SAN JOSE — Now that its merger with Solectron is complete, how many plants will Flextronics close, and where?

The world's second-largest EMS company could shutter as many as 43 plants, totaling some 8.3 million sq. ft., says one Wall Street analyst.

Bear Stearns analyst Kevin Kessel, citing the managing director of Flextronics France, says Flextronics will shutter former Solectron plants in Canjan, France; Raleigh, NC; Wilmington, MA; Montreal and Istanbul (Turkey).

The Wilmington plant is a 65,000 sq. ft. factory that Solectron moved into in 2005 after acquiring and relocating the assembly division of Teradyne.

Previous press reports indicate Flextronics will also close a manufacturing plant in Chateaudun, France, early next year.