Earnings Labs

Sony Group Corporation (SONY)

Q3 2015 Earnings Call· Fri, Jan 29, 2016

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Transcript

Unknown Executive

Management

Now we'd like to start the fiscal '15 third quarter earnings announcement of Sony Corporation. Thank you very much for coming to this announcement session. I'd like to introduce the presenters to you. In the middle, Executive Deputy President and CFO, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Kenichiro Yoshida; and next to him is Kazuhiko Takeda, SVP, Corporate Planning and Counsel and Accounting (sic) [ Corporate Planning & Control and Accounting ]. On the right from your side, Atsuko Murakami, VP, Senior General Manager of Finance Department. Yoshida will start with the presentation and then Q&A follows that and in total 40 minutes.

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

I'm Sony's CFO, Kenichiro Yoshida. Thank you very much for joining us today. And today, I'd like to explain these 2 topics in the next 15 minutes. In the third quarter, consolidated sales were essentially flat year-on-year at JPY 2,580.8 billion. Consolidated operating income increased 11% year-on-year to JPY 202.1 billion. This is the first time in 8 years that we have recorded more than JPY 200 billion of operating income for the third quarter since the fiscal year ended March 2008. Net income attributable to Sony Corporation's stockholders increased 33% year-on-year to JPY 120.1 billion. This chart shows the cumulative results for 9 months. Now this shows the results by segment. The operating result of the Devices segment significantly deteriorated compared to the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. Every segment, other than Devices segment, had an increase in operating profit. The decrease in operating income in Devices segment offset by the increase in operating income in Other electronics segment of JPY 35.6 billion and by the improvement in operating result in All Others and Corporate elimination of JPY 33.1 billion, thanks to the contribution of restructuring initiatives. I will explain the current situation of Device segment in a moment. This shows the 9-month cumulative results by segment. Next is the consolidated results forecast for the current fiscal year. Our consolidated sales and operating income forecast remain unchanged from the October forecast. Our foreign exchange rate assumptions are JPY 120 to the U.S. dollar and JPY 129 to the euro. The fiscal year result forecast for each segment are shown on this slide. In this forecast, we use the same foreign exchange rate assumption for both the consolidated and segment forecast. Now I will explain the current situation of each segment. First, I will talk about the Mobile…

Unknown Executive

Management

Now the floor is open to your questions. Those of you who would like to ask questions, please wait for the microphone and please identify yourself by stating your name and affiliation before asking the questions. When your questions are asked in English, there will be interpretation into Japanese consecutively and answers be given in Japanese. Please confine the number of questions to 2 per person. Anyone with questions?

Unknown Executive

Management

The person in the front row.

Junya Ayada

Management

Ayada of Daiwa Securities. There are 2 questions concerning Device business. First point, again, the numbers for the full year this year, the operating income of Device business was reduced by JPY 82 billion and JPY 30 billion about impairment, remaining JPY 50 billion, the breakdown image sensors, camera module or if you can give us some rough image of the numbers broken down. The second point, Mr. Yoshida earlier mentioned that there will be a recovery starting in first quarter next year. That I think is the current judgment. What are the reasons or the ground? There will be a production adjustment or are you expecting new orders coming in? What is the background of your belief that recovery will start in the first quarter next year?

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

Thank you for the questions. The first point about the numbers Takeda will explain, so let me answer the second point. The recovery trend starting first quarter next year, the first quarter will be coming soon in terms of timing so we -- based on the order situation, it is, for us, visible that signs of recovery from the first quarter. And the -- after that, beyond the first quarter, as I mentioned, the growth of smartphone, especially the high-end products may not be very brisk and we are reworking the budget currently. And about the next -- about the direction, the next earnings announcement we can give some explanation.

Kazuhiko Takeda

Management

And your question has to do with the difference or the decline in the operating income compared to the plan at the beginning of the year. You mentioned JPY 30 billion impairment, the remainder in terms of rough calculation maybe 1/3 each.

Unknown Executive

Management

Let us go to the next question, gentleman behind the person who just asked the question.

