Sony Ericsson reports first quarter results
Q1 highlights:
* Income before taxes was a loss of Euro 358 million (excl. restructuring charges)
* Cost saving program progressing as planned and additional savings of Euro 400 million announced
* Launch of ‚Entertainment Unlimited’ consumer proposition and new generation of products well received by operator partners
The consolidated financial summary for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Ericsson) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009 is as follows:
Q1 2008
Q4 2008
Q1 2009
Number of units shipped (million)
22.3
24.2
14.5
Sales (Euro m.)
2,702
2,914
1,736
Gross margin (%)
29%
15%
8%
Operating income (Euro m.)
184
-262
-369
Operating margin (%)
7%
-9%
-21%
Restructuring charges (Euro m.)
–
129
12
Operating income excl. restructuring charges (Euro m.)
–
-133
-357
Operating margin excl. restructuring charges (%)
–
-5%
-21%
Income before taxes (IBT) (Euro m.)
193
-261
-370
IBT excl. restructuring charges (Euro m.)
–
-133
-358
Net income (Euro m.)
133
-187
-293
Average selling price (Euro)
121
121
120
Units shipped in the quarter were 14.5 million, a decrease of 35% compared to the same period of last year and in line with our March 20, 2009 interim announcement of approximately 14 million units. Sales for the quarter were Euro 1,736 million, a decrease of 36% from a year ago. Sales decreased primarily as a result of continued weak consumer confidence and de-stocking in the retail and distribution channels.
Gross margin declined both year-on-year and sequentially, reflecting a change in the product mix, material write-offs, and exchange rate volatility.
Income before taxes for the quarter excluding restructuring charges was a loss of Euro 358 million, within the range announced on March 20, 2009 (loss of Euro 340 – 390 million).
„As expected, the first quarter of this year has been extremely challenging for Sony Ericsson due to continued weak global demand. We are aligning our business to the new market reality with the aim of bringing the company back to profitability as quickly as possible,” said Dick Komiyama, President, Sony Ericsson. „The management intends to pursue an additional cost saving program targeting a further annual operating expense reduction of Euro 400 million, to be completed by mid-2010.”
The company’s initial cost saving program targeting annual operating expense reductions of Euro 300 million by the end of the first half of 2009, including a workforce reduction of 2,000 headcount, has now been completed. A total of Euro 187 million restructuring charges have been recorded compared to the initial estimated costs of Euro 300 million.
In January 2009 an additional cost saving program was initiated to target annual operating expense reductions of Euro 180 million by the end of 2009. The cost of this program will be covered by the initial Euro 300 million restructuring costs announced in July 2008.
The additional cost saving program announced today will include a further reduction in the global workforce of approximately 2,000 people. It is estimated that new restructuring charges of Euro 200 million will be needed to complete this program.
As of March 31, 2009, Sony Ericsson retained a strong net cash position of Euro 1.1 billion.
Market share in the first quarter decreased and is now estimated to be around 6%, down two percentage points sequentially.
Sony Ericsson forecasts that the global handset market for 2009 will contract at least 10% from around 1,190 million units in 2008.
At Mobile World Congress in February 2009, Sony Ericsson announced a new consumer proposition, called ‚Entertainment Unlimited’ (EU), to build on Sony Ericsson’s leadership in music, imaging, gaming, content services, and applications to deliver unlimited opportunities for consumers. The company also announced the first Entertainment Unlimited phone with the concept name ‚Idou’ to be launched in the second half of 2009. The next EU announcement will take place on 28 May.
Sony is a trademark or registered trademark of Sony Corporation. Ericsson is the trademark or registered trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved. Subject to change without prior notice.
A live webcast of the conference call will be available on April 17, 2009 at 08:00 UK time, 09:00 Central European time (CET), 03:00 US Eastern time (EST) and 16:00 Japan time (JST).
See:
http://www.ericsson.com/ericsson/investors or join directly at:
http://www.thomson-webcast.net/uk/dispatching/?
event_id=391f1ce4d4953c040c67ec9cdc0116d8&
portal_id=ccec29148a44ec4b8077c845c5b4cbba.
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