Sony 2002 Annual Report Download - page 3

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 3 of the 2002 Sony annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 84

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84

1
Contents
To Our Shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Message from Top Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
At a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Sony World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Research and Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Corporate Social Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Financial Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Stock Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
New Directors, New Statutory Auditor and Statutory Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Investor Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Cautionary Statement with Respect to Forward–Looking Statements
Statements made in this annual report with respect to Sony‘s current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements about the future performance of Sony. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to those using words such as “believe”,
“expect”, “plans”, “strategy”, “prospects”, “forecast”, “estimate”, “project”, “anticipate”, “may” or “might” and words of similar meaning in connection with
a discussion of future operations or financial performance. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other materials
released to the public. These statements are based on management‘s assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Sony cautions you
that a number of important risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and
therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. You also should not rely on any obligation of Sony to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Sony disclaims any such obligation. Risks and uncertainties that might affect Sony include, but
are not limited to (i) general economic conditions in Sony‘s markets, particularly levels of consumer spending; (ii) exchange rates, particularly between the yen and
the U.S. dollar, euro, and other currencies in which Sony makes significant sales or in which Sony‘s assets and liabilities are dominated; (iii) Sony‘s ability to
continue to design and develop and win acceptance of its products and services, which are offered in highly competitive markets characterized by continual new
product introductions, rapid development in technology (particularly in the Electronics business), and subjective and changing consumer preferences (particularly in
the Game, Music, and Pictures businesses), (iv) Sony‘s ability to implement successfully the restructuring of its Electronics business and its network strategy for its
Electronics business; (v) Sony‘s ability to compete and develop and implement successful sales and distribution strategies in light of internet and other technologi-
cal developments in its Music and Pictures businesses; (vi) Sony‘s continued ability to devote sufficient resources to research and development and capital expendi-
tures; (vii) the success of Sony‘s joint ventures and alliances; and (viii) the outcome of contingencies. Risks and uncertainties also include the impact of the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001 and any future events with material unforeseen impacts.
Sony Corporation Annual Report 2002