James Hughes

Managing Director

James has an extensive background in the freight industry starting in 2005 when he first began working in the sector, providing recruitment services to UK freight forwarding and transport companies. From there James then developed his career by leading a US recruitment business, again focussed on the freight forwarding sector, which saw James develop an extensive network across North America.

In 2013 James then changed focus with his career by entering the mergers and acquisitions industry. Joining an M&A company at an embryonic stage, James quickly put to use his network and knowledge of the sector enabling him to take to market and successfully complete a number of complex acquisitions, including cross-border transactions.

Having worked in the industry across Europe and the USA, James has an unrivalled network of contacts, including both owners of freight forwarders and logistics companies and C-Level executives of SMEs and publicly listed entities. In addition to this network, James has also advised a number of Private Equity firms, assisting with both investments and disposals of assets, primarily in the UK and North America.

Throughout his career James has concentrated primarily on buy-side transaction services whereby his clients have actively engaged him to identify, approach and close multi-million-pound transactions.

Deal history

Some of the successful transactions James has led include the sale of both Tradeway Shipping Limited and Tradeway Shipping North West Limited to Santova PLC, the sale of Eurotran Despatch Limited and Brad Trans International Limited to EFS Group Limited and the sale of longstanding London Heathrow freight company Hay World Cargo Limited to Air & Cargo Services Limited. Along with a vast number of undisclosed acquisitions, these have seen James develop a reputation within the industry as one of the most active dealmakers in the sector, something he is keen to continue as 4CAP Equity.