Sony 2015 Annual Report Download - page 104

To the knowledge of Sony Corporation, there were no significant changes in the percentage ownership held
by any other major beneficial shareholders during the past three fiscal years. Major shareholders of Sony
Corporation do not have different voting rights from other shareholders.
B. Related Party Transactions
In the ordinary course of business, Sony purchases materials, supplies, and services from numerous
suppliers throughout the world, including firms with which certain members of the Board of Directors are
affiliated.
In addition, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, sales to affiliates accounted for under the equity
method totaled 33.6 billion yen and purchases from those equity affiliates totaled 2.3 billion yen. Although there
were 102 equity affiliates accounted for under the equity method at March 31, 2016, there were no individually
significant investments.
As of March 31, 2016, Sony had accounts receivable, trade of 9.7 billion yen due from its equity affiliates
and had accounts payable, trade of 2.0 billion yen due to its equity affiliates. Due to the size of these transactions,
Sony does not consider the amount involved to be material to its business. Refer to Note 5 of the consolidated
financial statements for additional information regarding Sony’s investments in and transactions with equity
affiliates.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not Applicable
Item 8. Financial Information
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Refer to the consolidated financial statements and the notes of the consolidated financial statements.
Legal Proceedings
In October 2009, Sony Corporation’s U.S. subsidiary, Sony Optiarc America Inc., received a subpoena from
the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) seeking information about its optical disk drive business. Sony
understands that the European Commission and certain other governmental agencies outside the United States
also opened investigations of competition in the optical disk drives market. In March 2014, the DOJ notified
Sony that it had closed its investigation. In October 2015, the European Commission adopted a decision in which
it fined Sony Corporation, its subsidiary in Japan, Sony Optiarc Inc., and two other subsidiaries 31 million euros.
In December 2015, Sony filed an appeal with the European Union’s General Court. Sony understands that the
investigations by several other agencies have now ended, but one other agency continues to investigate. A
number of direct and indirect purchaser lawsuits, including class actions, have been filed in certain jurisdictions,
including the United States, in which the plaintiffs alleged that Sony Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries
violated antitrust laws and sought recovery of damages and other remedies. Although certain of these lawsuits
have reached a settlement, including the class action brought by the direct purchasers in the United States, certain
other lawsuits continue. Based on the remaining investigation and cases, it is not possible to estimate the amount
of losses or range of possible losses, if any, that might ultimately result from adverse judgments, settlements or
other resolution of all of these matters.
In May 2011, Sony Corporation’s U.S. subsidiary, Sony Electronics Inc., received a subpoena from the DOJ
Antitrust Division seeking information about its secondary batteries business. Sony understands that the
European Commission and certain other governmental agencies outside the United States also opened
investigations of competition in the secondary batteries market. The DOJ has notified Sony that it has closed its
investigation, but the European Commission and one other agency continue to investigate. A number of direct
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