Thoma Bravo Acquires WWEX
Private equity giant Thoma Bravo is acquiring logistics provider WWEX Group. The plan is to merge it with existing portfolio company Auctane, creating a new global leader in shipping and logistics software. The deal highlights PE's continued focus on consolidating the tech and supply chain sectors.
The deal values WWEX at nearly $5 billion, which when combined with Auctane, is expected to create a shipping and logistics technology company worth up to $12 billion. Thoma Bravo originally took Auctane, formerly Stamps.com, private in a $6.6 billion deal in 2021. WWEX Group, a Dallas-based third-party logistics (3PL) provider, generated approximately $5 billion in systemwide revenue in 2025. The company serves over 130,000 customers and manages more than 70 million shipments annually through its family of brands, including Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, and Unishippers. Auctane's portfolio of shipping software includes well-known names like ShipStation, Stamps.com, Packlink, ShippingEasy, ShipWorks, and Metapack. This acquisition represents a strategic move to merge Auctane's cloud-based shipping software with the physical freight brokerage and logistics network of WWEX. Thoma Bravo is acquiring WWEX from a consortium of investors that includes CVC Capital Partners, Providence Equity Partners, and Ridgemont Equity Partners. As part of the transaction, CVC and other existing WWEX investors will roll over a portion of their equity, retaining a significant minority stake in the newly combined entity. The merger aims to create a comprehensive, AI-enabled, end-to-end logistics platform. This vertical integration will connect Auctane's digital capabilities, from online checkout to label generation, with WWEX's physical logistics services, including parcel, less-than-truckload (LTL), and full truckload freight. Financial advisors for WWEX Group on the deal included J.P. Morgan Securities and Morgan Stanley, who acted as joint lead advisors, along with Goldman Sachs and UBS Investment Bank. Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to Thoma Bravo and Auctane, while Latham & Watkins advised WWEX and CVC. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2026.
