It is nearly a year since one of Wales’ leading technology companies, Newport Wafer Fab (NWF), was acquired by Chinese-owned firm Nexperia.
The Amsterdam-based tech firm, part of Shanghai listed Wingtech, bought NWF in a reported £63m deal having previously had a minority 15% stake and a clause giving it the right to acquire the entire business in the event of customer supply issues.
It was positioned as a deal safeguarding 500 jobs - yes true - but was it in the best interests of the UK economy and an asset of arguably national strategic importance remaining in UK ownership?
