Sony Corp. (6758) forecast a $1.1 billion loss and will cut 5,000 more jobs as Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai sells its personal-computer business and splits the television division into a separate unit.

Sony hasn’t ruled out selling its TV business in the future after receiving “various offers,” Hirai told reporters in Tokyo yesterday. The net loss will total 110 billion yen in the year ending March 31, the company said in a statement, scrapping its revised October forecast of a 30 billion-yen profit. The U.S. traded shares rose.

Hirai expanded his reorganization after failing to meet a pledge to end TV losses this year and spur a revival, having announced at least 10,000 job cuts previously and plans to focus on mobile devices, games and imaging products. Sales of Sony’s key products are declining as the company struggles to find new hits and consumers shift to mobile devices by Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.

“The reform announced today comes far too late,” said Masahiko Ishino, an analyst at Advanced Research Japan Co. “Sony cannot take measures ahead of changes in market deterioration. There isn’t much hope to revive the electronics business overall.”

The company will sell its PC business, which produces notebooks under the Vaio brand, to buyout firm Japan Industrial Partners Inc., Sony said yesterday.


Sony Corp. (6758) forecast a $1.1 billion loss and will cut 5,000 more jobs as Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai sells its personal-computer business and splits the television division into a separate unit.

Sony hasn’t ruled out selling its TV business in the future after receiving “various offers,” Hirai told reporters in Tokyo yesterday. The net loss will total 110 billion yen in the year ending March 31, the company said in a statement, scrapping its revised October forecast of a 30 billion-yen profit. The U.S. traded shares rose.

Hirai expanded his reorganization after failing to meet a pledge to end TV losses this year and spur a revival, having announced at least 10,000 job cuts previously and plans to focus on mobile devices, games and imaging products. Sales of Sony’s key products are declining as the company struggles to find new hits and consumers shift to mobile devices by Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.

“The reform announced today comes far too late,” said Masahiko Ishino, an analyst at Advanced Research Japan Co. “Sony cannot take measures ahead of changes in market deterioration. There isn’t much hope to revive the electronics business overall.”

The company will sell its PC business, which produces notebooks under the Vaio brand, to buyout firm Japan Industrial Partners Inc., Sony said yesterday.