act as middle

These markets are run by committees made up of farmers, often large land-owners, and traders or "commission agents" who act as middle men for brokering sales, organising storage and transport, or even financing deals.

All five states would have to allow Tesla to sell their vehicles directly to consumers, breaking the normal model of car sales whereby auto dealers act as middle men between manufacturers and customers.

The flurry of activity underscores the uncertain regulatory climate that such companies, which do not provide rides themselves but rather act as middle men and payment platforms, face in their early days.

Forrest, through another firm he owns, paid roughly $20 million to acquire Freedom Industries and orchestrate its Dec. 31 merger with four tiny distribution, blending and storage firms that act as middle men between big chemical and big coal companies, according to a person close to the company but not authorized to speak for it.

Suppliers like Li & Fung and Synergies act as middle men, working with manufacturers of apparel and other goods to manage the flow of products to retailers.