The Dutch government is taking over chipmaker Nexperia to prevent its key technology from being transferred to its China-based parent company Wingtech. Nexperia makes chips for the transportation and electronics sectors. Nexperia was originally owned by NXP Semiconductor before being sold in 2018 for $3.63 billion.
The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs said the “extraordinary” intervention was taken by the Dutch government in response to several “deficiencies and serious administrative actions by the company”. The takeover allows the Dutch government to reverse or block management decisions that are considered dangerous.
Several unexplained actions by the company are alleged to threaten the continuity and protection of important technological knowledge and capabilities in the Netherlands and Europe. The loss of these capabilities, he added, would pose a risk to the Netherlands and Europe.
