Component of the phenyllactate dehydratase complex FldABC that is involved in the fermentation of L-phenylalanine via a Stickland reaction. This complex catalyzes the reversible syn-dehydration of (R)-phenyllactate to (E)-cinnamate in two steps, a CoA-transfer from cinnamoyl-CoA to phenyllactate, catalyzed by FldA, followed by the dehydration of phenyllactyl-CoA to cinnamoyl-CoA, catalyzed by FldB and FldC (PubMed:10849007, PubMed:11967068). In vitro, FldA can use 3-phenylpropanoate as a better CoA-acceptor than phenyllactate (PubMed:10849007). (E)-cinnamoyl-CoA + (R)-3-phenyllactate = (E)-cinnamate + (R)-3-phenyllactoyl-CoA Optimum pH is between 7 and 8. Optimum temperature is 50 degrees Celsius. Amino-acid degradation; L-phenylalanine degradation. Homodimer (PubMed:10849007). Part of the heterotrimeric phenyllactate dehydratase complex FldABC, composed of (R)-phenyllactate CoA-transferase (FldA) and a heterodimeric (R)-phenyllactyl-CoA dehydratase (FldB and FldC) (PubMed:10849007, PubMed:11967068). Belongs to the CoA-transferase III family.