SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

July 16, 2009

 

 

LM ERICSSON TELEPHONE COMPANY

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

Torshamnsgatan 23, Kista

SE-164 83, Stockholm, Sweden

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F   x    Form 40-F  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Announcement of LM Ericsson Telephone Company, dated July 16, 2009 regarding “Q209 Sony Ericsson Financial Press Release.”

 

 

 

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PRESS RELEASE		July 16, 2009

Sony Ericsson reports second quarter results

Q2 highlights:

 

•

Continued challenging market conditions

 

•

Transformation program on track

 

•

New Communication Entertainment portfolio announced - shipping Q4 2009

The consolidated financial summary for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Ericsson) for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009 is as follows:

 

		Q2 2008			Q1 2009			Q2 2009
Number of units shipped (million)		24.4			14.5			13.8
Sales (Euro m.)		2,820			1,736			1,684
Gross margin (%)		23	%		8	%		12	%
Operating income (Euro m.)		-2			-369			-274
Operating margin (%)		-0	%		-21	%		-16	%
Restructuring charges (Euro m.)		11			12			1
Operating income excl. restructuring charges (Euro m.)		8			-357			-274
Operating margin excl. restructuring charges (%)		0	%		-21	%		-16	%
Income before taxes (IBT) (Euro m.)		8			-370			-283
IBT excl. restructuring charges (Euro m.)		19			-358			-283
Net income (Euro m.)		6			-293			-213
Average selling price (Euro)		116			120			122

Units shipped in the quarter were 13.8 million, a decrease of 43% year-on-year and a sequential decrease of 5%. Sales for the quarter were Euro 1,684 million, a year-on-year decrease of 40%. This was due to continued challenging market conditions in all regions, particularly in Latin American markets.

Gross margin improved sequentially, despite lower volumes and sales, driven by a more favourable product mix and less material write-off costs than the previous quarter.

Income before taxes for the quarter, excluding restructuring charges, was a loss of Euro 283 million compared to a loss of Euro 370 million from the previous quarter. This was due to the better gross margin, as well as reduced operating expenses that are a result of the ongoing cost savings program.

“As expected, the second quarter was challenging and we still believe the remainder of the year will be difficult for Sony Ericsson. Our focus remains on bringing the company back to profitability and growth as quickly as possible, and our performance is starting to improve due to our cost reduction activities. The new product portfolio that integrates communications, entertainment and social media applications should contribute to healthier topline development when shipments start later this year,” said Dick Komiyama, President, Sony Ericsson. “We remain confident that the actions we are taking will further improve our financial situation and strengthen Sony Ericsson’s competitiveness.”

As of June 30, 2009, Sony Ericsson retained a good net cash position of Euro 965 million.

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Programs started mid 2008 to reduce operating expenses by Euro 880 million are on track, with the full benefit expected during the second half of 2010. The total restructuring charges for these programs are estimated to be well within the previously announced Euro 500 million. Since the beginning of the cost reduction programs, the total global workforce has been reduced by 2,350 people.

During the quarter Sony Ericsson expanded on its strategy of transforming into the Communication Entertainment brand with the announcement of three new mobile phones; Aino, Satio and Yari. These phones integrate communications features with entertainment content and social media applications. In addition, Sony Ericsson announced the expansion of its content delivery platform, PlayNow™ arena, to include an application store and downloadable movies via PC.

Sony Ericsson maintains its forecast that the global handset market for 2009 will continue to contract by at least 10% from around 1,190 million units in 2008. Sony Ericsson estimates that its market share was over 5% in the second quarter.

The liquid identity and PlayNow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications.

Sony is a trademark or registered trademark of Sony Corporation. Ericsson is the trademark or registered trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.

Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved. Subject to change without prior notice.

- ENDS -

A live webcast of the conference call will be available on July 16, 2009 at:

 

See: http://www.ericsson.com/ericsson/investors/ or join the webcast directly at: http://www.thomson-webcast.net/uk/dispatching/?event_id=bffe1ab2b7e317a500a16a93ee0841c2&portal_id=ccec29148a44ec4b8077c845c5b4cbba

The archived webcast will be available approximately one hour after the completion of the conference call.

CALL-IN NUMBERS:

 

REPLAY:

A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the conference call until 11:00 pm UK time on July 22, 2009.

 

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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

Additional information:

Net sales by market area by quarter

- ENDS -

Sony Ericsson is a top, global industry player with sales of around 97 million phones in 2008. Diversity is one of the core strengths of the company, with operations in over 80 countries including manufacturing in China and R&D sites in China, Europe, India, Japan and North America. Sony Ericsson was established as a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in London. For more information about Sony Ericsson please visit www.sonyericsson.com

CONTACTS:

Investors / Analysts

Ericsson investor relations

Gary Pinkham (Stockholm) +46 10 719 0858

Susanne Andersson (Stockholm) +46 10 719 4631

Andreas Hedemyr (Stockholm) +46 10 404 3748

Sony investor relations

Shinji Tomita (London) +44 20 7426 8696

Gen Tsuchikawa (Tokyo) +81 3 6748 2180

Press / Media

Sony Ericsson global communications and PR

Aldo Liguori (London) +44 20 8762 5860

Merran Wrigley (London) +44 20 8762 5862

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We have 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.

