Catalyzes the hydrolysis of esters (PubMed:30951551). In vitro, prefers short chain alkanoate ester as substrate. Displays highest activity towards p-nitrophenyl acetate (pNPA). Has weaker activity towards p-nitrophenyl butyrate (pNPB) (PubMed:30951551). a carboxylic ester + H2O = a carboxylate + an alcohol + H(+) kcat is 0.67 sec(-1) with pNPA as substrate. Optimum pH is 9.0-9.5. Optimum temperature is 50 degrees Celsius. Monomer in solution (PubMed:21623357). Homodimer (PubMed:30951551). Forms a 1:1 complex with the unphosphorylated form of the EIIA component of the glucose-specific PTS system (IIAGlc) (PubMed:21623357). Belongs to the FrsA family. Was originally reported to catalyze the cofactor-independent decarboxylation of pyruvate (PubMed:21623357). In contrast, Kellett et al. demonstrated with computational, structural, and kinetic evidence that this enzyme does not exhibit pyruvate decarboxylase activity (PubMed:23452154).