Dutch Court to Rule on Nexperia Control Amid China Tensions
A high-stakes battle over Dutch semiconductor firm Nexperia reaches its climax as Amsterdam judges prepare to rule on whether Chinese parent company Wingtech should retain control. The case, which began when Dutch authorities temporarily seized the company last September over fears of technology transfer to China, has escalated into a full-blown corporate governance crisis.
At the heart of the dispute lies founder Zhang Xuezheng's dual role—running both Nexperia and a Shanghai wafer supplier—which judges previously flagged as a conflict of interest. Wednesday's hearing marks the first public airing of European management's allegations of mismanagement, with a final decision on potential shareholder changes expected later.
The outcome carries geopolitical weight. Dutch officials initially intervened citing national security concerns about China's access to chip technology, but later softened their stance to avoid damaging trade relations. Now the court must untangle competing claims about where Nexperia's true interests lie—with its Chinese owners or European operations.
