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 2006
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 18, 2006
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 18, 2006
Sony Ericsson reports record shipments, sales and profits
Highlights:
- Record year due to strong 2H 2005
- 3 million Walkman(R) phones shipped since launch
- Further strengthened portfolio with 3G and entry level handsets
The consolidated financial summary for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
(Sony Ericsson) for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2005 and full-year
2005 are as follows:
Q4 2004 Q3 2005 Q4 2005 2004 2005
Numbers of units shipped (million) 12.6 13.8 16.1 42.3 51.2
Sales (EURO m.) 2,005 2,055 2,310 6,525 7,268
Income before taxes (EURO m.) 140 151 206 486 514
Net income (EURO m.) 55 104 144 316 356
Units shipped in the quarter reached 16.1 million, a 28% increase compared to
the same period last year and a 17% increase sequentially, in-line with the
sequential growth in the market. Sales for the quarter were Euro 2,310 million,
representing a year-on-year increase of 15%. Income before taxes was Euro 206
million and net income was Euro 144 million, which represents a year-on-year
increase of Euro 66 million and Euro 89 million respectively.
The fourth quarter witnessed very strong sequential market growth which Sony
Ericsson matched, resulting in a record quarter in terms of volumes, sales and
net income for the company. The second half of 2005 was particularly strong due
to the success of hit model phones in both the imaging and music product
categories. A highlight of Sony Ericsson's year was the global success of
Walkman branded music phones such as the W800, W600, W550 and the W900, which
have established Sony Ericsson at the forefront of expanding consumer choice in
how people enjoy digital music on the move. Since the first Walkman phone was
launched in volume in August, Sony Ericsson has shipped 3 million Walkman
branded units.
"This was another solid quarter for Sony Ericsson, and has enabled us to finish
the year with great momentum. We are now seeing the benefit of our earlier
investments in R&D which have enabled us to expand the product line-up and
successfully appeal to new consumers with products like the Walkman phone
series. At the same time, investment in developing the Sony Ericsson brand
during 2005 is increasingly supporting our position in the market place," said
Miles Flint, President of Sony Ericsson. "In the fourth quarter we continued to
announce exciting new products at a variety of price points; from high-end 3G
products like the new W900 3G Walkman phone to attractive mid-tier clamshell
phones like the Z520 model to lower-priced essential phone models such as the
J230, J210 and Z300 that will appeal to consumers who want a simple and stylish
handset."
During the fourth quarter Sony Ericsson announced an approximately $14 million
investment to purchase a controlling 64.5% stake in Beijing Suohong Electronics
Co, Ltd (BSE) from Sony China, in order to strengthen its in-house manufacturing
processes. Sony Ericsson's majority ownership in BSE will be consolidated into
Sony Ericsson from the first quarter of 2006.
Walkman(R) is the registered trademark of the Sony Corporation.
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 Sony and Ericsson in 2001, with
global corporate functions located in London, the company employs approximately
5,000 people worldwide, including R&D sites in Europe, Japan, China and America.
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 0000
Sony Investor Relations
Takao Yuhara (Tokyo) +81 3 5448 2180
Chris Hohman (London) +44 20 7444 9711
Press/Media
Ericsson External Relations
Ase Lindskog (Stockholm) +46 8 719 9725
Sony Corporation 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.