a5920108.htm
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

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

For the month of March 2009
Commission File Number: 001-06439

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

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

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

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

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
SONY CORPORATION
 
(Registrant)
   
   
 
By:  /s/  Nobuyuki Oneda
 
                (Signature)
 
Nobuyuki Oneda
 
Executive Vice President and
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: March 18, 2009

List of materials

Documents attached hereto:
 
i) Press release entitled Sony Notice of Revision of Planned Year-End Dividend
 
GRAPHIC
 
News & Information
1-7-1 Konan, Minato-ku
Tokyo, 108-0075 Japan

March 18, 2009
 
Notice of Revision of Planned Year-End Dividend
For the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2009
 
Sony Corporation (the “Company”) has revised its planned year-end dividend for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
 
I.  The reason for the revision
 
On January 22, 2009, the Company announced a downward revision of the Company’s consolidated results forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, in light of the deterioration of the global business environment. As a result, the Company has decided to reduce the planned amount of the year-end dividend for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 to ¥12.5 per share, the same amount paid in the previous fiscal year, from ¥20 per share, the originally planned amount.
 
The year-end dividend is scheduled to be finally determined by the Board of Directors in May 2009 and is scheduled to be paid in June 2009 subject to such determination.
 
II.  Details of revision
 
  The amount of dividend per share  
 
Interim dividend
  
Year-end dividend
    
Annual dividend
  
Originally planned
amount
¥30.00 (actual) *
     ¥20.00       ¥50.00  
Revised planned
amount
¥30.00 (actual) *
     ¥12.50       ¥42.50  
 
Note: * includes a special cash dividend of ¥10.
 
Amount paid in the
previous fiscal year
ended March 31, 2008
(actual)
     ¥12.50 ¥12.50   ¥25.00  
 
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,” “may” or “might” and words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operations,
 
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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 and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it.  Sony cautions you 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 you should not place undue reliance on them.  You 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 (i) the global economic environment in which Sony operates, as well as the economic conditions in Sony’s markets, particularly levels of consumer spending as well as the recent worldwide crisis in the financial markets and housing sectors; (ii) exchange rates, particularly between the yen and the U.S. dollar, the euro and other currencies in which Sony makes significant sales or in which Sony's assets and liabilities are denominated; (iii) Sony’s ability to continue to design and develop and win acceptance of, as well as achieve sufficient cost reductions for, its products and services, including newly introduced platforms within the Game segment, which are offered in highly competitive markets characterized by continual new product introductions, rapid development in technology and subjective and changing consumer preferences (particularly in the Electronics, Game and Pictures segments, and the music business); (iv) Sony’s ability and timing to recoup large-scale investments required for technology development and increasing production capacity; (v) Sony’s ability to implement successfully business reorganization activities in its Electronics segment; (vi) Sony’s ability to implement successfully its network strategy for its Electronics, Game and Pictures segments, and All Other, including the music business, and to develop and implement successful sales and distribution strategies in its Pictures segment and the music business in light of the Internet and other technological developments; (vii) Sony’s continued ability to devote sufficient resources to research and development and, with respect to capital expenditures, to correctly prioritize investments (particularly in the Electronics segment); (viii) Sony’s ability to maintain product quality (particularly in the Electronics and Game segments); (ix) the success of Sony’s joint ventures and alliances; (x) the outcome of pending legal and/or regulatory proceedings; (xi) shifts in customer demand for financial services such as life insurance and Sony’s ability to conduct successful asset liability management in the Financial Services segment; and (xii) the impact of unfavorable conditions or developments (including market fluctuations or volatility) in the Japanese equity markets on the revenue and operating income of the Financial Services segment.  Risks and uncertainties also include the impact of any future events with material adverse impacts.
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