Sony Corp., struggling to rebound from a record loss, is weighing options for its iconic Midtown skyscraper, including a potential sale, The Post has learned.
The Japanese electronics giant recently held talks with private-equity firm Blackstone Group about a potential real-estate transaction involving 550 Madison Ave., sources said.
While those talks ended without a deal, Sony is said to be considering all options for the 37-story tower that houses its US headquarters. Those include consolidating in less space and leasing the remainder, selling the building and then leasing back a portion, or selling it outright and moving to another location, sources said.
Sony executives did a walk-through at a 479,008-square-feet space in the Blackstone-owned former New York Times building in Times Square, according to sources. Blackstone’s real estate agents at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank have previously said the refurbished space could include naming rights. There are also 25,000 square feet of roof decks and terraces on six floors.
The owners are hoping to make the former Times building a hub for media and tech companies.
In addition to Sony, Microsoft and Viacom have also toured the space.
One source close to Sony said the company had toured the Times Square building as a possible location for housing some staff but had already taken a pass on it.
The Sony Building, formerly the AT&T Building, is worth between $700 million and $1 billion, according to sources familiar with the structure.
“It’s a big asset on their balance sheet,” said one real-estate executive who declined to be identified.
Spokesmen from Sony and Blackstone and a spokeswoman for Newmark Grubb Knight Frank declined to comment.
One of the most noticeable skyscrapers in the city, the building, designed by noted architect Philip Johnson, is renowned for its trademark top, which has been likened to a Chippendale highboy.
Sony Music Corp. moved into the sprawling complex in 1992 after purchasing the building from AT&T. The Japanese giant later built a technology lab in the base along with a two-story flagship store to hawk its latest technological innovations.
Sony wholly owns the building, which now houses its movie and music divisions — Sony Music, Sony/ATV and Sony Pictures — as well as its corporate offices.
While its US entertainment assets are successful, Sony, the one-time force behind the Walkman, has lost its electronics edge to rivals Apple and Samsung.
In April, the Tokyo-based company, under new CEO Kaz Hirai, said it would cut 10,000 jobs, or 6 percent, of its global work force in a bid to return to profitability. Sony posted a record $5.7 billion loss in the fiscal year ended in March.
Hirai, who took over the company from long-time chief Howard Stringer, has said there is “no sacred area” as he looks to stem losses and restructure the company to become more competitive.
Sony’s US shares, which hit a 52-week low of $12.65 on June 1, are down 27 percent year-to-date and 46 percent in the past year. The stock rose 2.4 percent yesterday to $13.07.