Dutch Government Intervenes in Nexperia Operations Over Technology Transfer Concerns

The Dutch government has intervened in semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia, citing concerns about potential technology transfer to its Chinese parent company Wingtech. The Ministry of Economic Affairs issued a one-year order prohibiting Nexperia's 30 global entities from making any adjustments to assets, intellectual property, or personnel.

A Dutch enterprise court additionally suspended the CEO appointed by Wingtech and assigned an independent non-executive director with decisive voting power, effectively temporarily stripping Wingtech of control over Nexperia while preserving its economic rights.

Nexperia, formerly Philips' semiconductor division, was fully acquired by Wingtech in 2019 for over 34 billion yuan ($4.7B). The company reported 2024 revenue of approximately 14.7 billion yuan, representing one-sixth of Wingtech's total revenue, with operations spanning wafer fabrication in Germany and the UK, plus packaging/testing facilities in China and Southeast Asia.

Wingtech issued a statement strongly protesting the intervention as "discriminatory treatment based on geopolitical prejudice," asserting that the action violates market economic principles. Nexperia continues daily operations despite the control restrictions.