As losses mount, Sony steps up restructuring with PCs pullout, TV spinoff

A logo of Sony Corp is seen on its VAIO laptop at its showroom in Tokyo February 5, 2014. (Photo: Reuters)

TOKYO: Sony Corp stepped up efforts to turn around its unprofitable electronics operations, quitting the personal computers business and splitting its TV division into a separate unit as it warned it expects steep losses this year.

The Japanese company said on Thursday the restructuring will cut 5,000 jobs and trim 100 billion yen ($988 million) a year from fixed costs in the longer term. Losses in the TV business have long dogged its efforts to compete with global consumer electronics giants like Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co.