Sony Ericsson reports third quarter 2010 results


Q3 Highlights:
  * Turnaround continues with third consecutive quarter of profits
  * Continued success of smartphone portfolio keeps ASP at high level
  * Launch of Xperia(TM) models in new markets, including China and the U.S.


The consolidated financial summary for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
(Sony Ericsson) for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010 is as follows:

                                                     Q3 2009   Q2 2010   Q3 2010

Number of units shipped (million)                       14.1      11.0      10.4

Sales (Euro m.)                                        1,619     1,757     1,603

Gross margin (%)                                         16%       28%       30%

Operating income (Euro m.)                              -193        36        63

Operating margin (%)                                    -12%        2%        4%

   Restructuring charges (Euro m.)                         2        32         4

   Operating income excl. restructuring charges         -191        68        67
(Euro m.)

   Operating margin excl. restructuring charges         -12%        4%        4%
(%)

Income before taxes (IBT) (Euro m.)                     -199        31        62

   IBT excl. restructuring charges (Euro m.)            -198        63        66

Net income (Euro m.)                                    -164        12        49



Average selling price (Euro)                             114       160       154



Bert   Nordberg,  President  &  CEO  of  Sony  Ericsson  commented,  "Our  third
consecutive  quarter  of  profitable  results  illustrates  that Sony Ericsson's
overall  performance is  stabilising. Our  strategy to  focus on  the smartphone
segment  is succeeding and  smartphones now comprise  more than 50% of our total
sales.  During the quarter,  we launched our  Android-based Xperia(TM) models in
new  markets, such as China and  the U.S., and it is  our ambition to become the
global number one handset provider on the Android platform."

Income before taxes for the quarter excluding restructuring charges was a profit
of  Euro  66 million  following  the  positive  effects  of  the  transformation
programme.  Net income for the quarter was  Euro 49 million, an increase of Euro
213 million year-on-year and of Euro 37 million sequentially.

The  gross margin percentage was 30% and almost doubled year-on-year, reflective
of the company turnaround.

Units  shipped in the quarter were  10.4 million, a decrease of 26% year-on-year
and down 5% sequentially. Average selling price (ASP) in the quarter remained at
a  high level  of Euro  154, a 34% increase  year-on-year and  a decrease of 4%
sequentially,  due to product and  geographical mix. As a  result, sales for the
quarter were Euro 1,603 million, essentially flat year-on-year and a 9% decrease
sequentially.

Sony Ericsson's net cash position as of September 30, 2010 was Euro 538 million.
The negative cash flow from operating activities was Euro 54 million, mainly due
to payments during the quarter related to the transformation programme.

Market  share in  unit base  for the  quarter remained  flat sequentially and is
estimated  to be  approximately 4%. The  value market  share is  estimated to be
approximately 6%.

Sony  Ericsson maintains  a forecast  of slight  growth in  units in  the global
handset market in 2010.

The   liquid  identity  is  a  registered  trademark  of  Sony  Ericsson  Mobile
Communications   AB.   Xperia(TM)   is  a  trademark  of  Sony  Ericsson  Mobile
Communications  AB. Sony is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. Ericsson
is  a registered  trademark of  Telefonaktiebolaget LM  Ericsson. Any rights not
expressly  granted  herein  are  reserved  and  subject  to change without prior
notice.

EDITOR'S NOTES:

Financial statements and additional information:

Financial statements:
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated income statement - isolated quarters
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of cash flows
Consolidated statement of cash flows - isolated quarters
Net sales by market area by quarter



Sony  Ericsson  is  a  50:50 joint  venture  by Sony and Ericsson established in
October  2001, with global corporate functions  located in London and operations
in  all major markets.  Sony Ericsson's vision  is to become the industry leader
in  Communication Entertainment; where  new styles of  communicating through the
internet  and social media, become  entertainment. Sony Ericsson offers exciting
consumer experiences through phones, accessories, content and applications.  For
more information please visit, www.sonyericsson.com.

 - ENDS -

CONTACTS:

Ericsson investor relations
Susanne Andersson (Stockholm) +46 10 719 4631
Andreas Hedemyr (Stockholm) +46 10 714 3748

Sony investor relations
Gen Tsuchikawa (Tokyo) +81 3 6748 2111
Yas Hasegawa (London) +44 20 7426 8696

Press / Media
Sony Ericsson global communications and PR
Aldo Liguori (London) +44 20 8762 5860
Gustaf Brusewitz (London) +44 7960 58 19 68

This  press release  contains forward-looking  statements that  involve inherent
risks and uncertainties.  Sony Ericsson has identified certain important factors
that  may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such
forward-looking  statements.  For  a  detailed  description  of risk factors see
Sony's  and Ericsson's filings  with the US  Securities and Exchange Commission,
particularly each company's latest published Annual Report on Form 20-F


Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

                                          Jul-Sep                Jan-Sep
                                   ---------------------- ---------------------
EUR million                           2009   2010 Change     2009   2010 Change
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------


