hohman, Senior Manager (London) +44 20 7444 9711
Press/Media
Ericsson Market and External Relations
Pia Gideon, Vice President (Sweden) +46 8 719 2864
Sony Corporate Communications
Gerald Cavanagh (Tokyo) +81 3 5448 2200
Keita Sanekata (Tokyo) +81 3 5448 2200
Sony Ericsson Corporate Communications
Aldo Liguori, Corporate Vice President (London) +44 208 762 5860
Peter Bodor, Manager (London) +44 208 762 5863
Merran Wrigley, Manager (London) +44 208 762 5862
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent
risks and uncertainties. We have identified certain important factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such
forward-looking statements. For a detailed description of risk factors see
Sony's and Ericsson's filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission,
particularly each company's latest published Annual Report on Form 20-F.