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Sony Ericsson

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

		Apr-Jun
EUR million		2009			2008			Change
Net sales		1,684			2,820			-40	%
Cost of sales		-1,483			-2,168			-32	%
Gross profit		200			653			-69	%
Gross margin %		11.9	%		23.1	%		-11	%
Research and development expenses		-245			-344			-29	%
Selling and administrative expenses		-235			-310			-24	%
Operating expenses		-480			-653			-26	%
Other operating income, net		6			-2			491	%
Operating income		-274			-2			—
Operating margin %		-16.3	%		-0.1	%		-16	%
Financial income		6			25			-76	%
Financial expenses		-15			-14			4	%
Income after financial items		-283			8			—
Taxes		74			0			—
Minority interest		-4			-3			49	%
Net income		-213			6			—
Number of units shipped (million)		13.8			24.4			-43	%
ASP (EUR)		122			116			5	%
		Apr-Jun			Apr-Jun
EUR Million		2009			2008
Restructuring charges
Cost of sales		-9			8
Research and development expenses		9			2
Sales and administrative expenses		1			1
Other operating income, net		0			0
Total		1			11

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Sony Ericsson

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

		Jan-Jun
EUR million		2009			2008			Change
Net sales		3,419			5,522			-38	%
Cost of sales		-3,074			-4,082			-25	%
Gross profit		346			1,440			-76	%
Gross margin %		10.1	%		26.1	%		-16	%
Research and development expenses		-548			-683			-20	%
Selling and administrative expenses		-460			-580			-21	%
Operating expenses		-1,008			-1,263			-20	%
Other operating income, net		19			5			310	%
Operating income		-644			182			-454	%
Operating margin %		-18.8	%		3.3	%		-22	%
Financial income		15			49			-69	%
Financial expenses		-25			-29			-16	%
Income after financial items		-653			201			-424	%
Taxes		158			-57			-379	%
Minority interest		-10			-6			71	%
Net income		-505			139			-464	%
Number of units shipped (million)		28.3			46.7			-39	%
ASP (EUR)		121			118			2	%
		Jan-Jun			Jan-Jun
EUR Million		2009			2008
Restructuring charges
Cost of sales		-2			8
Research and development expenses		11			2
Sales and administrative expenses		4			1
Other operating income, net		0			0
Total		13			11

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Sony Ericsson

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT—ISOLATED QUARTERS

 

		2009						2008
EUR million		Q2			Q1			Q4			Q3			Q2			Q1
Net sales		1,684			1,736			2,914			2,808			2,820			2,702
Cost of sales		-1,483			-1,591			-2,476			-2,192			-2,168			-1,914
Gross profit		200			145			438			616			653			788
Gross margin %		11.9	%		8.4	%		15.0	%		21.9	%		23.1	%		29.2	%
Research and development expenses		-245			-303			-359			-337			-344			-339
Selling and administrative expenses		-235			-225			-366			-303			-310			-270
Operating expenses		-480			-528			-725			-640			-653			-610
Other operating income, net		6			13			24			-8			-2			6
Operating income		-274			-369			-262			-33			-2			184
Operating margin %		-16.3	%		-21.3	%		-9.0	%		-1.2	%		-0.1	%		6.8	%
Financial income		6			9			28			25			25			24
Financial expenses		-15			-10			-27			-15			-14			-15
Income after financial items		-283			-370			-261			-23			8			193
Taxes		74			84			81			6			0			-57
Minority interest		-4			-6			-7			-8			-3			-3
Net income		-213			-293			-187			-25			6			133
Number of units shipped (million)		13.8			14.5			24.2			25.7			24.4			22.3
ASP (EUR)		122			120			121			109			116			121
		2009						2008
EUR Million		Q2			Q1			Q4			Q3			Q2
Restructuring charges
Cost of sales		-9			7			67			0			8
Research and development expenses		9			2			35			26			2
Sales and administrative expenses		1			3			24			3			1
Other operating income, net		0			0			3			6			0
Total		1			12			129			35			11

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Sony Ericsson

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

EUR million		Jun 30 2009		Mar 31 2009		Dec 31 2008		Jun 30 2008
ASSETS
Total fixed and financial assets		736		658		590		590
Current assets
Inventories		404		477		531		538
Accounts receivables		936		1,193		1,629		1,905
Other assets		379		463		585		511
Other short-term cash investments		456		574		707		966
Cash and bank		509		542		418		624
Total current assets		2,685		3,249		3,870		4,544
Total assets		3,421		3,908		4,460		5,134
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Shareholders’ equity		694		930		1,217		1,684
Minority interest		66		65		57		35
Total equity		760		995		1,274		1,719
Total long-term liabilities		30		30		30		25
Accounts payable		848		965		990		1,436
Other current liabilities		1,782		1,918		2,166		1,954
Total current liabilities		2,630		2,882		3,156		3,390
Total shareholders’ equity and liabilities		3,421		3,908		4,460		5,134
Net cash*		965		1,116		1,072		1,591

