Thursday, January 15, 2026- The battle for control of Dutch-based chipmaker Nexperia has reached a critical stage in Amsterdam, where the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal is hearing arguments in a high-stakes dispute between Nexperia’s European executives and its Chinese parent company, Wingtech Technology.
The case centers on whether the court should launch a full investigation into allegations of mismanagement under former CEO and Wingtech founder Zhang Xuezheng, and whether Wingtech should regain full control of the company after interim measures placed almost all voting rights in the hands of a Dutch administrator. The court is expected to announce its decision on whether to investigate by February 11, 2026.
The conflict has roots in a series of interventions by Dutch authorities and courts in 2025. In September, the Dutch government invoked a rare emergency law to temporarily take control of Nexperia amid concerns about corporate governance and the potential transfer of technology out of Europe.
A preliminary court ruling then suspended Zhang as CEO and shifted control of Wingtech’s shares to an independent administrator, raising accusations from both sides. Nexperia’s lawyers argue Wingtech pursued a “scorched-earth” strategy that damaged the company’s value and disrupted supply chains, while Wingtech’s legal team contends there’s no basis for claims of mismanagement and that the Dutch intervention was unwarranted.
The dispute has broader implications for the global semiconductor industry and European supply chains, particularly in the automotive sector, where shortages of Nexperia chips have caused ripple effects.
The company’s European production arm and Chinese packaging unit have struggled to work together amid the governance clash, leading to operational strain and strategic realignments, including plans to boost production capacity in Malaysia. Both the Dutch government and Nexperia’s current management have emphasized the importance of stabilizing the company and protecting critical technology, while Wingtech is pushing to restore its shareholder rights.
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