Form 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of April 2008
Commission File Number: 001-06439
SONY CORPORATION
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
1-7-1 KONAN, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, 108-0075, JAPAN
(Address of principal executive offices)
The registrant files annual reports under cover of Form 20-F.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F,
Form 20-F X Form 40-F __
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Yes No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-______
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SONY CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Nobuyuki Oneda
(Signature)
Nobuyuki Oneda
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Date: April 23, 2008
List of materials
Documents attached hereto:
i) Press release announcing SONY CORPORATION OF AMERICA TO ACQUIRE GRACENOTE
SONY CORPORATION OF AMERICA TO ACQUIRE GRACENOTE
ACQUISITION BOLSTERS PORTFOLIO OF CONTENT, TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICE GROUPS FOCUSED
ON ACCELERATING DIGITAL COMMERCE
April 22, 2008 - New York, NY - Sony Corporation of America (SCA) announced
today that it has signed a merger agreement with Gracenote, Inc. Sony will pay
approximately $260 million plus other contingent consideration.
"Gracenote is a global leader in technology and services for digital media
identification, enrichment, and recommendation, and these capabilities will be
essential to the next wave of innovation in content, services, and consumer
electronics," said Tim Schaaff, SCA Senior Vice President, Software. "Sony sees
tremendous growth potential in developing Gracenote as a separately run business
unit, and by broadly embracing Gracenote's platforms, Sony expects to
significantly enhance and accelerate its own digital content, service, and
device initiatives."
"We are very pleased to join Sony as its strategic vision is very much in line
with our own," said Craig Palmer, Gracenote CEO. "Having a closer connection
with the content and digital services community will accelerate adoption of
Gracenote technologies, and the relationship will also give us the resources
necessary to rapidly expand development of next generation products for the
industry."
Gracenote's existing business will continue to operate separately. As a wholly
owned Sony subsidiary, Gracenote will continue to develop new technologies in
existing as well as new areas of operation. The senior management team will
remain with the company.
Sony and Gracenote anticipate that the transaction will close in late May,
subject to certain regulatory and other approvals.
About Gracenote
Gracenote is a global leader in embedded technology, enriched content, and data
services for digital entertainment solutions within the Internet, consumer
electronics, mobile, and automotive markets. Formerly known as CDDB(R),
Gracenote delivers a substantially improved consumer experience in digital media
devices and applications, plus media monitoring and other data services to the
recording industry, making it an integral part of the digital media economy.
Gracenote powers leading services including Apple iTunes, Yahoo! Music Jukebox,
Winamp; home and automotive products from Alpine, Panasonic, Philips and Sony;
and mobile music applications from Samsung, Sony Ericsson, KDDI (Japan), KTF
(Korea), Musiwave (Europe), and others. Gracenote is headquartered in
Emeryville, California. www.gracenote.com/corporate.
About Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America, based in New York, NY, is a U.S. subsidiary of Sony
Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo. Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio,
video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and
professional markets. Its motion picture, television, computer entertainment,
music and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive
entertainment companies in the world. Sony's principal U.S. businesses include
Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc., and a 50% interest in Sony BMG Music Entertainment,
one of the largest recorded music companies in the world. Sony recorded
consolidated annual sales of approximately $70.3 billion for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2007, and it employs 163,000 people worldwide. Sony's
consolidated sales in the U.S. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 were
$18.9 billion. www.sony.com