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WWEX Group and Auctane Merge to Create ShipStation Global
Platform Integrates Data Automation, Carrier Connectivity to Simplify Logistics Operations
Key Takeaways:
- WWEX Group and Auctane merged June 1 to form ShipStation Global combining brokerage services and AI-driven shipping technology.
- The new company aims to simplify logistics for small and midsize businesses through integrated data automation and carrier connectivity.
- ShipStation Global serves more than 3 million customers and handles over 3 billion shipments annually with a large carrier network.
Worldwide Express parent WWEX Group and technology company Auctane announced the completion of their merger into ShipStation Global on June 1.
WWEX Group is providing its freight brokerage platform and sales professionals network. Auctane is complementing that with its artificial intelligence shipping software, global carrier connectivity and automation capabilities. ShipStation Global aims to provide small and midsize businesses the data, intelligent automation and expert support to be competitive.
“Small and midsize businesses have been forced to stitch together multiple tools and relationships just to keep up,” said ShipStation Global CEO Tom Madine. “ShipStation Global changes that.”
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Jaffee
ShipStation Global is backed by software-focused investment firm Thoma Bravo. Kirkland & Ellis served as legal adviser to Thoma Bravo and Auctane. J.P. Morgan Securities and Morgan Stanley & Co. served as joint lead financial advisers to WWEX Group. CVC Funds and other existing WWEX Group investors retain a significant minority stake in the combined company.
“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,” said Brian Jaffee, a partner at Thoma Bravo. “We are excited to support the ShipStation Global team as they build the category-defining, intelligent platform for modern logistics.”
ShipStation Global will be based in Texas, with offices in Dallas and Austin. Its portfolio includes ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack, Packlink, Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, Unishippers, Jear Logistics and BLX Logistics.
The combined operations represent more than 3 million customers and over 3 billion shipments per year, and customers are being served by a partner network that includes over 45,000 truckload carriers.
“We are 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.”
WWEX Group ranks No. 14 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies in North America.
