Nexperia looking to part ways with Chinese owner, who is reluctant to sell: report
Nexperia is trying to part ways with its Chinese owner, Wingtech, sources told the Telegraaf. According to them, the Nijmegen-based chip company has major investors lined up to acquire the Chinese company’s shares, but Wingtech is refusing.
The issue is extremely sensitive in China. Last year, then-Minister Vincent Karremans of Economic Affairs placed Nexperia under guardianship to prevent the company’s technological knowledge and intellectual property from leaking to China. This happened on the same day that a Dutch court separately suspended the company’s CEO.
China responded by banning the export of chips from Nexperia’s factory in China and ordering employees to ignore the Dutch oversight. This put the European automotive industry, which is highly dependent on Nexperia chips, in a panic of shortages.
China only lifted the ban after extended talks in which the Dutch government agreed to back down and reverse the steps it had taken at Nexperia. The Enterprise Chamber, however, stuck to the suspension of the company’s CEO and has ordered an investigation into mismanagement at the company.
The Telegraaf sources say that, after this fallout, the company is ready to part ways with Wingtech. Nexperia is now counting on Dutch politicians to pressure the Chinese government into agreeing to sell Wingtech’s stake, the sources said.
