a foreign subsidiary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a foreign subsidiary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a company that is owned or controlled by another company and is located in a different country. Example: "The corporation has established a foreign subsidiary to expand its market presence in Europe."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

In theory, they could be jailed because a staff member at a foreign subsidiary bribed an official without their knowledge.

The Economist

"When a foreign subsidiary pays a low price for this property, and collects royalties, it will have big profits".

The New York Times

Income accrued at a foreign subsidiary of a UK firm is subject to tax under the Controlled Foreign Company rules.

The Guardian - Business

But you also have to assume that the problem is not caused by a foreign subsidiary that itself has become insolvent.

The New York Times

A Home Office spokeswoman says that the legislation will apply "if there is conspiracy between a UK parent and a foreign subsidiary".

The Economist

We observe that the most common taxation system is the exemption method (in place in 20 countries in 2015), i.e., not taxing foreign dividends (upon dividend repatriation from a foreign subsidiary) and capital gains (upon liquidating or selling a foreign subsidiary) at the parent level.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

does not include any action or activity, including any financial activity, that is not regulated by a State insurance regulator or a foreign agency or authority and subject to State insurance capital requirements or, in the case of a regulated foreign subsidiary or regulated foreign affiliate, capital requirements imposed by a foreign insurance regulatory authority.

Cornell University

The price of rescue may be that it sheds a troubled foreign subsidiary.

The Economist

A Barclays spokesman said: "All foreign subsidiaries are included in returns to HMRC either because they are UK tax resident and file UK tax returns or because they are listed on returns giving information on income earned that may be subject to UK tax under what is referred to as the controlled foreign company legislation". Lloyds Banking declined to comment.

The Guardian - Business

Even something as innocent as U.S. approval of a travel and expense voucher from an employee of the foreign subsidiary for travel to Iran can raise questions, Burns warns.

Forbes

In addition, we postulate that differentiating governance structures for each foreign subsidiary is a key contingency requirement in order to achieve superior MNE performance as a whole.

Journal of International Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or financial matters, clearly define the relationship between the parent company and "a foreign subsidiary" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a foreign subsidiary" operates entirely independently; its actions are often influenced by the parent company's policies and strategies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a foreign subsidiary" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific type of business entity. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used to refer to a company owned or controlled by another company and located in a different country. This is supported by the numerous examples provided.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a foreign subsidiary" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a company controlled by a parent company but located in another country. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and provides numerous examples across diverse sources, primarily in news, business, and academic contexts. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "overseas branch" or "international affiliate", the core meaning remains consistent. When employing this phrase, clarity regarding the legal and operational relationship between the parent company and the subsidiary is crucial. Avoid overstating the independence of "a foreign subsidiary", as it typically operates under the influence of the parent company's strategic directives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an overseas branch

Replaces "foreign" with "overseas", emphasizing the geographical aspect.

an international affiliate

Uses "international" instead of "foreign" and "affiliate" instead of "subsidiary", suggesting a slightly different relationship.

an offshore division

Substitutes "foreign" with "offshore" and "subsidiary" with "division", highlighting location outside the home country.

a multinational subsidiary

Adds "multinational" to specify the scope of the subsidiary.

a global branch

Similar to "overseas branch" but emphasizes worldwide presence.

a foreign branch office

Adds "office" to clarify the subsidiary's function.

an international extension

Uses "extension" to suggest a continuation of the parent company's operations.

a foreign holding

Refers to the ownership stake rather than the operational entity.

a locally incorporated foreign company

Focuses on the legal status of the subsidiary in the host country.

an internationally-based subsidiary

Rephrases using "internationally-based" to describe location.

FAQs

How can I use "a foreign subsidiary" in a sentence?

You can use "a foreign subsidiary" to describe a company owned by a parent company located in a different country. For example: "The company established "a foreign subsidiary" in Germany to handle its European operations."

What's the difference between "a foreign subsidiary" and "a foreign affiliate"?

"A foreign subsidiary" is typically controlled by its parent company, while "a foreign affiliate" might have a less direct ownership or control relationship.

Is it correct to say "overseas subsidiary" instead of "a foreign subsidiary"?

Yes, "overseas subsidiary" is a valid alternative to "a foreign subsidiary". The term "overseas subsidiary" emphasizes the geographical distance from the parent company.

What are some common reasons for establishing "a foreign subsidiary"?

Companies establish "a foreign subsidiary" for various reasons, including market expansion, tax benefits, and access to cheaper labor or resources.