Net sales                            1,619  1,603    -1%    5,038  4,765    -5%

Cost of sales                       -1,367 -1,130   -17%   -4,441 -3,371   -24%
                                   ---------------        ---------------
Gross profit                           252    473    88%      597  1,394   134%

Gross margin %                       15.5%  29.5%    14%    11.9%  29.3%    17%



Research and development expenses     -260   -191   -27%     -808   -625   -23%

Selling and administrative expenses   -205   -228    12%     -665   -680     2%
                                   ---------------        ---------------
Operating expenses                    -465   -420   -10%   -1,473 -1,305   -11%



Other operating income, net             21     10   -51%       39     31   -20%
                                   ---------------        ---------------
Operating income                      -193     63            -837    120

Operating margin %                  -11.9%   4.0%          -16.6%   2.5%



Financial income                         3      7   124%       18     16   -12%

Financial expenses                      -9     -8   -15%      -34    -24   -29%
                                   ---------------        ---------------
Income after financial items          -199     62            -853    112



Taxes                                   42    -12             200    -21

Minority interest                       -6     -2   -75%      -16     -8   -48%
                                   ---------------        ---------------
Net income                            -164     49            -669     82





Number of units shipped (million)     14.1   10.4   -26%     42.5   31.9   -25%

ASP (EUR)                              114    154    34%      119    150    26%







EUR million                            Jul-Sep                Jan-Sep
--------------------------------------------------        ---------------
Restructuring charges                 2009   2010            2009   2010
--------------------------------------------------        ---------------
  Cost of sales                          0      3              -2     34

  Research and development expenses      1    -10              12     -6

  Sales and administrative expenses      1     11               4     12
--------------------------------------------------        ---------------
Total                                    2      4              15     39




Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT - ISOLATED QUARTERS

                                          2009                      2010
                              ----------------------------- --------------------
EUR million                        Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4      Q1     Q2     Q3
----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------


Net sales                       1,736  1,684  1,619  1,750   1,405  1,757  1,603

Cost of sales                  -1,591 -1,483 -1,367 -1,341    -975 -1,266 -1,130
                              ----------------------------- --------------------
Gross profit                      145    200    252    409     429    492    473

Gross margin %                   8.4%  11.9%  15.5%  23.4%   30.6%  28.0%  29.5%



Research and development
expenses                         -303   -245   -260   -299    -216   -218   -191

Selling and administrative
expenses                         -225   -235   -205   -299    -207   -245   -228
                              ----------------------------- --------------------
Operating expenses               -528   -480   -465   -599    -423   -463   -420



Other operating income, net        13      6     21      8      14      7     10
                              ----------------------------- --------------------
Operating income                 -369   -274   -193   -181      20     36     63

Operating margin %             -21.3% -16.3% -11.9% -10.4%    1.4%   2.1%   4.0%



Financial income                    9      6      3      4       7      2      7

Financial expenses                -10    -15     -9    -12      -9     -7     -8
                              ----------------------------- --------------------
Income after financial items     -370   -283   -199   -190      18     31     62



Taxes                              84     74     42     36       6    -16    -12

Minority interest                  -6     -4     -6    -12      -3     -4     -2
                              ----------------------------- --------------------
Net income                       -293   -213   -164   -167      21     12     49





Number of units shipped
(million)                        14.5   13.8   14.1   14.6    10.5   11.0   10.4

ASP (EUR)                         120    122    114    120     134    160    154









EUR million                               2009                      2010
----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
Restructuring charges              Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4      Q1     Q2     Q3
----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
  Cost of sales                     7     -9      0     41      -2     33      3

  Research and development
expenses                            2      9      1     72       2      1    -10

  Sales and administrative
expenses                            3      1      1     37       3     -2     11
----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
Total                              12      1      2    150       3     32      4




Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

                                             Sep 30   Dec 31   Jun 30   Sep 30

EUR million                                    2009     2009     2010     2010
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASSETS



Total fixed and financial assets                757      779      836      813



Current assets

Inventories                                     397      358      467      457

Accounts receivable                             917      832    1,063      986

Other assets                                    416      415      412      328

Other short-term cash investments               464      489      477      440

Cash and bank                                   532      389      562      482
                                            -------- -------- -------- -------
Total current assets                          2,726    2,483    2,981    2,692




------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                                  3,482    3,262    3,817    3,505
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND LIABILITIES


Shareholders' equity                            532      381      510      480

Minority interest                                43       47       66       62
                                            -------- -------- -------- -------
Total equity                                    575      428      575      541


Borrowing, Non Current                           50        0      101      100

Other long-term liabilities                      31       32       40       30
                                            -------- -------- -------- -------
Total long-term liabilities                      81       32      141      130


Accounts payable                              1,019      852      973      922

Borrowing, Current                              105      258      329      284

Other current liabilities                     1,702    1,692    1,798    1,628
                                            -------- -------- -------- -------
Total current liabilities                     2,826    2,802    3,101    2,834


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total shareholders' equity and liabilities    3,482    3,262    3,817    3,505
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Net cash*                                       841      620      609      538

*  Net cash is  defined as cash  and bank plus  short-term cash investments less
interest-bearing liabilities.


Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

                                             Jul-Sep      Jan-Sep
                                           ------------ -----------
EUR million                                 2009  2010    2009 2010
------------------------------------------------------- -----------

OPERATING

Net income                                  -164    49    -669   82

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash   20   -66      87 -105
                                           ------------ -----------
                                            -143   -17    -583  -23



Changes in operating net assets               49   -38     431  -96
                                           ------------ -----------
Cash flow from operating activities          -94   -54    -152 -119



INVESTING

Investing activities                         -42     2     -74   14
                                           ------------ -----------
Cash flow from investing activities          -42     2     -74   14


FINANCING

Financing activities                         159  - 32     106  118
                                           ------------ -----------
Cash flow from financing activities          159   -32     106  118



Net change in cash                            22   -85    -120   12

Cash, beginning of period                    965 1,039   1,125  878

Translation difference in Cash                 9   -33      -9   31
                                           ------------ -----------
Cash, end of period                          996   921     996  921




Sony Ericsson
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - ISOLATED QUARTERS

                                                2009                  2010
                                       ----------------------- -----------------
EUR million                                Q1    Q2   Q3   Q4     Q1    Q2    Q3
-------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------


OPERATING

Net income                               -293  -213 -164 -167     21    12    49

Adjustments to reconcile net income to
cash                                       29    37   20   48    -44     4   -66
                                       ----------------------- -----------------
                                         -263  -176 -143 -119    -23    16   -17



Changes in operating net assets           321    60   49  -97    -72    13   -38
                                       ----------------------- -----------------
Cash flow from operating activities        58  -115  -94 -216    -94    29   -54



INVESTING

Investing activities                      -19   -13  -42  -10     27   -15     2
                                       ----------------------- -----------------
Cash flow from investing activities       -19   -13  -42  -10     27   -15     2



FINANCING

Financing activities                     - 53     0  159  100    150     0  - 32
                                       ----------------------- -----------------
Cash flow from financing activities       -53     0  159  100    150     0   -32



Net change in cash                        -14  -128   22 -126     83    15   -85

Cash, beginning of period               1,125 1,116  965  996    878   980 1,039

Translation difference in Cash              5   -23    9    8     19    45   -33
                                       ----------------------- -----------------
Cash, end of period                     1,116   965  996  878    980 1,039   921




Sony Ericsson
NET SALES BY MARKET AREA BY QUARTER

EUR million

                                          2009                   2010
                                ------------------------- ------------------
Isolated quarters                   Q1    Q2    Q3    Q4      Q1    Q2    Q3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe, Middle East & Africa *     977   927   875   966     711   876   837

Americas                           200   195   232   222     201   223   222

Asia                               559   562   512   562     493   659   544
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            1,736 1,684 1,619 1,750   1,405 1,757 1,603
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* of which Western Europe          721   678   636   678     525   668   632





                                          2009                   2010
                                ------------------------- ------------------
Sequential change (%)               Q1    Q2    Q3    Q4      Q1    Q2    Q3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe, Middle East & Africa *    -40%   -5%   -6%   10%    -26%   23%   -4%

Americas                          -69%   -3%   19%   -4%    -10%   11%    0%

Asia                              -12%    1%   -9%   10%    -12%   34%  -18%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                             -40%   -3%   -4%    8%    -20%   25%   -9%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* of which Western Europe         -35%   -6%   -6%    7%    -23%   27%   -5%





                                          2009                   2010
                                ------------------------- ------------------
Year over year change (%)           Q1    Q2    Q3    Q4      Q1    Q2    Q3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe, Middle East & Africa *    -35%  -33%  -39%  -41%    -27%   -5%   -4%

Americas                          -59%  -74%  -67%  -65%      1%   14%   -4%

Asia                              -23%  -19%  -25%  -12%    -12%   17%    6%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                             -36%  -40%  -42%  -40%    -19%    4%   -1%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* of which Western Europe         -26%  -25%  -33%  -39%    -27%   -2%   -1%





                                          2009                   2010
                                ------------------------- ------------------
Year to date                      0903  0906  0909  0912    1003  1006  1009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe, Middle East & Africa *     977 1,903 2,778 3,744     711 1,587 2,424

Americas                           200   395   627   850     201   424   646

Asia                               559 1,121 1,633 2,194     493 1,152 1,695
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            1,736 3,419 5,038 6,788   1,405 3,162 4,765
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* of which Western Europe          721 1,400 2,036 2,714     525 1,193 1,825





                                          2009                   2010
                                ------------------------- ------------------
YTD year over year change (%)     0903  0906  0909  0912    1003  1006  1009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe, Middle East & Africa *    -35%  -34%  -35%  -37%    -27%  -17%  -13%

Americas                          -59%  -68%  -67%  -67%      1%    7%    3%

Asia                              -23%  -21%  -22%  -20%    -12%    3%    4%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                             -36%  -38%  -40%  -40%    -19%   -8%   -5%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* of which Western Europe         -26%  -26%  -28%  -31%    -27%  -15%  -10%




The full report (including tables) can be downloaded from the following link:



[HUG#1452148]


Attachments

Third quarter report 2010.pdf
GlobeNewswire