BENGALURU: Sony Corporation (Sony) reported a 5.8 percent growth in sales and operating revenue in FY-2015 (year ended March 31, 2015, current year) at Ą 8215.9 billion as compared to the Ą 7767.5 billion in FY-2014. The company says that the increase was primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange rates, a significant increase in Game & Network Services (G&NS) segment sales reflecting the strong performance of PlayStation 4 (PS4) and a significant increase in Devices segment sales due to the strong performance of image sensors. This increase was partially offset by a significant decrease in sales in All Other, primarily related to Sony’s exit from the PC business. On a constant currency basis, sales were essentially flat year-on-year says the company.
The company’s operating income more than doubled (up 2.6 times) to Ą 68.5 billion in the current year from Ą 26.5 billion in the previous year. Sony says that the increase was primarily due to a significant improvement in the operating results of the Devices, G&NS and Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S) segments. This improvement was partially offset by a significant deterioration in operating results in the Mobile Communications (MC) segment, primarily due to a Ą 176.0 billion (US $ 1,467 million) impairment of goodwill.
The net loss attributable to Sony’s stockholders in the year at Ą 126 billion in FY-2015 was slightly lower than the loss of Ą 128.4 billion in FY-2014.
Business Segments
Mobile Communications (MC)
Sony’s MC segment reported 11 percent improvement in sales and operating revenues in FY-2015 to Ą 1323.3 billion as compared to the Ą 1191.8 billion in FY-2014. The segment reported an operating loss of Ą 220.4 billion in the current year as compared to an operating profit of Ą 12.6 billion last year. As mentioned above, the major contributor to loss was the impairment of goodwill of Ą 176.0 billion.
Game & Network Services (G&NS)
G&NS segment reported 33 percent growth in sales and operating income to Ą 1388 billion in FY-2015 as compared to the Ą 1043.9 billion in FY-2014. Sales and operating income increase was primarily due to an increase in PS4 hardware unit sales, an increase in network services revenue, the impact of foreign exchange rates and an increase in PS4 software sales, partially offset by a decrease in PlayStation®3 (PS3) hardware and PS3 software sales.
The segment’s operating profit improved to Ą 48.1 billion in the current year as compared to a loss of Ą 18.8 billion in the previous year.
Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S)
IP&S reported 2.9 percent drop in sales and operating revenue to Ą 720 billion in the current year from Ą 741.2 billion in the previous year primarily due to a significant decrease in unit sales of digital cameras and video cameras reflecting a contraction of these markets, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates and an improvement in the product mix of digital cameras reflecting a shift to high value-added models.
Operating income more than doubled (2.08 times) in FY-2015 to Ą 54.7 billion as compared to the Ą 26.2 billion in FY-2014. This increase was mainly due to a reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses, the favourable impact of foreign exchange rates and the above-mentioned improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, partially offset by the above-mentioned decrease in sales of digital cameras and video says Sony.
Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S)
HE&S revenue in FY-2015 improved 3.3 percent to Ą 1207.3 billion from Ą 1168.6 billion in the previous year due to the impact of foreign exchange rates and an increase in sales of televisions, partially offset by a decrease in audio and video sales. Unit sales of LCD televisions increased mainly due to increases in North America, Japan and Europe, partially offset by decreases in Latin America and China. In Televisions, sales increased 10.7 percent year-on-year to Ą 835.1 billion in FY-2015.
The segment reported operating profit of Ą 20.1 billion as compared to a loss of Ą 25.5 in the previous year due to cost reductions and an improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, partially offset by the unfavourable impact of the appreciation of the U.S. dollar, reflecting the high ratio of U.S. dollar-denominated costs.
Devices
Revenue improved 23.9 percent in FY-2015 to Ą 957.8billionfrom Ą 773 billion in FY-2014 due to increase in sales of image sensors reflecting higher demand for mobile products, the impact of foreign exchange rates, as well as a significant increase in sales of camera modules. Sales to external customers increased 29.8 percent year-on-year.
The segment reported operating profit of Ą 93.1 billion in the current year as compared to a loss of Ą 12.4 billion in FY-2014 due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales of image sensors, the recording of a 32.1 billion yen impairment charge related to long-lived assets in the battery business in the previous fiscal year and the favourable impact of foreign exchange rates.
Pictures
Sony’s Pictures segment report 5.9 percent rise in FY-2015 in revenue to Ą 878.7 billion from Ą 829.6 billion in FY-2014. However in dollar terms, sales from the segment reduced 4 percent to US$ 7322 million due to a decrease in sales for Motion Pictures and Television Productions. The decrease in Motion Pictures sales was primarily due to lower theatrical revenues reflecting fewer theatrical releases as compared to the previous fiscal year. The decrease in Television Productions sales was due to the previous fiscal year benefitting from the extension and expansion in scope of a licensing agreement for game shows produced by SPE, including Wheel of Fortune. Sales for Media Networks increased year-on-year due to higher digital game revenues and advertising revenues primarily due to acquisitions made in the previous and current fiscal year.
Pictures segment operating income improved 13.4 percent to Ą 58.5 billion in FY-2015 from Ą 51.6 billion in the previous year due to the favourable impact of the depreciation of the yen against the U.S. dollar. On a US dollar basis, operating income was essentially flat year-on-year. The current fiscal year benefitted from the stronger performance of the current fiscal year’s film slate as the previous fiscal year reflected the underperformance of White House Down and After Earth. The current fiscal year also benefitted from lower restructuring charges. Partially offsetting this increase was a gain recognized on the sale of SPE’s music publishing catalogue in the previous fiscal year, the above mentioned decrease in Television Productions sales and higher programming and marketing costs for SPE’s television networks in India.
Music
Sony’s Music segment reported an improvement of 8.2 percent in revenue in FY-2105 to Ą 544.6 billion from Ą 503.3 in the previous year due to depreciation of the yen against the US dollar.
Operating Income in FY-2015 improved 17.4 percent to Ą 59 billion form Ą 50.2 billion in FY-2014.
Financial Services
Financial Services revenue in FY-2015 increased 9 percent to Ą 1083.6 billion from Ą 993.8 billion in FY-2014. Operating income from the segment improved 13.5 percent in the current year to Ą 193.3 billion from Ą 170.3 billion in the previous year.
Cyberattack impact on Sony’s FY-2015 figures
Sony’s FY-2015 numbers also included approximately US$ 41 million (Ą 4.9 billion) in costs primarily related to investigation and remediation expenses relating to a cyberattack on SPE’s network and IT infrastructure which was identified in November 2014 (the cyberattack).