 

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

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Sony Ericsson

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

		Apr-Jun
EUR million		2009		2008
OPERATIONS
Net income		-213		6
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash		37		40
		-176		46
Changes in operating net assets		60		-142
Cash flow from operating activities		-115		-96
INVESTMENTS
Investing activities		-13		-29
Cash flow from investing activities		-13		-29
FINANCING
Financing activities		0		- 8
Cash flow from financing activities		0		-8
Net change in cash		-128		-133
Cash, beginning of period		1,116		1,711
Translation difference in Cash		-23		13
Cash, end of period		965		1,591

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Sony Ericsson

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

		Jan-Jun
EUR million		2009		2008
OPERATIONS
Net income		-505		139
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash		66		69
		-439		208
Changes in operating net assets		382		-242
Cash flow from operating activities		-57		-34
INVESTMENTS
Investing activities		-32		-50
Cash flow from investing activities		-32		-50
FINANCING
Financing activities		- 53		-470
Cash flow from financing activities		-53		-470
Net change in cash		-142		-554
Cash, beginning of period		1,125		2,155
Translation difference in Cash		-18		-11
Cash, end of period		965		1,591

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Sony Ericsson

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS—ISOLATED QUARTERS

 

		2009				2008
EUR million		Apr-Jun		Jan-Mar		Oct-Dec		Jul-Sep		Apr-Jun		Jan-Mar
OPERATIONS
Net income		-213		-293		-187		-25		6		133
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash		37		29		37		39		40		31
		-176		-263		-150		15		46		164
Changes in operating net assets		60		321		-168		88		-142		-101
Cash flow from operating activities		-115		58		-318		102		-96		64
INVESTMENTS
Investing activities		-13		-19		41		-55		-29		-22
Cash flow from investing activities		-13		-19		41		-55		-29		-22
FINANCING
Financing activities		0		- 53		- 46		- 238		- 8		- 462
Cash flow from financing activities		0		-53		-46		-238		-8		-462
Net change in cash		-128		-14		-323		-191		-133		-421
Cash, beginning of period		1,116		1,125		1,473		1,591		1,711		2,155
Translation difference in Cash		-23		5		-25		74		13		-24
Cash, end of period		965		1,116		1,125		1,473		1,591		1,711

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Sony Ericsson

NET SALES BY MARKET AREA BY QUARTER

 

EUR million
		2009						2008
Isolated quarters		Q2			Q1			Q4			Q3			Q2			Q1
Europe, Middle East & Africa *		927			977			1,642			1,427			1,386			1,494
Americas		195			200			636			703			740			486
Asia		562			559			636			678			694			722
Total		1,684			1,736			2,914			2,808			2,820			2,702
* of which Western Europe		678			721			1,117			947			900			979
		2009						2008
Sequential change (%)		Q2			Q1			Q4			Q3			Q2			Q1
Europe, Middle East & Africa *		-5	%		-40	%		15	%		3	%		-7	%		-34	%
Americas		-3	%		-69	%		-10	%		-5	%		52	%		-24	%
Asia		1	%		-12	%		-6	%		-2	%		-4	%		-18	%
Total		-3	%		-40	%		4	%		0	%		4	%		-28	%
* of which Western Europe		-6	%		-35	%		18	%		5	%		-8	%		-38	%
		2009						2008
Year over year change (%)		Q2			Q1			Q4			Q3			Q2			Q1
Europe, Middle East & Africa *		-33	%		-35	%		-27	%		-17	%		-20	%		-7	%
Americas		-74	%		-59	%		0	%		23	%		48	%		33	%
Asia		-19	%		-23	%		-28	%		-17	%		-21	%		-25	%
Total		-40	%		-36	%		-23	%		-10	%		-9	%		-8	%
* of which Western Europe		-25	%		-26	%		-29	%		-14	%		-18	%		-9	%
		2009						2008
Year to date		0906			0903			0812			0809			0806			0803
Europe, Middle East & Africa *		1,903			977			5,947			4,306			2,879			1,494
Americas		395			200			2,566			1,930			1,226			486
Asia		1,121			559			2,731			2,094			1,416			722
Total		3,419			1,736			11,244			8,330			5,522			2,702
* of which Western Europe		1,400			721			3,943			2,826			1,879			979
		2009						2008
YTD year over year change (%)		0906			0903			0812			0809			0806			0803
Europe, Middle East & Africa *		-34	%		-35	%		-18	%		-15	%		-13	%		-7	%
Americas		-68	%		-59	%		24	%		34	%		42	%		33	%
Asia		-21	%		-23	%		-23	%		-21	%		-23	%		-25	%
Total		-38	%		-36	%		-13	%		-9	%		-9	%		-8	%
* of which Western Europe		-26	%		-26	%		-19	%		-14	%		-14	%		-9	%

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: July 16, 2009