Tom Madine, CEO of ShipStation Global [Photo: WWEX Group]
Dallas-based third-party logistics provider WWEX Group and Austin-based global tech company Auctane—which offers such products as ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack, and Packlink—have completed their merger, with the combined company now operating as ShipStation Global.
ShipStation Global is backed by Chicago-based tech investment firm Thoma Bravo, with CVC Funds and other existing WWEX Group investors retaining a significant minority stake in the combined company.
The companies announced plans for the merger when Thoma Bravo acquired WWEX Group three months ago.
Democratizing shipping tech and services
The merger brings together WWEX Group’s freight brokerage platform and network of more than 2,300 sales professionals with Auctane’s AI-powered shipping software, global carrier connectivity, and automation capabilities. The combined company said it offers growing businesses “the operational power, technology, relationships, and scale” that are typically only accessible to large enterprises.
ShipStation Global CEO Tom Madine said “small and mid-sized businesses have been forced to stitch together multiple tools and relationships just to keep up.”
“ShipStation Global changes that,” he added in a statement. “We’re combining the best AI-powered shipping software in the market with one of the country’s most powerful freight networks—and we’re building it specifically for the businesses that need it most. Today is the start of something that’s been a long time coming.”
The logistics industry is at a key juncture, the company noted. With technology and supply chains becoming increasingly complex, the gap between large enterprises and growing businesses continues to widen. ShipStation Global said it was built to close that gap by giving small and mid-sized businesses the data, intelligent automation, and expert support they need to stay agile and tap into value throughout the supply chain.
“The combination of Auctane and WWEX Group comes at a pivotal moment, as AI fundamentally changes the way organizations are able to manage their shipping and logistics operations,” said Brian Jaffee, a partner at Thoma Bravo.
Jaffee said ShipStation Global “brings together AI-powered shipping software and best-in-class freight and parcel services in a way that gives businesses of every size the tools and scale to compete. We are excited to support the ShipStation Global team as they build the category-defining, intelligent platform for modern logistics.”
Connecting checkout to doorstep
Annually, ShipStation Global serves more than 3 million customers and moves over 3 billion shipments, utilizing a partner network of more than 75 less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers; 350 regional, national, and international carriers; 600 technology partners; and 45,000 truckload carriers. The company said it uses a single comprehensive platform to connect checkout to doorstep with logistics spanning parcel, LTL, truckload, and global shipping.
“We’re thrilled to continue our journey with WWEX Group as part of this new, expanded platform,” said Aaron Dupuis, a managing partner at CVC. “By uniting WWEX Group’s commercial engine with Auctane’s global software footprint, we are creating a company with the reach, technology, and talent to deliver real results for customers—and we look forward to supporting ShipStation Global’s next chapter of growth.”
ShipStation Global’s portfolio includes ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack, Packlink, Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, Unishippers, JEAR Logistics, and BLX Logistics. The company will be based in Texas, with offices in Dallas and Austin.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Thoma Bravo and Auctane. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as joint lead financial advisors to WWEX Group. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and UBS Investment Bank also acted as financial advisors to WWEX Group. Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisor to CVC and WWEX Group.
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