Move Cites ‘Serious Governance Shortcomings’ and Security Risks
The Dutch government has taken control of semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia, invoking emergency powers under the Goods Availability Act. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said the decision was made to “safeguard the continuity of vital technology” and address what it described as “serious governance shortcomings” at the company.
Nexperia, headquartered in Nijmegen, is majority-owned by China’s Wingtech Technology, which completed its acquisition in 2019. The intervention gives the Dutch minister authority to block or reverse corporate decisions deemed harmful to national interests while allowing production to continue.
Wingtech Denounces Move, Shares Slide in Shanghai
Wingtech, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, condemned the Dutch action, warning that it politicized commercial operations. Following the announcement, Wingtech’s shares fell by nearly 10 percent in early trading. Nexperia said it was “surprised and disappointed” by the decision and maintained that it operates transparently under Dutch law.
The company is a key supplier of semiconductors to the automotive and consumer electronics industries, with facilities across Europe and Asia. It employs around 15,000 people worldwide, including several thousand in the Netherlands.
Part of Europe’s Broader Push for Tech Sovereignty
The intervention marks the first time the Netherlands has used the Goods Availability Act to take control of a private firm. It comes amid growing European concern over dependence on foreign technology suppliers and strategic assets owned by Chinese investors.
Nexperia has faced scrutiny before: in 2022, the UK government ordered it to sell its Newport Wafer Fab plant on national-security grounds. Analysts say the Dutch move underscores a broader European trend of tightening controls over sensitive industries central to chip production and energy security.
