Kirkland Advises Thoma Bravo and Auctane on Acquisition of WWEX

Kirkland & Ellis advised Thoma Bravo, the world's largest technology-focused investment firm, on a definitive agreement to acquire WWEX Group, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider of parcel and freight services with brands including Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, Unishippers, JEAR Logistics and BLX Logistics. Following the close of the acquisition, Thoma Bravo will combine WWEX Group with its existing portfolio company Auctane, a leading global technology company empowering businesses with intelligent shipping and fulfillment solutions through trusted products such as ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack and Packlink. Thoma Bravo is acquiring WWEX Group from a consortium of investors including CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII, Providence Equity Partners, Ridgemont Equity Partners and PSG. As part of this transaction, CVC Funds and other existing WWEX Group investors will roll over a portion of their equity in WWEX Group and retain a significant minority position in the combined company. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026 and is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Read the transaction press release

The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Peter Stach, Jeremy Mandell, Brandi Miller, Corey Fox, Zackary Theo, Chris King and Colin Norton; technology & IP transactions lawyers Aaron Lorber and Kevin Jacobsen; tax lawyers Adam Kool and Michael Conroy; and debt finance lawyers Brian Ford, Matthew Demopoulos, Joe McGuinness and Olga Chistokhodova.