Sony today announced that it will outsource a part of the human resources and accounting operation services of Sony and certain of its subsidiaries in Japan to IBM Japan, Ltd. Sony is undertaking steps on a global scale to execute structural transformation to achieve profitability improvement and optimize business processes. Sony made the decision to outsource a part of its business processes announced today as a part of these initiatives, and through this outsourcing in strong partnership with IBM Japan, Sony intends to further improve the efficiency of its operations and accelerate its transformation initiatives.

In connection with the above-mentioned outsourcing decision, Sony, IBM Japan and Manpower Japan Co., Ltd. have agreed to establish a joint venture. The joint venture will be formed by splitting a part of the human resources service operations from Sony Human Capital Corporation, which currently undertakes human resources service, business travel and insurance operations mainly for Sony Group in Japan.

IBM Japan will provide its human resources and accounting operation services to Sony Group in Japan using the new joint venture as its base in Japan and IBM Global Delivery Center in Dalian, China as its base outside Japan.

Outline of the new joint venture

Company name : Human Capital Associates Co., Ltd.
Representative : Takehisa Sato Office address : 19-21, Nihonbashi-Hakozaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Founded : April 1, 2010
Capital : 100,000,000 yen
Headcount : Approximately 100
Stakeholders : IBM Japan 60%, Manpower Japan 20%, Sony 20%