Panasonic to close two Japan factories-report

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Panasonic Corp (6752.T) will close two factories in Japan that make televisions and TV parts, the Nikkei financial daily reported.

The report on Nikkei's website said Panasonic would close its Kanagawa facility, which makes TVs and digital tuners for cars, in March, and that production would move to the company's LCD TV factory in Tochigi Prefecture. The plant's 190 or so workers will be given a chance to transfer to the other facility, the report said.

The Gifu factory, which is run by a subsidiary and makes such parts as tuners for TVs and cellular phones, will be closed in the first half of next fiscal year, the report said, adding that production would shift to a Mie Prefecture plant that makes speakers and other products.

It said a plant in Vietnam would take responsibility for some electronic parts, and that some 840 workers at the Gifu plant would have the option of transferring to the Mie factory. (New York Equities Desk, +1 646 223 6000)