Sony Corporation resolved at a meeting of its Board of Directors today to obtain an authorization by shareholder resolution to be adopted at the 86th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on June 20, 2003 for purchases of its own shares pursuant to Article 210 of the Commercial Code.

1. Rationale for obtaining authorization by shareholder resolution

In order to retain flexibility in purchasing its own shares when necessary during the period up to the next Ordinary Meeting of Shareholders, Sony Corporation will obtain the authorization by shareholder resolution for purchases of its own shares.

2. Details of authorization

• (1) Type of shares
  Shares of common stock and shares of Subsidiary Tracking Stock linked to Sony Communication Network Corporation ("Tracking stock")
• (2) Number of shares
  Common stock: Up to 90,000,000 shares
  Tracking stock: Up to 300,000 shares
• (3) Total purchase price
  Common stock: Up to 400 billion yen
  Tracking stock: Up to 1 billion yen