Sony Declines to Spin Off Entertainment Division

From X-bit Labs: Sony Corp. has sent a letter to Third Point LLC following a unanimous vote of Sony’s board of directors. The board and management team strongly believe that continuing to own 100% of the company’s entertainment businesses is fundamental to Sony’s success, and that a rights or public offering is not consistent with the company’s strategy for achieving sustained growth in profitability and shareholder value.

“We are encouraged by our progress as we continue to execute on our One Sony strategy. We have made many changes during my tenure as CEO, and we are confident that we are on the right path. Sony’s entertainment businesses are critical to our corporate strategy and will be important drivers of growth, and I am firmly committed to assuring their growth, to improving their profitability, and to aggressively leveraging their collaboration with our electronics and service businesses,” said Kazuo Hirai, president and chief executive of Sony.

According to Sony, demand for content is increasing its value in a dynamic industry environment characterized by emerging distribution platforms and the proliferation of both powerful mobile devices and access to broadband. Sony believes its entertainment businesses will increasingly benefit from these trends, and the company’s shareholders will benefit from owning all, rather than a part, of these valuable assets.

Full control of Sony’s entertainment businesses drives internal collaboration, facilitates synergies, and allows the company to be more nimble. Sony believes that the opportunities for collaboration among Sony’s businesses are numerous and increasing, and a rights or public offering would create the need for otherwise unnecessary and burdensome arm’s length intercompany relationships as a result of minority shareholder rights, thereby limiting Sony’s control and strategic flexibility.

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