Sony, Michael Jackson Estate Reach Agreement for Sony to Acquire Remaining Half of Sony/ATV Music Publishing for $750M

Sony Corporation SNE and the Estate of Michael Jackson announced Monday, that Sony Corporation of America ("SCA"), Sony's wholly owned subsidiary, signed a binding memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with the Estate to obtain full ownership of Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC ("Sony/ATV") by acquiring the 50% interest in Sony/ATV held by the Estate. The MOU calls for total payments of 750 million U.S. dollars, which includes a lump sum payment by SCA of approximately 733 million U.S. dollars as well as distributions previously committed to by Sony/ATV to be paid to the Estate. The payment also reflects certain contractual and accounting adjustments related to the Sony/ATV joint venture and other commercial opportunities involving Sony and the Estate. The sale is the culmination of a process that began in September 2015 when Sony exercised a right that has existed since the joint venture was formed by Michael Jackson and Sony in 1995. This right allows for one partner to purchase the other partner's interest pursuant to a procedure outlined in the Sony/ATV operating agreement. The parties expect to execute a definitive agreement by March 31, 2016. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Sony expects that this transaction will have no material impact on its consolidated results forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, and its impact on Sony's consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017 is currently being evaluated.