Yasuo Nakane

Management

Nakane from Mizuho Securities. My question is also on the Devices. Two questions. Camera modules, you talked about the possibility of posting the impairment charges. What will be the size and what are the assets which would be impaired? I think you have a plant in China and also the Kumamoto plant is being constructed. What are the risks of those locations? And if there are risks, what would be the reason? And also, you have revised downward your forecast of the capital investment. So you're reducing the CapEx and I'm sure you are revisiting the R&D numbers. How much impact will it have on next year's cost reduction or expense reduction?

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

The first question I think was about the module, the scope of the assets that we have in mind. The second question is about the fact that we have revised downward CapEx and how does it lead to the decreased cost next year. Mr. Takeda will respond.

Kazuhiko Takeda

Management

On the first question, the possibility of taking the impairment charges in camera module is a possibility. We have just stated that there is a possibility. So when it comes to the timing and the amount, we are not in a position to disclose those numbers. But in terms of the size of the scope, we look at the fixed asset. I think you have the balance which is on Page 16, Device business is approximately JPY 430 billion and of which 15% of such asset is used for camera modules. This is for information. What assets will be covered? Would it be in China or in Kumamoto? That was your question. Again, it's more an accounting discussion, but we just categorize as a Device business, so both locations would be within that scope theoretically. Now we downward revised our forecast for the next year's CapEx, how would it translate to the reduced expense or cost? The details are now being worked out. We are still in the process of finalizing the budget and we have yet to determine that. But a part of this revision or what we have downward revised will be shifted or postponed to next fiscal year. And of course, we are having this duration of 5 years, so depreciation will be 5 years, so it will be within that period.

Unknown Executive

Management

I'd like to take the next question from the gentleman in the middle.

Kota Ezawa

Management

Ezawa of Citigroup. Two questions, please. Firstly, Mobile business, you are in black ink this time. Restructuring seems to be successful, working successfully. So restructuring of the Mobile business. Can you give us a progress report, an update? The performance seems to be better than what you had initially intended, so what's working well for you, if you can tell us, and why is the business profitable now? And by product and by geographical region, perhaps you can give us some detail. So what has been the problem in the past and what has been the improvement you've made? And also, the recovery in profitability, is it just a, call it, onetime thing or is it going to be sustainable? So the first question on Mobile business. And also, the Electronics business overall. Mr. Yoshida, at one time before, you said between the third quarter and fourth quarter, there's a seasonal sort of difference. Third quarter tends to be very profitable, fourth quarter not so. And you said you wanted to normalize the profitability of the 2 quarters. And this time, your third quarter results are extremely favorable. Now what about the fourth quarter? You're expecting a significant deterioration in fourth quarter, but have you been making any progress with regard to your efforts to normalize and even out these seasonal differences?

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

Thank you. Your first question Mobile business and also the second question was regarding the profitability to be normalized between the third and fourth quarters. First of all, on your Mobile question restructuring initiatives, they're progressing as scheduled. We're doing them as we planned. And also, we said earlier that we knew where the losses are being generated by area and said we are taking actions. And indeed, progress has been made in that front as well. So by area, by product, we have a clear focus and also the initiative to -- determination to continue with the cost reductions. I may say that things are moving according to our plans, and the profits that we generated in the third quarter are results of all those initiatives. And also, the high-end models of Xperia, we're able to successfully ship them out. And you can just compare the numbers, we have not changed the annual full year forecast which suggest that in the fourth quarter, yes, we are looking at a loss, the red ink in the fourth quarter because the restructuring cost are concentrated -- will be spent in a constant manner during the fourth quarter. So please understand that much of the negative will come from the spending in restructuring. And whether this performance is sustainable, first of all, it's a function of to what extent we're able to successfully ship out high-end models. In other word, whether our focus in areas as well as in the products will be successful or not. And also, the normalization and averaging out of the results between the third and fourth quarters, yes, we are taking actions to do this. And for our branded products, we have achieved some results in that respect, but the -- we are still underway to regain the people's confidence with regard to our forecast. And the business environment is changing particularly with the Mobile business and, therefore, there are risks that we are still looking at. And it's on that basis that we are working on with these forecasted numbers. About inventory, end of December, inventory is large toward the end of the year. But to reduce that, it tend to lose money in the month of February and March and that seems to be the trend for a long period of time. But this time, as we look at the inventory level, I'm not going to say that inventory is low extremely, but not so high either.

