Caerphilly-based AerFin has spent more than £100m buying aircraft, engines and spares worldwide, which it recycles and sells or leases to the likes of Lufthansa and Philippine Airlines. Founded in 2010 by the industry veteran Bob James, 54, it sold an 80% stake to the American fund manager CarVal Investors in 2014. This allowed it to buy parts and acquire a Gatwick-based components specialist in 2015. In May 2017, it agreed its largest deal to date, buying 15 Embraer E170-LR aircraft from Saudi Arabian Airlines. This helped revenues reach £70.2m last year, more than 80% of which came from overseas customers in 60 countries.