Stock-based compensation plans

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2011

Stock-based compensation plans [Abstract]


17.	*Stock-based compensation plans*

The stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 was 3,446 million yen, 2,202 million yen and 1,952 million yen, respectively. The income tax benefit related to the stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 was 543 million yen, 271 million yen and 322 million yen, respectively. The total cash received from exercises under all of the stock-based compensation plans during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 was 378 million yen, 114 million yen and 198 million yen, respectively. Sony issued new shares upon exercise of these rights. The actual income tax benefit realized for tax deductions from exercises under all the stock-based compensation plans for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 was insignificant.

Sony has three types of stock-based compensation plans as incentive plans for selected directors, corporate executive officers and employees.


(1)	Stock Acquisition Rights plan:

Sony has an equity-based compensation plan that issues common stock acquisition rights for the purpose of granting stock options to selected directors, corporate executive officers and employees of Sony, pursuant to the Companies Act. The stock acquisition rights generally vest ratably over a period of three years and are exercisable up to ten years from the date of grant.

The weighted-average fair value per share at the date of grant of stock acquisition rights granted during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 was 398 yen, 813 yen and 1,036 yen, respectively. The fair value of stock acquisition rights granted on the date of grant and used to recognize compensation expense for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:


	Fiscal year ended March 31
	2009			2010			2011

Weighted-average assumptions
Risk-free interest rate		2.07	%		2.08	%		1.60	%
Expected lives		6.23	years		6.49	years		6.64	years
Expected volatility*		33.35	%		33.70	%		35.74	%
Expected dividends		1.29	%		0.99	%		0.83	%


	*	Expected volatility was based on the historical volatilities of Sony Corporation’s common stock over the expected life of the stock acquisition rights.

A summary of the activities regarding the stock acquisition rights plan during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 is as follows:


	Fiscal year ended March 31, 2011
				Weighted-		Weighted-		Total
	Number of			average		average		Intrinsic
	Shares			exercise price		remaining life		Value
				Yen		Years		Yen in millions

Outstanding at beginning of the fiscal year		15,214,400			3,743
Granted		2,334,600			2,985
Exercised		(65,200	)		2,653
Forfeited or expired		(472,400	)		3,540

Outstanding at end of the fiscal year		17,011,400			3,458		6.20		523

Exercisable at end of the fiscal year		12,184,000			3,739		5.10		211

The total intrinsic value of shares exercised under the stock acquisition rights plan during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 was 95 million yen, 20 million yen and 26 million yen, respectively.

As of March 31, 2011, there was 2,358 million yen of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested stock acquisition rights. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.99 years. The total fair value of stock acquisition rights vested during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 was 3,333 million yen, 2,136 million yen and 1,921 million yen, respectively.


(2)	Convertible Bonds plan:

Sony has an equity-based compensation plan for selected executives of Sony’s U.S. subsidiaries using U.S. dollar-denominated non-interest bearing convertible bonds, which have characteristics similar to that of an option plan. Each convertible bond can be converted into 100 shares of the common stock of Sony Corporation at an exercise price based on the prevailing market rate shortly before the date of grant. The convertible bonds vest ratably over a three-year period and are exercisable up to ten years from the date of grant. As the convertible bonds were issued in exchange for a non-interest bearing employee loan and a right of offset exists between the convertible bonds and the employee loans, no accounting recognition was given to either the convertible bonds or the employee loans in Sony’s consolidated balance sheets.

A summary of the activities regarding the convertible bond plan during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 is as follows:


	Fiscal year ended March 31, 2011
				Weighted-		Weighted-		Total
	Number of			average		average		Intrinsic
	Shares			exercise price		remaining life		Value
				Yen		Years		Yen in millions

Outstanding at beginning of the fiscal year		1,621,500			9,099
Expired		(1,073,000	)		10,208

Outstanding at end of the fiscal year		548,500			6,931		1.00		—

Exercisable at end of the fiscal year		548,500			6,931		1.00		—

There were no shares granted or exercised under the convertible bond plan during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011. All shares under the convertible bond plan were exercisable as of March 31, 2011.


(3)	Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) plan:

Sony granted SARs in the United States of America for selected employees. Under the terms of these plans, employees upon exercise of such rights receive cash equal to the amount that the market price of Sony Corporation’s common stock exceeds the strike price of the SARs. The SARs generally vest ratably over a period of three years, and are generally exercisable up to ten years from the date of grant.

There were no SARs granted during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011. As of March 31, 2011, there were 45,425 SARs outstanding and the weighted-average exercise price was 5,120 yen. All SARs were exercisable as of March 31, 2011.

The compensation expense for the SARs is measured as the excess of the quoted market price of Sony Corporation’s common stock over the SARs strike price. SAR compensation expense for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2010, and 2011 was insignificant.