POETfablight: Further I would add, a tender is also necessary to check and compare not only the quality and price of a product, to check the existance of potential competitors, but also in order to check the liquidity, production capacities, reliability of deliveries and the financial strenght to cover cash claims in case of liabilities, for which the supplier is responsible.

Yes, agreed. While the Tier 1 will have had ample opportunity already to verify the quality of the product, the intended JV is not only an important step in itself, but it is also needed to provide some proof or at least a very strong indication to the Tier 1 that POET has sufficient production capacity at hand to meet the Tier 1’s demand. Could be an important prerequisite for winning this tender!

Okay, admittedly the JV would only be proof in the full sense of the meaning if it was already incorporated or even productive. But you have to start somewhere, dont’t you?