Wingtech invites Nexperia custodians to China amid ongoing control dispute

Core Viewpoint - Wingtech Technology is seeking discussions with the court-appointed custodians of its Dutch subsidiary Nexperia to address governance and ownership issues amid ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding the chipmaker [1][2]. Group 1: Governance and Legal Issues - Wingtech asserts its position as the lawful controlling shareholder of Nexperia, emphasizing that restoring its control and shareholder rights is essential for resolving the governance impasse [2]. - A court intervention earlier this year led to the suspension of Wingtech founder Zhang Xuezheng from his role as Nexperia's CEO, with Wingtech currently appealing this decision at the Netherlands' Supreme Court [3]. - Wingtech argues that the court exceeded its authority and relied too heavily on submissions from Nexperia's leadership and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs [4]. Group 2: Political and Operational Context - The Dutch government has exercised new powers to block certain corporate decisions at Nexperia, citing concerns over potential technology transfers to China by Wingtech [4]. - A ministerial order that had previously restricted operations was put on hold to ease tensions and allow exports from a Nexperia facility in China to resume [5]. - Internal conflicts between Nexperia's Dutch headquarters and its Chinese operations have continued despite political interventions [5]. Group 3: Impact on Semiconductor Supply Chain - The Chinese sites of Nexperia previously accounted for approximately half of the group's semiconductor output, but wafer shipments to the Guangdong plant have been suspended due to funding and control disagreements [6]. - This disruption has raised concerns among automotive manufacturers and other customers about potential renewed chip shortages, given Nexperia's critical role as a supplier of key components [6]. - Wingtech's proposed talks with the custodians aim to establish a standard governance framework at Nexperia, enhance business stability, and support continuity in the semiconductor supply chain [7].