Kota Ezawa

Management

So January to March, is it going to be like other years? You don't have to forecast a large loss of the money in this period given the current inventory levels. Is it [indiscernible] because of the buffer you have in the eliminations? In other word, the P&L for your business segments, your message is that there'll be an improvement in all of your business segments for the fourth quarter compared to the practice in the past.

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

Well, yes, in the past when we are pursuing the volume of business so that you have to forget about the P&L just to get out -- get rid of the inventory that has been accumulated toward the end of the previous quarter. We have changed -- shifted away from that practice. Let me add these remarks, we have the annual full year forecast and subtracting the cumulative results of the first and second, third quarters from that which will give you a number. Mobile and HE&S, there has been on those branded products, IP&E and Home Entertainment, there has been some improvement compared to last year.

Unknown Executive

Management

The second row?

Masaru Sugiyama

Management

Sugiyama of Goldman Sachs. Two points. In Music segment, you made the upward revision and you cited 3 reasons and breakdown. And especially the streaming, the shift from download to streaming, what is the impact on the Music business profit? So second point concerning Game & Network Services, PlayStation Plus or Game sales are conserved [ph] by accumulation, now when you take up -- take out the Network business alone, what is the profit situation? And what about the fixed expense in this segment and the future forecast and outlook?

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

The first point in the supplementary material, I think there are the breakdown numbers, so please refer to them. Well, there are 3 factors I cited, and it's very difficult to allocate the profit for each factor. But clearly, going forward, there will be a shift to streaming in terms of sales and profit, will depend more on streaming. And also, in other group like animation or major artists. Major artist release are more or less concentrated in the third quarter, so that's another aspect. And in Game business, since we released in summer last year, there is a major hit and a great contribution to the profit. And the Game, Network Services, the number of members appears a plus. We do not disclose the actual number, but along with the expansion of hardware basis with the similar momentum, number of members is increasing. The investment in infrastructure, we continue to make a current investment and the systems cost is incurred on a continuous basis, but we do not assume a major increase in investment going forward. But rather, the current fiscal year -- well, because we are preparing for the launch of PS Vue, the multichannel OTT. And we've finished the -- we concluded the agreement with Disney, so the promotion and also investment to secure content. So from the end of current fiscal year on to the next fiscal year such investments will be made. Mr. Takeda, in supplementation?

Kazuhiko Takeda

Management

Concerning the first question, the impact of streaming business or the positive impact on our business, well, the increase in sales of streaming business will offset the decline in physical disk business. That's one. And also, by the nature of this business, the cost of physical distribution and so forth will be reduced when streaming increases. Therefore, there will be the improvement of mix. Thank you.

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

There was a mention of supplementary information, and it is not attached to your handout but in the [indiscernible] supplement information on our website and there is a new disclosure of streaming information of business.

Unknown Executive

Management

We are going to go to the center. Thank you.

Masahiro Ono

Management

Ono for Morgan Stanley. Two questions, just 2 questions. Device, the numbers have been revised downward. It was JPY 120 billion originally your plan but you've changed it. Now as you look into the next fiscal year, as of today, I think it's 68k of CMOS capacity. If things progress, I believe the operating income of JPY 120 billion is quite manageable and is it feasible? Or given the competition and the pricing trend, do you think that you have lost some opportunities? And I think the expectation, if the competitive landscape is the same that you will still be able to generate this level of operating income. And also recently, there have been news about M&A and your company's name is also mentioned in those news reports. As you talk about the acquisition in the future, what will be -- how would you look at the acquisition? What would motivate you to go into the M&A?

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

Now I think your question first was about the Devices earnings or operating income next year. And the second question was about M&A possibility. The first, next fiscal year earnings, we're still in the process of putting together our budget. Therefore, we can only discuss this after we finalize our budget. The pricing trend, the commodity is sensor price, it's softened with 8 mega. It's commodity type, 13 mega, the prices has also come down for commodity, but we have a layered, multilayered. And also, we have the custom products made to the specification of the customer, and that portion is fairly large. Therefore, I think our numbers will be somewhat different from the market trend. What is most important is that the demand became very tight last year and we lost our customers, so we have to recover. We will have to make efforts to -- so that those customers that we have declined the orders can -- will come back to Sony and we can resume servicing such customers. Now M&A, if there are opportunities? Well, we look at those possibilities in a very sincere manner. That is our basic philosophy. Electronics, in Belgium, we acquired Softkinetic and also, the Israeli Altair. In doing our businesses and continuing businesses, we look at the business per se or customers, but rather we try to look at the technology that we may be able to obtain to complement and supplement our technological portfolio. So currently, we are looking more on the technological side.

