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,
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.
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SONY
CORPORATION
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(Registrant)
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By: /s/ Nobuyuki
Oneda
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(Signature)
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Nobuyuki
Oneda
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Executive
Vice President and
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Chief
Financial Officer
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Date:
March 20, 2009
List of
materials
Documents
attached hereto:
i) Press
release announcing Sony Ericsson Sees Continued Weak Sales for First Quarter
2009
Press
Release |
March 20,
2009
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Sony
Ericsson sees continued weak sales for first quarter 2009
London, UK
- Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”) announced today that
its net sales and net income before taxes in the first quarter of 2009 continue
to be negatively affected by weak consumer demand as well as de-stocking in the
retail and distribution channels.
Although
final results may differ, Sony Ericsson plans to ship approximately 14 million
phones during the first quarter of 2009 with an estimated ASP (average selling
price) of EUR 120. Gross margin is expected to decline both
year-on-year and sequentially. Net income before taxes is estimated
to be a loss in the range of EUR 340 – 390 million, excluding restructuring
charges in the range of EUR 10 – 20 million.
Sony
Ericsson will announce its first quarter, 2009 financial results at 07.30 UK
time/08.30 CET on April 17.
- ENDS
-
Sony Ericsson is a
top, global industry player with sales of around 97 million phones in
2008. Diversity is one of the core strengths of the company, with
operations in over 80 countries including manufacturing in China and R&D
sites in China, Europe, India, Japan and North America. Sony Ericsson
was established as a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in October 2001,
with global corporate functions located in London. For more information
about Sony Ericsson please visit www.sonyericsson.com
CONTACTS:
Investors / Analysts
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Ericsson
Investor Relations
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Gary
Pinkham (Stockholm)
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+46
10 719 0858
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Susanne
Andersson (Stockholm)
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+46
10 719 4631
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Sony
Investor Relations
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Gen
Tsuchikawa (Tokyo)
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+81
3 6748 2180
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Shinji
Tomita (London)
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+44
20 7426 8695
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Press / Media
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Sony
Ericsson Global Communications & PR
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Aldo
Liguori (London):
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+44
20 8762 5860
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Merran
Wrigley (London):
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+44
20 8762 5862
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Email:
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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.