Hovedsagen vedrørte en tvist mellem et fransk og et tysk selskab angående en købsaftale af 12. februar 1972 vedrørende en værktøjsmaskine, for hvilken købesummen, der var fastsat til 74 205 DM, af det franske selskab skulle betales med to lige store veksler med forfaldstid efter henholdsvis 60 og 90 dage, som imidlertid kun var blevet delvis indfriet.
The main proceedings concerned a dispute between a firm whose seat was in Germany and one whose seat was in France concerning a contract dated 12 February 1972 for the sale of a machine tool, the price of which, fixed at DM 74 205, was to be paid by the French company by way of two equal bills of exchange payable at 60 and 90 days, which were only partially discharged.