International Joint Venture Formation: the Financial Services Sector

Abstract

This article considers entry strategies for intertnational markets with specific reference to joint ventures in the financial services sector. A range of descriptive statistics relating to international joint venture formation between UK firms and those of the Triad are reported for the period 1980 to 1989. These data illustrate a dramatic shift of emphasis from US to Western European partners during the second half of the decade. While UK firms show a distinct preference for equity joint ventures only occusionally do they achieve a controlling Interest.