Australia's competition regulator executed a search warrant at WiseTech Global, the owner of the CargoWise logistics software platform. The company disclosed the action Wednesday through a filing with the Australian Securities Exchange (filing). Investigators sought documents and electronic data concerning global logistics services and software. WiseTech pledged full cooperation with the inquiry.

After WiseTech issued the filing, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) confirmed to FreightWaves that it executed a search warrant at the company's premises. The regulator described the investigation as ongoing and declined further comment.

The filing describes an investigation into possible violations of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The ACCC enforces Australian rules governing markets, fair trading and consumer protections. A warrant allows investigators to collect records while examining potential breaches. It does not establish that a company broke the law.

WiseTech's global footprint

WiseTech, one of the largest technology companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, builds technology used by freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers, importers, exporters and shippers. Its latest profile identifies more than 20,000 logistics companies and industry participants across 193 countries. That reach includes 24 of the 25 largest global freight forwarders, and its customer base covers 47 of the 50 largest third-party logistics providers. The e2open acquisition expanded its network to more than 500,000 connected enterprises. That penetration extends beyond the vendor's own results: freight businesses rely on platforms such as CargoWise for customs entries, shipment data, carrier workflows and customer operations, so competition scrutiny of a provider at this scale can affect pricing, service quality and the range of options available across the supply chain.

Earlier ACCC review led to software divestiture

WiseTech faced a separate ACCC enforcement review following its 2025 purchase of e2open, a deal valued at about US$2.1 billion. The acquisition gave it control over Expedient, which competed with CargoWise in Australia and New Zealand. That transaction closed before the ACCC completed its review, because Australia's former merger process did not require advance regulatory approval. The rules have since tightened: a mandatory merger notification and clearance regime took effect on 1 January 2026, requiring acquisitions that meet turnover or deal-value thresholds to be notified to the ACCC and cleared before they can be completed.

In January, the ACCC accepted a court-enforceable undertaking requiring the sale of Expedient (announcement). "WiseTech already has substantial market power in the supply of logistics software," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb stated. The regulator had also received significant concerns from platform users and warned of higher prices or reduced service quality without a divestiture.

The undertaking required a sale to an ACCC-approved purchaser. Regulators wanted that buyer to operate Expedient as a viable, independent competitor. The commission described the arrangement as resolving its earlier enforcement matter. Wednesday's filing does not connect the new warrant to that agreement.

New warrant leaves key questions unanswered

WiseTech's current disclosure uses broad language and identifies no affected product, transaction, customer, contract or business division. The document does not name e2open, Expedient or CargoWise as the investigation's focus. Neither party has publicly explained which records investigators requested, and officials have not described possible outcomes or timing. Under the act, the ACCC's enforcement options range from closing a matter without action to accepting court-enforceable undertakings — the mechanism used in the Expedient matter — or pursuing litigation that can result in penalties and other court orders.

The company's shares closed 8.7% lower at A$39.58 in Sydney following the announcement, Reuters reported. That price marked the stock's weakest level in nearly two weeks, and the decline marked its steepest single-day loss since late June.

FreightWaves contacted WiseTech for comment regarding the warrant, its scope and the investigation's status. The company had not responded before publication. FreightWaves will update this article if WiseTech responds.