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Sony on the ropes after revising losses UP to $1.3 BEEELLION

Blu-Ray business erased by interwebs and Bravia on the chopping block

Japanese electronics stalwart Sony has posted a preliminary net income loss of ¥130 billion ($1.3bn, £770m) for the year to March 31, 2014 – its third downward revision in less than 12 months, and another blow to CEO Kazuo Hirai’s attempts to turn the company around.

The figure [PDF] was significantly worse than the ¥110bn (£640m) loss predicted by Sony back in February and its October forecast of a ¥30bn (£170m) profit.

Operating income for the financial year was forecast to be ¥26bn (£150m) – down from a February prediction of ¥80bn (£460m) and an 88.7 per cent drop from the previous financial year.

Sony blamed the gloomy outlook on “additional expenses” arising from its decision to flog its loss-making PC business to investment fund Japan Industrial Partners.

Specifically, these included underperforming PC sales and “restructuring charges”, the firm revealed in a financial statement.

“Consequently, Sony expects to record write-downs for excess components in inventory and accrual of expenses to compensate suppliers for unused components ordered for Sony’s spring PC line-up,” it added.

The Japanese giant said it expects the PC unit will cost it an extra ¥30bn in expenses, all told.

Also blamed for the ¥130bn in losses the firm is predicting was a poorly performing overseas disc manufacturing business.

It added:

Primarily due to demand for physical media contracting faster than anticipated, mainly in the European region, the future profitability of the disc manufacturing business has been revised. Consequently, Sony has determined that it does not expect to generate sufficient cash flow in the future to recover the carrying amount of long-lived assets, resulting in an expected impairment charge.

That sounds like the company is struggling to sell much Blu-Ray kit.

The figures will be a blow to CEO Hirai’s recovery plan, which has involved putting a greater focus on smartphones and gaming.

He’s also been sinking more funds into digital imaging, with a ¥50bn investment in ailing camera maker Olympus and new genome research joint venture, P5.

The less-than-stellar financials could also increase the likelihood of Sony flogging its TV business. Hirai said he has already received offers to take it off Sony's hands. ®

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