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 2007
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/ Nobuyuki Oneda
(Signature)
Nobuyuki Oneda
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Date: January 17, 2007
List of materials
Documents attached hereto:
i) Press release announcing Sony Ericsson Q4 Results
Sony Corporation Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
6-7-35, Kitashinagawa SE-164 83 Stockholm
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-0001 Japan Sweden
PRESS RELEASE January 17, 2007
Record quarter caps a record year for Sony Ericsson
Q4 Highlights:
* Year-on-year volume & sales growth of over 60%
* Income before tax up 144% year-on-year
* Hit products drive market share gains
2006 Highlights:
* Volume & sales grow to 74.8 million units and 10,959 million
Euros respectively, double the global market growth rate
* Income before taxes grows to 1,298 million Euros
* 60 million music enabled phones, including 17 million Walkman
phones sold
* Strong growth in Latin America, Asia Pacific and Europe
The consolidated financial summary for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
(Sony Ericsson) for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2006 is as follows:
Q4 2005 Q3 2006 Q4 2006 FY05 FY06
------- ------- ------- ----- ------
Number of units shipped (million) 16.1 19.8 26.0 51.2 74.8
Sales (EURO m.) 2,310 2,913 3,782 7,268 10,959
Income before taxes (EURO m.) 206 433 502 512 1,298
Net income (EURO m.) 144 298 447 350 997
Units shipped in the quarter reached 26.0 million, a 61% increase compared to
the same period last year, generating significant year-on-year market share
gains. Sales for the quarter were Euro 3,782 million, representing a
year-on-year increase of 64%. Income before taxes for the quarter was Euro 502
million representing a year-on-year increase of 144%. Net income for the quarter
was Euro 447 million.
Sony Ericsson increased market share during the quarter due to the continued
success of products such as the K800/K790 Cyber-shot(TM) phone and Walkman(R)
phone line-up. Average Selling Price (ASP) was slightly higher than expected due
to more favourable than expected market conditions and continuing strong demand
for Sony Ericsson's hit model handsets. Particularly strong growth in emerging
markets in Latin America and Asia Pacific, as well as in Europe, illustrates
Sony Ericsson's success at expanding the portfolio to increase market share in
new markets with attractive mid-tier products, and without undermining
profitability.
"The fourth quarter saw Sony Ericsson finish a strong year with record volumes,
sales and net income due to the soaring popularity of our imaging and music
phones. Earlier investments in R&D and marketing have enabled us to expand the
portfolio and strengthen the brand to increase consumer and operator appeal. Our
target is to become one of the top three players in the industry, and the
momentum we established in 2006 makes this an achievable ambition," said Miles
Flint, President of Sony Ericsson.
Sony Ericsson estimates the 2006 global handset market as being around 980
million units, higher than previous forecasts of over 950 million units for the
year. On this basis the company believes it has outperformed the market during
the quarter, gaining around 1% of market share sequentially, to achieve a global
market share of approximately 9% during Q4. In Q4 2006 Sony Ericsson grew market
share slightly over 2% against the same period for the previous year.
During the fourth quarter Sony Ericsson announced it had reached agreement in
principle to acquire the Swedish software company UIQ Technology AB, a wholly
owned subsidiary and business of Symbian Ltd. Sony Ericsson expects the
transaction to be completed during the first quarter 2007.
WALKMAN(R) and Cyber-shot(TM) are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony
Corporation.
- ENDS -
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications serves the global communications market with
innovative and feature-rich mobile phones, accessories and PC-cards. Established
as a joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in 2001, with global corporate functions
located in London, the company employs over 7,500 people worldwide, including R&
D sites in Europe, Japan, China and America. Sony Ericsson celebrated the 5th
anniversary of the start of the joint venture on 1st October, 2006.
Sony Ericsson is the global title sponsor of the Women's Tennis Association, and
works with the Association to promote the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in over 80
cities during the year. For more information on Sony Ericsson, please visit
www.sonyericsson.com
CONTACTS:
Investors/Analysts
Ericsson Investor Relations
Gary Pinkham (Stockholm) +46 8 719 0858
Sony Investor Relations
Takao Yuhara (Tokyo) +81 3 5448 2180
Shinji Tomita (London) +44 207 444 9713
Press/Media
Ericsson External Relations
Ase Lindskog (Stockholm) +46 8 719 9725
Sony Corporate Communications
Koji Kurata (Tokyo) +81 3 5448 2200
Sony Ericsson Corporate Communications
Aldo Liguori (London) +44 208 762 5860
Merran Wrigley (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.