Sony Corporation History and Companies

"History and Development of the Company

Sony Corporation, the ultimate parent company of Sony, was established in Japan in May 1946 as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, a joint stock company ( Kabushiki Kaisha ) under Japanese law.

In January 1958, it changed its name to Sony Kabushiki Kaisha (“Sony Corporation” in English).

In December 1958, Sony Corporation was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (the “TSE”). In June 1961, Sony Corporation issued American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) in the U.S.

In March 1968, Sony Corporation established CBS/Sony Records Inc. in Japan, currently Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (“SMEJ”), as a 50:50 joint venture company between Sony Corporation and CBS Inc. in the U.S.

In January 1988, SMEJ became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation. In November 1991, SMEJ was listed on the Second Section of the TSE.

In September 1970, Sony Corporation was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

In August 1979, Sony Corporation established Sony Prudential Life Insurance Co., Ltd. in Japan, currently Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (“Sony Life”), as a 50:50 joint venture company between Sony Corporation and The Prudential Insurance Company of America.

In March 1996, Sony Life became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, and in April 2004, with the establishment of a financial holding company Sony Financial Holdings Inc. (“SFH”), Sony Life became a wholly-owned subsidiary of SFH.

In July 1984, Sony Magnescale Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Corporation and currently Sony Precision Technology Inc., was listed on the Second Section of the TSE.

In July 1987, Sony Chemicals Corporation, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, was listed on the Second Section of the TSE.

In January 1988, Sony Corporation acquired CBS Records Inc., a music business division of CBS Inc. in the U.S. In January 1991, CBS Records Inc. changed its name to Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (“SMEI”).

In November 1989, Sony Corporation acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. in the U.S. In August 1991, Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. changed its name to Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. (“SPE”).

In November 1993, Sony established Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (“SCEI”) in Japan.

In January 2000, acquisition transactions by way of exchanges of stock were completed such that SMEJ, Sony Chemicals Corporation, and Sony Precision Technology Inc. became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Sony Corporation."

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