Panasonic posts loss - Televisions to blame

Another Japanese maker of Televisions posts one of the largest losses ever on the wake of an increasingly difficult Television industry. Loss is over $5 Billion in US dollars.

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Panasonic Posts Annual Loss, Lower Sales

By Steve Smith -- TWICE, 5/11/2012

Osaka, Japan - Panasonic reported a net loss of 772.2 billion yen from a profit and a 10 percent drop in sales for its fiscal year, ended March 31.

The net loss of 772.2 billion yen compares with a profit of 74 billion yen in fiscal 2011. Consolidated group sales for fiscal 2012 decreased by 10 percent to 7,846.2 billion yen, from 8,692.7 billion yen in the prior fiscal year.

Of the consolidated group total, domestic sales amounted to 4,162 billion yen, down 8 percent from 4,514.3 billion yen in fiscal 2011. Overseas sales decreased by 12 percent to 3,684.2 billion yen, from 4,178.4 billion yen in fiscal 2011.

Panasonic pointed to multiple factors for its fiscal year performance: concern of the shortages of the electric supply caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, the disruption of supply chains affected by the flooding in Thailand, the economic turmoil triggered by the European financial crisis, and the historically high yen.

The operating results in the flat-panel TVs and semiconductor businesses worsened significantly due to factors, such as the aforementioned severe business conditions and intense price competition.

In Panasonic's AVC networks unit, sales decreased by 21 percent to 1,713.5 billion yen, from 2,156.8 billion yen a year ago. Despite favorable sales of PCs, this result was due mainly to sales declines in flat-panel TVs and digital cameras. Operating loss was 67.8 billion yen, compared with a profit of

27.3 billion yen a year ago, due mainly to a sales decrease and a price decline.

Panasonic is predicting positive fiscal 2013 results following large-scale structural reforms and reorganization. Consolidated financial forecasts for fiscal 2013 as of May 11, 2012:

• Sales: 8,100.0 billion yen (vs. FY12: +3 percent)

• Operating profit: 260.0 billion yen (vs. FY12: +495 percent)

• Net income attributable to Panasonic Corporation: 50 billion yen (vs. FY12 loss of 772.2 billion yen)