Dutch Government seizes control of Chinese-owned Nexperia over alleged technology leak risks

On October 9, Nexperia said it had been hit by an export control order barring the export of certain components and sub-assemblies made in China, effective October 4, 2025 — a situation the company deems a force majeure event under its contracts.

Nexperia said it is assessing the broader impact of the restriction, but will continue shipping unaffected products. To manage limited inventory fairly, the company has introduced a controlled order entry and fulfillment process. The company added that the situation is rapidly developing, and that it is actively working with its global teams and partners to understand the full implications.

The announcement follows the Dutch government’s decision to dismiss Nexperia’s Chinese CEO. In a press release on Sunday evening, the Ministry cited “acute indications of serious governance deficiencies and conduct” at the company, warning of potential knowledge leaks and risks to both Dutch and European economic security, as noted by NL Times.

Reuters said an Amsterdam court ruling showed that judges suspended Wingtech CEO Zhang Xuezheng from his post as Nexperia’s executive director, citing “well-founded reasons to doubt” the firm’s management conduct under Dutch civil law. The court appointed Dutch executive Guido Dierick to succeed Zhang with a decisive vote in company matters and placed control of almost all Nexperia shares under the management of a Dutch lawyer, Reuters added.

Expanding US restrictions add pressure to Nexperia
Nexperia is also affected by the latest export control measures introduced by the U.S. government. As Bits & Chips reported, citing NRC, American firms will be barred from supplying the Dutch semiconductor maker with restricted technologies once new rules take effect in two months. Under the updated framework, any company at least 50 percent owned by an entity on the Entity List will be subject to the same restrictions.

Nexperia was acquired by Wingtech in 2019, as noted by the NL Times. According to Reuters, Wingtech was added to the U.S. Entity List in December 2024 for allegedly assisting the Chinese government in acquiring entities with sensitive semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.

Meanwhile, as Reuters notes, Wingtech criticized the Dutch government’s intervention in Nexperia, calling it excessive interference driven by geopolitical bias. The company also claimed that non-Chinese Nexperia executives had attempted to forcibly alter the firm’s equity structure through legal means.

Source: TrendForce, Taiwan.