Sony Corporation ("Sony") decided at a meeting of its Board of Directors held today to consider the possibility of an IPO of common stock of Sony Communication Network Corporation ("SCN"). In relation, it was also decided that the following be Sony's revised policy regarding Sony's subsidiary tracking stock ("TS") which is currently listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

As part of Sony Group's business strategy aiming at the successful growth of SCN, in June 2001 Sony issued TS, the economic value of which is intended to be linked with SCN's economic value, to enhance SCN's enterprise value by realizing such value in the marketplace while holding 100% of SCN's voting rights. Now, responding to recent drastic changes in the internet-related industry, Sony believes that it will be desirable for Sony and the Sony Group as well as for SCN to seek the enhancement of SCN's enterprise value through SCN's own business operation and strategy more independently from the Sony Group. Therefore, Sony decided to change its policy and to consider the possibility of an IPO of SCN common stock. The primary reasons for this change are as follows:

In accordance with the above revised policy, SCN will start taking action required for or in connection with the listing of its common stock on a stock exchange. If the listing of SCN common stock is approved by the stock exchange, subject to required procedures, all the shares of the TS will be compulsorily terminated pursuant to Sony's Articles of Incorporation. Sony's Articles of Incorporation stipulate that the method of such termination may be any one of the following: (1) compulsory retirement in cash, (2) compulsory conversion to Sony common stock, or (3) compulsory exchange with SCN common stock. With respect to the method of exchange with SCN common stock referred to (3) above, although Sony's initial policy was that such method would not be taken unless and until a tax deferment on the difference between the acquisition cost of TS and market value of SCN common stock is allowed by tax law. While any tax law revisions which allow such deferral have not yet been made, regardless of such revisions, Sony has changed its policy and includes such method (compulsory exchange with SCN common stock) as one of the options for compulsory termination of TS.