The Commission considered that the companies had entered into an agreement under which each of them undertook not to sell standard-thread pipes and tubes (known as OCTG – Oil Country Tubular Goods) or “Project Linepipe” tubes on the domestic market of any other company that was party to the agreement. The agreement was concluded at meetings of the companies known as the “Europe-Japan Club”.
La Commission a estimé que les entreprises avaient conclu un accord par lequel chaque entreprise s’interdisait de vendre des tubes de sondage (dits tubes "OCTG", c'est-à-dire "Oil Country Tubular Goods") filetés standard et des tuyaux de transport "projet" ("Project Linepipe") sur le marché national d’une autre entreprise participant à l’accord.