Joint Ventures And Partnership As Coopetition

In the recent article "The strategic utility of joint ventures and partnerships in difficult and uncertain times", I advocated the merits of joint ventures and partnerships as relatively resource-light means to achieve growth and retain market share. This article considers the assessment of such opportunities with competitors in "co-opetition" or "coopetition".

Coopetition saves costs and removes the duplication of effort. It shares risk. It pools skills for mutual benefit. Coopetition is worth considering and the competition law impact can be assessed for the viability of coopetition (if the parties have such market share significance as to make competition law a worry). Coopetition opportunities missed may be business growth and profit foregone. Your alternative options may be poorer ones. Your counterparty may still find a competitor for coopetition.