Moon Flower cosmetics company executives are aware that their Asian customer base is interested in advanced skin care treatments beyond Moon Flower's traditional herbal and organic compounds. Moon Flower and a large American chemical company are in discussions to create a 50-50 partnership in a new firm, which would create skin care treatments based on innovative chemical formulations that would be marketed both in Asia and in the United States. Beyond being a cross-border alliance, this partnership can be called a(n)
a. nonequity strategic alliance.
b. joint venture.
c. horizontal complementary alliance.
d. equity strategic alliance.
Answer: joint venture.