WWEX Group, Auctane Complete Merger to Launch ShipStation Global

WWEX Group and Auctane have completed their merger and will operate as ShipStation Global, creating a logistics company that combines freight brokerage, parcel services, and shipping software under a single platform. The company is backed by Thoma Bravo, while CVC Funds and other existing WWEX Group investors retain a significant minority stake.

The transaction brings together WWEX Group's freight brokerage operations and network of more than 2,300 sales professionals with Auctane's shipping software portfolio, which includes ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack, and Packlink. The deal was first announced in March, when Thoma Bravo disclosed plans to acquire WWEX Group and combine it with its portfolio company Auctane.

Tom Madine, CEO of ShipStation Global, said small and mid-sized businesses have often relied on multiple systems and provider relationships to manage logistics operations. He said the combined company was built to bring freight services and shipping technology together in a single offering.

Combining Freight Networks and Shipping Software

ShipStation Global said it serves more than 3 million customers and supports more than 3 billion shipments annually. The company's network includes more than 75 less-than-truckload carriers, 350 regional, national, and international carriers, 600 technology partners, and 45,000 truckload carriers.

The merger extends a consolidation strategy that has reshaped WWEX Group over the past decade. Worldwide Express merged with GlobalTranz in 2021, and the WWEX Group brand was launched in 2023 before the company moved to combine with Auctane in 2026.

The combined business is headquartered in Texas, with offices in Dallas and Austin. Its portfolio includes ShipStation, Stamps.com, Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, Metapack, Packlink, Unishippers, JEAR Logistics, and BLX Logistics.

Madine said the company aims to give growing businesses access to technology, carrier relationships, and logistics capabilities that have historically been concentrated among larger enterprises. The company said its platform connects parcel, less-than-truckload, truckload, and global shipping services through a single operating environment.

AI Becomes a Larger Part of Logistics Platforms

The companies are positioning the merger around the growing use of AI and automation in logistics operations. In announcing the transaction earlier this year, Thoma Bravo said the combination would connect shipping software, carrier networks, and freight services through a single platform designed to provide broader visibility and decision support across logistics workflows (.

The move comes as logistics providers continue investing in AI-driven operational tools. Companies across the sector are deploying AI for freight execution, shipment visibility, and workflow automation, including Flexport's efforts to automate freight workflows and DHL's deployment of AI agents across logistics operations.

The focus on visibility reflects a broader push among logistics operators to consolidate transportation and supply chain data into unified systems. Penske Logistics recently introduced an AI platform designed to bring together operational data from across supply chain environments.

Brian Jaffee, Partner at Thoma Bravo, said the merger comes at a time when AI is changing how organizations manage shipping and logistics operations. He said the combined company brings together shipping software and freight services in a way that gives businesses access to technology and scale through a single provider.

Aaron Dupuis, Managing Partner at CVC, said the combination of WWEX Group's commercial operations and Auctane's software footprint creates a larger platform with expanded reach and technology capabilities. He said the company is positioned to support customers through its next phase of growth.

The merger closed after receiving the approvals required to complete the transaction announced in March. Financial terms were not disclosed.