Michael Gvozdenovic

The ACCC should consider whether a pleading might be “more efficient” in its case against a debt collection agency that also brings "serious allegations" against an associated legal practice, a judge has said.

Airport operator APAC says a default notice sent to Dexus over confidentiality breaches is at least valid against shareholders that initiated a botched sales process, hedging its bets in an appeal of a ruling that forces a sale of the asset manager's entire stake.

Dexus' decision to resist an undertaking as part of a deal to temporarily block the compulsory sale of its shares in airport operator APAC has been criticised by a judge for resulting in an "appalling waste" of time and money.

A failed class action against former NAB super fund trustee NULIS Nominees over $165 million in conflicted remuneration has asked the High Court to revive the case and provide clarity on the fees for-profit trustees can charge for their compensation. 

Super fund trustee REST Nominees is the first of the Dexus bloc of APAC shareholders to challenge a finding that a default notice issued by the board of the airport operator was valid.

The forced divestiture of Dexus' stake in airport operator APAC will proceed, after a court on Friday discharged injunctions temporarily blocking the sale amid a dispute over the disclosure of confidential information.

Dexus has stood down executives, sacked its advisers and launched a review of its $7 billion infrastructure division, following last week's judgment upholding the validity of a default notice by Melbourne Airport's operator.

The trial judge in enforcement action against Mastercard had harsh words Thursday about the company's witnesses, including a top executive whose testimony he said was "most unsatisfactory and unimpressive".

Mastercard argued Wednesday it relied on legal advice in drafting alleged anti-competitive deals with major retailers, as the judge questioned the reliability of some witnesses for the payments giant, who recalled "virtually nothing".

Heads may roll after a court on Friday rejected the evidence of key Dexus employees at trial over a breach of APAC's shareholder deed, in a ruling that revealed some insiders suspected the "embarassing blunder" would come back to bite.