Netherlands to probe Chinese language chips takeover – POLITICO

The Dutch authorities has determined to evaluation a Chinese language-owned agency’s takeover of a Delft-based microchips startup.

Nowi, which develops chips that harvest vitality, was acquired in November final yr by Nexperia, a agency headquartered within the Netherlands however owned by Chinese language tech agency Wingtech.

That acquisition will now be reviewed beneath a brand new investment-screening legislation that entered into drive Thursday, Harald Hanemaaijer, spokesperson on the Dutch economic system ministry, confirmed to POLITICO. The information was first reported by Dutch media.

The legislation offers the Dutch authorities new powers to scrutinize investments or full takeovers when vital infrastructure or delicate know-how is in play.

“Sure states wish to train energy by affect over corporations, applied sciences and significant infrastructure. This will have an effect on the nationwide safety of the Netherlands,” Micky Adriaansens, the Dutch economic system minister, mentioned on the last parliamentary debate on the invoice in mid-April.

An preliminary evaluation will take eight weeks — however that interval will be prolonged twice and will final near a yr.

A Nexperia spokesperson mentioned that the Dutch legislation was not relevant to the corporate’s takeover of Nowi. In January, when stories emerged that the takeover may very well be up for evaluation, Nexperia confused that Nowi’s know-how is “neither delicate nor strategic,” and that the Dutch authorities have been conscious of the acquisition plans.

The takeover evaluation might add to the continuing chips spat between the Netherlands and China. In March, the Dutch authorities determined to ban the sale of among the machines of chips tools provider ASML — one of many few corporations on the planet that has such know-how — to China.

That call prompted a diplomatic protest by China, however Dutch Overseas Minister Wopke Hoekstra instructed POLITICO this week that he did not count on the ultimate resolution, which is prone to land earlier than the summer season, to upend Dutch-Chinese language relations.

Different European international locations have blocked the takeover of chips corporations or particular person factories by Chinese language-owned corporations earlier than.

In November final yr, the British authorities ordered Nexperia to promote not less than 86 % of the Newport Wafer Fab manufacturing unit it acquired in 2021 amid safety considerations over Wingtech’s ties to the Chinese language state. Germany additionally vetoed the takeover of a chips plant in Dortmund by a Chinese language-owned firm in November.

This text has been up to date.