Unknown Executive

Management

Next question, please, in the second row.

Ryosuke Katsura

Management

Katsura, SMBC. Two questions, one on Devices, second on GM [ph]. First of all, on Devices business, you made adjustment this time which means that the load factor for the fourth quarter will reduced by -- to what extent? And the impairment on the camera modules that you talked about, you suggested that this could happen, and understanding is that the development processes been completed already, so I understand that next year you'll be launching this. But you are taking impairment this time, is it because you won't be successfully launching this? Or even though the launch and the development will be made, but profitability will not be realized initially? Is that your understanding? And is that why you are incorporating this as a risk this time? I mean, you suggested about this risk earlier in the second quarter and you posted the impairment in the third quarter. This time also, you are implying that there could be an impairment also; why is that? And also the second point, SCE and SNE integration was announced recently. Is the headquarter will be moved to San Francisco? But at one time in the past, SCE business was going to expand outside of the PlayStation as a core, but this time, you're focused on PlayStation and then try to expand the PlayStation base business. Is that the reason for this decision? And also, Aniplex success -- this animation success is as good as the Monster Hunter. So the spin-off type of a venture-type operation seems to have been successful in your experience. But what's the strategy for the Game business on console and Mobile?

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

I think there are 4 questions. Firstly, the loading factor, the rate of utilization. In the fourth quarter, yes, there's an idle facility now fully loaded for the Master and CMOS in both production in the fourth quarter, they are idled capacities, not -- facilities are not fully used. And the next question concerns the camera module. So as far as the camera module business is concerned, I think your question was development of these modules has been completed already or have been -- not been successful in the development itself. I think that was the gist of the question. Well, as you may know, we are a new entrant in module production and initially, yes, we were not successful, we were not able to deliver what we promised to deliver modules. But after that, for the shipment of the next product, there's a significant delay. But now the yield as well as the quality have improved and they are at the very stable, improved level. However, for those to be newly produced, we have to always bear in mind the demand whether there will be demand. I don't think there's any problem with the development. But on the demand side, we have to be careful whether there is indeed going to be a demand for what we produce. And also the integration of SCE and SNEI, Sony Network Entertainment, what's the thought behind this integration. Game will continue to be the main but the music, video and PS Vue, multichannel OTT services or the use of PlayStation Network more extensively and offering global entertainment network services. That's the kind of service that we'd like to develop and establish. That's why we made decision for the integration. As you know, the game contents creators or people in Hollywood -- for example, Netflix, with the digital contents -- well, changes regarding digital contents always start and begin in the United States and the systems that produce PlayStation-related services are in the United States. And therefore, upon integration, we feel that it's better to headquarter this new entity in the United States. And also, the Fate animation, thank you for mentioning the success of this. The console games are one and application games another, they are totally in different roles, so to speak. By discussing with the customers we can increase the business so it changes every day. So on one hand, our services such as the console sales, it's rather different. So console game, servicing that. And also, application of smartphones servicing and smartphone applications are 2 different types of businesses.

Unknown Executive

Management

Since time is running out, one last question. The front row in the middle.

Yu Okazaki

Management

Okazaki of Nomura Securities. One point, about the impact of exchange rates between dollar and euro, you disclosed the impact. What about the emerging market currency, there has been rapid fluctuation in terms of results of October, December and the forecast from January onward, what is the impact you foresee?

Kenichiro Yoshida

Management

About exchange rate impact, this was the question. And Mr. Takeda?

Kazuhiko Takeda

Management

You talk about the emerging market currencies. During the third quarter or the fourth quarter also, dollar would continue to appreciate vis-à-vis the emerging market currency and we see the impact of it. And the improvement of dollar-euro rate, that has a positive impact but against that decline in the emerging market currencies and a weak situation would be a negative impact for both third quarter and fourth quarters.

Unknown Executive

Management

Thank you very much. With this, we'd like to conclude this earnings announcement session. Thank you for coming.